1, eff. The OSSF serves a single family residence on a tract of land that is at least 10 acres in size; it does not create a nuisance or pollute groundwater; all parts of the OSSF are at least 100 feet from the property line; the effluent is disposed of on the property; and the single family residence is the only . Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 76, Sec. 341.0695. | TRAIL Statewide Archive (2) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services. How much land do you need to put a septic system in Texas? (a) A person may not furnish drinking water to the public for a charge unless the production, processing, treatment, and distribution are at all times under the supervision of a water supply system operator holding a license issued by the commission under Chapter 37, Water Code. You can apply for the permit yourself, or the contractor hired to build the system can obtain it on your behalf. September 1, 2013. Sec. DRINKING WATER PROVIDED BY COMMON CARRIER. 76, Sec. 11, eff. Sec. 8, eff. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. Sept. 1, 1997. Septic tanks have been in use since the late 1800s. In certain circumstances, a home septic tank in Texas may be grandfathered and exempt from certain permitting requirements if the following requirements are met: The system must have been installed before September 1, 1989, or before a local dealer had an authorized installation program. A form of pressure distribution shall be used for effluent disposal into fractured or fissured rock. Provided by the Texas Association of Counties Duties & Responsibilities of County Officials. (A) an area designated as a residential zoning district by a governing ordinance or code or an area in which the principal land use is for private residences; (B) a subdivision for which a plat is recorded in the real property records of the county and that contains or is bounded by public streets or parts of public streets that are abutted by residential property occupying at least 75 percent of the front footage along the block face; or. It is a factor, too, if you regularly host parties or frequent extended family visits at home. 341.037. Large capacity septic systems are regulated under EPAs Safe Drinking Water Act Underground Injection Well program, Systems discharging to surface waters are regulated under, Disposal of sewage sludge (biosolids) and domestic septage are regulated under, If you have witnessed or are aware of an environmental violation, you can file a complaint with your state or local health department. (b) An employee whose services are required on tanks shall be provided with clean shoes or boots that may not be used for any other purpose. Chemicals that may be discharged into septic systems can negatively impact water quality and public health in both groundwater and surface water sources, even in very small amounts. 1, eff. As a driver, you may also need a Class B driver's license . Sept. 1, 1995. 3.0867, eff. Brief descriptions of treatment and disposal systems. 2022 Ultimate Construction, Inc. All rights reserved. The weight of vehicles and heavy equipment compacts the soil, which can damage pipes. The public water supply system used as an auxiliary water source may be connected only to the water storage tank and may not be connected to the plumbing of a structure. Report to Congress on Use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (pdf) (5.54 MB) Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems: A Program Strategy (pdf) (1.53 MB) Installing a Septic System in Texas | Ultimate Construction OSSF Permit - Harris County, Texas Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. Some properties can be served by a conventional gravity septic tank and drainfield, while others may require advanced technologies for wastewater treatment or alternate drainfields like low pressure pipe or drip distribution systems. June 17, 2005. 2, eff. (2) analyzes water to determine how to treat influent or effluent water, alter or purify water, or add or remove a mineral, chemical, or bacterial content or substance as part of the complete installation, exchange, connection, maintenance, or service of potable water treatment equipment and appliances. Water treatment plants, including aeration, coagulation, mixing, settling, filtration, and chlorinating units, shall be of a size and type prescribed by good public health engineering practices. It must be installed by an installer registered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), or installed by the homeowner. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. (h) Civil penalties recovered in a suit brought under this section by a county or municipality shall be equally divided between: (2) the county or municipality that first brought the suit. In Texas septic system or as the state calls it OSSF (On-Site Sewage Facility) separation requirements are in 285.91 (10) but geez the state couldn't have made it more difficult for a normal person to find the actual information in (10) Table X. Plot Plan showing septic tank drawn on it. Septic Tanks at Lowes.com The tank should be properly vented. What Septic Tank Size Do You Need? - Advanced Septic Services Each of the following is a public health nuisance: (1) a condition or place that is a breeding place for flies and that is in a populous area; (2) spoiled or diseased meats intended for human consumption; (3) a restaurant, food market, bakery, other place of business, or vehicle in which food is prepared, packed, stored, transported, sold, or served to the public and that is not constantly maintained in a sanitary condition; (4) a place, condition, or building controlled or operated by a state or local government agency that is not maintained in a sanitary condition; (5) sewage, human excreta, wastewater, garbage, or other organic wastes deposited, stored, discharged, or exposed in such a way as to be a potential instrument or medium in disease transmission to a person or between persons; (6) a vehicle or container that is used to transport garbage, human excreta, or other organic material and that is defective and allows leakage or spilling of contents; (7) a collection of water in which mosquitoes are breeding in the limits of a municipality or a collection of water that is a breeding area for mosquitoes that can transmit diseases regardless of the collection's location other than a location or property where activities meeting the definition of Section 11.002(12)(A), Water Code, occur; (8) a condition that may be proven to injuriously affect the public health and that may directly or indirectly result from the operations of a bone boiling or fat rendering plant, tallow or soap works, or other similar establishment; (9) a place or condition harboring rats in a populous area; (10) the presence of ectoparasites, including bedbugs, lice, and mites, suspected to be disease carriers in a place in which sleeping accommodations are offered to the public; (11) the maintenance of an open surface privy or an overflowing septic tank so that the contents may be accessible to flies; and. 1, eff. (8) "Septic tank" means a covered water-tight tank designed for sewage treatment. