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AEROBIC Septic System Certifications State & Provincial ATU Certification Lists, Procedures, Laws
POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to obtain local building department or health department authority approval for aerobic septic system designs
This article discusses Aerobic Septic System Certifications (Aeration Septic System Certifications) - Fine bubble septic tank aeration septic systems to
meet local building or health department requirements and regulations.
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Obtaining Approval & Certification of Aerobic Treatment Units
Here are designs and products for aerobic septic treatment units (ATUs) for onsite waste disposal, also called fine bubble aeration systems.
We address aerobic septic system design, features, inspection, repair, and maintenance.
Aerobic septic system equipment & product sources are also listed.
You will want to obtain documentation of the certification and specifications of your aerobic septic system to provide to local authorities during the process of code approval.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Sketch courtesy US EPA.
AEROBIC Septic system treatment units (ATUs) are tested and certified by the National Sanitation Foundation which in turn uses the
ANSI/NSF Standard 40 Class I effluent limits as the functional target for the treatment system.
Before buying and installing an aerobic or aeration treatment system you should ask for and review the documentation about
the particular product to confirm that it has been properly specified and is certified as meeting the necessary standards.
Of course, even systems that are designed to meet ANSI/NSF Standard 40 Class I effluent limits will not continue to
do so unless they are properly installed and properly maintained.
The single most common reason cited for failure
of aerobic or aeration septic systems in one major study was
lack of proper maintenance.
The sketch shown just above is of an aspirated mixer aerobic system (click for larger image).
Florida Aerobic Septic System Certifications & Regulations
In Florida state law requires proper and regular maintenance of an ATU or Aerobic Septic Treatment Unit. The homeowner requirements are summarized by the Florida Department of health from which we except below.
Maintaining Your Florida ATU -
What are the requirements?
The homeowner must maintain a current operating permit for the life of the system. The operating permit must be renewed every two years. and costs $175.00 payable to the Department of Health.
The homeowner must maintain a valid maintenance contract with an approved maintenance entity for the life of the system. The maintenance contract on new construction will initially be good for two years. Subsequent renewals must be good for at least a one-year term for the life of the system. Prices vary depending on the maintenance entity selected and type of system.
Maintenance entity is required to inspect/service the ATU at least two times per year. Inspection reports must be submitted to the Department of Health in Lee County.
The Department of Health must inspect the maintenance and performance of the ATU at least once per year. - source: Florida A4robi Treatment Units, Lee County Department of Health, retrieved 2021/11/16 original source: http://lee.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-disposal/permits/aerobic-treatment-units.html
In Florida the construction, maintenance, and operation of aerobic septic treatment units or ATUs are regulated by the Florida Department of Health, Environmental Health Section, and by Florida's Administrative Code Section R. 64E-6.012 whose text we provide below as a downloadable PDF.
Florida septic system installers or maintenance companies are required to be registered and approved by the state and must renew that license each year. The state provides training to meet the licensing requirements.
Florida Aerobic Septic Code
FLORIDA LIST of CERTIFIED AEROBIC TREATMENT UNITS [PDF] as per (Rule 62-6.012, Florida Administrative Code) retrieved 2021/11/16 original source: https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/245Certified Aerobic Treatment Units_2021_1028.pdf
Excerpt: *Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) nitrogen-reducing requirements differentiate between systems with 24 inches of separation between the bottom of the drainfield and
the wettest season water table (WSWT) and those that do not.
Existing systems (modifications/repairs) installed with less than 24 inches of water table separation between the bottom of the drainfield and the WSWT (as
allowed per Rule 62-6) must use systems that are capable of at least 65% nitrogen removal. New systems and modifications/repairs installed with at least 24 inches between the bottom of the drainfield and the WSWT may
use any system capable of at least 50% nitrogen removal to comply with BMAP requirements.
Fla. Admin. Code R. 64E-6.012 - Standards for the Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Aerobic Treatment Units
Excerpt: When Florida aerobic treatment units are used for treating domestic and commercial sewage waste, each unit shall be installed, operated and maintained in conformance with the provisions cited immediately below:
Contact the Florida Department of Health Training Center, Bureau of Environmental Health, Onsite Sewage Programs
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710 Tel: 850-245-4070, Email: AskEH@flhealth.gov Website: http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage/training/index.html
For information on courses or to register contact:
Sherrill Parr
Florida Onsite Wastewater Association, Inc.
PO Box 665
Winter Haven, FL 33882
Phone: 863-845-5262
Fax: 1-877-832-9434
Excerpt: To help fulfill the credentialing and continuing education training needs of onsite wastewater contractors and county health department field staff, the Department of Health staff provide and support training at various locations across the state.
Much of this training takes place at the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association's Training Center in Polk City, Florida.
Texas Aerobic Septic System Certifications & Regulations
Question:
Texas USA limits on aerobic septic system chamber types?
