The town of Afton is currently grappling with significant challenges surrounding its septic waste management system, stemming from two recent overflow incidents—one on April 20 and the other on June 10. At last week’s town council meeting, Utility Director Josh Peavler and Town Administrator Violet Sanderson detailed the events leading to the crisis, emphasizing the need for immediate action and policy changes.

The overflow occurred due to a blockage in the main sewage line, caused by a buildup of solid waste, including plastic debris and other non-biodegradable materials. This resulted in sewage backing up into the surrounding area. The town promptly reported the contamination to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and implemented a cleanup plan approved by state authorities.

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Violet Sanderson explained, “All the trash was kind of compacted together and that was causing the blockage.” Following the cleanup, she noted that the town “worked the plan that we had with DEQ for that initial spillage and cleanup effort.”

In light of these events, Afton has made a critical decision: effective immediately, the town will cease accepting septic waste from all contractors. Sanderson emphasized, “Although it is detrimental to their businesses, we can’t be responsible for taking on the county septic waste. Our primary responsibility is to the existing residents of Afton.”

The town council is exploring alternative solutions for managing septic waste, especially for the approximately 80 residents who still rely on septic systems in Afton. While the town will continue to allow dumping from portable toilets, all waste must now be dumped in a designated area that promotes better mixing before reaching the lagoon system.

Teri Bowers, Lincoln County Commissioner, shared in a Weekday Wake-up interview, “The county initiated a study by CRS Engineering on septic for the whole county last fall. They just got the results back and will be having a meeting on July 8th with all the septic dumpers and cities to share the results and discuss solutions.” She added, “Currently, dumping for Star Valley has to travel outside the valley, and we need to see what opportunities there may be to bring access to dumping closer to the users.”

Echoing concerns about the septic waste situation, Scott Milne, President of Dry Creek Plumbing, stated, “The septic dumping issue has been an ongoing problem within Star Valley for years… This is a huge problem and has the potential to become a crisis.”

Milne continued, “The majority of people in Star Valley are on a septic system, and to maintain a healthy system, they must be pumped regularly. If there is no place to dump or treat the waste, many people will opt not to pump and maintain their tank, which will have further implications for homeowners and the environment. It really is an issue that needs to be addressed and resolved quickly.”

Guy Jacobsen, owner of Star Valley Disposal, expressed his concerns: “I think right now, it’s in a kind of an emergency situation for our valley. It’s putting a big burden on me and Scott as haulers to haul it out of the valley. We’re in a pretty bad situation right now. As far as not just me losing business, but as the community, we need to come together and make a decision. If the county needs to, I think the county should maybe even build their own ponds.”

The recent incidents have raised concerns about the long-term environmental impact of septic waste on Afton’s sewage system. Sanderson warned, “Having that additional BOD content coming in from septic could potentially be detrimental to our system.”

As Afton moves forward, the council is committed to ensuring that changes to the waste management system prioritize the health of both the community and the environment. “I would recommend the county residents reach out to the county commissioners to help them understand what this would mean for them,” Sanderson shared. “The county is the permitting authority for septic within the county. They hold a responsibility to the residents to ensure that there is something more local for these companies to dump in.”

While the recent overflow incidents have highlighted serious issues within Afton’s sewage management system, they have also prompted necessary discussions and actions aimed at protecting the community and its environment. The insights from Sanderson, Jacobsen, Bowers, and Milne underscore the urgent need for collaborative solutions to this pressing challenge.