COEUR d'ALENE - The Cedar Motel and RV Park in Coeur d'Alene had to close its toilets and showers late last week after an on-site septic system failed.

Panhandle Health District, an agency that provides public health services for Idaho's five northern counties, received a complaint on Thursday regarding the closure at Cedar, which is located at 319 E. Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive. When staff at Panhandle went to observe the situation the same day, spokeswoman Melanie Collett said, they saw a large hole filled with raw sewage.

"That is a public health hazard," Collett added. "They had it somewhat roped off, but someone could still easily get access and there are a lot of children in the area."

Panhandle employees told property managers that they would need to pump out the sewage and fill the hole immediately. The task was accomplished on Friday, Collett said, but the septic system itself is still broken.

"The toilets and showers can't be reopened until that is fixed," she added. "We will want to follow-up with them and make sure they understand this is a hazardous situation."

Esther Schlechte, a Hauser resident, contacted The Press on behalf of her friends - who rent an area for their recreational vehicle on the property but were concerned they would get kicked out if they went public with their situation.

Only a few of the renters at Cedar have small bathrooms in their RVs, Schlechte said. But her friends and many others have been forced to walk across the street to Tesoro to use the shower and restroom at the gas station.

"They told me that it's just really frustrating to be in there and have to pay for showers," Schlechte said. "And, of course, any time you have to go to the bathroom you have to make sure you're going to be able to get across the street quick enough to use them."

The gas station charges $6 per shower, and Schlechte said when there were showers available at the park their use was included in the cost of rent.

According to Collett, Panhandle has handled multiple on-site sewage disposal problems at the property in the past, which were addressed by the property owners. She added that Panhandle has recommended hooking up the property to the city of Coeur d'Alene's sewage system as a long-term solution to the septic issues.

On Monday, The Press attempted to contact the owners or manager of Cedar Motel and RV Park for comment on the issue. However, an employee told The Press she did not have contact information for the owner, and that the manager was busy.