An Accurate Assessment of the Situation Determining a

An Accurate Assessment of the Situation Determining a Community’s Wastewater Needs Nick Haig- University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program haigx 003@umn. edu - 612 -625 -9797

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. Imminent Threat to Public Health System (ITPHS) Ø Local policies affect results and homeowner requirements! BUYER BEWARE!

What about a whole community?

MPCA Unsewered Area Alternative Analysis 1. 2. 3. 4. Replace failed ISTS with new ISTS. Decentralized cluster system. Connect to existing facility. 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: More complete assessment: Complying & Non-complying Complying & ‘Could be’ Complying & ‘Can’t be’ Complying

Typical Assessment Minnesota Lake Comply Don’t Comply

More Complete Assessment Minnesota Lake Comply Could Comply Can’t Comply

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

Septic System Components Source Well Tank Drainfield Treatment in Soil Groundwater 3 feet

Site Assessments: Soil Analysis

Inadequate Vertical Separation Source Well Tank Groundwater 3 feet Drainfield Inadequate Treatment Pathogens Nutrients

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

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: ü No records ü Unpermitted work ü 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 Field Work $1925 WW Initiative $1160 Total Reporting $240 $312 $552 Overhead $408 $270 $678 Mileage $198 $180 $378 Meals $0 $75 Total $2771 $1997 $4768* * $76. 90/ Site Evaluation $3085

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