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Show Problems evident in subdivisions Although it is admittedly still a case of "buyer beware," concern was expressed in last week's county commission meeting over purchasers of subdivision plots with inadequate water facilities. According to Bill Dawson, sanitarium for the Southwest District Health Department, the state Attorney At-torney General's office and the State Division of Health is looking into the problems in several subdivisions of Cedar Valley. Some enforcement is needed, he said, to slow down the problems that are arising. One such development, the Sky View Subdivision, has a water system inadequate to the point where seven or eight families are not able to flush their toilets. Some families have to bring water into their homes by container, he said. No Legal Right In other instances, he said, the homeowners association is selling (continued on page 3) water problems has been since last February without adequate pressured water. A petition signed by numerous individuals, with an explanatory letter was sent to the governor, county commissioners, state representatives, State Division of Health and the local health department. They were finally answered an-swered just recently by only the state health people, she said. Others contacted without any response were the Department of Business Regulation, Real Estate Division, she added. "There are ten families hooked up to this system and we are all getting pretty disgusted," Mrs. Allen explained. ex-plained. "I can't put up with it much longer. I sure wished I would have looked into it a bit more than I did." Realistically Sufficient? She said the land was somewhat misrepresented to her upon her purchase of it, in that the deed ays she is entitled to water - sufficient well water. Realistically it may be sufficient, he said, although it does take one and one-half to two hours to do a load of wash, she said. Following a visit from the state officials, the subdivision pump and system has been fixed "piece meal," she said. Dawson added, "I just can't emphasize em-phasize enough those developers that are doing a super job. But we need some insurance from the county to keep the overall problem in check." I (continued from page 1) water rights to purchasers, but legally the association doesn't own the water they are selling. "It sometimes worries me," Dawson said. "People need to be made aware of these things. And there are so many reputable companies com-panies and associations that you can't call them all black sheep, but we need more orderly means of development. According to both Dawson and Commission Chairman Grant Seaman, several subdivisions have been approved in the past without State Division of Health sanction, which is expressly called for in the Iron County Subdivision ordinance. No real change in the ordinance is needed, Dawson said, just some enforcement. Would Like Change Seaman said he would like to see subdivisions be required to gain Southwest District Health Department Depart-ment or Stae Division of Health approval, ap-proval, and have a space provided on the subdivision papers, before the commission approves the development. develop-ment. "These regulations are not designed to harass people and prevent development," Dawson said, "but to prevent sickness and disease. Some people aren't aware of everything (concerning their property) and they are the ones that get hurt." Presently courts are the only recourse against improperly r equipped or falsely sold property. The District Health Department has no enforcement, only the state, Dawson said. Commissioner Seaman said he presumes the valley may have to enact a special service district to take care of water and sewage problems in the near future. "If I know anything about hydrology, I know it is coming to that," he said. Annexation Available Another option available is for subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of the valley to be annexed, either into Cedar City or Enoch, a move Seaman said he prefers to a special improvement district. Most homes or subdivisions are utilizing septic tanks or drainage field systems, Dawson said, estimating between 5-10 years before an enclosed sewer system would be needed for the valley. Some water samples taken in wells ' scattered in the valley have been showing up with traces of nitrate, Dawson said, some with a rating as high as 9.5. The recommended maximum is 10 he said. The source of such infiltration is probably corrals, livestock and septic ponds near water supplies, he said. Homeowner Speaks One homeowner in the Sky View subdivision, Margaret Allen, said she |