Vol. 5 No. 4 Spring 1998
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

New General Permit for Sanitary Septic Systems by Terry Huber, Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control

The Division of Water Quality's Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control (BNPC) is preparing to issue a new general permit for existing sanitary septic systems. Under the new general permit, the division will regulate sanitary discharges to ground water from existing sanitary subsurface disposal systems.

Effective August 21, 1989, the Standards for Individual Subsurface Disposal Systems (N.J.A.C. 7:9A) required all facilities with a design flow in excess of 2,000 gpd to apply for an individual NJPDES-DGW permit -- a permit requiring an in-depth review by DEP and substantial monitoring and reporting requirements for permittees. As a result of conversations with the regulated community, engineers, geologists and consultants, the division decided these types of ground water discharges could be regulated more effectively using a general permitting regulatory approach. This type of approach is often used to regulate discharge classes having similar operational and effluent characteristics.

The eligible dischargers must meet the following criteria to qualify for authorization under this general permit:

1. these facilities must have been designed and approved in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1 et seq. (Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems) or its regulatory precursors, prior to January 1, 1990;

2. these facilities were in conformance with the rules, regulations and ordinances in effect at the time of construction; and

3. the original design of these facilities was not reviewed and approved by the NJPDES program.

The new general permit outlines how to establish and maintain a workable inspection schedule for septic systems, including records of routine and corrective maintenance. It stresses the importance of keeping inspection records and is designed to promote operation awareness. It also explains unacceptable or "emergency" situations and the appropriate actions to take.

For additional information regarding this general permit, contact the Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control at (609) 292-0407.