Maine Subsurface Wastewater Unit
Maine Subsurface Wastewater Unit
Maine is a predominantly rural state, and relies heavily on decentralized sewage disposal facilities for disposal of human waste, i.e., septic systems. The State of Maine has regulated septic systems since 1920, to varying degrees. Over the years, the Maine State Plumbing Code, Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules (Rules) in their various versions have been administered by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (MeCDC) and its predecessors.
The MeCDC has been and continues to be responsible for the Rules because they have historically been viewed as a public health code, rather than an environmental regulation.
The Subsurface Wastewater Unit, within the MeCDC's Division of Environmental Health, promulgates and administers the Rules. Our mission is to minimize health and safety hazards associated with improperly installed subsurface waste water disposal systems.
What's New at the Subsurface Wastewater Unit
On this page:
State Site Evaluator Opening
The Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Drinking Water Program, Subsurface Wastewater Unit has an opening for the position of State Site Evaluator.
You may obtain more infomation from the Career Opportunity Bulletin.
You may obtain an application from the DHHS jobs site.
2012 Training PowerPoint Presentations
The 2012 Basic Onsite Wastewater Installation and 2012 Certified System Inspector, 2012 Advanced Topics, and 2012 New Local Plumbing Inspector training PowerPoint presentations are available for viewing and downloading.
Position on Local Modifications to HHE-200 Form
There have been proposals from some municipalities to alter the HHE-200 Form to accommodate local ordinances or preferences, particularly page 1. The Division has not approved any alterations to the HHE-200 Form, since alternations to the format and content of the Department's forms are not allowed, except that additional pages may be added as necessary for any individual design. The Division does not condone the practice of municipalities altering the HHE-200 Form to accommodate local ordinances or preferences, including but not limited to, alteration of content or format such that the minimum data specified by the Division is modified or eliminated. The Division has written a position paper on this subject, which explains our view in greater detail. Read the position paper.
Family Burying Grounds
New or expanded family burying grounds no longer need to be registered with the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Environmental Health (Division). For many years the Division has been approving applications for family burying grounds. However, based upon a recent review of the statutory language (13 M.R.S. § 1142) governing family burying grounds, the Division has determined that the statute does not require approval by the Division. As required by 13 M.R.S. § 1303 the Division will continue to review and approve all other cemeteries except Veterans Memorial Cemeteries.
Fillable Online HHE-200 Page One Available
A fillable PDF version of page one of the HHE-200 Form is now available. You may fill out the form online and print directly from your web browser or Adobe Reader, or save it to your computer.
Recently Approved Products
Promiseland Manufacturing, LLC
The Poly Gravel Prefabricated Alternative Septic Drainfield System consists of polystyrene cubes encased in a plastic mesh cylinder. There are two variants: with and without a four inch diameter plastic perforated pipe in the center, installed in three foot wide trenches. Each trench would contain a central Poly Gravel cylinder with the integral central perforated pipe, with equally long cylinders without the integral pipe along both side of the central cylinder. The Poly Gravel system is rated at five square feet per linear foot, based upon effective side wall and bottom area. 03/15/12
NJUN Systems, LLC
The NJUN System consists of a multiple chamber sequencing batch reactor which treats domestic wastewater to below detectable limits for total suspended solids and five day biochemical oxygen demand.
Update, Geomatrix Systems LLC, SoilAir
Geomatirx Systems LLC proposed and the Division approved a reduced separation of the disposal area to the seasonal high water table in profile 5 and 6 soils and from bedrock from 24 inches to 12 inches when a SoilAir system is used.
Update, ADS ARC 18 and Bio 2 Plastic Chambers
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. proposed and the Division approved revised spacing between ARC 18 and Bio 2 chambers.
Infiltrator Systems, Inc., TW-300 and TW-500 septic tanks
The TW-300 and TW-500 septic tanks consist of rotomolded high density polyethylene cylindrical tanks, with 300 and 500 gallons capacity, respectively. The tanks have molded reinforcing ribs and 24 inch diameter access opening.
View the list of all approved products
Updated 05/22/12