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. (b-1) The department shall approve or reject a request to use another method of disinfectant under Subsection (b) not later than the 90th day after the date the request was made. 6.20, eff. The installer must notify the proper authorities of the date that work will begin. Arrange for a preconstruction site evaluation by a licensed site evaluator or a licensed professional engineer and those associated with the development and production of oil or gas already regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas are also exempt. Sec. Also, place the septic tank where it is accessible for future inspections and pump outs. June 15, 2017. The commission may also use the fees to cover any other costs incurred to protect water resources in this state, including assessment of water quality, reasonably related to the activities of any of the persons required to pay a fee under the statutes listed in Section 5.701(q), Water Code. Descriptions of the treatment methods and disposal methods are listed below the table. You can also report environmental violations to. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Sept. 1, 1997. 1, eff. How to obtain a Septic Permit / Fees The information forms the basis of an official comparative rating of public drinking water supply systems. Children and pets can unknowingly be exposed to this hazard which can cause illness. 10.03 (2) a municipality, including any industrial district within the municipality or its extraterritorial jurisdiction, with a population of more than 11,000 and less than 18,000 located in a county with a population of more than 125,000 and less than 230,000. September 1, 2011. privacy, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (c) A notification or order issued under this section may be delivered by facsimile, by personal service, or by mail. 341.03571. (g) On receiving the notice described by Subsection (f), the commission shall require a utility in violation of a standard adopted under this section to comply within a reasonable time established by the commission. OSSF Program - Williamson County, Texas (b-1) The commission by rule may adopt and implement rules providing for the inspection and annual testing of a graywater or alternative onsite water system by the commission. (l-1) Rules adopted under this chapter may not prohibit the consumption of food or beverages in a public swimming pool or artificial swimming lagoon that is privately owned and operated. (1) within the jurisdiction of a governmental entity that maintains its own system for labeling or color coding its hydrants; or. 6.21, eff. A septic system permit is issued by your local permitting authority (i.e., local health or environmental department). (2) establish standards and procedures for the management and control of sanitation and for health protection measures. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. Some states add water resource protection provisions to their septic system regulations because of the possible impacts from nitrogen and phosphorus. 1969), Sec. This person will complete a report on the condition of the soil and also mark any features on the property that the system will need to be separated from. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. See the manufacturer for projected lifespan estimates as well as strength, design, installation, and warranty information. 1, eff. 76, Sec. Having septic tank problems in Cameron County? For more information regarding nonstandard treatment processes, see 285.32(d). 1, eff. (g) A clear water reservoir shall be covered and be of a type and construction that prevents the entrance of dust, insects, and surface seepage. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems - Homeowner EPAs Quick Tip Videoexplains how to safeguard your drainfield, Shield Your Field!. Statewide Links: Texas.gov If you have a garbage disposal, limit its use because food waste can add an unnecessary amount of solid material to your septic tank. Another possibility is a down draft (changes to wind pattern) or other location-specific conditions, which can create an odor inside or outside your home. Anyone who gets involved in the installation process must also (h) For purposes of Subsection (g), a system for labeling or color coding hydrants may include the assignment of different colors to identify hydrants that are available for direct pumping, hydrants that are available for filling a water tank on a fire truck used for fire suppression services, and hydrants that are unavailable for use by an entity providing fire suppression services in a fire emergency. (6) "Privy" means a facility for the disposal of human excreta. Welcome to Montgomery County, Texas Contact your local permitting authority (i.e., local health or environmental department) for a list of professional inspectors in your area. Wood County Septic Services - (Wood County, TX) 545 (H.B. (2) "Eligible medical condition" means Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or any other permanent or temporary medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet facility. (2) "Restroom" means toilet, chemical toilet, or water closet. (c) The environmental health officer shall assist the department in enforcing this chapter and is subject to: (1) the authority of the department; and. On-Site Sewage Facilities Program - LCRA Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. Sec. 11.17, eff. (2) removal from office in the same manner as a municipal health authority. To aid you in determining which tank you need, please consult with your local health department.