Florida Seeks Nitrogen-Reduction Strategies

An interim report on Florida’s plans to develop passive strategies for nitrogen reduction for onsite sewage systems has been issued.

An interim report on Florida’s plans to develop passive strategies for nitrogen reduction for onsite sewage systems has been issued. The study is in response to legislative action in 2008 creating a 3- to 5-year project to reduce nitrogen in the state’s bodies of water.

There are 2.3 million onsite systems in the state serving about one third of the population, according to the report, which also acknowledges several other ways that nitrogen gets into soils and water. The report is available online at www.myfloridaeh.com/ostds/pdfiles/ forms/InterimReport.pdf.

Two bills affecting onsite systems in Florida are under consideration. House bill AB 727 and Senate bill SB 1738 would require periodic inspection of septic systems and require the Department of Health to administer inspection and grant programs to help owners make system repairs. According to the health department, only 1 percent of systems in the state are actively managed and most were built at least 30 years ago under less strict rules.

The bills would also revise fees for contractors. Both bills are before committees.

Arkansas

The state Department of Health is considering changes to its onsite wastewater rules. Hearings were held earlier this year. A draft of the proposed language is available at www.healthyarkansas.com/rules_regs/ onsite_wastewater_draft_2009.pdf.

Maine

The state is updating subsurface wastewater disposal regulations. A group was formed to review and comment on proposed changes. A formal rulemaking process was expected to begin last spring. Audio recordings of the group meetings are available at www.maine.gov/ dhhs/eng/plumb/index.htm.

Maryland

Due to high demand for its septic system upgrade program, Maryland is giving priority to grants for systems that pose the greatest environmental threat. It has also added an income-based sliding scale to the grant program.

The state Department of Environment has upgraded about 2,000 septic systems through its Nitrogen-Reducing Septic Upgrade Program. Grants are now going only to systems in critical areas — within 1,000 feet of tidal waters. Other applications have been put on a waiting list.

Washington

Beginning in January 2012, only septic tank sizes and models approved and registered by the state Department of Health will be allowed. Manufacturers must confirm at the factory that the tanks are watertight. The rule, passed last fall, also encourages watertightness testing after installation for systems with flows less than 3,500 gpd. Testing is already required for larger systems.

Preliminary language for a proposed greywater rule must be completed by December 2010. The rule would provide homeowners with a simple way to reuse greywater for subsurface irrigation and would establish requirements for more complicated subsurface dispersal.

Minnesota

Counties have until June 30 to incorporate the 2008 septic rules overhaul into their local ordinances. Officials statewide are not complying because the state Pollution Control Agency is still correcting flaws discovered in the code. The Association of Minnesota Counties has a bill before the Legislature to allow counties to delay accepting the rules for two more years. As it stands, counties that do not adopt the new rules by the June deadline could have state funding withheld.

Idaho

A bill with amendments approved by the state House Environment Committee would eliminate two specific rules: one that limits expansion of homes using non-conforming onsite systems to 10 percent of the current square footage, and another that in some cases requires dual drainfields for community sewer systems. The amended bill would allow expansions of any size as long as no additional bedrooms were added. Other proposed changes would unify the appeal process.



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