Statewide Septic System Rules Advance
• Workshop Slated to Take Place in
Malibu in January
The California Water Resources Control
Board is moving forward with Assembly Bill 885, which is
intended to provide regulations on a statewide level for the
monitoring of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
All properties in Malibu would be subject
to the terms of the new law. The agency is presenting a number
of community workshops throughout the state, including a
session in Malibu on Jan. 15, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Malibu High
School.
California is one of the few states that
does not have comprehensive rules and regulations for onsite
wastewater treatment. Oversight of wastewater treatment, for
the most part, is left to counties and cities under the aegis
of regional water boards.
The draft of legislation has been stalled
in the state Senate and governor’s office for several
years. However, SWRCB officials now insist they are ready to
move forward and have formed a rulemaking committee to educate
the public and receive comments.
The SWRCB recently issued a letter
outlining the proposed regulations, proposed waivers and draft
environmental impact report, which are available for
public review and comment.
The new regulations are intended for
all onsite wastewater treatment systems and contain differing
requirements for new and existing wastewater systems.
Under the statewide rules, owners must have
their septic tanks inspected for solids accumulations every
five years by a qualified inspector.
Owners with an onsite domestic well on
their property would have to have a state certified analytical
laboratory analyze well water (groundwater) for specified
constituents once every five years and report the results to
the state water board.
Owners whose existing septic systems are
within 600 feet of a surface water body that does not meet
water quality standards would have special requirements.
Owners of existing septic systems within
600 feet of an impaired water body would be required
to have a qualified professional determine if the septic system
is contributing to the impairment and, if so, retrofit the
septic system with supplemental treatment that could cost up to
$45,000.
There are over a half-dozen requirements
that would apply to new systems.
The state water board staff is conducting a
total of 11 workshops, including the session in Malibu,
regarding the state board’s proposed regulatory actions.
Written comments must be received by
Feb. 9, 2009. Emails can be sent to AB885@waterboards.ca.gov,
or mailed to State Water Resources Control Board, Division of
Water Quality, Attn: Todd Thompson, 1001 First Street, 15th
Floor, P.O. Box 2231, Sacramento, CA 95812.