(Mar 10, 2014) ANDY HANCOCK said:
In TEXAS under the 2012 International Plumbing Code, are there limitations/restrictions for Aerobic 3/4 chamber septic systems? and can the non potable water from these systems be used for plants and food plant irrigation - we only have 18ft above sea level of elevation so these would seem toi be a viable option
Reply:
Andy,
In Texas a common aerobic design permits disposal of effluent by surface spraying as both an evaporative disposal method AND as a surface watering method for lawns; I'm more doubtful about using it for food-plant irrigation;
although some aerobic output is treated to a very high level, perhaps higher than surrounding surface runoff, the history of system maintenance is nothing to brag about - so a poorly-maintained system might end up contaminating food plants. In my OPINION.
...
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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2021-11-16 4
by Inspectapedia Com Moderator (mod)
@Robbie,
We've added the contact information you need, now found on the page above in the section titled
Florida Onsite Sewage System Training Programs
You may need to refresh your browser or clear your browser cache to see the updated page
On 2021-11-15
by Robbie
How to get certified for robux systems in fort Myers Florida
On 2020-10-0
by (mod)
Yes Roberto. Check with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality department of occupational licensing at https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing
TCEQ
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Tel: 512-239-1000
On 2020-10-06
by Roberto Cumento
Can I get a certification for the state of TEXAS ?
On 2019-05-23 by (mod) - effects of Aero-Stream aeration on septic systems
Thank you Mark for the comment - and we very much welcome criticism and correction, as fairness and accuracy in reporting are our chief concern.
But I'm a little confused. The article expressly states that it is describing a product **marketed** by Aero-Stream. The original citation is in the References Section of this page. That citation describes the product being marketed.
It was AreoStream who referred us to this study as one supporting their product.
David A. Potts, Josef H. Grres, Erika L. Nicosia, and Jos A. Amador, "Effects of Aeration on Water Quality from Septic System Leachfields", JEQ: Journal of Environmental Quality 2004 33: 1828-1838. [September issue]
Copy also provided in HTML at the Journal's website jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/full/33/5/1828
[http://jeq.scijournals.org/] [or see the Journal's archives at jeq.scijournals.org/contents-by-date.0.shtml]
ASA-CSSA-SSSA Headquarters at (608)273-8080.
(JEQ http://jeq.scijournals.org/ ) is published by ASA [American Society of Agronomy https://www.agronomy.org/ ], CSSA [possibly the Crop Science Society of American https://www.crops.org/] , and SSSA [The Soil Science Society of America https://www.soils.org/] . Since 1994 it has been published bimonthly; before that (1972-1993) it was published quarterly.
The JEQ editorial board consists of the editor; associate editors; the managing editor; the Headquarters associate or assistant editor or editors working on the journal; the editors-in-chief of ASA, CSSA, and SSSA; the executive vice president; and the director of publications.
Abstract:
We conducted a pilot-scale study at a research facility in southeastern Connecticut to assess the effects of leachfield aeration on removal of nutrients and pathogens from septic system effluent. Treatments consisted of lysimeters periodically aerated to maintain a headspace O2 concentration of 0.209 mol mol1 (AIR) or vented to an adjacent leachfield trench (LEACH) and were replicated three times. All lysim-eters were dosed with effluent from a septic tank for 24 mo at a rate of 12 cm d1 and subsequently for 2 mo at 4 cm d1.
LEACH lysimeters had developed a clogging mat, or biomat, 20 mo before the beginning of our study. The level of aeration in the AIR treatment was held constant regardless of loading rate. No conventional biomat developed in the AIR treatment, whereas a biomat was present in the LEACH lysimeters. The headspace of LEACH lysimeters was considerably depleted in O2 and enriched in CH4, CO2, and H2S relative to AIR lysimeters.
Drainage water from AIR lysimeters was saturated with O2 and had significantly lower pH, five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), and ammonium, and higher levels of nitrate and sulfate than LEACH lysimeters regardless of dosing rate. By contrast, significantly lower levels of total N and fecal coliform bacteria were observed in AIR than in LEACH lysimeters only at the higher dosing rate.
No significant differences in total P removal were observed.
Our results suggest that aeration may improve the removal of nitrogen, BOD5, and fecal coliforms in leachfield soil, even in the absence of a biomat.
That said, help me out if you can by suggesting any clarifications on this topic.
On 2019-05-23 by Mark Callahan
I believe it is misleading to state that the Aero-Stream design is the subject of the Journal of Environmental Quality article referenced above. Nowhere does the article refer to the Aero-Stream product, and apparently it is actually an aerobic system designed by one of the article's authors that was tested.
On 2018-08-30
by (mod)
Commendable, Terry, I don't blame you for avoiding people who are unpleasant.
It's not just the unpleasantness it's that you can expect poor workmanship and resistance to any requests you might have.
You'd start by identifying the brand of aerobic system you have installed,
continue by obtaining all of the installation, operation, and maintenance information that the manufacturer has for that system,
and after reading that, you might discuss training with the manufacturer if they're open to that.
