What's New at the Subsurface Wastewater Unit

Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules Revisions Planned

The Maine Division of Environmental Health, Drinking Water Program, Subsurface Wastewater Unit is proposing revisions to the Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules (C.M.R. 241). 

The purposes of these revisions are to correct errors and inaccuracies, to create a more user-friendly document, and to reflect the Department’s statutory responsibilities more plainly. Our goal is to develop rules which are equitable to the onsite sewage disposal industry and the regulated community, but which do not compromise the protection of public health, safety and welfare.

To that end, we have established a stakeholders group to review and comment upon the proposal.   The document resulting from the stakeholders’ meetings will then be presented for public hearing.  The draft Rules will be available at that time.   A formal rulemaking package is tentatively scheduled for this spring, likely in late April.

If you wish to be kept advised of developments as they occur, please contact us.

1926 Maine State Plumbing Code Now Online

This document deals mostly with internal plumbing, but does have requirements for public sewers or cesspools, the first such requirements in Maine.  Previously, straight pipes were allowed.  The 1926 Rules are in Adobe PDF format for downloading.

2010 Tentative Schedule for Maine Site Evaluator Examinations

The schedule for the 2010 Site Evlauator written and field exams have been tentatively set.  Learn more.

Subsurface Wastewater Program Merges with Drinking Water Program

The Subsurface Wastewater Program’s technical staff, Douglas Coombs LSE, PLS, CPE, James Jacobsen, ES IV, and Brent Lawson LPI, LSE, Master Plumber, will function as a technical unit of the Water Resources Team led by Andy Tolman C.G., now known as the Subsurface Wastewater Unit   Wendy Austin and Lorraine Martin will continue to provide administrative support to the Subsurface Wastewater Unit.  Learn more.

Updated 01/28/10