The Coweta County Commission

decided Tuesday there's more than one way to deal with a problem.

Growing increasingly frustrated

with the failure rate of alternative septic systems, the county passed

a zoning ordinance that requires each approved building lot to have a

site for a conventional septic system.

"We're not saying

you can't use alternative systems. You just have to have room for

a regular septic system," said attorney Mitch Powell.

Because the state allows some

alternative systems to be used, the county has been getting increasing

calls on systems that have failed. With all the building lot used for

the home and alternative system, some homeowners are looking at expensive

repair bills.

"I'll get thrown

out of office before I approve another drip line system," said Commissioner

Vernon "Mutt" Hunter.

Lori Cook, who used to work

in Coweta County's environmental health division and now works for

the state, was at Tuesday's meeting and said some alternative systems

have a failure rate three times higher than conventional systems.

Cook said the problem lies

with minimum requirements for the systems that she's trying to get

changed at the state level.

Commissioner Robert Wood, who

is a real estate broker, believes there should be more disclosure on the

real estate forms that tells prospective homeowners the type of septic

system they're buying.

Since the state allows the

alternative systems, the only remedy county officials have is through

a zoning ordinance.

"We're just trying

to protect the homeowner," said Commissioner Larry DeMoss.