ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH Onsite Wastewater Treatment

1. ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTHOnsite Wastewater Treatment Jim Gaughan, P.E., Environmental Engineer Bureau of Environmental Health Services

2. Onsite Wastewater Treatment • Malfunctioning onsite systems • Missouri Onsite Sewage Laws • Minimum Construction Standards • Permitting and inspection process

3. Protecting Public Health • Pathogens in water • Water contains numerous microbes – not all are pathogenic • Viruses >120 enteric viruses • Bacteria • Protozoans • Fungi • Worms • Nitrates, phosphorus • PPCPs – pharmaceuticals and personal care products

4. Onsite Treatment Uses Soil-Pathogen Survival In Soil- • Survival can be quite variable

5. Factors Affecting Pathogen Survival • Temperature • Survival increases with decreasing temperature. • Soil texture • Finer textures are better for treatment • Soil filters out larger pathogens • Clay particles trap viruses • Moisture • Moist soil prolongs microbial viability; drying inactivates most pathogens. • Predation and competition • Time

6. WasteWater Recycling

7. Missouri LawsGoverning Onsite Wastewater RSMo 701.025 – 701.059

8. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) Central Office (CO) and Regional Offices (RO) Approval of the use of Onsite Systems for Subdivisions and Residential Housing Units ( ≥ 7 new or ≥ 3 additional units) - CO Commercial/Industrial Facilities Generating ‘Non-domestic’ Wastewater Determined by DNR - RO or CO JURISDICTIONDHSS? or DNR? NPDES Discharge Permits - RO Land Application of Septage & Wastewater - RO SubsurfaceSurface Single Family Residential Lagoons Multi-Family & Commercial Lagoons - RO ‘Domestic’ Waste from Single and Multi-Family Residential and from Commercial Facilities Multi-Family Residential and Commercial ‘Domestic’ Waste - RO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES (DHSS) and Local Administrative Authorities Based on DHSS Rule:  3,000 Gallons per Day > 3,000 Gallons per Day

9. Administrative Authority 26 - State 27 - Contract 61 - Ordinance FY 2011

10. Administrative Authority • County Health Departments • Planing and Zoning Commissions • County Building Departments • County Public Works Department • Sewer Districts • Municipalities • Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

11. Local Ordinances • Must establish a system at least equal to state regulation and inspection • Local authorities may enact and enforce standards that are more stringent or restrictive than state standards

12. Exemptions from DHSS Regulation • Single-family residence lots of 3 acres or more if: • the system is at least 10 feet from property lines; • sewage does not leave the property, create a nuisance, or contaminate surface waters or groundwater; and • the lot is not adjacent to a Corps of Engineers or public utility lake. • Multi-family residence lots with 10 acres per residence if: • same conditions as for 3 acre exemption are met; and • sewage systems are at least 360 feet apart.

13. Inspection of Systems • Existing systems are not inspected unless: • A valid complaint is received or with sufficient probable cause • Part of a communicable disease investigation • A construction permit application is submitted to make a major repair • At the request of a private party for a real estate inspection/ evaluation (non-regulatory)

14. Repairs to Onsite Systems • Repairs not requiring a permit • Minor repairs such as replacing physically-damaged pipe • Cleaning out a lagoon or a sewage tank • Repairs requiring a permit include • Adding additional lateral lines • Replacing a septic tank • Expanding a lagoon • Relocating a part of the system • Generally, remedial action required by an NOV

15. ComplaintInvestigation Process Malfunctioning Onsite Wastewater Systems

16. Legal AuthorityRSMo 701.025 through 701.059 • 701.029 prohibits operation of any onsite sewage disposal system that causes contamination of surface waters or groundwater, presents a nuisance or a health hazard • 701.031 requires property owners of all buildings where people live, work or assemble to provide for the sanitary disposal of all domestic sewage.

17. Legal AuthorityRSMo 701.025 through 701.059 • 701.033 provides right of entry to property to investigate and enforce the sections of the sewage law • 701.037 establishes the notice of violation criteria • 701.038 establishes the authority to investigate complaints from an aggrieved party or an adjacent land owner

18. Complaint Handling • Is the complaint from an aggrieved party or an adjoining property owner? • If complaint is valid, determine if it alleges a nuisance or an imminent hazard • Do not take any action based solely on a phoned or written complaint –investigate

19. Complaint Investigation • The investigation should determine if there is evidence of an alleged violation of state statute or local ordinance • Document everything • Dye tracing should not be used routinely

20. Probable CauseWithout a Complaint • “…reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of sections 701.025 through 701.059 or the rules…” • Nuisance: • Repairs or new system construction

21. Issuing ANotice Of Violation • Use form E3.10 Violation Notice • Serve NOV on owner… by registered mail or other authorized method

22. Minimum Construction Standards for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems 19 CSR 20-3.060

23. Construction Standards Cover • Daily wastewater flow • Site/soil evaluations • Absorption field sizing • Primary treatment – septic tanks, lagoons; or Secondary treatment – aerobic treatment units (ATU’s) • Alternative systems • Advanced treatment • Pressure distribution systems

24. Permit Process • Authority issues a packet with numbered application – or issues an application number for forms downloaded from the Internet • Property owner or agent submits: • Application fee • Application and system design • Soil evaluation report • Engineering report (if applicable) • Variance application (if applicable)

25. Application Review • Check application for completeness – it must include all information needed to determine compliance with the construction standards, such as: • Daily flow • Soil report, including loading rate or perc rate • Size and type of tanks and/or size of lagoon • Size and type of absorption field • Groundwater drainage system if needed

26. Design Review • Review Soil Morphology Report • Confirm Adequate Vertical Separation • Check Tank Size and Field Size • Check Elevations • Check for Adequate Setback Distances • If the application and design comply with the standards, proceed; otherwise, return to applicant for modifications

27. Variances • With assurance for protection of public health and preservation of surface and groundwater quality, variances may be allowed on a case by case basis for: • Setback distances • Minimum distance between infiltrative surface and restrictive feature or bedrock • Minimum areas for infiltrative surfaces

28. Pre-Construction Site Visit • Perform preliminary site inspection • If the system layout complies with the standards, issue a construction permit (see copy of Construction Permit/ Final Inspection form and Important Notices)

29. System Final Inspection • Provide written results of the inspection to the property owner • Document failure to notify or failure to install according to plan - consider action against the installer

30. Onsite Wastewater Summary • Public Health Protection • Laws Governing Onsite Sewage Systems • Complaint investigation process • Minimum Construction Standards • Application/permit process