ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTHOnsite Wastewater Treatment

Jim Gaughan, P.E., Environmental Engineer

Bureau of Environmental Health Services

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Malfunctioning onsite systems

Missouri Onsite Sewage Laws

Minimum Construction Standards

Permitting and inspection process

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

Onsite Treatment Uses Soil-Pathogen Survival In Soil-

Survival can be quite variable

Organism Days

Coliforms 38

Salmonella 120

Enteroviruses 200

Cryptosporidium 365

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

WasteWater Recycling

Missouri LawsGoverning Onsite Wastewater

RSMo 701.025 – 701.059

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES (DHSS) and Local Administrative Authorities

Sub

surf

ace

Sur

face

‘Domestic’ Waste from Single and Multi-Family Residential and from Commercial Facilities

Multi-Family Residential andCommercial ‘Domestic’ Waste - RO

Multi-Family &Commercial Lagoons - RO

Single FamilyResidential Lagoons

JURISDIC

TION

DHSS? or D

NR?

Based on DHSS Rule: 3,000 Gallons per Day > 3,000 Gallons per Day

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

Land Application ofSeptage & Wastewater - RO

NPDES Discharge Permits - RO

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR)Central Office (CO) and Regional Offices (RO)

26 - State

27 - Contract

61 - Ordinance

FY 2011

Administrative Authority

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

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

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.

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)

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

ComplaintInvestigation Process

Malfunctioning

Onsite Wastewater Systems

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.

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

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

Complaint Investigation

Document everything

Dye tracing should not be used routinely

The investigation should determine if there is evidence of an alleged violation of state statute or local ordinance

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

Issuing ANotice Of Violation

Use form E3.10 Violation Notice Serve NOV on owner… by registered mail or

other authorized method

Minimum Construction Standards for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

19 CSR 20-3.060

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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