SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County commissioners met Tuesday on the topic of converting homes from septic tanks to sewer.

What You Need To Know

  • Seminole County commissioners met Tuesday on the topic of converting homeowners who are on septic tanks to sewer

  • This process is in its very early stages, as Tuesday’s presentation on this topic was the first of many

  • Staff say they’ve identified at least 26,000 septic tanks in the entire county

The county is working with a consulting firm to conduct engineering studies on where septic tanks are in the county as well as developing a septic to sewer program for the county to discuss.

The county started this process in 2019, and Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine says this is a something that will benefit everyone in the county.

According to CHA Consulting Firm, converting a septic tank to a central sewer would eliminate direct discharge to groundwater and Wekiwa Springs.

“Many of them are contributing to the pollution of the water, not only in the springs, rivers, lakes (but) all over,” said Constantine. “As we go forward we have to come up with a plan that will work for everyone.”

Staff say they’ve identified at least 26,000 septic tanks in the entire county.

The conversion would eliminate home owner maintenance, but would add a monthly sewer bill.

Christa Andres, of Andres Flowers Farm in Midway, welcomes the idea of removing her old septic tank.

“I’m looking forward to that,” she said. “Everything would be cleaner. I’m looking forward to it and would appreciate if they do it soon.”

Andres has kept the 13-acre farm running in honor of her late husband for the past five years.

Originally from Germany, Andres says over the years she’s seen house after house be built in Midway’s mostly rural area.

“Everything gets chewed up overnight,” she said.

As development continues, new houses that are built in Midway are mostly placed on the central sewer. Andres’ house and farm still use a septic tank located at the back of her house.

“The septic tank is working fine, there’s nothing wrong, I do get it pumped, this one I get pumped once a year, make sure everything is good,” she said.

With fresh flowers ready to be picked, plants ready to be watered, Andres says despite the rapid growth in the area, she plans on keeping a smile on her face and her family’s farm alive.

“I like to keep it in honor of my husband and my grandchildren are very proud of me,” she said.

County officials say they plan to discuss the project again in the summer with a plan of action on how to move forward.