Milton adopts waiver rules on private sewers

Milton sold its sewer system to Tidewater Utilities more than a decade ago, but a number of citizens in town still have private sewer systems.

How many is not known, Town Manager Kristy Rogers said, and the town generally does not know until someone has a private system fail and the town has to connect it to the town sewer system. Rogers estimated fewer than 10 private systems exist. 

Private sewer systems are illegal in Milton, but in the event one comes to light, town council established a procedure for waivers allowing for existing systems. 

Under the ordinance, passed Sept. 4, to get a waiver, an applicant must show good cause, and council can impose conditions, including the volume and length of operation. 

The most recent system to come to light was in May 2018, when the Sehn family, 507 Bennett St., found out they were not hooked into the town system. The Sehns bought their house in 1987 with a septic system already installed. They assumed the system was grandfathered in, but did not know when it had been put in.

The town granted the Sehns a six-month waiver to allow them to hook into the town system, which they have done, Rogers said.

Milton’s sewer system was installed around 1960 and was run by the town until 2007 when the system was sold to Tidewater.