Rome committee finds hundreds of missing septic inspection records and asks CEO to require reports for recent shoreline sales

At its July 8, 2026 meeting, the Rome Water Quality Committee reported that its recent review of septic records found 1,331 entries in the spreadsheet and 445 homeowners with missing household hazardous effluent (HHE) records.

Committee members said only five recorded septic systems were installed before 1978 and 25 were installed between 1978 and 1985. The committee also reported that of 134 shoreline homes that transferred ownership since Jan. 1, 2020, only 16 had the required certified septic system inspection on file.

The committee said members met with the town CEO and agreed that he will send a letter to sellers of shoreline homes sold after Jan. 1, 2020 requiring submission of a certified septic inspection report. They also agreed to ask the CEO to send letters later to the 445 homeowners with missing HHE records requesting that information be provided.

Committee members discussed asking the state legislature to amend state law to allow a fine for failing to provide a certified inspection report when required. They said they are talking with the Maine Lakes Society about partnering on outreach and intend to seek grants to help low-income households bring septic systems up to current standards.

The committee reported it has worked out a process with the CEO to update the master spreadsheet with any newly approved HHEs so the database will be kept current. Members said the spreadsheet has already been shared with 7LA and the town CEO.

The committee did not take a formal recorded vote at the July 8 meeting; the record reflects agreement to ask the CEO to send the two sets of letters and to pursue legislative and grant avenues as next steps. The committee set follow-up items for future meetings to review the effect of outreach and any legislative developments.