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Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
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3701 Department of Health - Administration and Director |
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Chapter3701-29. Household Sewage Treatment Systems |
3701-29-20. Septage and sewage management
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(A) The board of health shall assess the management of STS septage and sewage generated within its jurisdiction, including adequate capacity for the disposal of STS septage and sewage and/or land application of domestic septage within the area of its jurisdiction. The board of health may adopt rules prohibiting, restricting or limiting the land application of septage within its jurisdiction.
(B) Septage and sewage management by the board of health shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Notification to septage haulers registered by the board of health of wastewater treatment plants that are authorized to accept septage or other available receiving locations for STS septage and sewage, if known.
(2) The evaluation and permitting of septage application sites and any prohibitions on the land application of domestic septage. Compliance with this rule and 40 C.F.R. 503 is required when land application is permitted by the board of health.
(3) Provision of information to STS owners on recommended time lines for removal of septage from STS components including more frequent removal when a garbage disposal is in use.
(4) Requirements for reporting of septage and/or sewage removal or pumping from septic tanks, pretreatment components, dosing tanks, holding tanks for dwellings, campers, recreational vehicles, marinas or other temporary uses, or portable toilets as applicable when required as a condition of an operation permit or as necessary to demonstrate compliance with this chapter.
(C) Septage haulers shall maintain a record and manifest of septage or sewage pumped from each STS including, but not limited to, the system owner; location address; quantity of septage or sewage removed from the system; condition of tank; presence or absence of baffles or tees; condition of risers; evidence of high water, water intrusion, or tank deterioration; any repairs, replacements or improvements made to the tank; date of septage or sewage removal; and the wastewater treatment plant or other receiving facility where the septage or sewage was disposed, or the location of land application. Pumping and disposal records shall be provided to the board of health on a form prescribed by the director and retained by the septage hauler for at least five years. The septage hauler shall provide a receipt to the system owner showing the date of service, any conditions noted regarding the tank, risers and effluent filters, and quantity of septage and sewage removed from the system.
(D) Septage haulers shall comply with the following requirements when removing sewage from septic tanks, pretreatment components, dosing tanks, lift stations, holding tanks for dwellings, campers, recreational vehicles, marinas or other temporary uses, or portable toilets:
(1) Sewage and septage contained in septic tanks, dosing tanks, pretreatment tanks, holding tanks for dwellings, campers, recreational vehicles, marinas or portable toilets shall be pumped or removed as practicable until the tank is empty. The septage hauler must evaluate the need for refilling tanks that have been pumped with water to prevent tank flotation;
(2) Baffles and tees shall be inspected if present, and their condition or absence thereof be reported to the system owner;
(3) Effluent filters if present shall be cleaned;
(4) Pretreatment components and dosing tanks shall be pumped in accordance with the manufacturer's directions;
(5) Lift stations shall be cleaned and hosed down so that no septage is left in the tank;
(6) All means of preventing spillage of sewage or septage onto the surface of the ground should be used during or upon completion of pumping. If spillage occurs, it must be properly cleaned and the area disinfected; and
(7) Other solid materials removed from a STS, including but not limited to, filter media, peat, or other components containing septage or effluent, shall be dewatered as necessary and taken to a solid waste disposal facility licensed by the Ohio EPA.
(E) No person shall apply domestic septage to a site without a septage land application site permit issued by the board of health.
(1) Any person requesting a septage application permit shall submit:
(a) The completed application and associated fee;
(b) Site documentation to support compliance with the requirements of this rule;
(c) Written permission from the property owner to land apply septage and information on the presence of any field tile, ditches, storm sewer systems, streams, or other drainage conveyances within the proposed land application site;
(d) Information from an order two soil survey indicating that the site has a slope no greater than eight per cent, has at least three feet of soil above ground water and bedrock, and is free of conditions that could allow land application of septage to cause contamination of ground water or run off to surface waters; and
(e) Any additional information required by the board of health including documentation concerning the site and surrounding area, or documentation of the land application methods used by the registered septage hauler.
(2) The board of health shall conduct a site inspection prior to approval and shall enforce the prohibitions in this paragraph. Land application of domestic septage is prohibited within the sanitary isolation radius of a public water system well as determined in accordance with rule 3745-09-04 of the Administrative Code. Land application of domestic septage is also prohibited within an inner management zone of a drinking water source protection area determined to be highly susceptible to contamination by the Ohio EPA source water protection and assessment program for a community or non-transient non-community public water system as defined in rule 3745-81-01 of the Administrative Code. The area to be used for land application shall meet the following minimum horizontal isolation distances:
(a) Two hundred feet from any dwelling, business, or location used for community gatherings or recreational purposes;
(b) Fifty feet from any property line;
(c) One hundred feet from any private water system, non-potable water well or water supply well used by a transient, non-community public water system as defined in rule 3745-81-01 of the Administrative Code;
(d) Fifty feet from any waters of the state excluding ground water but including grass waterways;
(e) Three hundred feet from a sinkhole or drainage well, or one hundred feet if a permanent vegetative buffer is maintained around the sinkhole or drainage well; and
(f) One thousand five hundred feet from a public drinking water surface water intake.
(3) When considering an application for a land application site permit, the board of health shall review the submitted documentation and the site conditions.
(4) The board of health may deny the approval of a land application site permit if there are substantial changes to site conditions or the site review application information and may require re-application including a fee to reapply.
(5) The board of health may specify permit terms and conditions governing the application of septage, unless such terms and conditions conflict with Chapter 3718. of the Revised Code, this chapter or 40 C.F.R. 503.
(6) An approved land application site permit issued by the board of health shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
(7) An approved land application site permit may be revoked by the board of health prior to its expiration if there is a change in site conditions, or there is evidence of noncompliance with Chapter 3718, of the Revised Code, this chapter, or 40 C.F.R. 503.
(F) Land application of domestic septage shall not create a public health nuisance and shall be performed for agronomic benefit in compliance with this paragraph and 40 C.F.R. 503 on sites permitted and approved by the board of health.
(1) A land application permit in compliance with this rule shall be obtained from the board of health prior to land application of septage.
(2) The amount of septage applied to the site shall not exceed the annual nitrogen application rate required for the type of vegetation on the site. The soil shall be tested every two years for phosphorus and shall not exceed the recommended levels for agronomic loading rates. Any vegetation or crop grown on the application site shall be harvested, grazed, or otherwise removed in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 503.
(3) Trash shall be screened and removed from the septage prior to land application and the trash shall be dewatered prior to disposal as solid waste.
(4) Septage shall be land applied in accordance with the following:
(a) Septage shall not be permitted to pool or flow on the surface of the ground.
(b) Septage shall be applied in accordance with the vector attraction reduction requirements and the pathogen reduction requirements of 40 C.F.R. 503.
(5) Records shall be maintained by the septage hauler for at least five years to demonstrate compliance with this rule and the requirements of 40 C.F.R. 503.