18 AAC 72.511 - Conventional wastewater systems not requiring plan approval

(a) A conventional onsite wastewater system serving only a single private residence, multi-family dwelling with not more than four single-family units, or small commercial facility operated independently on a single lot with a total on lot design flow of not more than 1,500 gallons per day may be installed without prior department approval if the system is installed by a person certified under 18 AAC 72.405.

(b) A conventional onsite wastewater system that serves any combination of residential dwellings or commercial buildings owned by the same entity with a total facility-wide design flow of not more than 2,500 gallons per day may be installed without prior department approval if the system is installed by a person whose work is completed according to a registered engineer's design and the engineer supervises construction.

(c) A homeowner may install or modify a conventional onsite wastewater system that serves the homeowner's owner-occupied private residence without plan approval if, before installing a conventional onsite wastewater system, the homeowner

(1) is approved under 18 AAC 72.410; and

(2) properly classifies the onsite soils for the purposes of sizing the soil absorption system by

(A) collecting a soil sample from the soil strata in which the absorption field will be installed, and having a registered engineer or a soils laboratory perform a sieve analysis on the soils to provide a classification; or

(B) having a registered engineer visually classify the soils onsite and perform a percolation test, as required; the registered engineer must provide a soils report indicating the appropriate application rate based on the engineer's evaluation of site conditions.

(d) In addition to meeting the requirements of (a), (b), or (c) of this section, a conventional onsite wastewater system that is installed without prior department approval

(1) must meet the separation distance requirements of 18 AAC 72.520;

(2) must meet the construction requirements of 18 AAC 72.530;

(3) must be located in soils classified as GW, GP, GM, SW, SP, SM, or ML under the Unified Soil Classification System; and

(4) may not be located in an area

(A) known or suspected to contain permafrost;

(B) where other conventional onsite wastewater systems have been known to perform poorly;

(C) where the groundwater table is within four feet of the ground surface or the soil conditions are overly moist or wet at any time of the year; or

(D) where the department finds that a discharge threatens public health, public and private water systems, or the environment.

(e) As the department determines necessary to protect public health, public and private water systems, and the environment, the department will

(1) restrict the type of system installation or modification that can be done by a certified installer or approved homeowner;

(2) restrict the geographical location where a system may be installed by a certified installer, approved homeowner or without prior plan approval; and

(3) place other restrictions that the department considers necessary.

Notes

18 AAC 72.511

Eff. 10/1/2023, Register 247, October 2023

Authority:AS 44.46.020

AS 46.03.020

AS 46.03.050

AS 46.03.110