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* 1. Increasing levels of bacteria, nutrients, and man-made sweeteners have been documented over recent years in local surface waters.  The growing number of failing septic systems near waterways are contributing to these impairments.

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* 2. Septic-to-sewer conversions improve water quality because sewage is removed from individual lawns where it could pollute the ground and surface waters. Sending sewage to a wastewater treatment facility that must meet strict environmental and regulatory standards is a better alternative than septic systems.  

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* 3. A home connected to the sewer system is generally more appealing than one that relies on a septic system (all else being equal) because the owner is no longer responsible for septic system expenses and maintenance costs.  

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* 4. The Charlotte County Sewer Master Plan should be flexible enough to adapt as critical priorities and issues emerge, and as future development concentrates in certain areas.

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* 5. The Sewer Master Plan should evaluate the entire service area, including costs and infrastructure.  The plan should prioritize densely-populated areas near waterways where aging septic systems are likely failing.

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* 6. The Sewer Master Plan should include maps to help current and potential property owners and builders make informed decisions; and the county should follow up with project-specific maps and updates.

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* 7. To decrease the burden on residents, owners should be offered an affordable fee to connect to the central sewer system, which should also include the cost of physically connecting the home and abandoning the septic tank.

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* 8. Charlotte County should allow customers to finance the connection fee in installments over several years, but should also offer a financial incentive or discount to pay the total amount up front.

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* 9. The 2017 cost for most customers paying up front to connect to the sewer system is $11,201. The Sewer Master Plan proposes a small increase to $11,500 in 2018, and then incremental annual increases to account for inflation. This is a reasonable methodology to keep the connection fee affordable for property owners. 

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* 10. Charlotte County should offer property owners deferral programs to delay connecting to the sewer system if they meet certain low income and asset based criteria, or if they recently installed a new septic system. 

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