Neglected septic tanks which exist among the 30,000 in San Juan County pose a potentially deadly threat, especially to unsuspecting children. That’s the message Shay Aurnhammer, a captain with San Juan County Fire and Rescue is trying to get across to save lives.

“Not everyone is aware of it until something bad has happened,” Aurnhammer recently told KOB 4.

Septic tank lids can look like something in a playground to children, who often jump on them as if they were an exercise ball cut in half. If lids are loose or damaged, the child can fall into the tank. Five times in the last five years a neglected septic tank caused injury and even tragedy. Four of the incidents involved children and in three of those cases, the child died, according to a KOB 4 report. 

“It’s gotten to a point where if we get called out to assist with looking for a missing child we will ask if there are any septic tanks in the area,” Aurnhammer said. “That’s not something we should be used to. That’s not something we should be having to ask for because we are responding to it once a year at least.”

Aurnhammer said anyone with a septic tank in their yard or in their neighborhood can ensure it’s not a danger by “making sure that the lid is secure (and) it’s got all the screws in place. Don’t uncover it, or leave it unattended uncovered at any time.”

Lids should be immediately replaced once they’re worn or sun damaged. A second safety device can also be installed inside the septic tank riser.

Rescuing children who have fallen into septic tanks is dangerous for the first responders as well. “There was one call where first responders were performing life-saving measures on one of the children,” Aurnhammer said. “The medics were trying to make their way around him when they also stepped on the other septic tank lid and almost fell in themselves.”