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On Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal System
(Septic Tank)
On Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal
Systems (OSTDS) treat wastewater from homes
and businesses that are not connected to
sewer systems.
To ensure that systems are installed in a
manner that will not cause pollution to the
environment, Environmental Health
evaluates locations for new and
repaired septic tank systems.
The systems are inspected to determine
compliance with state regulations, and their
impact on the environment.
Coordinator of this program is T. G.
Harkrider.
Statewide Septic Tank Evaluation Program
On June 4, 2010, Governor Charlie Christ
approved SB 550 which directs the
Department of Health to create and
administer a statewide 5-year cycle
septic tank evaluation program.
The evaluation program was created to ensure all onsite
sewage treatment systems in the State
are assessed to determine their
fundamental operational condition and to
identify any failures within the
systems. Like your car, home, air
conditioner, or water heater, your
onsite systems do require routine
maintenance - pump-outs to remove solids
and scum that accumulate in the
tank. Excess solid and scum can
cause your plumbing to back up or your
drainfield to fail, leading to costly
cleanups and repairs. The dollars
you invest in having your system
maintained will save you thousands in
repair cost.
●
The evaluation program is mandated to
begin January 1, 2011 and be implemented statewide
January 1, 2016.
● Evaluation
procedures must be documented and include tank and
drainfield evaluation, assessment of system condition
and disclosure statements.
● Evaluations
may be performed by registered septic tank contractors,
professional engineers, and certified environmental
health professionals.
● DOH must
provide 60 days notice to system owners that the
evaluation is required. The implementation
schedule - who gets noticed when - is under development.
● Owners are
responsible for the costs of the pump-out, repairs or
replacements and owner may not request partial
evaluations. The cost of the pump-out will vary
according to the size and number of tanks to be
pumped-out on a given property.
● Any system
installed or serviced in the previous 5 years, where
capacity and condition of the tank is documented as
satisfactory, may omit the pump-out requirement from the
evaluation.
● The
evaluator is responsible for submitting the report to
the local CHD with the reporting fee.
Follow and participate on the development
of this program by accessing the Technical Review and
Advisory Panel link on our web page:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/ostds/trap/index.htm
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Am I required to have my tanks pumped out every
five years?
The bill does not mandate pump-outs but requires DOH to
"establish requirements for pump-outs".
2. I had my tank pumped out last year. Will I
be exempt from the evaluation program?
The law does not exempt you from the evaluation but tanks
that have been pumped AND CERTIFIED within the
previous five years do not have to be pumped.
3. Will the evaluator be digging up my yard and
drainfield?
The evaluator will have to uncover your tank manholes for
access to determine if a pump out is necessary and check
that your tank is watertight. They will not be
digging up your drainfield but will need to auger a
small (4 inch) hole to determine the separation of your
drainfield from the wettest season water table.
4. Why the concern about separation from the wet
season water table?
Onsite systems rely on unsaturated soil to provide
treatment. Research in Florida has found that 24
inches of unsaturated soil is needed to remove pathogens
and effectively treat your sewage to protect both your
and your neighbors health.
5. Will I have to upgrade my system to one of the new
performance based treatment systems?
No, the evaluation language does not require upgrades to
performance based treatment systems.
6. What will it cost?
The most significant cost will be if your tanks require pump
out. These costs vary around the state due
primarily to disposal costs but can range from $150 -
$450. Cost also depends on the size and number of
tanks to be pumped. The evaluation cost will be
set by individual evaluators. There is also a
reporting fee that the department estimated at $30 per
system.
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