1. ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH Onsite 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 OrganismDays Coliforms38 Salmonella120 Enteroviruses200 Cryptosporidium365

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 Laws Governing Onsite Wastewater RSMo 701.025 – 701.059

8. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES (DHSS) and Local Administrative Authorities SubsurfaceSurface ‘Domestic’ Waste from Single and Multi-Family Residential and from Commercial Facilities Multi-Family Residential and Commercial ‘Domestic’ Waste - RO Multi-Family & Commercial Lagoons - RO Single Family Residential Lagoons JURISDICTION DHSS? or DNR? 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 of Septage & Wastewater - RO NPDES Discharge Permits - RO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) Central Office (CO) and Regional Offices (RO)

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

10.  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. Complaint Investigation Process Malfunctioning Onsite Wastewater Systems

16. Legal Authority RSMo 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 Authority RSMo 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  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

20. Probable Cause Without 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 A Notice 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