Redwood's septic system problem

By Zach Mayer


Redwood is forced to replace their waste water systems, and they're having a hard time affording it. 

 Many residences in Central Texas are able to consistently afford the disposing and management of wastewater. Redwood Texas uses septic systems, and most residences use one, but are struggling to maintain such systems.


"We're replacing septic systems out there that have already failed,"Shelly Coleman said, from the Guadalupe County Environmental Health Department. According to Coleman, the subdivision of Redwood is old, and has old septic systems, which continue to be used even when the system has failed.


This occurs because it is expensive to replace a septic system, and Redwood residences struggle to afford them. Robert Rodriguez, a pastor of the Redwood Baptist Church, said that replacing one septic system can cost around $6000. He said that a group from Texas State University helps pay for the septic system. 


"They've also been altered by adding more houses, more and more people into the house, so the water usage has increased, which is causing these systems to fail," Coleman said. "If there's fluent on the ground and we go out there, and there's effluent on the ground we make them replace it, so they have to replace it, because that's against the law."


 The residences of Redwood find themselves in a difficult situation. They are legally required to replaced failed septic tanks, and yet are financially strained to replace them. Although the county is financially covering them, for the time being. The neighborhood has been receiving grants for its wastewater sanitation. Redwood had its first grant to replace 17 systems. Now Redwood is receiving grants for replacement systems for first 17 replacements systems that were payed by grants.