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Laboratory
Local
Guidelines
Local health
authorities who administer local codes and guidelines are the
backbone of public health protection in the United States.
As any local health department sanitarian will tell you, the real
work of protecting the public health and the environment is done
at the local level. Like our democratic system of government,
health authorities are subject to rules and regulations from other
entities (e.g. federal and regional), but local sanitarians are
the only ones really in position to have a direct impact on
people's lives and to see the results of their efforts
first-hand. At any given time, local health authorities can
be called to inspect food service operations, help troubleshoot a
wastewater treatment plant or testify regarding the impact of a
building permit, sometimes all in the same day. This broad
diversity of responsibility requires that public health
professionals rely on tried and true methods to perform their
jobs. Local guidelines have grown out of this need to figure
out what works for a wide range of objectives.
The down side
of developing local guidelines by practical experimentation is
that local areas with similar conditions can end up with very
different public health guidelines.
Particularly in the environmental health field, local codes in one
area can have a dramatic effect on environmental conditions in
surrounding areas. Public health professionals at all levels are recognizing the need
and benefits of increasing the consistency of local codes. A
general consensus has developed throughout North America that
local sewage regulations should include the following elements:
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A
preliminary site evaluation, including detailed soil analysis
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Performance-based
design standards for treatment systems, including third party
evaluation and certification of proprietary products
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Installation
oversight that includes contractor registration and licensing to insure that treatment
systems are properly installed
-
A
means to assure that periodic operational assessments of
system operation and routine preventive maintenance are
performed by a qualified service technician
-
An
established and open process for the testing and approval of new systems and
technologies that encourage innovation
For
maximum effectiveness, local regulations should also recognize the
differences between technologies and write their rules
accordingly. Non-mechanical systems, like septic tanks,
should be required to use an effluent filter and should be
inspected every two years. Electro-mechanical systems
(using pumps, timers, etc.) must
be serviceable from grade and evaluated at least once per
year. Proprietary aerobic treatment units should be
maintained and serviced every six months. Peat filters and
some types of sand filters should be inspected every three
months. Other emerging technologies that have not been third party
certified may require
assessment more frequently to
be certain the process is operating as designed. This
proactive approach is the best way to insure that all onsite treatment systems
are
installed, operated and maintained properly.
The future of local regulations lies in
coordinating with federal and regional
guidelines to be certain that wastewater codes protect
public health and the environment. The USEPA
has published voluntary Guidelines for Management of Onsite/Decentralized
Wastewater Systems, with the stated purpose "to assist communities
in establishing comprehensive management programs
for onsite/decentralized wastewater systems to improve water
quality and protect public health."
These Guidelines are not intended to supercede existing
federal, state and local laws and regulations.
As these guidelines are voluntary, USEPA proposes no
further federal regulations at this time.
To view the Voluntary Guidelines
click here.
Even though water
covers 71% of the surface of the earth, only about 0.003% of the
total is usable, fresh water. The
cooperation of regulatory officials at all levels of public health
is needed to sustain local guidelines that reflect the best of new
technologies, management practices and environmental protection.
The USEPA has
published an update of their ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
MANUAL. This publication, otherwise known as the
"Purple Manual," is a widely used reference for the
design and application of wastewater treatment technology.
Norweco is cited in the acknowledgements as making a significant
contribution to the development of this document. This
document can be found on the American Decentralized
Wastewater Association website, using the hyperlink
www.adwwa.org/news.htm
or directly on the USEPA website by using the hyperlink
www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/625r00008/html/625R00008.htm.
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