Septic tank regulations updated

Two sections of the state’s septic tank system regulation went into effect on Jan. 1. They affect setback requirements for the wastewater systems, the S. C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported this past week.

“These new sections address the distances septic tank systems must be from wells or bodies of water,” said Leonard Gordon, director of DHEC’s Division of On-Site Wastewater Management. “This change will affect all septic tank systems permitted after the end of this month.”

Gordon said the revisions to state Regulation 61-56, Onsite Wastewater Systems, were approved by the General Assembly May 23. The legislature delayed implementation of the sections dealing with the additional setbacks until Jan. 1 to ensure the public was notified of the changes. The agency provided written notice of the changes to the installers and other interested stakeholders in August.

The two sections increase the required distance from a septic tank system to a private well or surface water from 50 to 75 feet, increase the required setback to 100 feet from a public well and 100 feet for large septic systems with a flow rate of over 1,500 gallons a day to a water well, surface water or estuary.

A copy of the septic tank system regulation can be found at http://www.scdhec.net/administration/regs/docs/61-56.pdf or from your local DHEC Environmental Health Office.
For information, call Leonard Gordon at (803) 896-0641.