Florida Administrative Code (Last Updated: March 13, 2024) |
64. Department of Health |
64E. Division of Environmental Health |
64E-6. Standards For Onsite Sewage Treatment And Disposal Systems |
1All repairs made to a failing onsite sewage treatment and disposal system shall be made only with prior knowledge and written approval from the DOH county health department having jurisdiction over the system. Approval shall be granted only if all of the following conditions are met:
47(1) Any property owner or lessee who has an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system which is improperly constructed or maintained, or which fails to function in a safe or sanitary manner shall request from the DOH county health department, either directly or through their agent, a permit to repair the system prior to initiating repair of the system. A permit shall be issued on Form DH 4016 only after the submission of an application accompanied by the necessary exhibits and fees. Form DH 4015 shall be used for this purpose, and can be obtained from the department. Applications shall contain the following information:
151(a) A site plan showing property dimensions, the existing and proposed system configuration and location on the property, the building location, potable and non-potable water lines, within the existing and proposed drainfield repair area, the general slope of the property, property lines and easements, any obstructed areas, any private or public wells, or any surface water bodies and stormwater systems in proximity to the onsite sewage system which restricts replacement or relocation of the drainfield system. The existing drainfield type shall be described. For example, mineral aggregate, non-mineral aggregate, chambers, or other.
243(b) The size of the septic tank or other treatment tank currently in use and the approximate square footage and elevation of the drainfield existing on the site.
271(c) The quantity and type of waste being discharged to the system. Where water use records cannot be obtained, estimates shall be made from values found in Rule 29964E-6.008, 300Table I, F.A.C.
303(d) The soil textures encountered within the existing and proposed drainfield areas, and the estimated water table during the wettest season of the year.
327(e) Any unusual site conditions which may influence the system design or function such as sloping property, drainage structures such as roof drains or curtain drains, and any obstructions such as patios, decks, swimming pools or parking areas.
365(f) The person performing the site evaluation shall provide a brief description of the nature of the failure which is occurring.
386(2) Site evaluations necessary to obtain the above referenced information shall be conducted at the expense of the owner or lessee by department personnel, by an engineer who is licensed in the State of Florida or by other qualified persons as per subsection 42964E-6.004(3), 430F.A.C. Site specific information may be obtained by the applicant through examination of department records of permits previously issued for the site.
452(3) When a repair is to be performed on a failing system in which the contractor will be using any method other than drainfield addition or replacement, the following additional permit application information shall be submitted to the county health department by the contractor in addition to the information required in subsections 50464E-6.015(1) 505and (2), F.A.C.
508(a) The process used to repair the system. Examples include high-pressure water jetting of drainlines and high-pressure injection of air alongside the drainfield. Such information shall include the manner in which the proposed repair will take place. The manufacturers recommended method for product use, quantities and concentration of product, shall be included in this information.
563(b) Any chemical compound to be introduced into the system in an effort to repair the system shall be identified by chemical composition or trade name, including the concentration and quantity of product used. The method of product introduction shall be stated. For example, product introduced through the distribution box.
613(c) Any repair method proposed which intends to physically disrupt the absorption surface shall include a drawing of the drainfield system that includes a diagram of the sites where the absorption surface will be disrupted. The depth of each disruption shall be recorded at each site.
659(4) Where the absorption surface of the drainfield is within 6 inches of the wet season high water table, an alternative repair method addressed in subsection 68564E-6.015(3), 686F.A.C., shall not be used. The existing drainfield shall be removed and a replacement drainfield shall be installed in accordance with all other repair criteria, including separation from seasonal high water table and drainfield sizing. Paragraph 72264E-6.015(6)(f), 723F.A.C., shall be used to determine septic tank conformance.
732(5) The department shall make every effort to issue a permit within 2 working days after receiving the application for system repair. Repair permits shall be valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. However, if the system is maintained to not create a sanitary nuisance, a repair permit shall be extended for one 90 day period.
