Maine Subsurface Wastewater Unit
Maine Subsurface Wastewater Unit
Revisons Update
Current Rules
Rules for Establishment and Operation of Crematoria | Public Swimmimg Pool Rules | Rules for Appointment and Administration of Local Plumbing Inspectors | Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules | Rules for Conversion of Seasonal Dwelling Units into Year-Round Residences in the Shoreland Zone | Minimum Lot Size Rules | Rules for Site Evaluators of Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Systems
Prior Rules
1920 Maine State Plumbing Code | 1926 Maine State Plumbing Code | 1944 Changes | 1946 Maine State Plumbing Code | 1970 Maine State Plumbing Code | 1974 Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules | Prior Rules Synopses
2011 Rules Revisions Update
The latest version of Maine's Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules is a major redraft of the previous version. As expected with such significant changes, errors and omissions are being discovered now that everyone is using the new rules. The following errors and ommisions have been indentifed, and will be adressed later in an "errors and ommissions rulemaking".
| Section | Issue |
|---|---|
| 4(A)(3) (a & b) | should read: "All new systems". |
| 4(A)(5) | “area” should read “field”. |
| 4(A)(7) | interpreted as consistent slope. |
| 4(J)(1) | ".not more than grey wastewater fixtures" should read "not more than 3 grey wastewater fixtures...". |
| 4(L)(13) | Refers to 4(D)(7), which does not exist. Proper reference is 4(L)(12). |
| Table 4F | AII inside the SLZ, profiles 1, 2, 3, etc. = variance required. |
| Table 4F | Replacement Systems profile 5 & 6, 24 inch separation for all. |
| Section 7(D)(1)(f) | refers to 7(D)(2), which should be 6(C). |
| Table 7B(a) | should read "Potable water supply setbacks may be reduced, as prescribed in Section 7.A.(2)." |
| Table 7B(d) | meaning watertight. |
| Table 8A | septic tanks <1,000 gpd design flow, should be 50 feet down to 25 feet |
| Definitions | water body/course, minor “.(2) Tributary streams within the shoreland zone” should read “.(2) Tributary streams outside the shoreland zone..” |
| Omission | References to prohibitions of first time systems in the coastal V-Zone were inadvertently omitted. |
| Omission | Section 9-Expanded Systems, should have specified that pre-1974 (no design) and illegally installed post-1974 systems (again, no design) must use first time criteria for expansions. Legally designed, permitted, and installed post-1974 systems may use replacement criteria for expansions. |
In addition, questions regarding the Department's intent or interpretation of some of the new language have been received. This position paper is intended as answers to some of the questions, and the Department's response to the concerns expressed to date. Download the position paper.
Current Rules
Rules for Establishment and Operation of Crematoria CMR 227
Public Swimmimg Pool Rules CMR 202
Rules for Appointment and Administration of Local Plumbing Inspectors CMR 240
Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules CMR 241
Rules for Conversion of Seasonal Dwelling Units into Year-Round Residences in the Shoreland Zone CMR 242
Minimum Lot Size Rules CMR 243
Rules for Site Evaluators of Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Systems CMR 245
1920 Maine State Plumbing Code
This four page document deals mostly with internal plumbing, but does have requirements for public sewers. The 1920 Rules are available for downloading..
1926 Maine State Plumbing Code
This document deals mostly with internal plumbing, but does have requirements for public sewers or cesspools. The 1926 Rules are available for downloading..
Summary of 1944 Rules Changes
This is a letter explaining changes to the 1944 Maine State Plumbing Code. 1944 Changes.
1946 Maine State Plumbing Code
This is an excerpt from the 1946 Code, relating specifically to subsurface wastewater disposal.
1970 Maine State Plumbing Code
This is an excerpt from the 1970 Code, relating specifically to subsurface wastewater disposal.
1974 Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules
The July, 1974 Rules are available for downloading. There are four parts, due to file size considerations. (pdf files)
1974 Part 1 1974 Part 2 1974 Part 3 1974 Part 4
04/26/12
