| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Select Committee on Environmental Health | |
HB 2012
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Concerning treatment products for use in drain fields of on-site sewage disposal systems.
Sponsors: Representatives Springer, B. Sullivan, VanDeWege, Haigh, Eickmeyer, Sells, Hunt, O'Brien, Green and Pearson.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/15/07
Staff: Amy McCormick (786-7290).
Background:
The Department of Health (DOH) protects public health by promoting the safe treatment and
disposal of domestic and other non-industrial wastewater in areas of Washington not served by
municipal sewage treatment works. Rules and standards have been adopted to prevent, control,
and abate health hazards and nuisances related to the disposal of wastes, including on-site sewage
disposal systems. DOH regulates the location, design, installation, operation, maintenance, and
monitoring of on-site sewage disposal systems.
DOH develops standards and guidance to assist local health officers in permitting different types
of sewage treatment and distribution technologies, including public domain treatment
technologies, proprietary treatment products, public domain distribution technologies, and
proprietary distribution products. Manufacturers of proprietary treatment products must register
their product with the department before the local health officer may permit their use. To qualify
for product registration, manufacturers must meet several requirements, including verifying
product performance through testing, and reporting test results.
DOH's product registration process does not recognize products that use soil-based
denitrification processes in the drain field of an on-site sewage disposal system.
Summary of Bill:
Manufacturers of proprietary treatment products that use soil-based denitrification processes in
the drain fields of on-site sewage disposal systems are exempt from registering their products
with the Department of Health if the following conditions are met:
1) Product conforms to the universal plumbing code;
2) Biological component of product meets additive requirements;
3) For product testing, sampling for total nitrogen discharge to the soil is drawn using a soil
vacuum lysimeter or by other approved method;
4) Test results of the soil surrounding the drain field must be at or below ten parts per million of
total nitrogen;
5) Test data is submitted to the department for review and approval or denial; and
6) Product is installed into a septic system with a preexisting on-site permit.
The department must review test data and approve or deny the treatment process within thirty
days. If the department does not approve the process, the department must issue an explanation.
The department must not charge application fees in excess of comparable application fees. The
department must maintain a list of approved proprietary treatment products for use in soil-based
denitrification process.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.