790(6) Construction materials used in system repairs shall be of the same quality as those required for new system construction. Aggregate and soil in spoil material from drainfield repairs shall not be used in system repair in any manner. Undamaged infiltration units, pipes and mechanical components may be reused on the original site. Any spoil material taken off site shall be disposed of in a permitted landfill or shall be limed and stockpiled for at least 30 days to prevent a sanitary nuisance. Offsite spoil material stockpile areas shall meet the prohibition requirements of subsection 88562-701.300(2), 886F.A.C. The resulting lime-treated material shall not be used for drainfield repair, or construction of any onsite sewage treatment and disposal system. Any use of the lime treated material shall not cause a violation of Chapter 386 F.S., and shall not impair groundwater or surface water. Mineral aggregate and soil in spoil material may, at the option of the septic tank contractor and the property owner, be buried on site if limed before burial. Lime amount must be sufficient to preclude a sanitary nuisance. Depth of seasonal high water table to the spoil material must be at least six inches. Setbacks for buried spoil material shall be the same as for onsite sewage treatment and disposal system drainfields. A minimum of six inches of slightly or moderately limited soil shall cover the spoil material and shall extend to at least five feet around the perimeter of the burial site. Any failing system shall, at a minimum, be repaired in accordance with the following criteria:
1050(a) System repairs shall comply with minimum setbacks and separations as specified in Rule 106464E-6.005, 1065F.A.C. If current required setbacks and separations cannot be met, lesser setbacks as specified in Table V shall be maintained. For repairs only, if current required setbacks given below cannot be attained, absolute minimum setbacks shall be met. When site conditions exist which allow either absolute or current required setbacks to various features, current required setbacks shall be maintained from features with the highest protection factor. Setbacks to features with lower protection factors shall be reduced to the maximum setback or separation attainable, with no less than the absolute minimum setback allowed. A standard gravity flow system is to be used when possible to achieve the appropriate separations of absorption surface to seasonal high water and effective soil depth.
1184TABLE V
1186Repair System Setback Requirements
1190Permit Date1192Description1193Protection1194Current1195Absolute
1196of Original1198of1199Factor 1200Required1201Minimum
1202System 1203Setback1204Setback 1205Setback
1206(Separation)
1207_____________________________________________________________________________
1208Prior1209System to a Private12136 121475 feet 1216Greatest of the
1219to1220Potable Well1222Following:
12231-1-72 1224a) Maximum
1226Setback (<75 feet
1228and >50 feet)
1231b) Original
1233Setback (if >50
1236feet)
1237c) 50 feet
1240_______________________________________________________________
1241Bottom of Drainfield12445 124524 inches 1247Greatest of the
1250Absorption Surface1252Following:
1253to Wet Season Water1257a) Maximum
1259Table1260Separation
1261(>6 inches)
1263b) Original
1265Separation (if >6
1268inches)
1269c) 6 inches
1272_______________________________________________________________
1273Effective Soil Depth12765 127742 inches 1279Greatest of the
1282Following:
1283a) 24 inches
1286b) Maximum
1288Separation (>12
1290inches)
1291c) 12 inches
1294_______________________________________________________________
1295System to Surface12984129950 feet1301Greatest of the
1304Water1305Following:
1306a) Maximum
1308Setback (>25 feet
1311and <50 feet)
1312b) Original
1314Setback (if >25
1317feet)
1318c) 25 feet
1321_________________________________________________________________
1322System to13243132550 feet 1327Greatest of the
1330Non-Potable Well1332Following:
1333a) Maximum
1335Setback (>25 feet
1338and <50 feet)
1339b) Original
1341Setback (if >25
1344feet)
1345c) 25 feet
1348_________________________________________________________________
1349Drainfield Sidewall1351213524 feet 1354Greatest of the
1357to Start of Slope1361Following:
1362a) Maximum
1364Separation (>2.5
1366feet)
1367b) 2.5 feet
1370_________________________________________________________________
1371System to Property1374113755 feet 1377Greatest of the
1380Line or Building1383Following:
1384Foundation1385a) Maximum
1387Setback
1388(>2 feet)
1390b) 2 feet
1393_________________________________________________________________
13941-1-721395System to a Private13996 140075 feet 1402Greatest of the
1405to1406Potable Well 1408Following:
140912-31-821410a) Maximum
1412Setback (<75 feet
1414and >50 feet)
1417b) Original
1419Setback (if >50
1422feet)
1423c) 50 feet
1426_________________________________________________________________
1427Bottom of Drainfield14305 143124 inches 1433Greatest of the
1436Absorption Surface1438Following:
1439to Wet Season Water1443a) Maximum
1445Table1446Separation (<24
1448inches and >6
1451inches)
1452b) Original
1454Separation (if >6
1457inches)
1458c) 6 inches
1461_________________________________________________________________
