Changes Impacting Wastewater System Construction in Dare County. Public Health Division Environmental Health Unit

Transcription

1 Changes Impacting Wastewater System Construction in Dare County Public Health Division Environmental Health Unit

2 Why Change? Due to recent accreditation program review conducted by the State On-site Wastewater Section State identified areas in Dare County Environmental Health requiring improvement based on the interpretations of the.1900 rules Some areas will directly affect construction of wastewater systems that were previously being permitted by Environmental Health Bed systems in fill.1957(b) fill systems with trenches Cover material for fill systems Muck and Fill for new lots Water line setback Applications with approved legal designation Site review letters

3 Bed systems in fill Bed systems permitted in fill must comply with Brunswick Bed in Fill IWWS Limited to 4 bedrooms (480 GPD) or less; can no longer install 5 bedroom gravity bed system in fill Must use rock and pipe only; cannot use Chambers or EZ Flow or other gravelless trenches Restricted to group I soils (sand, loamy sand) only Certain areas of Roanoke Island and Mainland will not be allowable 24 of separation is required from the trench bottom to water table for gravity dispersal D-box located in the center of the bed with no more than 8 lines per side Applies to new construction, expansions, and relocations

4 Brunswick Bed in Fill Example -Image Courtesy of Anlauf Engineering, P.E.

5 -Image Courtesy of Anlauf Engineering, P.E.

6 .1957(b) Fill Systems in Individual Trenches Limit to 4 bedrooms (480 GPD) for gravity dispersal; can no longer install a 5 bedroom conventional system in fill Must be on 9 centers with 3 wide trench 18 of separation to soil wetness conditions Gravelless trenches (i.e. chambers) can be utilized D-box can be traditionally placed If exceeding 480 GPD, then LPP or pretreatment system must be utilized Applies to new construction, expansions, and relocations

7 Cover material for fill systems Final 6 inches of cover and side slopes for the system must be comprised of group II or III soils; topsoil, sod, etc. Or can stabilize with vegetative cover Applies to both Brunswick bed and.1957(b) systems Will be inspected at time of final (tank connection) Applies to new construction, expansions, and relocations

8 Muck and Fill Can only be used for repairing of wastewater system If new construction, expansion, or relocation must comply with.1956 or.1957 Need 24 of separation to any unsuitable soil horizon Can also utilize.1948(c) or (d) When system fails, then can repair using best professional judgement allowed under.1961(l) (c) Sites classified UNSUITABLE have severe limitations for the installation and use of a properly functioning ground absorption sewage treatment and disposal system. An improvement permit shall not be issued for a site which is classified as UNSUITABLE. However, where a site is UNSUITABLE, it may be reclassified PROVISIONALLY SUITABLE if a special investigation indicates that a modified or alternative system can be installed in accordance with Rules.1956 or.1957 of this Section. (d) A site classified as UNSUITABLE may be used for a ground absorption sewage treatment and disposal system specifically identified in Rules.1955,.1956, or.1957 of this Section or a system approved under Rule.1969 if written documentation, including engineering, hydrogeologic, geologic or soil studies, indicates to the local health department that the proposed system can be expected to function satisfactorily. Such sites shall be reclassified as PROVISIONALLY SUITABLE if the local health department determines that the substantiating data indicate that: (1) a ground absorption system can be installed so that the effluent will be non-pathogenic, non-infectious, non-toxic, and nonhazardous; (2) the effluent will not contaminate groundwater or surface water; and (3) the effluent will not be exposed on the ground surface or be discharged to surface waters where it could come in contact with people, animals, or vectors. The State shall review the substantiating data if requested by the local health department.

9 Muck and Fill cont. If pursuing.1948(c) or (d), then EH must formally DENY the lot an improvement permit first. Owner or applicant can then request a special investigation, i.e. system modifications (.1948 (c)) or consult with an engineer, licensed soil scientist, etc. (.1948 (d)) Ex. Site is evaluated and found to have SWC at 12, an organic layer 14 below grade approximately 10 thick; loamy sand underlying. Lot is deemed unsuitable. Owner or applicant can then pursue.1948(c) EH meets on site, pits are dug confirming suitable underlying soils. Permit can be issued to remove organics and install.1957(b) fill system.

10 Water line setback 10 separation MUST be maintained between water line and any parts of wastewater system for all new construction, expansions, relocations. No Exceptions. Sleeving of water line is no longer an acceptable practice. For repairs, if impossible or not practical to relocate the waterline to have a 10 setback, then the wastewater system will be modified as allowed by.1961(l) Ex. Repair in Colington with driveway on one side of pie shaped lot and drainfield/water line on the other; previously was sleeved when built. Repair field may have reduced number of drain lines, reduced length, reduced spacing or a combination of the above to maintain a 10 setback to the water line

11 Approved Legal Representation All applications must be signed by the owner or owner s legal representative See example form on how to document legal representation *Owner can submit his/her own form that contains all information captured by the example form

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13 Site Review Letters State deems the letters to be beyond the scope of the current laws and rules Temporarily suspended. We have met with County Manager regarding implementing a local program with approval of Consolidated Health & Human Services Board and County Commissioners to continue this service The letter give a potential buyer general information/requirements about a particular lot, i.e. site work, septic capacity, etc. In the interim, EH office will either: a) Issue an IP if an approved site plan or plat was submitted b) Issue a copy of the soil sheet with findings and appropriate comments State does not see the value in this customer service.

14 Repair Area Interpretation by State and Assistant Attorney General s Office Include the following: By rule Repair Area shall not apply to a lot platted prior to Jan 1, 1983 with no more than 480 gpd. 1) Repair area exemption can only be used once at the time of original installation and system relocations and increase in flow must be evaluated and permitted in accordance with current.1900 rules. a) Additions that require increase in flow must have sufficient repair area i) Ex. 3 to 4 bedrooms; requires increasing size of existing field and now designating repair area for 120 GPD for the 4th bedroom increase ii) Ex. system is relocated to new area for pool addition; must now show 100% repair area in addition to active system area 2) If lot is repair area exempt, the maximum feasible area shall be allocated for repair area. a) 3 bedroom dwelling on lot platted in 1980 is repair area exempt; any space remaining after initial system is designed must be claimed for repair area. i) If owner wishes to have any other appurtenance (ie. shed) added, then must submit a site plan so the active and have repair area layouts can be evaluated for available space.

15 Voice your concerns and comments Larry D. Michael, REHS, MPH State Environmental Health Director Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services office fax 5605 Six Forks Road 1632 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC Nancy Deal, MS, REHS Branch Head Division of Public Health, On-site Water Protection North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services office fax 5605 Six Forks Road 1642 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC Tim Crissman, REHS, M.S. N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Soil Scientist On-Site Water Protection Branch Environmental Health Section Div. Public Health 1642 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C Office/Mobile

16 Questions?

17 Dare County Environmental Health Contacts Jack Flythe, REHS Environmental Health Supervisor phone fax Josh Coltrain, REHS Environmental Health Specialist P.O. Box 669, Manteo, NC phone fax Fred Parker, REHS Environmental Health Specialist phone fax Robert Crawford, REHS Environmental Health Specialist phone fax