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There are concerns tonight over Florida’s 2.7 million septic tanks many of which are more than 30 years old. A law mandating inspections every five years at the owner’s expense has been delayed and as Whitney Ray tells us, it may be overturned over the objections of environmentalists who say there’s a serious threat to our water.

Septic tank cleaners say it’s common sense to pump and test a tank at least once every five years… But an inspection mandate written into law is causing backlash.

The law was slated to take hold January 1st, but in a one day special session last month, lawmakers pushed the start date to July. Now a repeal is in the works.

To pump a septic tank and test it costs between 200 and 500 dollars. Replacing a tank can run as high as 5-thousand dollars. The price tag isn’t being received well.

Environmentalists worry that if Florida doesn’t have a state law requiring inspections, sewage will leak into reservoirs and contaminate our drinking water.

Terry Ryan, Co-Founder of Clean Tap Water Now, has already seen evidence of sewage leaking into well water in rural communities. Terry is advocating a pilot program to asses the statewide risk, to determine if the mandatory inspections are warranted.

“There are a lot of questions out there of how septic tanks are affecting not only individual water wells, but also the aquifer,” said Ryan.

Anthony Guido is a retired septic tank worker turned waste water consultant. He says the mandate is needed.

“When they are spilling out into the environment then they cause a public health problem and a nutrient problem to lakes, rivers, streams and the aquifer,” said Guido.

There are no statewide studies of the effects of worn-out septic tanks on Florida’s waterways, and opponents of the mandate want to see proof before they’re willing to pay more.

What lawmakers do have is time. The committee process starts next week and they’ll have until the end of the legislative session in May to come up with a fix.