New onsite system rules, passed after many years of delays after the 2000 passage of AB-885, will affect 1.2 million households, according to an environmental impact statement. The regulations will require tank inspections every five years, along with other provisions that could cost some homeowners and businesses substantial money.

A new bill, AB-268, was introduced to repeal the new regulations but it failed in committee. The bill’s lead author, assemblyman Ted Gaines, is working on another bill. “The proposed regulations, released in November 2008, will require residents who have a septic system to pay a $325 inspection fee,” he says on his official Web site. “Residents would also be required to pay an additional $325 if there is a well on site. If the inspection fails, homeowners would be forced to pay up to tens of thousands of dollars to replace and upgrade their septic system.”

Another bill, AB-580, has received bipartisan support to develop standards to lessen the impact and allow for adapting the rules for various regions of the state. The bill author, Alyson Huber, says in a news release from her office, “A statewide, one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer and would negatively impact rural homeowners and businesses. We need regional flexibility in these regulations to deal with the realties of a large and geographically diverse state.”

Ohio

Todd Paulus, R.S., unit manager for the Stark County Health Department in Canton, Ohio, states that a bill in the state legislature revising Ohio’s onsite regulations will not cost homeowners as much as $50,000 to install onsite systems, as some have recently claimed.

“A few who oppose the state’s Home Sewage Treatment System Study Commission findings are attempting to invoke public outcry against the rules by overinflating the costs of these systems,” he says.

“Stark County is using most of the principles in the proposed regulations, and our installation costs are $7,000 to $15,000. Occasionally, in the worst soils, a drip system will cost $18,000 to $20,000. Since January 2008, we’ve installed 333 systems. The average costs are $9,850 for new systems, $8,475 for replacements, $3,501 for alterations, and $8,438 overall.”

In July 2007, Ohio rescinded its new onsite rules law that required some properties to replace conventional drainfields with mounds or pretreatment with low-pressure pipe drainfields. Counties were left on their own to determine what to do next.

Stark County opted to install less costly, less maintenance-intensive systems that still abided by most of the principles of the 2007 law. Besides conventional drainfields when soils permit, the county uses dosing siphons or Flouts, and some flood dosing instead of LPP. Furthermore, the cost of technology has decreased since 2007, and more options are available.

According to Paulus, the most debated principle in the proposed new rule requires a vertical separation distance for high seasonally perched water tables and harsh limited soil conditions. Approved procedures to reduce the distance would be to elevate or pretreat, or both. Opponents have objected to the additional expense of doing so.

Most soils in Stark County are moderate. Paulus admits that counties with worse soils may have a different perspective than his. “The average prices I mentioned included systems ranging from standard trenches and mounds to pretreatment with flood or LPP dosing,” says Paulus. “Fewer than 2 percent are drip systems.”

Connecticut

The Department of Public Health (DPH) Technical Standards for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems update became effective Jan. 1, 2009. The state Public Health Code Regulations, as referenced in the May Rules and Regs column, have not been revised. According to Amanda J. Clark, R.S., environmental analyst 3 in the Environmental Engineering Program at the DPH, the minimum septic tank sizes are 1,000 gallons for three-bedroom, single-family; 1,250 gallons for four bedrooms; and 125 gallons more for each bedroom after four. The minimum distance between drainfields and property lines is 15 feet when the top of the bed is above grade. If a retaining wall is used, a 10-foot separation is permitted from the inner edge of the wall.

Proprietary leaching systems may be used in vehicular travel areas only if authorized by the manufacturer and supporting documentation is filed with the Commis-sioner of Public Health. Leaching trenches must have at least 12 inches of cover in vehicular travel areas. Precast concrete structures in vehicular travel areas must be H-20 load rated and require no additional cover. A summary of the updates is at www.ct.gov/dph/subsurfacesewage.

Florida

The Department of Health has issued a public notice of proposed changes to septic system regulations in the state. The changes address tank inspection procedures; operating permits; filters and components; land application of septage; drainfield repairs; portable restrooms; design, construction location and use of septic tanks, dosing systems, drip irrigation systems, performance-based treatment systems, aerobic treatment systems and mound drainfield systems; system abandonment; site evaluations; reports required; and availability of forms. Visit www.doh.state.fl.us/ environment/ostds/rule.htm.

Hawaii

State officials in Hawaii are considering their options after research indicated that discharges from cesspools are polluting some of the best snorkeling areas. About 60,000 gallons of wastewater are produced by residents in two subdivisions near the Wai Opae tide pools, news reports say. Studies have found high levels of fecal bacteria in the ocean waters near the subdivisions, which have developed only half of their lots. Proposed solutions include installing individual septic systems at a cost of about $32,000 each, or a community sewer system at an estimated cost of $7.8 million.

Idaho

The state senate in February killed a bill calling for more stringent requirements for new septic systems. The proposal from the Department of Environmental Quality to require larger drainfields came after an extensive rule-making process and years of debate. Opponents raised concerns about the added cost to homeowners and claimed that proponents couldn’t prove that larger drainfields would protect the environment.

Iowa

Effective last July 1, all septic systems must be inspected before any sale or transfer of the deed of any building or business. Such septic systems do not have to meet current codes in order to pass the inspection, but they do have to meet the requirements included in their installation permit and must be operating properly.

The Department of Natural Resources also developed a certification program to make sure there would be enough inspectors. After applying for certification, people must complete a training course and pass a test. Applicants must have two years of experience working with septic systems. Certification costs $350 and is good for two years. Inspectors must have 12 hours of continuing education during each two-year certification period.

Maine

A bill to require a license for onsite system installers failed in committee in April. The license requirements would have included being a licensed plumber and being properly insured. The Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development killed the bill.

Mississippi

As of last July 1, septic systems in Mississippi must be approved by health officials before they can be used. Rural areas that use wells for drinking water are exempt. New regulations also have stricter requirements for the maintenance of some alternative systems. Homeowners can either contract for the maintenance or become certified to do their own work.