Maine Subsurface Wastewater Unit
Maine Subsurface Wastewater Team
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 as a public health issue 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 Subsurface Wastewater Team, within the MECDC's Division of Environmental Health, Drinking Water Program is charged under 42 MRS § 42 (3, 3-A, 3-B) to adopt rules which regulate subsurface sewage disposal systems, licensing of persons to evaluate soils for subsurface wastewater disposal systems, and inspection of plumbing and subsurface waste water disposal systems.
What's New at the Subsurface Wastewater Team?
On this page:
SITE EVALUATOR LICENSE RENEWALS
Online Site Evaluator license renewal is available. Click here to open a new window and follow the instructions there. You will need your current active license certificate number. The online renewal service is available 24-7, although technical assistance is only available during regular business hours through the online renewal site. Contact Brent Lawson (207) 592-7376 with any licensing questions.
UPCOMING TRAINING
Subsurface Wastewater Team Training
No training is presently scheduled. Contact Brent Lawson, State Site Evaluator (207) 592-7376 if you have questions.
Presby Environmental Update
Presby Environmental (PEI) was recently acquired by Infiltrator Water Technologies (IWT), uniting PEI’s combined treatment and dispersal technology with IWT’s broad offering of onsite wastewater treatment system technologies.
PEI and IWT will be hosting a seminar on the evening of Thursday, August 8th in the North Wing of the Augusta Civic Center (76 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04333). Dinner will be provided with a cash bar available. The seminar will provide an opportunity to learn about the changes, ask questions, and to introduce you to other IWT products. Registration is required.
To learn more about the manual changes: https://septicsystemsofmaine.com/2019/06/maine-advanced-enviro-septic-and-enviro-septic-design-installation-manual-changes-2019-edition/
To register for the seminar and free buffet dinner click here: https://septicsystemsofmaine.com/training/registration-2/
2019 Soils and Natural Resource Workshop
The 2019 MAPSS/MAWS/MASE Soils and Natural Resource Workshop will be held at Reid State Park in the town of Georgetown, Maine, on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm. The workshop has many interesting sites which include back sand dunes, flood plain soils, an oxyaquic soil transect with iris tubes, a new method for determining the Ksat and HSG of soils, streams, an upland to forested freshwater wetland to a salt marsh transect, vegetated stormwater buffer treatment area evaluations, where to begin measuring from for setbacks in the shoreland zone and vernal pools. These are challenging sites that will generate a good deal of discussion. Experts as well as State, local and Federal Regulators will be present to answer questions and provide valuable guidance for dealing with these difficult sites and soils. See www.mapss.org for more details.
The cost of the workshop is $40.00 for MAPSS/MAWS/MASE members or associate members and $50.00 for all others. If you have any questions about the workshop, call Dave Rocque at 287-2666 or send him an e-mail at david.rocque@maine.gov.
NOTICE REGARDING THE SUBSURFACE RULES
The Department has identified a significant error in Table 4C of the Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, 10-144 CMR 241. Specifically, the design flow standard for Marinas currently reads:
Marina |
100 gpd plus 10 gpd per slip or mooring (clothes washers are not included; design flow for clothes washers must be calculated separately); w/bathrooms add 30 gpd per slip; w/o bathrooms add 100 gpd per slip. |
This design flow standard for marinas should read:
Marina |
100 gpd plus 10 gpd per slip or mooring plus 12 gpd per employee without bathrooms; |
Site Evaluators should use the correct design flow standard when designing a subsurface wastewater disposal system to serve a marina. The normal state variance process can be utilized should an LPI require it as verification of the design flow standard discrepancy. Please contact the Department should you have any questions.
Policy for Variances
The Subsurface Wastewater Team has adopted a policy on the use of microfiltration advanced treatment systems to overcome technical difficulties on sites with marginal or failing conditions. The policy may be downloaded. Please forward questions to David Braley, Team Leader, Subsurface Wastewater Team.
Presby Environmental Inc. Reminder
Contrary to Table 6H of the Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules (Permitted Substitution of Proprietary Devices) no effluent disposal product(s) may be substituted for any Presby Environmental, Inc. product(s). Pursuant to the January 11, 2010 registration approval letter for the Advanced Enviro-Septic no other company or manufacturer’s product(s) may be substituted for the Advanced Enviro-Septic or Enviro-Septic, at the request of Presby Environmental, Inc. although the Advanced Enviro-Septic may be substituted for Enviro-Septic.
This substitution prohibition does not apply to designs which generically specify a fabric wrapped tube. The Division apologizes for any confusion or inconvenience resulting from inclusion of Presby Environmental Inc. products in Table 6H.
EnviroFin online training and certification is now available
Presby Environmental Inc. (PEI) announces that online training and certification is now available for the new EnviroFin™ Leaching System.
Please check out the PEI website for training videos for the EnviroFin here. The EnviroFin online test to certify is posted here. If you have questions please call PEI at 1-800-473-5298.
Online Training For Certified System Inspectors
The Division now accepts completion of International Association of Certified Home Inspectors' online How to Inspect Septic Systems course for intial inspection certification and for continuing education for presently certified System Inspectors. This course is the largest, most in-depth septic system course of its kind according to InterNACHI.
This septic system inspection course is open and free to all InterNACHI members. If one is not a member only a portion of the course can be viewed.
The How to Inspect Septic Systems course includes 10 credit hours; 79 minutes of video; 61 quiz questions in 9 quizzes; a 50-question final exam; and a printable Certificate of Completion.
Upon reciept of a copy of the Certificate of Completion the Division will issue a Certified Septic System Inspector certificate to an applicant.
Most Recent Product Approvals
View the list of all approved products
Canplas Industries, Ltd., Endura and Endura XL
The Canplas Industries, Ltd. Endura and Endura XL comprise a line of grease interceptors.
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., Septic Stack 13
The Septic Stack 13 consists of four inch diameter high density perforated polyethylene pipes, bundled together in groups of two over five and one over two to include 13 rows of pipes. Bundles are covered with nonwoven filter fabric prior to backfilling.
Geomatrix GST
Geomatrix System LLC has received approval for use of GST in Maine. The GST consists of a proprietary high surface area stone system.
Presby EnviroFin
Presby Environmental Inc. has received approval for use of EnviroFin in Maine. The EnviroFin consists of a properietary treatment and dispersal system.
View the list of all approved products
