The General Assembly approved legislation that will require thousands of homeowners within 1,000 feet of Chesapeake Bay and Ocean City tidal waterways to add nitrogen-removal technology to their onsite systems. The ruling also applies to all new or replacement systems in these sensitive zones.
Officials estimate the areas have 51,000 onsite systems accounting for 25 to 30 percent of the nitrogen pollution. Funds raised from a $30 annual onsite system fee are expected to cover the $12,000 cost of adding nitrogen-removal technology.
Wisconsin
Lawmakers introduced legislation to update the definition of plumbing to include stormwater reuse and water reclamation systems. If passed, it also will allow people with a master plumber-restricted service license to install these systems, as currently allowed by the Department of Commerce.
The DoC proposed rules listing forfeiture amounts for violating the new conflict-of-interest law for onsite regulators and also proposed a mandatory contractor registry and charging of companies $100 every four years for the compulsory listing.
Virginia
The General Assembly approved an amended bill allowing Loudoun County, Va., to keep its moratorium on installing more advanced treatment systems until the state adopts guidelines regulating the technology, a process expected to take two years. The county enacted the moratorium after 12 of the 1,031 alternative systems installed from March 2001 through June 2008 failed. Construction damaged one.
California
The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Com-mittee passed a bill that would repeal legislation effective in July 2010 requiring septic tanks to be pumped every five years. The proposed legislation would allow local jurisdictions to adopt their own pumping standards based on necessity. If passed, the ruling would save homeowners an estimated $1.5 billion in unnecessary upgrades. The bill is now in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Florida
A bill introduced in the House and now in the Health Care Regulation Policy Committee revises provisions for administrative actions by the Department of Health, increases fines for violations, provides for noncompliance enforcement measures, mandates periodic inspections and pump-outs of onsite systems, and establishes a septic tank contractor advisory panel. If passed, the bill was to take effect on July 1, 2009.
Minnesota
The amended Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Code states that, as of Feb. 4, 2010, contractors installing proprietary treatment technology and distribution media must use only those products registered with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. After Feb. 3, 2011, contractors must install only registered septic tanks and pump tanks. The amendment also mandates that onsite systems have their own electrical permit and be inspected by an electrical inspector.
New Mexico
The Environment Department Liquid Waste Certification Program began on July 1. It allows qualified homeowners to install or modify conventional onsite systems serving their primary residence.
The program requires certification of site evaluators, designers, installers, third-party inspectors, maintenance providers for advanced systems, and professional engineers. It also establishes an Education Steering Committee to identify training classes, profes-sional conferences, workshops and other educational opportunities for continuing education credit.
