This program, based on my experience, allowed poor people or people with family owned land with poor soils or oftentimes both, to live on the property.  This is a good thing. Unfortunately,  I have also observed few well maintained systems with disinfection  in particulary neglected. Lack of o+m is due, in my opinion, for two reasons: the owner is not held  accountable for compliance with effluent limits and limited dollars to spend on o+m.

Assurance that systems are operating properly must be required or significant public health problems will occur.  I suggest  VDH allocate resources to local health departments to perform inspection services to make owners  accountable for their systems.  When problems are observed, VDH will have an opportunity to educate the  homeowner on the need to properly operate the system, assist  him/her to locate an operator and  alternative funding sources for low income owners..