Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 2 · column 1 of 3 · from the scan, no model involved
Wise policy
WE HOPE MEMBERS of the Board of Supervisors were paying attention at their January meeting, when Dr. R. S. LeGard, chief health officer, warned of difficulties that could develop from improperly controlled residential developments .
The specific type of development Dr. LeGard mentioned concerned the so-called “secondhome,” or “recreational home” category, but the point he? made about regulations for these development ventures is applicable to all types of new construction.
Dr. LeGard warned that at the risk of being denounced as a “harsh old man,” he and his department are going to insist that all new septic tank installations include not only a proper drainfield — one that “percs” and otherwise meets all Health Department requirements — but sufficient land to allow for repairs of that system, as well. * The reason is simple. Sanitary engineers regard a septic system as a “temporary” solution, at best. Some of the most generous estimates of their lifetime extend only 20 years or so, although we all have heard of exceptions. Where such a system is installed on a large farm, there’s usually little problem. Even if the system eventually malfunctions; there’s always room to lay out a new field. It’s when houses are jammed and crammed into a small lot subdivision, each on a separate septic tank and probably on separate wells, that you get serious problems.
HEALTH OFFICIALS in adjoining Fauquier County are thinking of rewriting the rules to require if not two complete drainfields, at least a drainfield and 75 per cent of another, to allow ample room of repairs. They say that these requirements should prevail regardless of the particular zoning for a given area — that the systems should be approved on the basisr of what specific soil conditions in that area will support.
^t snakes a lot of sense. The discussion, however, also points up the special effort it takes to properly control new development. As we said, we hope Rappahannock’s officials were paying attention. C
Pony Club planned
94.8%