Onsite Wastewater Information (Septic Systems)

Documents related to State Water Board Approval of Basin Plan Amendments

In preparation for its consideration of approval of Basin Plan Amendments, the State Water Board issued a notice of opportunity for public comment. Response to comments received by the deadline of noon, August 24, 2011, are available at this link. The comment letters are available on the State Water Board's website.

The Central Coast Water Board has approved three Basin Plan amendments updating its onsite wastewater criteria and implementation program. These amendments must be approved by the State Water Board and the Office of Administrative Law prior to formal incorporation into the Basin Plan. The following documents describe the three amendments.

Resolution No. R3-2008-0005 with Amended Basin Plan Text (updating existing Basin Plan criteria for siting, design, management and maintenance of onsite wastewater systems; additions shown with underline, deletions in strikeout)
Staff Report for 2008 Water Board meeting including comments and response to comments

Resolution No. R3-2009-0012 (updating the onsite implementation program and conditional waiver for onsite wastewater systems)
Amended Basin Plan Text (additions shown with underline, deletions in strikeout)
Staff Report for 2009 Water Board meeting including comments and response to comments

Resolution No. R3-2011-0004 (clarifying revisions and reorganizing sections)
Amended Basin Plan Text (additions shown with underline, deletions in strikeout)
Staff Report for 2011 Water Board meeting including comments and response to comments

The link below (Basin Plan Criteria and Implementation Program for Onsite Wastewater Systems) shows the revised Basin Plan text resulting from these three resolutions, with revisions shown in underline (additions), strikeout (deletions), and shaded (moved but unchanged).  Also below (What has changed/is changing in the Basin Plan…) is a summary of the recent changes.

General Information for Septic System Owners

Septic systems treat and dispose of wastewater from residential, commercial or industrial facilities in primarily rural areas that are not served by community sewers. California law requires that the Water Board regulate discharges (including those from septic systems) to ensure long-term water quality protection. The following information is designed to help you understand the Water Board’s regulations pertaining to septic systems and management of those systems. Onsite wastewater systems refer to septic systems as well as other alternative types of onsite treatment (that are not septic). Click here for more information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Septic Systems.

Water Board Regulations for Septic Systems

Basin Plan Criteria and Implementation Program for Onsite Wastewater Systems. The Water Board provides authorization for onsite discharges in the form of permits (called waste discharge requirements) or waivers.  Permit or waiver requirements are based upon criteria specified in the Basin Plan. Chapter 4 of the Basin Plan contains requirements, recommendations and prohibitions for siting, design, construction, maintenance and management of onsite wastewater systems. Revisions adopted by the Central Coast Water Board on May 9, 2008; March 20, 2009; and May 5, 2011; are shown with underline (additions) strike-out (deletions) and shaded (moved but unchanged).

For easier reading, the revised Basin Plan text is available here. This language is not formally part of the Basin Plan until approved by the State Water Rsources Control Board and office of Administrative Law.

What has changed/is changing in the Basin Plan Criteria for Onsite Wastewater Systems. A brief summary of recent changes to onsite system regulations is available at this link.

Application for Enrollment in the Onsite System Waiver Enrollment in the Conditional Waiver for Onsite Wastewater Systems can not proceed until the Basin Plan Amendment, have been approved by the State Water Board and Office of Administrative Law. If you are proposing to install a new onsite system, please contact your local agency, below.

• San Mateo County contact Greg Smith
• Santa Clara County contact Phil Smith
• San Benito County contact Robert Shingai
• Santa Cruz County contact John Ricker
• Monterey County contact Richard LeWarne
• San Luis Obsipo County contact Barry Tolle
• City of Atascadero contact David Athey
• Santa Barbara County contact Jennifer Bernstein
• Ventura County contact Melinda Talent
• Kern County contact Matt Constantine

Local Agency Management Plans

Guidance for Developing/Reviewing Onsite Wastewater Management Plans. This guidance is offered to assist local agencies in developing onsite wastewater management plans and will be used by Central Coast Water Board staff in reviewing plan submittals

Draft sample Interagency Memorandum of Understanding

Water Board staff are currently working with local permitting agencies to develop updated Interagency Memoranda of Understanding. Those interagency MOUs will be developed following each local agencies procedures and linked below when available.

• Santa Clara MOU
• San Benito MOU
• Santa Cruz MOU
• Monterey MOU
• San Luis Obispo MOU
• Santa Barbara MOU

Onsite System Information Meetings

• May 9, 2008 – Central Coast Water Board meeting (slide presentation)
• November 14, 2008 – Central Coast Water Board Scoping Workshop (slide presentation)
• March 20, 2009 – Central Coast Water Board meeting (slide presentation)
• May 5, 2011 - Central Coast Water Board meeting (slide presentation)
• Statewide Regulation of Onsite Wastewater Systems (AB885)
• Response to comments

Additional Onsite Information Resources

State Water Resources Control Board

Statewide Regulation of Onsite Wastewater Systems (AB885)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency