OSTDS Management: OSTDS Management: An overview of EPA An overview of EPA management models, case management models, case studies, and financing options studies, and financing options

Jaime BoswellJaime Boswell

Environmental ScientistEnvironmental Scientist

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary ProgramCharlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

What is an OSTDS (On-site What is an OSTDS (On-site Sewage Treatment and Disposal Sewage Treatment and Disposal

System)?System)?

Conventional Septic SystemsConventional Septic Systems Aerobic Treatment UnitsAerobic Treatment Units Advanced SystemsAdvanced Systems Cluster SystemsCluster Systems

Do we need management of Do we need management of OSTDS?OSTDS?

114,800 septic systems in Lee County114,800 septic systems in Lee County Pre-1983 systems are not properly sitedPre-1983 systems are not properly sited

8675 new systems in 20068675 new systems in 2006 Homeowners with little understanding of Homeowners with little understanding of

proper maintenanceproper maintenance Sensitive EnvironmentSensitive Environment Increasing NutrientsIncreasing Nutrients Elevated Fecal ColiformElevated Fecal Coliform

OSTDS Management OSTDS Management

Incorporates plans for futureIncorporates plans for future Protects Human HealthProtects Human Health Protects Environmental HealthProtects Environmental Health Helps with groundwater rechargeHelps with groundwater recharge General cost savings compared to sewer General cost savings compared to sewer

expansion in low/medium density areasexpansion in low/medium density areas Can play a part in watershed management Can play a part in watershed management

and nutrient reductionsand nutrient reductions

Are increasing nutrients and high Are increasing nutrients and high bacteria counts a result of septic bacteria counts a result of septic

systems?systems? Sources are unknownSources are unknown

sewer, animals, and other nutrient sources.sewer, animals, and other nutrient sources. Septic systems Septic systems

non-point source of pollution non-point source of pollution expensive and difficult to trace specific sources expensive and difficult to trace specific sources

through monitoring.through monitoring. Septic systems require maintenanceSeptic systems require maintenance

homeowners are not aware of proper system carehomeowners are not aware of proper system care Current LCHD practices for siting septic systems Current LCHD practices for siting septic systems

has significantly improved has significantly improved older systems may have high (undetected) failure older systems may have high (undetected) failure

rate. rate.

Operational FailureOperational Failure: : • Wastewater is not removed from homeWastewater is not removed from home• Can affect families health and quality of life Can affect families health and quality of life

– generally taken care of right away– generally taken care of right away

Functional FailureFunctional Failure: : • Wastewater is not properly treated prior to Wastewater is not properly treated prior to

dischargedischarge• Can affect communities health and water quality Can affect communities health and water quality

– generally goes unnoticed by homeowner. – generally goes unnoticed by homeowner.

On-site systems can experience On-site systems can experience two types of failure:two types of failure:

EPA on OSTDS ManagementEPA on OSTDS Management““if a community chooses to utilize on-site if a community chooses to utilize on-site

technology to handle its wastewater, the public technology to handle its wastewater, the public must be insured, via a sound management must be insured, via a sound management program, that all systems are operating and program, that all systems are operating and functioning properly ….the public must be functioning properly ….the public must be

insured that their health and the environment are insured that their health and the environment are being protected via professional management of being protected via professional management of

the systems, just as they receive the same the systems, just as they receive the same protection in the use of a large central sewer protection in the use of a large central sewer

system.” system.”

http://www.epa.gov/seahome/decent.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/seahome/decent.html

Is on-site playing a “formal role” in Is on-site playing a “formal role” in Lee County Waste Water Lee County Waste Water

Management?Management?

Recent CDM report to SFWMD presumes sewer Recent CDM report to SFWMD presumes sewer expansion to all Lee County Utilities service areas expansion to all Lee County Utilities service areas by 2050 – is this realistic/cost-effective?by 2050 – is this realistic/cost-effective?

Onsite systems are a viable, environmentally Onsite systems are a viable, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, long-term solution friendly, cost-effective, long-term solution if if designed, sited, and maintained properlydesigned, sited, and maintained properly

Low – Medium density communities may benefit Low – Medium density communities may benefit from a plan for OSTDS wastewater managementfrom a plan for OSTDS wastewater management

EPA Voluntary National Guidelines EPA Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite and for Management of Onsite and

Clustered Wastewater Treatment Clustered Wastewater Treatment Systems Systems

5 Management Models 5 Management Models Variable levels of involvement by homeowners, Variable levels of involvement by homeowners,

maintenance providers, and regulatory agenciesmaintenance providers, and regulatory agencies Level of environment and public health Level of environment and public health

protection increases with each level. protection increases with each level. Communities pick and choose components of Communities pick and choose components of

each model to suit individual needs. each model to suit individual needs.

Prescribed Criteria for Systems Prescribed Criteria for Systems Homeowner EducationHomeowner Education Inventory of SystemsInventory of Systems Reminders of Maintenance NeedsReminders of Maintenance Needs NO Compliance requiredNO Compliance required

Model 1: Homeowner Model 1: Homeowner AwarenessAwareness

Inventory of SystemsInventory of Systems Service ContractsService Contracts Service Contract Tracking SystemService Contract Tracking System NO built in compliance enforcement NO built in compliance enforcement

mechanismmechanism

Model 2: Maintenance Model 2: Maintenance ContractsContracts

Inventory of SystemsInventory of Systems Tracking SystemTracking System Performance and Monitoring CriteriaPerformance and Monitoring Criteria Revocable/Renewable PermitRevocable/Renewable Permit Compliance is EnforceableCompliance is Enforceable

In effect for commercial and advanced In effect for commercial and advanced treatment systems in Floridatreatment systems in Florida

Model 3: Operating PermitsModel 3: Operating Permits

Model 4: RME Operation & Model 4: RME Operation & MaintenanceMaintenance

Maintenance and Operations are performed Maintenance and Operations are performed by a Responsible Management Entity by a Responsible Management Entity (RME)(RME)

• Must be bonded, but can be public or private Must be bonded, but can be public or private

Ensures consistent performance and Ensures consistent performance and maintenance of on-site systemsmaintenance of on-site systems

Model 5: RME OwnershipModel 5: RME Ownership

Responsible Management Entities own, Responsible Management Entities own, operate and maintain individual and cluster operate and maintain individual and cluster systems within specified service area.systems within specified service area.

Provides greatest level of protection to the Provides greatest level of protection to the homeowner and to the environmenthomeowner and to the environment

Similar to central sewer managementSimilar to central sewer management

Case StudiesCase Studies

8 Case Studies8 Case Studies Popn. 700 - Popn. 700 -

Economic analysis of Economic analysis of a hypothetical a hypothetical communitycommunity Cost effectiveCost effective Less $ up frontLess $ up front

Charlotte County, FLCharlotte County, FL(popn. 140,000 in (popn. 140,000 in

2000)2000)

Problem – abundance of relatively small Problem – abundance of relatively small lots in areas with high water table and lots in areas with high water table and poor soil conditionspoor soil conditions 1988 State rejected county’s comprehensive 1988 State rejected county’s comprehensive

plan -> water and sewer study plan -> water and sewer study Proposed sewer expansion to all service Proposed sewer expansion to all service

areas met extreme opposition due to cost and areas met extreme opposition due to cost and unsubstantiated need unsubstantiated need

Charlotte County, FLCharlotte County, FL SolutionsSolutions

Revised Comprehensive Plan in 1997Revised Comprehensive Plan in 1997 Mini-expansions of sewer serviceMini-expansions of sewer service Require aerobic systems on small lots and lots Require aerobic systems on small lots and lots

near surface water, or density reduction through near surface water, or density reduction through purchase of double lots with conservation purchase of double lots with conservation easement – taxed for single loteasement – taxed for single lot

Planned to develop septic system management Planned to develop septic system management planplan

Planned to develop water quality monitoring Planned to develop water quality monitoring programprogram

County Ordinance approved Oct 6, 1998.County Ordinance approved Oct 6, 1998.

