Virginia’s Onsite Sewage Program

Dwayne Roadcap Division of Onsite Sewage, Water Services, Environmental Engineering, and Marina Programs

2

Policy Needs and Issues

Update GMP #143—Peat disposal AOSS implementation manual Revise GMP #147-treatment BMP Policy KSAT manual Voluntary upgrades Direct Dispersal Policy Emergency Regulations GIS policy Update QA/QC policy Safe, adequate, and proper policy Rescind GMP #122 Revise and update GMP #126.B

Errata sheet for SHDR Septic Lagoon Issue

3

Regulation Needs and Issues

AOSE Regulation repeal Civil Penalty Regulations Alternative Discharging Regulations Fee Regulations Indemnification Fund Regulations Private Well Regulations Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations Emergency Regulation Implementation AOSS Regulations—repeal of N

4

Other Needs and Issues

SHIFT Process Local ordinances Variances Indemnification Fund cases Conflict Management—EDRP and Appeals IFFCs Court cases Product reviews and approvals Uranium Mining

Current VDH Gravelless Policy

• VDH regulates gravelless systems under 3 General Memoranda of Practice (GMPs): •

GMP 127

– General authorization of gravel substitutes installed foot-for-foot with a gravel trench •

GMP 116

– 50-ft-long gravelless trench equivalent to 100 ft-long gravel trench •

GMP 135

–

75-ft-long gravelless trench equivalent to 100 ft-long gravel trench – **subject of legislation**

• VDH has allowed gravelless drainfield technologies as a replacement for a gravel and pipe trench since 1987.

12VAC5-610-950. Absorption area design. REVISED Table 5.4 Establishes gravelless sizing based upon percolation rate, similar to gravel Table 5.4. Area Requirements for Absorption Trenches. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 Area Required (Ft 2 /100 Gals) Percolation Rate (Minutes/Inch) 83 90 99 110 119 131 143 157 172 188 206 227 248 272 299 328 359 394 489 536 588 645 707 775 110 120 132 146 158 174 191 209 229 251 275 302 331 363 398 437 479 525 575 631 692 759 832 912 Gravity Gravity Gravelless Low Pressure Distribution 110 120 132 146 158 164 170 176 185 193 206 217 228 240 251 262 273 284 288 316 346 379 416 456 Area Required (Ft 2 /Bedroom) 124 135 149 164 178 195 215 236 258 282 309 339 372 408 447 492 539 590 733 804 882 967 1061 1163 165 180 198 218 237 260 286 314 344 376 412 452 496 544 596 656 718 786 862 946 1038 1138 1248 1368 Gravity Gravity Gravelless Low Pressure Distribution 165 180 198 218 237 255 260 264 279 293 309 325 342 359 375 394 409 424 431 473 519 569 624 684

Gravelless Drainfield Options – Change Trench Number Gravel Per Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations

- Primary area footprint = 100’ L x 30’ W = 3,000 sf - 50% repair area = 3,000 sf x 50% = 1,500 sf - Total onsite system footprint = 4,500 sf Primary Area 50% Repair Area

Total Footprint = 4,500 sf Gravelless System Under New Regulations

- Eliminate one trench from gravel design - Primary area footprint = 100’ L x 21’ W = 2,100 sf - 50% repair area = 2,100 sf x 50% = 1,050 sf - Total onsite system footprint = 3,150 sf Primary Area 50% Repair Area

Total Footprint = 3,150 sf

Gravelless Drainfield Options – Change Trench Length Gravel Per Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations

- Primary area footprint = 100’ L x 30’ W = 3,000 sf - 50% repair area = 3,000 sf x 50% = 1,500 sf - Total onsite system footprint = 4,500 sf Primary Area 50% Repair Area

Total Footprint = 4,500 sf Gravelless System Under New Regulations

- Change 100’ gravel trench length to 75’ for gravelless - Primary area footprint = 75’ L x 30’ W = 2,250 sf - 50% repair area = 2,250 sf x 50% = 1,125 sf - Total onsite system footprint = 3,375 sf Primary Area 50% Repair Area

Total Footprint = 3,375 sf

AOSE Regulations:

• Emergency Regulations expired in 2001 • Final Regulations took effect July 1, 2002 • Being repealed, no authority

SHIFT

SHIFT

• How to maximize private sector participation • To the greatest extent possible • While providing adequate oversight • To protect public health and the environment.

