More than 65 residents met at the Allanton community hall to hear a presentation about the benefits of the pressure system over a reticulated waste water scheme from Harrison Grierson Consultants engineer Thomas Haarhoff, council water and waste services manager John Mackie and asset planning manager Laura McElhone.
Only one resident objected outright to the idea, with most in full agreement and keen for the council to move quickly on the plan.
The area's sewerage system became a cause for concern after a 2006 assessment identified more than 20 failed septic tanks in the area.
Allanton faced a health hazard from runoff contaminating properties, water courses, roadside ditches and the Taieri River.
The decision to choose the pressure system, where each house would have an individual pump, was expected to cut costs by almost $1 million and be less prone to leaks than a reticulated system.
The total cost was expected to be about $3.4 million.
A pump chamber would be placed in the yard of each property, and a control system would be attached to the house.
The system would grind waste and send it through pipes to the treatment plant in Mosgiel.
The pump system would only need to be on for about 13 minutes a day, costing an average household just $12 a year in power costs.
Existing residents would be expected to pay 20% of the total cost of installing the network of pipes, and for the onsite equipment.
The cost was estimated at $4020 and includes the removal of septic tanks, all wiring, pipes and ongoing maintenance.
Those wanting to build new homes in the area would not be subsidised by the council and would have to pay about $20,000.
The reticulated system was expected to cost each household between $5940 and more than $12,000, or $25,000 for new home builders.
Mr Mackie said the next step would be visiting residents individually, then buying the pump units, which would happen in February to May next year, before putting out a tender for construction in about June, with construction taking place from August 2010 to March 2011.
Residents would have a chance for further say on the matter during annual plan hearings.
