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TCEQ OSSF Rule Updates
James McCaine3rd Annual Harris County On-site Wastewater Seminar
April 30, 2013
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Latest Chapter 285 Changes
• Became effective December 27, 2012
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Latest Chapter 285 ChangesRule Objectives
• Address known and pressing problems
• Improve requirements for disinfection
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Address known problems
• Drainage easement setbacks and the unforeseen problems
• Crossing drainage easements
• What to do with existing cluster systems
• Subdivision of inheritance tracts
• Pipes beneath driveways and sidewalks
Latest Chapter 285 ChangesRule Objectives
![Page 5: TCEQ OSSF Rule Updates James McCaine 3 rd Annual Harris County On-site Wastewater Seminar April 30, 2013](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649cf55503460f949c46a1/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Address known problems
• Deep excavations in low rainfall areas
• Aerobic treatment sizing for smaller residences
• Aerobic treatment sizing for multiple residences
• Improve requirements for disinfection equipment
Latest Chapter 285 ChangesRule Objectives
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Drainage Easement SetbacksUnforeseen Problems
• Previous rule required a setback of 25 feet to a drainage easement
• Drainage easements were sometimes platted on all sides of the lot
• The easements had nothing to do with drainage
• When setback applied, it made it impossible to fit in an OSSF
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Drainage Easement SetbacksUnforeseen Problems
• Problem: How to fix this and still protect “real” drainage easements
• Remove drainage easements from Table X
• If the easement is similar to a ditch, then use the setback from “slopes where seeps may occur.”
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Crossing Drainage Easements
• Intent was to give guidance for crossing “real” drainage easements
• Pipe sleeved in Schedule 40 pipe
• Buried more than one foot deep or encased in concrete
• Outside pipe shall have locator tape and the crossing should be marked at the edge of the easement boundaries
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What is a Cluster System?
This is NOT a cluster system
OSSF
One legal tract
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What is a Cluster System?
This IS a cluster system
OSSF
Multiple legal tracts
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What to Do with Existing Cluster Systems
• Under the old rules, cluster systems could not be repaired
• When the OSSF failed, the only option was to obtain a TCEQ water quality permit
• This was difficult or impossible for most existing cluster systems
• The rule was changed to allow existing cluster systems
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What to Do with Existing Cluster Systems
• The rule was changed to allow existing cluster systems to be repaired or altered
• The repair or alteration cannot increase the volume
• The repair or alteration cannot change the nature of the permitted flow
• While existing cluster systems may be repaired, new cluster systems are not allowed
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Subdivision of Inheritance Tracts
A subdivision is exempt from submitting planning materials:
• If one tract is divided into four or fewer tracts;
• If all of the new tracts are 5 acres or larger; and
• If each new tract is going to be sold, given or transferred to a relative (as defined by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 573)
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Pipes Beneath Driveways and Sidewalks
Old rules allowed pipe beneath driveways and sidewalks if:
• sleeved in SCH 40 pipe
New rules allow pipe beneath driveways and sidewalks if:
• sleeved in SCH 40 pipe; or
• pipe is SCH 80 (without sleeving)
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Deep Excavations in Low Rainfall Areas
Old rules allowed excavations up to 5 feet deep if:
• Annual precipitation was less than 26 inches; and
• Suitable soils lie below an unsuitable soil cap
New rules allow excavations up to five feet deep if:
• Annual precipitation is less than 26 inches
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Where is the 26 inch rainfall line?
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Aerobic Treatment Sizing for Smaller Residences
• Old rules required 400 gallons of aerobic treatment capacity for all homes less than three bedrooms and 2,501 sq. ft.
• New rules require 360 gallons of aerobic treatment capacity for all homes less than three bedrooms and 2,501 sq. ft.
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Aerobic Treatment Sizing for Multiple Residences
Old rules required aerobic treatment units serving multiple residences to be sized according to Table II
New rules allow:• The aerobic treatment units to be sized
according to Table II; or• Sized according to Table III if preceded
by an equalization tank
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Aerobic Treatment Sizing for Multiple Residences – Option 1 (No Equalization)
3 Bedroom
3 Bedroom
3 Bedroom
3 Bedroom
400 gallon capacity(Table II)
400 gallon capacity(Table II)
400 gallon capacity(Table II)
400 gallon capacity(Table II)
AerobicTreatment Capacity
1,600 gallons
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Aerobic Treatment Sizing for Multiple Residences - Option 2 (Equalization)
3 Bedroom
3 Bedroom
3 Bedroom
3 Bedroom
240 gallons per dayTable III
240 gallons per dayTable III
240 gallons per dayTable III
240 gallons per dayTable III
EqualizationTank
960 gallons
AerobicTreatmentCapacity
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Improve Requirements for Disinfection Equipment
• Old rules had no third-party approval for disinfection equipment
• New rules require all disinfection equipment be listed and certified by NSF International or an ANSI accredited testing institution under ANSI/NSF Standard 46
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Improve Requirements for Disinfection Equipment
ANSI/NSF Standard 46 has two tests for disinfection equipment:
• Chlorine dispenser test – run with tap water and test measures chlorine residual
• Disinfection device test – run with treated wastewater and test measures fecal coliform
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Improve Requirements for Disinfection Equipment
• New rules require all disinfection equipment installed after December 27, 2012 to be certified as either a chlorine dispenser or a disinfection device
• Additionally, as of January 1, 2016, all disinfection equipment will have to certified as a disinfection device or approved by the Executive Director (TCEQ)
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Improve Requirements for Disinfection Equipment
• Repair or replacement of disinfection equipment can be done under emergency repairs
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Additional Items
• Cleanouts are now required every 100 feet, rather than every 50 feet
• Drip irrigation tubing can now be repaired under emergency repairs
• An Installer II can make any repairs to any OSSF, they just can’t enter into maintenance contracts without a MP license
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Additional ItemsRestaurants - When is a P.E. Required?
• Short Answer – When the disposal system requires secondary treatment
• What is secondary treatment?
- It is defined as an effluent quality
- It is the higher quality level needed for surface application and many drip systems
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Additional ItemsRestaurants - When is a P.E. Required?
Where is this requirement in the rules?
• Wastewater from restaurants is considered high strength (1,200 mg/l)
• All treatment systems for high strength are considered non-standard
- Package plants
- Built-from-scratch treatment plants
- Aerobic treatment units
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Additional ItemsRestaurants - When is a P.E. Required?
Where is this requirement in the rules?
• All non-standard treatment system must be designed by either a P.E. or an R.S
• However, non-standard treatment systems designed to meet secondary treatment levels must be designed by a P.E.
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Questions