1462Effective Soil Depth14655 146642 inches 1468Greatest of the
1471Following:
1472a) 36 inches
1475b) Maximum
1477Separation
1478(> 24 inches)
1481c) 24 inches
1484_________________________________________________________________
1485System to Surface14884 148975 feet 1491Greatest of the
1494Water1495Following:
1496a) Maximum
1498Setback (<75 feet
1500and >50 feet)
1503b) Original
1505Setback (if >50
1508feet)
1509c) 50 feet
1512_________________________________________________________________
1513System to15153151650 feet 1518Greatest of the
1521Non-Potable Well1523Following:
1524a) Maximum
1526Setback (<50 feet
1528and >25 feet)
1531b) Original
1533Setback (if >25
1536feet)
1537c) 25 feet
1540_________________________________________________________________
1541Drainfield Sidewall1543215444 feet 1546Greatest of the
1549to Start of Slope1553Following:
1554a) Maximum
1556Separation
1557(>3 feet)
1559b) 3 feet
1562_________________________________________________________________
1563System to Property1566115675 feet 1569Greatest of the
1572Line or Building1575Following:
1576Foundation1577a) Maximum
1579Setback
1580(>2 feet)
1582b) 2 feet
1585_________________________________________________________________
15861-1-83 to1588System to a Private15926 159375 feet159575 feet
1597Present1598Potable Well
1600_________________________________________________________________
1601Bottom of Drainfield16045 160524 inches 1607Greatest of the
1610Absorption Surface1612Following:
1613to Wet Season Water1617a) Existing
1619Table1620elevation
1621(>12 inches)
1623b) 12 inches
1626_________________________________________________________________
1627Effective Soil Depth16305 163142 inches 1633Greatest of the
1636Following:
1637a) Maximum
1639Separation (>36
1641inches)
1642b) 36 inches
1645_________________________________________________________________
1646System to Surface16494 165075 feet 1652Greatest of the
1655Water1656Following:
1657a) Maximum
1659Setback (if >50
1662feet)
1663b) 50 feet
1666_________________________________________________________________
1667System to16693167050 feet167250 feet
1674Non-Potable Well
1676_________________________________________________________________
1677Drainfield Sidewall1679216804 feet16824 feet
1684to Start of Slope
1688_________________________________________________________________
1689System to Property1692116935 feet 1695Greatest of the
1698Line or Building1701Following:
1702Foundation1703a) Maximum
1705Setback
1706(if >2 feet)
1709b) 2 feet
1712Footnotes to Table V:
17161. For sites which contain oolitic limestone, the minimum effective soil depth shall be 12 inches regardless of the date the original system was installed provided that the wet season water table is a minimum of 4 feet below the bottom surface of the drainfield.
17612. Where severely limited soil underlies the drainfield, soil removal and replacement shall be performed as per Footnote 3. to Table III.
1783(b) For systems permitted on or after January 1, 1983, if system failure is due to excessive hydraulic loading, the original permitted drainfield shall be allowed to remain in service but shall have additional drainfield added to it. The resulting system drainfield size shall be 50 percent larger than the drainfield originally permitted, or shall be in compliance with drainfield sizing criteria specified in Rules 184864E-6.008 1849and 185064E-6.009, 1851F.A.C., whichever is larger.
1855(c) Minimum sizing of drainfield repairs for residential systems installed prior to 1983 shall be based on the criteria specified below. Failed drainfields shall be replaced with drainfields meeting, at a minimum, the sizing criteria specified below.
18921. If sufficient area is available, the existing drainfield can be left in place and used as part of the system. A new drainfield equal in size to, and separate from, the existing drainfield shall be added and flow directed to both the old and new drainfield.
19392. Table VI and VII values are for subsurface and filled systems if the existing drainfield cannot be used as part of the repair. Mound trench systems shall be sized 10 percent larger than the values below and 20 percent larger if absorption beds are installed in the mound. The amount of drainfield installed during the repair shall not be less than the amount the system had prior to the repair.
2010TABLE VI
2012Residential Sizing for Slightly Limited Soil Textures
2019Number of
2021Square Feet of
2024Square Feet of
2027Bedrooms
2028Trench Area
2030Absorption Bed
20321
203375
2034100
20352
2036150
2037200
20383
2039225
2040300
20414
2042300
2043400
2044Add per bedroom
204775
2048100
2049TABLE VII
2051Residential Sizing for Moderately Limited Soil Textures
2058Number of
2060Square Feet of
2063Square Feet of
2066Bedrooms
2067Trench Area
2069Absorption Bed
20711
2072100
2073125
20742
2075200
2076250
20773
2078300
2079375
20804
2081400
2082500
2083Add per bedroom
2086100
2087125
2088(d) Repairs of commercial systems installed prior to 1983 shall be based on the following criteria:
21041. Sewage flows shall be determined from values found in Table I of Rule 211864E-6.008, 2119F.A.C., or on the highest monthly flow for the previous 18 month period from documented water use records, whichever is higher.
