City and county officials are taking a "baby steps" approach to a proposal to extend Rapid City's septic-system inspection program into the county, a move aimed at protecting groundwater and the health of water users.

"My preference is we take our time, allow folks to review it, because quite honestly, education and transparency is absolutely essential in this process," Mayor Alan Hanks told the Pennington County Commission on Tuesday.

The commission reviewed a draft agreement that would extend the city's two-year-old septic-system inspection program into the county between S.D. Highway 79 and U.S. Highway 385, then agreed to postpone the issue until April 15.

But the county and city agreed more public education about the program is necessary before it is extended into the county.

"This isn't something that has to be done tomorrow," Commissioner Jim Kjerstad said. "Let's do it right if we're going to do it and make sure we are off on the right track."

The city's program requires all septic systems within a mile of the city limits, a number estimated between 2,500 and 3,000, to be inspected every three years. Septic-system operators are required to pay a $125 fee to get a three-year permit from the city. All program costs are paid for through permit fees.

The city offered to extend its program into the county or help the county implement its own program. The county expressed interest in extending the city program.

County residents who spoke Tuesday mostly seemed to favor the plan, though some were opposed, and others indicated they have more questions.

Gayle Jorgenson said he has owned a water system for nine years and has had no trouble with the 106 septic systems around his well. He has also had no problems with his home well, which is within 110 feet of his septic-system drain field.

Jorgenson said the city should take care of septic-system problems within the city first, as well as any problems caused by leaky sewer pipes, before going into the county.

Shirley Frederick, chairwoman of the local Sierra Club, urged the county to allow the program and said she used to teach students that water runs downhill.

"This fact seems so self-evident, yet it's sometimes forgotten when it comes to septic systems," Frederick said. "A problem with a homeowner's system may show up not on his or her property but in the backyard of someone downhill."

Improperly functioning septic systems can spread such diseases as hepatitis A, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis and other diseases, said Louie Arguello, on-site wastewater coordinator for the city.

Studies and testing of groundwater in areas around Rapid City have indicated nitrate levels are steadily increasing, though they are well within federal safe drinking water standards. Those tests are able to differentiate between nitrates coming from explosives, organic decay, fertilizer and human and animal waste, Arguello said.

"We do not have feedlots in the area; therefore, there's not a large influx of animal waste. We know it's coming from on-site systems," Arguello said. "Water doesn't know if it's a city boundary or a county boundary. We're all going to drink that water. The program is based on solid scientific evidence, not just in our area but across the nation."

Water is vital to both city and county residents, Hanks said, and the program's goal is to protect the resource. The city is especially interested in protecting infiltration areas of the Madison Aquifer, the city's main source of water.

Septic systems work fine as long as they are properly maintained, Hanks said. The program provides a way to identify improperly working septic tanks.

Hanks said it is cheaper for the city, county and taxpayers to address the issue now rather than after a problem develops in the aquifer. He said it would be expensive if contamination led to a need for a centralized treatment system for all of the city's 11 wells or individual treatment systems for each well.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or at scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com

Editor's note: This story has been amended from its original publication to correct the distance of Gayle Jorgenson's home well from his his septic-system drain field.