Florida
The Jackson County Commission became the second county commission to vote unanimously to opt out of the state-designed septic tank inspection law. Nineteen counties with first-magnitude springs are required to conduct limited inspections unless they opt out by Jan. 1, 2013. Hernando County Commission was the first.
Indiana
The state Department of Health announced rulemaking to update and clarify requirements for the design, construction, installation, operation and maintenance of residential and commercial onsite systems.
Iowa
Final regulations on private septic systems and commercial septic tank cleaners took effect on Aug. 15. Maintenance contracts will be required before installation of systems that require maintenance, but language was added to ensure that lower-maintenance systems are used where applicable.
The department says changes to the time-of-transfer inspection rules simplify and clarify existing practices without significantly changing the regulation. Other changes, including setbacks from public wells, flow rates per bedroom, use of effluent screens, size of risers, and standards for plastic septic tanks were made to reflect current practices.
Maryland
St. Mary's County has submitted its required plan to reduce nitrogen and sediment from Chesapeake Bay, but officials say there is no way to pay for it, and questioned the science behind the regulations. A staff memo says costs to septic tank owners and sewer system customers "is unaffordable" and "beyond the ability of the county to fund without significant funding assistance from state or federal sources."
The Department of Environment (MDE) proposed regulations requiring best available technology (BAT) units for removing nitrogen from onsite system effluent for all new construction, and ongoing maintenance and operation for all BATs in perpetuity. The proposed regulations are in the comment period.
Michigan
The state Supreme Court ruled that local governments are responsible for sewage discharges from private septic systems into public waterways. The ruling overturned an appeals court that found in favor of Worth Township in a dispute with the Department of Environmental Quality.
State law now requires local governments that ban land application of septage to provide a receiving facility large enough to accept all local septage.
www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/pdf/2012-PA-0041.pdf
Rep. Ken Goike, working with the Michigan Septic Tank Association, proposed legislation requiring a state sanitary code. Goike is a member of the association and a former president.
NEW JERSEY
New state regulations, N.J.A.C. 7:9A, require replacing most cesspools with conforming systems at the time of property sale or transfer. If such systems are not possible, local authorities may develop alternatives to deal with site constraints. Another requirement recommends replacing 4-inch effluent filters with 6-inch or larger filters in new or replacement tanks. New tanks must have a NSF International Standard 46 effluent filter. The state also established standards for inspecting systems during property transfers that require submitting copies of reports to local authorities. The regulations became effective on April 2, 2012, and are at www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/pdf/njac79a.pdf.
New York
The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council joined the Town of Oyster Bay to implement an educational outreach campaign for Coordinated Environmental Solutions for Septic Problems Occurring on Long Island. The effort is supported by a $45,000 award the town received as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's Regional Council initiative. The project increases regional public awareness of onsite water treatment systems and water quality on Long Island and has the potential to create employment opportunities in the cesspool service industry.
Washington
In a report to the Flathead Regional Wastewater Management Group, Carver Engineering of Kalispell, Wash., identified 6,026 unpermitted septic systems in the Flathead Valley, bringing the number to more than 20,000, treating 4.1 mgd. The Kalispell County Board of Health used the study as a planning tool to combat nutrient pollution harming Flathead Lake and aquifer.
