Onsite Wastewater Systems: Frequently Asked Questions

Nebraska Department of
Environmental
Quality

Fact Sheets

.
This information is
provided by the
Nebraska Department
of Environmental Quality
to assist the
public and regulated community.

WAT056

Revised:

03/2013

Onsite Wastewater Systems: Frequently Asked Questions

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Assistance/Records

General

Permits/Approvals

Professional Certification

Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Advisory Committee (OWAC)

What is the Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Advisory Committee (OWAC)?

The advisory committee advises the Department on proposed rules and regulations relating to the Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Contractors Certification and System Registration Act, on Title 124 and on administration of the Act as requested by the Director.
The advisory committee is composed of eleven members. Seven are appointed by the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality of which five are private onsite wastewater treatment system professionals and two are registered environmental health specialists or officials representing local public health departments which have established programs for regulating private onsite wastewater treatment systems. The remaining four members include the Director of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure or his or her designated representative; the Director of Environmental Quality or his or her designated representative; and one representative with experience in soils and geology and one representative with experience in biological engineering, both of whom shall be designated by the vice chancellor of the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

How do I become a member of the Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Advisory Committee?

The members of the committee appointed by the Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Director, but not for more than two four-year terms. The Director shall appoint a replacement for any member who shall resign or otherwise conclude his or her term on the committee for any position which the Director made the initial appointment.
The OWAC Fact Sheet provides a listing of current committee members.
If you are interested in becoming an OWAC member, please contact the Department at (402) 471-4285.

System Design, Installation and Inspection

System Registration

How do I register an onsite wastewater treatment system?

A System Registration for Onsite Wastewater Treatment System containing information described in Title 124 must be submitted to the Department by the certified professional, professional engineer, or registered environmental health specialist.
Alternatively, the system registration information may be submitted on a form provided by the Director.
A non-refundable system registration fee must accompany the System Registration for Onsite Wastewater Treatment System.

Note:

The certified professional, professional engineer, or registered environmental health specialist must provide a copy of the system registration information to the system owner.

What system location information is required when registering an onsite wastewater treatment system?

Owner’s mailing address;
Physical address of the system (if different from owner’s);
The system legal description (quarter section, quarter section, section, township, and range) or geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude to four decimal points); and
County.

The septic tank and drain field have been installed, however, final grading of the system has not been completed. When must I submit the System Registration for Onsite Wastewater Treatment System and registration fee to the Department?

An onsite wastewater treatment system must be registered with the Department by the certified professional, professional engineer, or registered environmental health specialist within 45 days of completion of the construction, reconstruction, alteration, modification, or other change.
The Department has interpreted “completion of construction” to mean that all onsite wastewater treatment system components have been installed, constructed or modified so that the system piping, treatment devices or other appurtenances that convey, treat or dispose of wastewater are ready to be used. The NDEQ does not consider construction completion of an onsite system to be dependent upon construction of any dwelling or building to which the system may be connected, final grading, seeding, or the date of receipt of payment for work performed.

Reminder:

The installer is responsible for registering an onsite wastewater treatment system whether the system is installed under

“authorization by rule”

or under a construction

permit

What is the fee for registering an onsite wastewater treatment system?

$140, if the system is registered within 45 days of completion of construction, reconstruction, alteration, modification, repair, or otherwise changing of the onsite wastewater treatment system.

What is the fee for registering an onsite wastewater treatment system if the system is not registered within 45 days of completion of construction, reconstruction, alteration, modification, repair, or otherwise changing of the onsite wastewater treatment system?

For any registration received by the Department 46 to 90 days after completion of work, an initial late system registration fee of $150 must be added to the system registration fee.
For any registration received by the Department 91 days or more after completion of work, a final late system registration fee of $450 must be added to the system registration fee.

Do I have to register a temporary modification to an onsite wastewater treatment system?

Yes. A System Registration for Onsite Wastewater Treatment System must be submitted to the Department by the certified professional, professional engineer, or registered environmental health specialist making the temporary modification.
A written description must accompany the registration which:
A non-refundable system registration fee must accompany the System Registration for Onsite Wastewater Treatment System.

Note:

Use of a system with a temporary modification for more than four months without Department approval is prohibited.

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