Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)/Septic Systems
At its June 19, 2012 hearing the State Water Resources Control Board adopted Resolution No. 2012-0032, the Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy) that established statewide standards for septic systems. On April 25, 2014, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted Resolution No. R8-2014-0005 amending the Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan), in part, to incorporate State Board's 2012 OWTS Policy.
The OWTS Policy establishes a statewide, risk-based, tiered approach to the regulation and management of OWTS. It recognizes variability in local conditions by allowing local agencies to propose for approval by regional boards, a Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) under Tier 2 that would achieve the same policy purpose to protect water quality and public health.
Where a county crosses multiple regional board jurisdictions, Attachment 3 of the OWTS Policy designated a lead Regional Board for reviewing and approving the LAMP. The Santa Ana Regional Board is the lead agency for the review and approval of the LAMP for Orange County. Orange County has submitted its LAMP that covers the unincorporated areas within the county. LAMPs submitted by cities are reviewed and approved by the Regional Board with jurisdiction.
Regional Board staff provided comments to the designated regional water board leads for Riverside and San Bernardino County LAMPs applicable to areas within the Santa Ana regional board jurisdiction. Resolution R7-2016-0038 approving the LAMP for unincoporated areas of Riverside County was adopted by the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board at its November 17, 2016 board meeting.
Resolution No. R6V-2014-0032 approving the LAMP for unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County was adopted by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board on July 13, 2017. The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board has received several LAMPs from cities within San Bernardino County.
LAMP for Unincorporated Orange County
- Notice of Public Hearing and Public Comment Period
- Draft Resolution
- Draft Staff Report
- March 14, 2018 Draft LAMP and Appendices
Early Drafts
- June 20, 2018 Draft LAMP
- June 20, 2018 Submittal Cover Letter
- March 7, 2018 Draft LAMP
- February 9, 2018 Draft LAMP
- April 25, 2016 Orange County Submittal Cover Letter
- March 21, 2016 Orange County LAMP Report
- March 21, 2016 Orange County LAMP Appendices
LAMPs for Cities within San Bernardino County
City of Yucaipa Local Area Management Program
- Notice of Public Hearing and Public Comment Period
- Draft Resolution
- Draft Staff Report
- September 7, 2017 Draft LAMP
Early Drafts
- March 6, 2017 Draft LAMP
- May 12, 2016 Draft LAMP
Rancho Cucamonga Local Area Management Program
- Notice of Public Hearing and Public Comment Period
- Draft Resolution
- Draft Staff Report
- March 7, 2017 Draft LAMP
Early Drafts
- January 24, 2017 Draft LAMP
- December 8, 2016 Draft LAMP
- October 24, 2016 Draft LAMP
- May 11, 2016 Draft LAMP
Septic Tank Information
Below are documents containing septic tanks and minimum lot size requirements information.
Statewide Septic Systems Policy - Onsite Wastewater Treatment System(s)
Discharge Prohibitions, Subsurface Leaching-Percolation Systems - San Bernardino County Locations
Discharge Prohibitions, Subsurface Leaching-Percolation Systems - Homeland and Surrounding Areas
Minimum Lot Size Requirements and Exemption Criteria
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Minimum Lot Size Requirements 
Guidelines for Sewage Disposal From Land Developments
A Review of the Nitrate Problems in the Ground Waters of the Santa Ana Region and Their Relationship to High Density Developments on the Septic Tank-Subsurface Disposal Systems - September 1989 document
For more information, please contact Susan Beeson at (951) 782-4902.
Documents are in Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf). A link to the free viewer is below