21402. Failed drainfields shall at a minimum, meet the sizing criteria specified below.
2153a. If sufficient room is available, the existing drainfield can be left in place and used as part of the system. A new drainfield equal in size to, and separate from, the existing failed drainfield shall be added.
2191b. Sewage loading rates to trench or absorption bed bottom areas shall be in accordance with the values in Table VIII which are applicable to subsurface and filled drainfield systems if the existing drainfield is replaced with a new drainfield. Mound trench systems shall be sized 10 percent larger than the values below and 20 percent larger if absorption beds are installed in the mound.
2256TABLE VIII
2258Drainfield Sizing for Commercial Systems Installed
2264Prior to 1983
2267in gallons/square foot/day
2270Trenches
2271Absorption Beds
2273Slightly limited textures
22761.00
22770.80
2278Moderately limited textures
22810.65
22820.50
2283(e) Where the cause of system failure is determined to be from root clogging of the distribution box or drainfield line of a system, and where removal of the root mass and replacement of damaged drainfield material will restore the system to its original design function, upon inspection and verification of the repair work by the health unit, permit satisfaction will be considered to be achieved.
2349(f) A tank need not be replaced as part of the repair if the health unit determines the tank to be structurally sound, constructed of approved materials, and if such tank has an effective capacity within two tank sizes of the capacities required by Table II. In addition, the tank shall be pumped and a solids deflection device shall be installed as a part of the outlet of the tank if one is not currently in place.
2426(g) Repairs to a system shall not be located within 2 feet of a sleeved and sealed potable water line or 2 feet from non-potable water lines.
2453(h) If the total drainfield area exceeds 1000 square feet, or if the tank is too low to permit gravity flow into the drainfield, the drainfield shall be dosed. The requirements of subsections 248664E-6.014(3) 2487and (4), F.A.C., shall be used for dosing requirements.
2496(i) Setbacks from an existing system to a public well shall not be decreased from existing setbacks, but shall be increased where practical to achieve the required setbacks as per paragraphs 252764E-6.005(1)(b) 2528and (c), F.A.C.
2531(7) If a repair cannot be made utilizing the standards in subsection (6) above, all available area for drainfield repair shall be assessed and the repair permit shall allow for the maximum size drainfield that can be accommodated in the available area while allowing for the system to be installed above the wet season water table. Total removal of the existing drainfield and replacement of the drainfield in its original location shall be authorized if there is no additional area to enlarge the system. Setbacks to wells, surface water bodies, and other pertinent features which are less than the setbacks in subsection (6) above shall not be reduced below existing setbacks. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow a drainfield to remain in the wet season water table. The appropriate requirements for bottom of drainfield absorption surface to wet season water table separation in Table V shall be adhered to in all repairs.
2686(8) If soil replacement is to be performed on any repair, the requirements of Footnote 3., Table III, shall be adhered to.
2708(9) System repairs shall be performed by persons who are qualified to do so as set forth in Part III of this rule.
2731(10) Except as provided for in subsection (7) above, the amount of drainfield installed during the repair shall not be less than the amount the system had prior to the repair.
2762(11) Subsection 276464E-6.004(7), 2765F.A.C., shall be used in conjunction with this section when permitting a repair in which the property has been divided after the original permit was issued.
2791(12) For inspection purposes when a drainfield is repaired using a physical disruption method, such as air injection, the contractor shall mark the location of each injection site in an easily identifiable manner.
2824The county health department shall inspect repairs to determine that the absorption surface of the repaired drainfield is at least six inches above the wet season high water table, to determine the repair process was completed according to the information provided with the repair permit application and to determine the repair site is free of sanitary nuisance conditions.
2882Rulemaking Authority 2884381.0065(3)(a) FS. 2886Law Implemented 2888381.0065, 2889386.041 FS. 2891History–New 3-17-92, Amended 1-3-95, 2-13-97, Formerly 10D-6.0571, Amended 2-3-98, 3-22-00, 5-24-04, 11-26-06, 6-25-09, 4-28-10.