Watch out: some septic system chores involve extremely-dangerous steps that should not be taken without training and that can never be performed alone - for example entering or falling into a septic tank, even just leaning over an open septic tank can mean a quick ugly death.
On 2018-08-30 7
by Terry rossell
I would like to learn to install and maintain these systems as there is only one guy here and he's a pain on the butt
On 2017-12-14
b (mod)
- How do I obtain self certification for my aerobic system?
Jim,
The procedure will depend on the country and state or province where you live. So I'd start with the local health department.
In general, your state or province licenses septic system installers and maintenance technicians, and your state or province also maintains a list of aerobic septic system providers whose septic system has met the state's acceptance and certification criteria. Examples of those are above on this page.
Frankly in our OPINION it's not likely that a single private individual would find it feasible nor cost-reasonable to build her own home-made aerobic treatment septic system and then obtain a state certification for that one-off design.
On 2017-12-13
by Jim Avery
How do I obtain self certification for my aerobic system?
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In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
"Manual of Policy, Procedures, and Guidelines for Onsite Sewage Systems," Ontario Reg. 374/81, Part VII of the Environmental
Protection Act (Canada), ISBN 0-7743-7303-2, Ministry of the Environment,135 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto Ontario M4V 1P5 Canada $24. CDN.
US HEW, MANUAL of SEPTIC TANK PRACTICE [PDF] 1975, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Servicve, original source: https://nepis.epa.gov/
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies, Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389 (2006). Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives. Written for designers and engineers, this book is not at all easy going for homeowners but is a text I recommend for professionals--DF.
US EPA ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS MANUAL [online copy, free] Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. Original source http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm Onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems,
Richard J Otis, published by the US EPA. Although it's more than 20 years old, this book remains a useful reference for septic system designers.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Program Operations; Office of Research and Development, Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory; (1980)
"International Private Sewage Disposal Code," 1995, BOCA-708-799-2300, ICBO-310-699-0541, SBCCI 205-591-1853, available from those code associations.
"Manual of Policy, Procedures, and Guidelines for Onsite Sewage Systems," Ontario Reg. 374/81, Part VII of the Environmental
Protection Act (Canada), ISBN 0-7743-7303-2, Ministry of the Environment,135 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto Ontario M4V 1P5 Canada $24. CDN.
Manual of Septic Tank Practice, US Public Health Service's 1959.
Onsite Wastewater Disposal, R. J. Perkins;
Quoting from Amazon: This practical book, co-published with the National Environmental Health Association, describes the step-by-step procedures needed to avoid common pitfalls in septic system technology.
Valuable in matching the septic system to the site-specific conditions, this useful book will help you install a reliable system in both suitable and difficult environments. Septic tank installers, planners, state and local regulators, civil and sanitary engineers, consulting engineers, architects, homeowners, academics, and land developers will find this publication valuable.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Mary Margaret Minnis, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best septic system books around, suffering a bit from small fonts and a weak index. (DF volunteers to serve as indexer if Burks/Minnis re-publish this very useful volume.)
While it contains some material more technical than needed by homeowners, Burks/Minnis book on onsite wastewatre treatment systems a very useful reference
for both property owners and septic system designers. We refer to it often.
While Minnis says the best place to buty this book is at Amazon
Septic Tank/Soil-Absorption Systems: How to Operate & Maintain [PDF] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf
Septic System Owner's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000 $14.95 U.S. - easy to understand, well illustrated, one of the best practical references around on septic design basics including some advanced systems; a little short on safety and maintenance. Both new and used (low priceO copies are available, and we think the authors are working on an updated edition--DF.
Quoting from one of several Amazon reviews: The basics of septic systems, from underground systems and failures to what the owner can do to promote and maintain a healthy system, is revealed in an excellent guide essential for any who reside on a septic system. Rural residents receive a primer on not only the basics; but how to conduct period inspections and what to do when things go wrong. History also figures into the fine coverage.
Septic System Owner's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000 $14.95 U.S. - easy to understand, well illustrated, one of the best practical references around on septic design basics including some advanced systems; a little short on safety and maintenance. Both new and used (low priced copies are available, and we think the authors are working on an updated edition--DF.
Quoting from one of several Amazon reviews: The basics of septic systems, from underground systems and failures to what the owner can do to promote and maintain a healthy system, is revealed in an excellent guide essential for any who reside on a septic system. Rural residents receive a primer on not only the basics; but how to conduct period inspections and what to do when things go wrong. History also figures into the fine coverage.
US EPA ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS MANUAL Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. Original source http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm
The NSFC Products List has an excellent list of design manuals/modules National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC) now (2019/12/13) hosted at http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/ Tel: 304-293-4191 e-mail info@mail.nesc.wvu.edu.
The National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC) was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help America's small communities and individuals solve their wastewater problems through objective information about onsite wastewater collection and treatment systems. NSFC products and information are the only national resource of its type, dealing with small community wastewater infrastructure. or by telephone 800-624-8301
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.