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October 2021
Number of compliant septic systems up from 401,000 in 2011 to 505,300 today
There are 618,102 homes and businesses in Minnesota served by subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS). The number of SSTS that are estimated to be in compliance with existing standards has increased over the last 10 years, from approximately 401,000 systems in 2011 to 505,300 in 2020, according to the newly released SSTS Annual Report. The report reflects data contributed by the 86 counties, 79 cities, 34 townships and four special purpose units of government that administer the state's septic program at the local level.
The 2020 report introduces a new section with more detailed information on SSTS certification and licensing of SSTS professionals (system designers, installers, inspectors, service providers and maintainers), including program history, training and exam data, and the challenges caused by Covid-19 (see story below).
The questionnaire for the 2021 report will be sent to LGUs in December. Please complete the survey by February 1, 2022. Direct any annual report questions you have to Katie Dowlding.
Click on the blue button below to go directly to the 2020 SSTS Annual Report.
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More than 1,500 businesses licensed, 9,000 individuals certified
In 1994, the Minnesota Legislature made the certification and licensing of SSTS professionals mandatory. Since the statewide program began through the end of 2020, more than 1,200 training workshops have been held with nearly 60,000 enrollments.
The agency has awarded more than 1,500 business licenses and 9,000 individual certifications to SSTS designers, installers, maintainers, service providers, and inspectors. The SSTS Search Tool (shown at right) is the most up-to-date way for local SSTS staff, as well as septic system owners, to locate and/or check the status of licensed SSTS businesses and certified individuals.
The Covid-19 pandemic required changes to how training and exam sessions are conducted. In June 2020, the University of Minnesota (U of MN) began offering virtual training workshops for the Introduction to Onsite Systems and Installing Onsite Systems courses. In-person workshops resumed in September 2020 following Covid-19 protocols, which included mandatory masks, social distancing, and occupancy restrictions.
Despite the challenges, the number of exams taken in 2020 was similar to previous years -- 567 exams were taken at 22 exam events.
Typically, there are not many exam events in the summer months, but due to Covid there were more exam events provided in summer 2020 to make up for the lack of events in spring. Continuing to increase the amount of exam events provided each year will not be sustainable moving forward, but this approach was vital for responding to challenges presented in 2020, such as limited class sizes, and coordinating different policies and procedures with the U of MN, etc.
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Maintaining septic systems protects health, pocketbooks
September 21-24 was SepticSmart week in Minnesota and across the country. A properly maintained system can last a long time (and save home and business owners a lot of money in repair or replacement costs). Follow this list of Do's and Don'ts when it comes to your septic system.
The MPCA occasionally receives questions about specific waste streams and how they may be addressed by Minn. R. 7080. This section aims to classify dog kennel waste, communicate the agency’s position on non-sewage waste in general, and share some options and resources.
Dog kennel facilities and SSTS
Dog kennel waste, meaning the waste generated from dogs and cleaning their kennels, can be tricky since it looks (and smells) similar to sewage. While it may be similar, it’s important to highlight the purpose and intent of chapter 7080 to, among other things, “protect public health, safety, and general welfare by the discharge of adequately treated sewage to the groundwater.”
Furthermore, Minn. R. 7080.1050 specifically states “this chapter does not regulate systems that do not receive sewage,” with sewage defined as "waste produced by toilets, bathing, laundry, or culinary operations or the floor drains associated with these sources, and includes household cleaners, medications, and other constituents in sewage restricted to amounts normally used for domestic purposes."
Considering these references, it's clear that dog kennel waste falls outside the scope of Minnesota SSTS rules and is broadly considered a non-sewage waste.
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When possible, separate non-sewage waste streams
The MPCA recommends separating all non-sewage waste streams from proposed systems. SSTS and their components are specifically designed to adequately treat viruses, pathogenic organisms, and other constituents of sewage, while simultaneously ensuring sewage effluent remains below the surface and out of public contact.
Non-sewage wastes have potential for regulation outside of the SSTS program and may be subject to specific rules and requirements. If sewage is combined with any other waste, all applicable rules and requirements for all constituents in the waste stream must still be met. This can introduce additional challenges and complexity to the project.
If classified non-sewage waste is kept separate, it becomes much easier to manage each waste stream within the appropriate regulatory program.
Some options for separating waste streams
Separating the waste streams could mean installing a holding tank specifically for the kennel waste to be collected and land applied, or brought to a municipal wastewater treatment plant.
The size of the kennel could be a factor in whether there’s additional requirements on land applying the animal waste (think manure application) within the MPCA Feedlots Program. There’s also potential to collect solids and dispose in accordance with solid waste rules and requirements. If hazardous waste is involved, be sure to refer to hazardous waste requirements which likely requires separating and proper disposal. As always, all applicable local, state, and federal requirements must be met with the proper disposal of non-sewage waste.