SHIFT

• Meeting #1: Why are we here?

• Meeting #2: What’s wrong/good now?

• Meeting #3: What should the future hold?

• Meeting #4: What are the best ideas?

• Meeting #5: How can we improve best ideas?

13 Builders/realtors Builders/realtors Builders/realtors Environmental interest Environmental interest Homeowners/citizens Homeowners/citizens Local government officials Members Mike Toalson Tyler Craddock Neil Williamson Dan Holmes Ed Dunn Larry Wallace Bill Timmins Erik Johnston CEO, Home Builders Association of Virginia VA Manufactured and Modular Housing Association Governmental Affairs Director, Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors Piedmont Environmental Council Virginia Environmental Health Association Virginia State Program Manager, SERCAP VDH Sewage Handling & Disposal Advisory Committee Director of Government Affairs, Virginia Association of Counties

Local government officials (planners, building officials, administrators) Manufacturers Onsite sewage system professionals Onsite sewage system professionals Onsite sewage system professionals Onsite sewage system professionals Members Jeff Gore Dave Lentz Jim Slusser Tony Bible Curtis Moore Tim Reynolds Legislative Liaison, Loudoun County Regulatory Director, Infiltrator Systems Inc.

AOSE; President, VA Association of AOSEs AOSE AOSE/VOWRA Representative Reynolds-Clark Development

15 Installers Installers Installers Onsite sewage system professionals Onsite sewage system professionals Onsite sewage system professionals Members Sandra Gentry John Powell John Ewing Joel Pinnix Manager, Gentry Septic Tank Service/Secretary, VOWRA/VDH Sewage Handling and Disposal Appeals Review Board Powell's Plumbing/VOWRA BOD President, Obsidian Inc.

Jeff Walker Bill Sledjeski President Elect, VAPSS CPSS/AOSE

Advisory Committee Chairman VDH staff VDH staff Members Vincent Day Jim Bowles Sewage Handling and Disposal Advisory Committee/Chairman, Virginia Assn. of American Geologists Environmental Health Coordinator, VDH Office of Environmental Health Services Charles Devine, M.D.

Health Director, Lord Fairfax Health District VDH staff Scott Honaker Environmental Health Manager, Mt. Rogers Health District

Well Drillers Resource Members Resource Members Resource Members Resource Members IEN IEN IEN IEN Members Jimmy Bundick Dwayne Roadcap Allen Knapp Mark Courtney Larry Getzler Frank Dukes Tanya Denckla Cobb Kelly Wilder Jason Knickmeyer Bundick Well & Pump Co./VA Well Water Assoc. VP Division Director, Onsite Sewage and Water Services Division, VDH Director, Office of Environmental Health Services, VDH Senior Director for Licensing and Regulation, DPOR Chief Economic Analyst, DPB The Institute for Environmental Negotiation The Institute for Environmental Negotiation The Institute for Environmental Negotiation The Institute for Environmental Negotiation

Data Requests • Cooperative agreements • Local ordinances • Backlog data • Belief by some that VDH taking longer to process supporting work • Staffing levels and workload • AOSS and O&M data • Indemnification fund data

Agreements: • VDH oversight and education role • New construction, existing systems, and wells • Consistency: policy, interpretations, work product • HBAV, VAR, and VACO • Private sector charges would rise • Cost, Quality, Time, and Access (competition & choice)

Disagreements:

• VDH fees • VDH performing AOSS or COSS work • Conflicts of interest and ethics ***** Without agreement, what is the likely fall back position?

Cost Benefit Analysis

Changing Not Changing Benefits

1. Movement toward your interests and positions 1. You know what you got. 2. No need to compromise 2. Reduce programmatic conflict

Costs

1. New and different expectations (training & oversight) 1. Winners and Losers 2. No Peace in the Valley malaise continues — 2. Unintended consequences 3. Costs will likely rise 3. Regulator/Service Provider Model Entrenched

22

Opportunities for Change

• Fees • Work Product Expectations • Setting a roadmap for orderly transition

Levels of Controversy

23 • Subdivision lots • Certification Letters • Subdivisions with prior work • Certification letters with prior work • Voluntary Upgrades • Safe, Adequate and Proper Reviews • Construction permits – pump to gravity • Repairs & Emergencies