W. Va. Code R. § 64-47-8 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Septage Treatment and Disposal

8.1. Public Sewage Treatment Plant.

8.1.a. If permission is granted to the septage hauler for disposal of septage, the owner and operator of the public sewage treatment plant shall grant permission in writing.

8.1.b. The disposal of septage shall not be in a public sewage treatment plant treating less than 100,000 gallons per day, unless providing pre-treatment.

8.2. Lagoons.

8.2.a. The soil conditions shall be such that a minimum of four feet of soil exists between the bottom of the lagoon and the high groundwater table and rock table for permeable soils and a minimum of two feet of soil exists between the bottom of the lagoon and the high groundwater table and rock table for impermeable clay soils.

8.2.b. The lagoon site shall be free of rock outcroppings and shall be out of the 25-year flood plain.

8.2.c. All surface water shall be diverted from the lagoon and there is to be no discharge from the lagoon.

8.2.d. Maximum depth of the lagoon shall be no greater than six feet with one foot freeboard.

8.2.e. Inside and outside slopes shall be no greater than three to one unless proposing some type of side reinforcement, for example: rip-rap.

8.2.f. A six-foot high fence with a locked entrance gate shall enclose the lagoon or made inaccessible to the public through location or other means.

8.2.g. The location of the lagoon shall not be within 1,000 feet of any existing occupied buildings.

8.2.h. Disposal lagoons require placement of septage in small incremental lifts six to 12 inches and sequential loading of another lagoon or lagoons for optimum drying. Therefore, this rule requires a minimum of two lagoons.

8.2.i. Two feet of soil shall be placed as a final cover when septage fills the lagoon, and it is no longer usable.

8.2.j. If re-using the lagoon is an option, it is required to retain the septage for a minimum of 90 days after discharging the last load.

8.2.k. After the minimum 90-day storage in the lagoons, an applicant may land dispose the septage either by landfilling or land spreading.

8.2.l. There shall be immediate covering of lagoon contents after landfilling or land spreading.

8.2.m. Land spreading of lagoon contents on fields used for growing crops for human or animal consumption is generally not recommended due to the potentially highly infectious nature of the waste. However, fields used for land spreading may be useful for animal forage crops provided the fields are fallow for a minimum of six months after the last application and prior to the first plantings of the forage crops.

8.3. Lime Stabilization.

8.3.a. The addition of lime in sufficient quantities shall stabilize septage and destroy pathogenic organisms. There is no destruction of organic matter or solids reduction during the lime stabilization process.

8.3.b. The mixing together of the septage and lime shall take place until reaching a pH greater than 12.

8.3.c. The mixture shall maintain a pH greater than 12 for a minimum of two hours.

8.3.d. Achieving the mixing process shall be through diffused air mixing or by mechanical mixers.

8.3.e. When land disposing the mixture, an applicant shall follow the requirements outlined in 33CSR2, Sewage Sludge Management.

8.4. Other Methods.

8.4.a. Other methods of septage treatment and disposal are composting, pressure chlorination, electron treatment, incineration, and conventional waste treatment. The Commissioner shall review these methods of septage treatment and disposal on a case-by-case basis.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 64-47-8