A.
GENERAL: The following standards and procedures are the minimum
necessary for subsurface wastewater disposal system inspections, including
those located in the shoreland zone.
B.
SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION: The
inspector must obtain all relevant documentation for the disposal system to be
inspected, which include the following:
1.
The HHE-200 form.
2. Amendments to
the design, by the site evaluator or LPI if applicable; and
3. Any variance forms approved by the
municipality during the system's review and approval.
These forms may be obtained at no charge on the Department's
website or from the municipality in which the system is located. Documentation
must include the type and location of system components, the design flow of the
system and the use the system was approved. The system components identified
during an inspection must be consistent with the design and location
description on the HHE-200 form, or the inspection may be delayed.
The structure connected to the system must align with the
description within the HHE-200 form. For example, a structure with five
bedrooms should not be serviced by a subsurface wastewater disposal system
whose permitted design is for a three-bedroom home. A discrepancy such as this
one must be noted prominently on the inspection report. All requirements for
the design and installation of subsurface wastewater disposal systems are
governed by the rules in effect at the time of permit issuance. Prior versions
of this rule are maintained by the Department and are available on the
Department's website.
C.
DRINKING WATER WELL SETBACKS:
The setbacks from the disposal system to all drinking water wells located on
the property being inspected must be measured and noted on the inspection
report. Well setbacks are governed by the rules in effect at the time of
disposal system permit issuance and may be installed with reduced setbacks to
disposal system components if located and constructed in compliance with rules
promulgated by the Maine Water Well Commission. Many drinking water wells
predate regulation and are legally existing wells. Well setbacks must be
measured from the disposal field, not the disposal area, which includes the
shoulders and fill extensions. Illegal setback distances or setback distances
not meeting the setback requirement may require further investigation by the
inspector
D.
COMPONENTS TO
INSPECT: At a minimum, the inspection must include locating and
evaluating the internal plumbing associated with wastewater disposal, septic
and/or treatment tank(s), filters, distribution system, absorption area and,
when applicable, any pumps, lift stations, dosing equipment, advanced treatment
or advanced tertiary treatment devices.
E.
COMPONENT INSPECTION
CRITERIA: The following are the minimum standards and procedures for
inspecting the disposal system components listed above in Section
5(D):
1. Internal Wastewater Plumbing: The internal
wastewater plumbing must be identified and inspected to verify that all
wastewater generated in the structure is routed to an approved subsurface
wastewater disposal system. Washing machine outflow and water treatment system
backwash water must be disposed of in either the disposal system or a separate
grey water disposal system designed by a site evaluator and approved by the
municipality, except in cases where Section
11(E) applies.
An HHE-200 form with appropriate approvals must be available
for any grey water disposal system. Unapproved grey water disposal is a sign
that the structure's disposal system has experienced problems in the past. The
use of the structure must also be noted and compared with the use described on
the HEE-200 design. For example, the number of bedrooms in the structure or
number of seats in a restaurant will be compared to the maximum allowed use
described in the design. Any discrepancies must be noted on the inspection
report. A valid permit issued by the LPI is evidence that the disposal system
was designed and installed in accordance with the rule in effect at the time of
permit issuance.
2. Septic
Tank: The septic tank must be identified and access ports located, in order to
perform the inspection be uncovered. The person requesting the inspection is
responsible for ensuring access to inspection ports greater than 24 inches
below grade, or when conditions make hand digging unreasonable. The condition
of the tank must be noted, with any cracks, leaks or other defects noted on the
inspection report. Any leaks that allow water to enter the tank threaten the
proper functioning of the disposal system. The effluent level in the tank must
be below the bottom of the inlet and equal to the bottom of the outlet.
Inlet and outlet pipes must be inspected and any broken or
collapsed sections noted. Effluent above either the inlet or outlet of the tank
indicates either a blockage in the distribution system exists, the tank is not
level or that the drain field is not functioning properly. These conditions
must be noted in the inspection report. The tank inspection must also include
an evaluation of any filters, baffles, risers or aeration equipment. Clogged
filters, missing or defective baffles and aeration equipment that is not
functioning properly must be noted in the inspection report. Some disposal
systems will include multiple tanks. Each tank must be inspected and described
on the inspection report.
3.
