The document outlines proposed updates to onsite sewage and disposal rules, including approximately 180 changes focused on grammatical corrections, clarifications, and significant restructuring into three main sections: general rules, site evaluation, and design. Key amendments involve adjustments to definitions of small and large flow systems, bed design requirements, and management of mine spoil sites. Additionally, it mentions the removal of all forms from the rule and the impact of budgetary cuts on the onsite program's operations and inspections.

1. Onsite Sewage and Disposal Rules
Where are we?
Where are we going?
Thad Pittman, Acting Director
Division of Community
Environmental Protection

2. Revision
• Around 180 proposed
changes
– Majority
• Grammatical
• Clarification
• Some are changes
worth noting

3. Complete Reorganization and
Renumbering
• Divided into 3 main sections
– General Rules
• Definitions, Septic Tanks, Pumpers, Certifications
– Site Evaluation
• Percolation testing, Morphology, Unified, Soil Mapping
– Design
• Sizing, Construction requirements, Control Fill, Lot
modification

4. Small Flow vs Large Flow
• Current Rule
– Small Flow – < 8 bedrooms or <1200 gpd total
development flow.
– Large Flow – > 8 bedrooms or > 1200 gpd total
development flow.
• Proposed Change
– Small Flow ‐ < 12 bedrooms or <1800 gpd total
development flow
– Large Flow ‐ > 12 bedrooms or > 1800 gpd total
development flow

5. Bed Designs
• Added a section
detailing constructions
requirements for beds
in lieu of trenches.
– Group I, II, III and some
IVA soils
– Treat to secondary limits
• Size of bed based on
new Table 18.
• Still working on final
version.

6. Tables/Figures/Forms
• Table numbers will change in new rule due to new
and deleted ones from the current rule.
• Additions/deletions/clarification to Table 1 Flow and
Organic Loading
• Table 2 removed
• Table 3/3a
– Changes and clarification to last two columns
• BOD loading rates and Hydraulic loading rates
• Table 5 Setbacks
– Minor adjustments
– Drip irrigation added to reduced setback for cuts/drains
• Table 17 – new
– Minimum lot sizes based on recorded date

7. Proposed Table 15 Changes
•
•
Current Table
– Percolation Rate
of 5 – 60 mpi
requires 24 MVS
from /2 or less
Proposed Change
– Percolation Rate
of 5 – 30 mpi
requires 24 MVS
from /2 or less
– 31 – 120 mpi
requires 18 MVS
from /2 or less

8. 420‐3‐1‐.67 Lot Modification and
Controlled Fill Systems
• Completely rewritten
– Split Lot Modification
and Control Fill into two
separate sections
• Currently, rule is
confusing
• Attempt to clarify and
simplify?

9. Mine Spoil Sites
• Mine Spoils
– Corridor X –
Birmingham to
Memphis
– Numerous areas with
nothing but this type
of material
• Added definition and
language to deal with
mine spoil sites

10. Plat Signing
• Proposing new section
– Refines under what conditions the ADPH will sign a
surveyed plat
• Large Flow Development with Small Flow Systems
• Large Flow Development with Large Flow System
– Management Entity
– ADEM systems
• Does have a caveat for special local circumstances

11. Forms
• All Forms removed from rule.
– Separate so as to be able to make corrections
without having to go thru rule‐making procedure.
– CEP‐2, CEP‐2/3, CEP‐3, CEP‐5, CEP‐6, CEP‐7 and
CEP‐11

12. ADPH – Onsite Update

13. Numbers
Fiscal Year
Permits Issued
Approval issued (installed)
2007
17037
16223
2009
9480
7382
2011
8426
8292
2013
7080
9192
• These numbers reflect new installations and
repairs combined.

14. ADPH – Onsite Program Changes
Budgetary Cut Impacts

15. Engineer Designed Systems
•
Rule 420‐3‐1‐.35:
– The system will handle any amount of high‐strength sewage.
– The site characteristics prohibit the use of a conventional system, or require
any cut or fill to be used except that necessary to cover a shallow placement
system.
– The lot is smaller than the minimums set out in Rule 420‐3‐1‐.09, Minimum
Lot Size Requirements for Sites Using an OSS.
– Sites that require mound systems as described in Rule 420‐3‐1‐.66, Mounds.
– Sites which have received or will require Modification or Fill as described in
Rule 420‐3‐1‐.67, Lot Modification and Controlled Fill Systems.
– The REDF is to be smaller than the primary EDF or the REDF includes driveway
or parking areas.
– A holding tank is specified. See Rule 420‐3‐1‐.55, Holding Tank Requirements.
– An OSS using complex pumping systems.
• A single, demand‐type pump that pumps effluent from the pump chamber to a non‐
pressurized EDF is not considered a complex system unless the field must be dosed to
comply with Rule 420‐3‐1‐.43, EDF Dosing Requirements. The pump used must meet the
requirements of Rule 420‐3‐1‐.65, OSS Requiring Pumping of Effluent.
• Pressurized fields of any type are considered complex systems.
– Sites with a percolation rate over 120 min/inch.
– Sites with slope of over 25%.

16. Program Changes
• For any submittal that indicates an Engineer
Design (see 420‐3‐1‐.35), the LHD:
– Shall not conduct a site visit to confirm suitability;
and
– Shall not conduct any installation inspection.
• For Conventional Systems, business as usual;
except
– Reduce the installation inspection rate of 75%
minimum to 50% minimum.

17. Questions?