Just after Mayor Jim Shaw announced the possible settlement of the Saratoga Creek case, the City Council approved an ordinance setting new standards that will wean most Saratoga residents off septic systems and make them connect to the local sewer system instead.
Although no connection was drawn between the sewer action and the possible settlement of the lawsuit, the timing seemed more than coincidental; the lawsuit alleges the city should be held responsible for dangerous levels of bacteria found in Saratoga Creek. Some involved with the case have charged that leaking septic systems near the creek could be to blame for the heightened bacteria levels.
According to the City Manager Larry Perlin, approximately 700 Saratoga residents are now using septic systems.
Under the new city ordinance, residents living within 200 feet of the public sewer system and using septic systems will be required to connect to the sewer.
Residents will have about five years to comply, according to the ordinance. The timeframe could vary if the city finds that special circumstances warrant connecting to the sewer system sooner, or later. If a property is extremely close to a creek or is failing, for instance, those properties may be required to connect before five years.
Perlin said that the new ordinance is stealing a page from the county's book, and will replace the city's outdated sewage ordinance. Additionally, the new ordinance requires owners who are selling property with private sewage disposal systems, to have their systems inspected before the property can be sold, with a report of the inspection going to the city manager's office.
If problems with the systems are found upon inspection, they'd have to be corrected--most likely by ditching the system and connecting to the sewer.
Both the West Valley Sanitation District and the Cupertino Sanitary Sewer District serve Saratoga residents.
What's not in the ordinance but has been acknowledged by the city, is the cost of such a move for some residents. A stipulation in the staff report to council states that property owners will have access to information about getting help to cover the cost of connecting to the sewer.
The council approved the ordinance unanimously, with Vice Mayor Stan Bogosian calling it a move "into the 20th century." "Unfortunately," he said, "we're a little bit late."
Saratoga, California Since 1975
