Portage County officials have compiled a database of more than 3,600 individual septic systems on township land which need to be examined for possible leaks into public waterways and ditches.The bigger question, however, is what to do about it.Residents found to have failing systems that discharge off their property will be required to fix or replace them, a cost that could range between $12,000 and $20,000, county Engineer Michael Marozzi said. That’s a daunting expense even in good economic times.So last year, Portage County Commissioners charged a committee with proposing ways to assist residents using money collected from a special storm water fee that was imposed on township residents three years ago.Next week, that committee will present options that range from giving all eligible property owners a partial loan only repayable when the property is sold to a more weighted scale that would offer more help to the county’s poorest families.Commissioners said they will likely have a public hearing on the matter once they have investigated all the possibilities.The need to do something stems from the county’s storm water discharge permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The permit requires the county to monitor and stop illicit discharges onto public property.The county has begun testing ditches and waterways along county and township highways.So far, 29 properties are being targeted for remedy this year, but that number will grow significantly each year as more testing is completed, said health department director Duane Porter.In preparation for cleaning up the pollution, the county imposed a storm water fee on land in unincorporated areas three years ago. Cities and villages in the county have their own storm water programs and fees.The average one-lot township property owner paid $1 a month that first year. A phased-in schedule will take that fee to $2 a month in January and then max out at $2.50 next summer.Of the money collected this year, $120,000 has been placed in a fund to help property owners replace their systems.Representatives from the engineer and health departments and the Portage County Soil and Water Conservation Office, along with the Portage County Regional Planning Commission, which has been hired to administer the program, presented one idea to commissioners this week.Based on directions commissioners gave the group last year, they proposed offering loans based on household incomes. Low-income families would get grants for up to 40 percent of the cost of a new system, while middle-income property owners could qualify for low-interest loans for up to 20 percent of the cost. Wealthier landowners would not qualify for a loan.Commissioner Chris Smeiles said last year’s board wanted to “help the senior on a fixed income who is going to lose a house if they can’t afford” to comply with the health department order. He said it was not the board’s intent to use the money to help half-million-dollar property owners who have no mortgage and can afford to replace their own failing systems.Commissioner Maureen Frederick said she was also concerned about “another government giveaway” program.The three-person body, however, has a new commissioner on board this year, and she is opposed to a program that discriminates based on income.Tommie Jo Marsilio asked the committee to return next week with an option that would qualify all eligible property owners for a $4,000 loan attached as a property lien, payable when the property is sold in the future.Todd Peetz of the Regional Planning Commission said a plan that simple would be easier and cheaper to administer.Without money being returned to the fund, however, the cleanup could go slower.The storm water committee will meet with commissioners again at 3 p.m. Sept. 8.Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.