Post on 15-Dec-2015
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