INVESTIGATES: Accidental death of Jose Lara raises questions about septic tank regulations

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — The death of one-and-a-half-year-old Jose Lara is raising questions about septic tank regulations.

A near 24-hour search in Crescent City ended tragically when deputies found Jose’s body in a septic tank on the property where his family lives.

Deputies said he fell through a piece of plywood covering the top.

“It’s dangerous. We find it all the time,” plumbing contractor Thomas Wall said.

Wall is licensed by the state of Florida specifically to inspect septic tanks.

He said more often than not, homeowners cover their septic tanks with makeshift items like plywood.

“They say, ‘Well, I’ll fix it later,’ and then they never fix it later,” Wall said.

Wall said there are no specific regulations or rules in Florida for upkeep of septic tanks.

He said tanks are inspected when they’re first built and later if there is a problem.

He also said he hears about accidents like this about once a year.

“It’ll be somebody, somewhere in the county or somewhere in the state. ‘Somebody fell in a septic tank,’” Wall said.

Action News Jax first told you when a 3-year-old boy fell into a Jacksonville septic tank and died in 2017.

RELATED STORY: Jacksonville mayor: ‘Entire city is mourning their child with them’

“That was a county project, and they didn’t put the screws back in and the kid fell in,” Wall said.

Wall said even a local plumber fell into a septic tank recently.

So how can you prevent something like this from happening on your property?

Wall said if someone comes and pumps your septic tank, make sure they put the lid back on properly.

If for some reason you don’t have a lid, “Call a contractor, have somebody come out there and patch it or fix it, whatever we have to do,” Wall said.

Wall said his team is now carrying polymer lids on their trucks at all times to fix any uncovered septic tanks they run across, but ultimately it falls on the homeowner to make sure their tank is covered.

Wall said polymer lids cost less than $100. A concrete one can be pricier.

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Jose Lara The death of 18-month-old Jose Lara in Putnam County is raising questions about septic tank regulations.

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