tracking septic system data for forecasting risk...

Tracking Septic System Data for Forecasting Risk, Improving Management & Preventing

Impacts

David Rush – Land & Resource Director Pat Schultz – Environ. Planning Technician

Perfect Storm = Paradigm Shift What triggers a county to want to completely overhaul their septic regulatory efforts? Failures of the past Collapse of large-scale central sewer expansion project Impending rule change (7080-83) New administration

2010 Comprehensive SSTS Enhancement Program

Applied to BWSR for a Clean Water Legacy SSTS Program Enhancement Grant

Worked Cooperatively with UMN On Site Program

Included ordinance update to new MPCA Rules

2010 Comprehensive SSTS Enhancement Program

Enhance County’s ability to administer comprehensive program Systematic compliance inspection and

operation and maintenance based on risk Develop single permitting, compliance, and

maintenance database Associate administrative effort (cost) with

level of risk/management

Improve operation and maintenance of individual SSTS by improving user knowledge

2010 Comprehensive SSTS Enhancement Program

Forecast risk associated with various SSTS using data

Create an effective SSTS ordinance tailored to Douglas County that considers risk and costs

Create a State-wide model to share with other jurisdictions.

Create a management program, not a permitting or inspection program Checking that everyone has a treatment system Making sure they are performing

Monitoring

Keeping them performing Operation and Maintenance

Knowing they are performing Reporting

Dealing with solids

Douglas County SSTS Professionals

Douglas County

Residents

Douglas County

SSTS Staff

Cooperation with Stakeholders

Counties can and do collect volumes of data on properties and septic treatment systems

How do we make that data useful?

Site

System

Use

What is a database? A database is a tool to organize and store pieces of information. Everyday examples would be a rolodex or a phone book. The main goals of a database are to: Make sure the data stored in the database is accurate

and complete Avoids redundancy, reduces “wasted space” (if stored

in other places), cut down on easy errors Make retrieving and analyzing the data easy

How would the database be used by a County? To determine system types and locations in the County To track maintenance and management by

homeowners and professional maintainers Tracking compliance To determine risk and therefore permits required and

inspection frequency To answer questions related to MPCA or other

reporting requirements

Determining system types and locations in the County

Tracking maintenance and management by homeowners and

professionals

Tracking Compliance

Risk Assessment Tool Collaboration with UMN On Site Program Develop a tool that would use available data (user, site,

system) to quantify the potential “risk” of a SSTS Area-wide risk evaluation Site/system specific evaluation

Risk values are based on the sum of weighted scores for over 40 characteristics of a system.

Results provide a quantifiable basis for local programs to prioritize inventory and upgrade efforts and/or determine appropriate management strategies

• Cabin to mansion expansion • Bedroom to ft2 ratio?

• Educated SSTS Owner

Use = Who is using the system?

Site Conditions = Where is the effluent going?

• Shore land • Soil conditions and perc test results • Aquifer sensitivity, shallow wells • Lot size, replacement sites • Setbacks and variance prevalence • Comp plan and other local land-use initiatives

Determining Risk – single parcel

Determining Risk – multiple parcels

MPCA Reporting Requirements

Event logs and triggers

Letter writing

Special thank you goes to: University of Minnesota OSTP Department MPCA Alexandria Technical Community College Data Dimensions

QUESTIONS?

Contact information: Patrick Schultz 320-762-3868 pats@co.douglas.mn.us