An Accurate Assessment of the Situation Determining a Communitys Wastewater Needs Nick Haig- University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program

What is a site assessment? Analyze records Determine lot size Locate well Probe existing system Conduct soil boring Match soils Determine seasonal water table depth Locate potential drainfield area Identify treatment options Check/pump septic tank

Inspection: Results 1.Certificate of compliance 2.Certificate of non-compliance 3.I mminent Threat to Public Health System (ITPHS) Local policies affect results and homeowner requirements! BUYER BEWARE!

What about a whole community?

MPCA Unsewered Area Alternative Analysis 1.Replace failed ISTS with new ISTS. 2.Decentralized cluster system. 3.Connect to existing facility. 4.Connect to a facility, which requires an expansion. 5.Construct a new wastewater and treatment facility. Note: Solution may be a combination of approaches

Determining Decentralized Feasibility Typical assessment: Complying & Non-complying More complete assessment: Complying & Could be Complying & Cant be Complying

ComplyDont Comply Minnesota Lake Typical Assessment

ComplyCant Comply Could Comply Minnesota Lake More Complete Assessment

Doing the more complete assessment Map of parcels Records: –Permits –Age of systems –Maintenance Identify: –Likely compliant –Spot check Properties to be checked: –No records –Possible un-permitted work –Older than XX years –Suspected problems Map of findings

Septic System Components Source TankDrainfield Treatment in Soil Groundwater Well 3 feet

Site Assessments: Soil Analysis

Inadequate Vertical Separation Source TankDrainfield Inadequate Treatment Groundwater Well 3 feet PathogensNutrients

Mound System Source Tank Treatment in Soil Groundwater Well 3 feet Pump Mound Treatment Area

What Kind of System is Bad (failing)? Leaky Tanks Surfacing to Ground Inadequate Vertical Separation to Water Table Direct Discharge

Drywells or Cesspools

Surfacing to the ground

Direct Discharge (to surface, tile line, or body of water)

Veseli Examined the records Conducted 62 Site Evaluations Determined the current status of systems Assessed potential solutions for each property Evaluated potential cluster sites Produced map of findings County cost for time, travel, reporting and some overhead - $76.90/site

Results

Possible Results In Compliance- Meets current Rice Co. Ordinance Not In Compliance- Does not meet current Rice County Ordinance, may need to be upgraded in the future Imminent Threat to Public Health System- ground surface or surface water discharge, sewage backup into dwelling, drywell or cesspool.

Results 60 Anticipated Site Evaluations 62 Final Site Evaluations About 60% of community needed to be inspected because of: No records Unpermitted work Suspected direct discharges Several homes have been upgraded since 1992 due to Rice County Septic Ordinance property transfer requirements

Actual Results

Public Health Threats- Stacked Up

Veseli- Overall Septic Situation 106 Buildings

Veseli- Overall Septic Compliance

Community Options (in no particular order) Regionalize to Lonsdale (2002 est. = $30,000) One decentralized collection/treatment system for entire community Several cluster collection/treatment systems for entire community Upgrade all non-compliant systems with ISTS and cluster those that cannot fit ISTS

Options (cont.) Upgrade systems that pose ITPH with ISTS and cluster where necessary Allow new developments but require them to provide wastewater treatment for existing lots currently not in compliance

Site Evaluation Conclusions

Site Evaluation Cost Estimates Rice County WW Initiative Total Field Work$1925$1160$3085 Reporting$240$312$552 Overhead$408$270$678 Mileage$198$180$378 Meals$0$75 Total$2771$1997 $4768* * $76.90/ Site Evaluation

Beaver Lake Individual standard system Individual other system or a holding tank Individual holding tank Cluster system

Costs- Beaver Lake $500 to local ISTS professional In Kind not counted $3000-$5000 estimated

Meriden

More complete assessment Offers a complete understanding of the current situation Basis to look at potential solutions Helps determine appropriate boundaries Fits with the funding hierarchy changes