If separation isn't an option, design SSTS accordingly
If no viable option exists to separate the waste streams, there are a number of considerations when designing an SSTS to handle dog kennel waste. First off, subsurface discharge of dog kennel waste would be considered a Class V injection well with the EPA’s UIC program, and would be subject to inventory reporting requirements as specified in the CFR, title 40, section 144.26.
There would be additional challenges in categorizing an appropriate design flow and/or waste strength with the dog kennel waste added. Introducing additional fine particles, especially things like dog hair, have potential for plugging up the soils in the drainfield, which would necessitate additional traps and/or effluent screens to keep those items from negatively impacting the system.
For more discussion related to dog kennels or non-sewage wastes, please feel free to contact Cody Robinson with the MPCA at cody.robinson@state.mn.us.
Considerations for dog kennel waste and SSTS are well-detailed in a paper written by the U of M. Select the blue button below to read more.
Renewal flexibility ends Dec. 31
All SSTS certifications that expire between March 13, 2020, and December 31, 2021, will be renewed, regardless of whether or not individuals have met their continuing education requirements. Individuals with expirations dates in this window who have not fulfilled their continuing education requirement due to the closure of workshops will be issued a conditional certification, which is no different than a full certification, but helps us keep track of this training debt.
Note however, the timeframe for when certification expirations are being managed with regulatory flexibility ends on December 31, 2021.
Certifications that expire after December 31, 2021, will return to being managed according to Minn. Rule 7083.
No more than half of continuing ed hours can be online
No more than half of an individual’s SSTS continuing education hours may be completed online. This means:
- All levels of designers and inspectors can take up to 9 hours of online education during their 3-year certification period.
- Installers, maintainers and service providers can take up to 6 hours of online education during their 3-year certification period.
Conditionally certified individuals may complete no more than half of their total required continuing education hours online. Their total required hours include hours completed during their 3-year certification period and hours completed during their conditional certification period.
Any online education hours that are completed beyond the 50% limit will not be counted by the MPCA toward an individual’s SSTS continuing education renewal or conditional requirement.
Questions?
Please contact MPCA’s Brenda Tischler by email or 651-757-2111 with certification renewal flexibility or online SSTS continuing education policy questions.
Volunteer opportunity to assist with exam pilot sessions
The MPCA Certification & Training unit is hosting an SSTS Installer exam piloting session on November 18, 2021, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the MPCA St. Paul office (520 Lafayette Road N).
We are seeking SSTS professionals to participate in the process. The event will have two sessions, beginning at 9 a.m. and 1:00 PM. You should bring materials that may help you work through SSTS Installer problems, including a calculator, course handouts, your SSTS Manual, and MN Rules Chapter 7080 book. Lunch will be between noon and 1 p.m. and we will be all done no later than 4 pm.
If you are interested in participating in this event, or have questions about it, please contact Matthew Rotz at matthew.rotz@state.mn.us or 651-757-2073 by November 5, 2021. Thank you!
Who can perform the installation of outside water and sewer services within the property lines?
MPCA-licensed SSTS installers may perform work on exterior water and sewer installations anywhere in the state and must provide a valid pipe layer card upon request at time of inspections. They may not design.
What work are septic professionals authorized to do for buildings served by SSTS systems?
MPCA-licensed septic professionals are allowed to perform work on building sewers connected to SSTS as follows:
- MPCA-licensed SSTS designers may design building sewers connected to SSTS and submit plans for review and approval according to Plumbing Code standards. SSTS designers may not design water supply systems or building sewers on municipal systems unless also licensed as a Minnesota Professional Engineer.
- MPCA-licensed SSTS installers may request permits and install building sewers connected to SSTS. These installers may also perform installation of exterior sewer and water supply piping anywhere in the state. They must notify the plumbing administrative authority when work requires a plumbing inspection.
- MPCA-licensed SSTS inspectors may inspect building sewers on SSTS according to the standards of the Plumbing Code when acceptable to the plumbing administrative authority.
- SSTS licensed septic professionals must perform work for compliance with the Minnesota Plumbing Code, Chapter 4714.
For more details on septic systems and plumbing regulations, click on the blue button below.
Duluth region compliance/enforcement coordinator named
Tim Luedtke has been named SSTS compliance and enforcement coordinator at the MPCA regional office in Duluth. Tim most recently worked as an Information Technology Specialist at Minnesota State Colleges & Universities.
He has also worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Luedtke has a degree in Environmental Geosciences with a focus on geology, sustainable management, and First Nations studies from UW- Superior.
He grew up on a farm near Green Bay WI, and enjoys backpacking with his wife as well as taking pictures of wildlife and ore boats on Lake Superior.
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