Maine Subsurface Wastewater Program
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 1926, 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 (MCDCP) and its predecessors.
The MCDCP 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 Program within the MCDCP's Division of Environmental Health is the program which 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 Program
Summer 2008 Newsletter
The Program is pleased to be able once again to offer a newsletter. This newsletter is in an electronic format. We plan to publish it twice per year. If you have ideas for items for the next edition, please contact us. Read the newsletter here.
Permit Stickers on Order
For the attention of Local Plumbing Inspectors, please note that the Program has run out of blank permit stickers. They were ordered two months ago, and have not yet arrived. You can call or e-mail Wendy Austin to order new stickers, or use our online form, if you are getting close to running out. As soon as we get some, we will print them out for you. If you run short of stickers in the meantime, you should keep a manual record or ledger using the existing numbering sequence.
HHE-200 Forms Available as Adobe PDF Files
In addition to CAD compatible format, the HHE-200 Form is now available in Adobe PDF format. A new Page 2, with four test pit logs, is also now available in both formats. These are all located on our Forms page.
Newest Rules Review Task Force Position Papers
The Task Force for review of the Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules has released several position papers, including those below. The Division has posted these specific position papers here because they are a bit large for e-mail distribution.
These position papers do not reflect the views or position of the Division with respect to their individual topics. Any changes to the Rules shall be made through a public hearing, pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
These files are in Adobe PDF format. Download a free Acrobat Reader.
Alternative System Sizing for Soil Profiles 8 and 9
Stone Bed Sizing
Stone Size
New Products
Geomatrix LLC, GeoMat
GeoMat consists of a one inch thick mat comprised of fused, entangled plastic filaments. Non-woven geotextile fabric is bonded to the bottom of the mat. A one inch diameter pressure distribution pipe is placed on the top of the mat, and both are then covered with one layer of non-woven geotextile fabric. Contact: Geomatrix Systems, LLC, Attn.: David and Elizabeth Potts, 114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06419
Geomatrix LLC, SoilAir
SoilAir is a system for introducing pressurized air to existing disposal areas, for the purpose of rejuvenation by degradation of restrictive biomats. Contact: Geomatrix Systems, LLC, Attn.: David and Elizabeth Potts, 114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06419
The following products recently have been approved for use in Maine, based upon meeting NSF/ANSI Standard 40 or other relevant third party standards:
Enviro-Aire EA50 Wastewater Treatment System. Delta Environmental Products, Inc.
Sun-Mar Composting Toilets, Sun-Mar Corporation
MicroFAST 0.5 Wastewater Treatment System, Bio-Microbics, Inc.
ZF450 Wastewater Treatment System, Zoeller, Inc.
H-TWO-O Series 35T Wastewater Treatment System, Desoto Concrete Products, Inc., (662) 895-6069
Ecoflex EFX 400 and 400B Peat Filters Premier Tech Environment
A list of previously approved products can be found here.
Updated 06/27/08
