Environmental Engineering - Subsurface Sewage
An estimated 40% of Connecticut residents, close to 1.5 million people, live in homes served by on-site sewage systems. The vast majority of these sewage systems are conventional septic systems that are under the jurisdiction of the Local Directors of Health, and are the primary means of sewage disposal in rural and low density suburban areas. Septic systems also serve apartment buildings, schools, restaurants, and other commercial buildings in non-urban areas.
Septic systems that are properly designed, installed, and maintained provide a safe and efficient way of disposing domestic sewage. However, when sewage is discharged to antiquated or substandard sewage systems, such as cesspools, renovation of the wastewater by the soil may be incomplete. Sewage contains pathogens (disease causing organisms) and if improperly disposed may result in health hazards and nuisance conditions.
Septic systems on sites with design flows of 7,500* gallons per day (GPD) and less are permitted by the Local Director Health. Additionally, plans for large septic systems serving buildings with design flows of 2,000 to 7,500 GPD must be approved by the CT Department of Public Health. Septic systems, defined as subsurface sewage disposal systems, are regulated by Public Health Code (PHC) Section 19-13-B103 and the associated Technical Standards for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (Technical Standards). Local Health Department contact information. Septic systems on sites with design flows exceeding 7,500 GPD, alternative sewage disposal systems, and community sewage systems are permitted by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP).
*See Circular Letter 2017-17 that concerns new legislation (Public Act 17-146, Section 30) that affected subsurface sewage disposal system jurisdiction.
Additional Online Resources:
- Connecticut Public Health Code - Section 19-13-B100a Building Conversions and Additions
- Technical Standards 2018
- Appendix C: Approved Filter Fabric 8/15/19
- Technical Standards' Revision Process
- Technical Standards 2015 Sewage Tank Access (See Circular Letter 2015-29 Tank Covers, Risers & Safety Devices)
- Sewage System Installer and Cleaner Statutes
Design Manual - Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems for Households and Small Commercial Buildings:
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Design Manual Part 1 (General Design Principles)
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Design Manual Part 2 (Specific Design Considerations)
Historical Technical Standards
Exception Applications
All applications are for Local Health Department use only.
We encourage electronic completion and submission utilizing the Electronic Form (eform) including scanned supporting documentation. Please see Circular Letter 2011-70 Water Supply Well Separation Distance Exceptions and/or Circular Letter 2012-42 Central System Exceptions in the Environmental Engineering section underEnvironmental Health Section-Publications for additional requirements.
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Central System Exception
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Easement Exception
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Well Exception
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- 2020 Environmental Health Training Course
- Phase I Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Certification Course
- Presentations
- Phase I Certification Intro 2018
- Phase I Wastewater Introduction SSDS 2018
- Phase I Sewage Disposal System Piping 2018
- Phase I Septic Tanks, GIT and Pump Chamber 2018
- Phase I Effluent Distribution 2018
- Phase I Leaching Systems 2018
- Phase I Sewage Design Flows 2018
- Phase I Pere Test 2018
- Phase I Select Fill System Installations 2018
- Phase I Soil Basics 2018
- Phase I Sizing and Effective Leaching Area 2018
- Phase I MLSS 2018
- Phase I System Location 2018
- Phase I Drainage and Other Wastewater 2018
- Phase I Definitions 2018
- Phase I Regulation 19-13-B100a
- Phase I Regulations 19-13-B103a-f
- Phase I Handouts
- Presentations
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MLSS Training (2016 Minimum Leaching System Spread PowerPoint)
Water Treatment Wastewater (WTW)
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Water Treatment Wastewater Technical Standards (includes new requirements for the disposal of water treatment wastewater)
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Home Buyers Guide - What a Purchaser Should Know Before Buying a Home Served by a Septic System
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USDA Rural Development: Utilities
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USDA Rural Development: Single Family Housing Loans and Grants
Inspections of Existing Septic Systems
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Haynes Materials (Deep River quarry only) 7/1/19
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O&G Industries New Milford 6/17/19
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Haynes Materials Seymour Quarry 7/24/19
Product Approvals
- Mutual Industries Filter Fabric NW150SP (8/14/19)
- SRW Products Filter Fabric DF1.5 & DF2 (8/14/19)
- 72 Series GreenLeach Filter (10/25/18)
- CT Concrete Product Approvals (12/8/16)
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Eljen Mantis Double Wide Approval (4/28/16)
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GeoMat Spacing Reduction Approval (3/30/16)
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Cultec Recharger 900hd (6-23-14)
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Premier Plastics Flout Dosing Tanks (6-4-14)
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Greenleach (3-13-14)
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Hydroair Pump Systems (5-16-14)
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Infiltrator IM-540 Tank (4-2-14)
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Infiltrator IM-1530 Tank (4-2-14)
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Norwesco-Snyder Tanks (4-2-14)
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Infiltrator Gallery Config Approval (5-1-14)
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Geomatrix S-Box Re-Approval (3-14-11)
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Eljen Mantis 536-8 Approvals (3-24-11)
DPH Code Advisory Committee (CAC)
Technical Standards Revision Process and Code Advisory Committee (11/28/18)
Meeting Agendas:
- Summary of Proposed 1-1-15 Revisions to the Technical Standards
- CCMP WW 14-17
- LISS CCMP Internal Draft Comments
- LISS CCMP September 2014 Public Draft Comments
- NPS MPP On-site Items
C D Plan Growth Management Principle #4 D Rural Areas
Installer/Cleaner Exam Information