Distribution System: The distribution system includes all piping from the
structure to the absorption field and usually includes a distribution box
(D-Box). The person requesting the inspection is responsible for ensuring
access to D-Boxes greater than 24 inches below grade, or when conditions make
hand digging unreasonable. The inspector must verify that the inlet pipe
entering the septic tank is higher than the outlet pipe(s), which leads to the
absorption field. Inlet and outlet pipes must be inspected and any broken or
collapsed sections noted. The D-Box must be located and exposed. The D-Box must
be level and free of solids. Any defects or the presence of solids in the D-Box
must be noted on the inspection report. If the system is pressurized, any pumps
or grinders must be located and inspected. Any defects or issues must be noted
on the inspection report.
4.
Absorption Area: There are many different types of absorption areas, including
stone beds and trenches, proprietary devices and concrete chambers. The type of
absorption field must be determined by reviewing the HEE-200 form. The location
of the absorption area must be confirmed to match the description in the
design. The person requesting the inspection is responsible for ensuring access
to absorption areas greater than 24 inches below grade or when conditions make
hand digging unreasonable. The effluent level in the disposal field must be
determined in several locations to ensure proper distribution. If the system
employs parallel distribution, effluent must be at an equal depth and evenly
distributed throughout the entire bed.
If not, the bed may not have been installed properly,
sections of the bed may be clogged, a pipe may be crushed, clogged or broken,
or the D-Box may not be level.
In systems based upon serial distribution, the extent of
effluent progression through any given serial segment should be noted. Serial
distribution systems are designed to utilize the first serial segment until it
is exhausted, then progress to the next segment. Unutilized segments indicate
remaining life in the disposal area, a full segment up gradient of additional
segments is not an indicator of a malfunction. Any issues or deficiencies
determined in the absorption area must be noted on the inspection
report.
5. Pumps, Lift
Stations, Dosing Equipment and Alarms: When utilized pumps, lift stations,
dosing equipment risers, and alarms must be located and inspected. Any
deficiencies or defects must be noted on the inspection report.
6. Advanced and Advanced Tertiary Treatment
Systems: These systems reduce effluent strength before it is discharged to the
disposal system. Advanced treatment devices lower effluent strength, which
allows for smaller absorption areas and are used in locations where lot
configurations limit the area available for the absorption area.
Advanced tertiary treatment devices treat effluent
sufficiently to require no additional treatment in either a septic tank or an
absorption area. These devices are generally utilized on sites with conditions
that preclude the use of conventional disposal systems and may not include a
septic tank but always require a disposal field. If one of these devices is
included in a system being inspected, then the inspector must review all
maintenance and service records for the system and contact the service
provider, to ensure that the system has been properly serviced and maintained.
These devices usually require a maintenance contract as part of their approval.
The contract must be reviewed, and the annual maintenance costs included in the
inspection report. Discrepancies regarding required maintenance must be noted
on the inspection report.
7.
Limitations: There are many different types of subsurface wastewater disposal
systems, proprietary devices and advanced treatment systems and devices
utilized in modern wastewater disposal systems. An inspector should limit their
inspection to the types of systems and components they are familiar with and
can accurately evaluate.
8. Access
to Disposal System Components: Inspectors are not required to uncover any
component located more than 24 inches below grade, or when conditions make hand
digging unreasonable. Examples of unreasonable conditions are frozen ground or
components located under other structures such as patios, walkways and decks.
The person requesting the inspection must have components uncovered that are
either more than 24 inches below grade or when conditions make hand digging
unreasonable. An inspection that does not include an evaluation of all the
components of the disposal system is not complete and does not satisfy the
requirements of this rule.
9.
Inspection Camera: All inspections of subsurface wastewater disposal systems in
the shoreland zone must include a camera that is suitable for inspecting
disposal system components.
F.
Inspection Report for Disposal
Systems Located in the Shoreland Zone: A summary report of any
inspection of disposal systems located in the shoreland zone must be completed
by the certified inspector on a form provided by the Department, in accordance
with Maine law (30-A MRS §
4216). Copies of the summary report
must be submitted upon completion of the inspection to the person requesting
the inspection, for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with
30-A
MRS §
4216 during the transfer of that
property. The inspector must also submit a copy of the summary report to the
appropriate municipality within 60 days of inspection. Disposal systems located
in the shoreland zone found to be malfunctioning as defined in this rule must
be reported to the Department's State site evaluator and the Local Plumbing
Inspector within 72 hours of the completion of the inspection.
G.
Inspection Report for Disposal
Systems Located Outside the Shoreland Zone: A summary report for
disposal system inspections not located in the shoreland zone must be completed
by the inspector and provided to the person requesting the inspection on a form
provided by the Department. The summary report must be submitted to the
appropriate municipality within 60 days, as well.