North Carolina Association Defeats Costly Amendment

If passed, the proposal would have required two technicians per pumper truck transporting excavation equipment and materials.

Doug Lassiter, executive director and lobbyist for the North Carolina Septic Tank Association, reports that rapid action prevented a costly amendment to a bill from becoming law. The proposal, which required pumpers to install effluent filters and risers on septic tanks (if not already in place), was being heard in committee.

If passed, the proposal would have required two technicians per pumper truck transporting excavation equipment and materials. “A pump-out job that usually lasts an hour could turn into four hours,” writes Lassiter. “The cost to the consumer could more than triple, producing negative results for our industry and the legislators who voted for the amendment.”

Lassiter and association members called their legislators, expressing the desire to address the amendment in full with all the questions resolved. Their efforts resulted in the language being pulled from the bill.

Rhode Island

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Property Standard has been replaced by an IAPMO/ American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z1000-2007 standard for prefabricated concrete, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, or polyethylene septic tanks. Besides establishing what constitutes acceptable quality, the standard includes requirements for design, materials, performance testing, and markings.

IAPMO/ANSI Z1001-2007, replacing IAPMO PS 80, establishes construction specifications for prefabricated gravity grease interceptors. Developed for producers, distributors, architects, engineers, contractors, installers, inspectors, and users, it addresses design, materials, installation, and marking/labeling for identifying prefabricated gravity grease interceptors that conform to the standard. Both can be purchased online at https: //publications.iapmo.org/standards /pub_show_synopsis.asp?doc_id =312.

Washington

New onsite treatment rules now require conventional onsite systems to be inspected every three years, and all other types to be inspected every year. Island County homeowners may inspect their systems after completing the County Public Health training program, provided the evaluation is not associated with a property sale, and provided the system is conventional and is not located in a sensitive or marine recovery area. In all other cases, the inspection must be done by a professional provider.

The State Department of Health is phasing in the rules over 18 months. County Public Health has initiated licensing for professional maintenance service providers. Training and certifying for homeowners begins early this year. Penalties for non-compliance range from $25 a day for low-risk violations to $250 a day for high-risk ones, but the health department imposes fines only as a last resort. No fines will be levied during the 18-month implementation period.



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