Decentralized Wastewater Decentralized Wastewater Systems – An ADPH Systems – An ADPH

PerspectivePerspective

Thad Pittman, DirectorThad Pittman, Director

Division of Community Division of Community Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection

Alabama Department of Alabama Department of Public HealthPublic Health

History LessonHistory Lesson• Decentralized wastewater systems generally refers Decentralized wastewater systems generally refers

to a system that collects, transports, treats & to a system that collects, transports, treats & disposes wastewater from multiple sources.disposes wastewater from multiple sources.

• Law passed in 1999 establishing Private Law passed in 1999 establishing Private Management Entity requirements.Management Entity requirements.– One of first states to do so.One of first states to do so.– EPA recognized Alabama’s Leadership in this area.EPA recognized Alabama’s Leadership in this area.

• Private Management Entity - An entity which Private Management Entity - An entity which exercises sole responsibility for the operation and exercises sole responsibility for the operation and maintenance of one or more cluster or community maintenance of one or more cluster or community wastewater systems.wastewater systems.

• From 1999 until 2009, ADPH From 1999 until 2009, ADPH maintained a contract with Public maintained a contract with Public Service Commission (PSC) to review Service Commission (PSC) to review all applications for financial viability all applications for financial viability and recommend ADPH issue viability and recommend ADPH issue viability certificates.certificates.

• Permitted all decentralized systems Permitted all decentralized systems under 10,000 gallons per day flow.under 10,000 gallons per day flow.

ADPH RoleADPH Role

Fast Forward to 2009Fast Forward to 2009

• Management Entity Law updated in Management Entity Law updated in May 2009.May 2009.

• Authorized PSC to take over financial Authorized PSC to take over financial viability requirements.viability requirements.

• Codified ADPH to permit systems Codified ADPH to permit systems << 15,000 gpd and ADEM >15,000 gpd.15,000 gpd and ADEM >15,000 gpd.

TodayToday

• 8 Management Entities certified by 8 Management Entities certified by PSCPSC– 90 Decentralized Systems 90 Decentralized Systems

• ADPH has 55 permitted systemsADPH has 55 permitted systems– These systems are permitted to These systems are permitted to

discharge up to 320,000 gallons per discharge up to 320,000 gallons per day.day.

FutureFuture

• Growth has been slowed by economy. Growth has been slowed by economy.

• Very few systems have been Very few systems have been permitted in the last 4 years.permitted in the last 4 years.

• Talk of new systems has picked up.Talk of new systems has picked up.

• Use of decentralized concept in Use of decentralized concept in rural/low income areas being rural/low income areas being discussed at ADPH/ADEM/EPA.discussed at ADPH/ADEM/EPA.

Continuing IssuesContinuing Issues

• Up-front Capital CostsUp-front Capital Costs

• Developer/Home Builder educationDeveloper/Home Builder education

• Sewer bill non-paymentSewer bill non-payment

Questions?Questions?