Point of Sale InspectionsPoint of Sale Inspections MassachusettsMassachusetts New MexicoNew Mexico MinnesotaMinnesota ArizonaArizona Sedgwick County, KSSedgwick County, KS Washtenaw County, MIWashtenaw County, MI Jefferson County, COJefferson County, CO Boulder County, CO – proposedBoulder County, CO – proposed

www.septicsmart.orgwww.septicsmart.org

Greatest Challenge: Greatest Challenge: Obtaining Adequate FundingObtaining Adequate Funding

Sources of funding (survey from 60 agencies)Sources of funding (survey from 60 agencies)• 40% User and Other Fees40% User and Other Fees• 24% Property and Other Taxes24% Property and Other Taxes• 17% Operational Fees17% Operational Fees• 12% Other funding (includes federal grants)12% Other funding (includes federal grants)• 6% State Grants6% State Grants

Section 319 Non-point Source Management Section 319 Non-point Source Management ProgramProgram

Clean Water State Revolving FundClean Water State Revolving Fund

Solutions from other StatesSolutions from other States PA – uses state funds to provide low interest PA – uses state funds to provide low interest

loans to homeowners for repairsloans to homeowners for repairs TX – fines from pollution violations go towards TX – fines from pollution violations go towards

funding reduction programsfunding reduction programs MA MA

Tax credit for homeowners that upgrade systems to Tax credit for homeowners that upgrade systems to meet state standardsmeet state standards

CWSRF scoring procedures allows for OSTDS CWSRF scoring procedures allows for OSTDS management plans to be competitivemanagement plans to be competitive

WA – allows CWSRF to fund counties with low WA – allows CWSRF to fund counties with low interest loans that in turn provide low interest interest loans that in turn provide low interest loans to individual homeowners for repairsloans to individual homeowners for repairs

Local OSTDS WorkshopLocal OSTDS Workshop Participants generally agreed that a comprehensive Participants generally agreed that a comprehensive

mandatory maintenance program would be beneficial, mandatory maintenance program would be beneficial, keeping in mind the following critical aspects;keeping in mind the following critical aspects;

funding source (e.g., taxes, SRF, grants)funding source (e.g., taxes, SRF, grants) disposal of septage waste (municipal treatment) – sustainabilitydisposal of septage waste (municipal treatment) – sustainability mechanism of enforcement and educationmechanism of enforcement and education mechanism of intergovernmental coordinationmechanism of intergovernmental coordination Continued research to ensure proper siting, for example in Continued research to ensure proper siting, for example in

regards to sea level rise and wetlandsregards to sea level rise and wetlands

In general pre-1983 systems are not meeting today’s In general pre-1983 systems are not meeting today’s standards, and generally these older systems should be standards, and generally these older systems should be upgraded. upgraded.

point of sale inspections point of sale inspections central sewer - more effective in some areascentral sewer - more effective in some areas Should include this as part of BMAP for TMDLsShould include this as part of BMAP for TMDLs

ResourcesResources

National Onsite Demonstration ProgramNational Onsite Demonstration Program www.nodp.wvu.eduwww.nodp.wvu.edu

National Environmental Services SystemNational Environmental Services System www.nesc.wvu.eduwww.nesc.wvu.edu

National Small Flows Clearing HouseNational Small Flows Clearing House www.nsfc.wvu.eduwww.nsfc.wvu.edu

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov.owmwww.epa.gov.owm/septic//septic/

Florida Onsite Wastewater AssociationFlorida Onsite Wastewater Association www.fowaonsite.comwww.fowaonsite.com