I am a resident of a neighborhood in Gastonia, NC, living with an original septic tank from 1953. It's not just me; many homeowners here are dealing with septic tanks that are over 35 years old. Roots from large oak trees have infiltrated the side wall and lines of my tank, necessitating a replacement and relocation that will cost approximately $25,000 to repermit and rerun new septic lines.

Our neighborhood has already faced groundwater contamination issues which led to the implementation of city water services. However, we still lack city sewer services - an essential utility that can prevent potential health risks associated with aging or failing septic systems.

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one in five U.S homes depends on septic systems for wastewater treatment. When these systems fail, they can contaminate nearby water sources causing serious public health threats including gastrointestinal illness and other diseases (source: EPA).

We urge our local government officials to prioritize our request for city sewer services. Not only would this alleviate individual financial burdens like mine but it would also protect our community's health by preventing future groundwater contamination incidents.

Please sign this petition if you believe in safeguarding public health and promoting sustainable infrastructure investments in Gastonia neighborhoods like ours.