IDAHO

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Contact:

Barry Burnell, EHS
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Division of Environmental Quality
1410 North Hilton,  2nd Floor
Boise, Idaho  83706-1255
(208) 373-0502

(208) 373-0576
Bburnell@deq.state.id.us

Idaho State Regulations

Idaho Constitutions, Statutes and Codes

Rules for Individual/Subsurface Sewage Systems
IDAPA 16, Title 01, Chapter 03
July 1993

Technical Guidance Manual for Individual and Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems
July 18, 1995

Onsite regulations for Idaho were last updated in July 1993.  Regulations are updated on an as needed basis; however, at this time, no revisions are planned.

The Idaho regulations only cover drainfields, absorption beds and large soil absorption systems. Alternative technologies are adopted by the Technical Guidance Committee (TGC)   into  the  Technical   Guidance  Manual  (TGM),  for  Individual  and  Subsurface

Sewage Disposal Systems.  New technologies, as well as enhanced treatment systems, are reviewed by the Technical Guidance Committee (TGC) and adopted into the TGM.  The TGC is made up of three staff members from local district health departments, a licensed septic system installer, a licensed professional engineer, and the state onsite coordinator.  The TGC also proposes any changes to the regulations.

Aerobic treatment units (ATUs); alternative soil absorption designs; evapotranspiration systems; gravelless/chamber systems; mounds; sand filters (in trench, intermittent, and recirculating); steep slope systems; individual lagoons; and Z-Cell infiltrative systems are all guided by the TGM.  Experimental systems and drip irrigation systems may be allowed by variance or exception.

Idaho requires management systems or districts to monitor and maintain onsite systems or individual liquid waste systems.  All large soil absorption systems are required to have an operation and maintenance (O&M) plan before a permit can be issued.  Extended treatment package systems are required to have O&M entity established before a permit can be issued.

A state level funding program does not exist to assist homeowners to assist with replacement of failing systems or installation of new systems.

Certification and license programs for contractors, installers, and inspectors are administered by the local health departments.  All installers must attend a training session administered by the State.  Inspectors are licensed by the local health districts.  For further information, contact Mr. Burnell at the address and telephone number above.

For information concerning the Operator Training Program, contact:

Mr. Alan Stanford
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
1410 N. Hilton
Boise, Idaho  83706

Currently, there are no demonstration projects or research projects occurring in the state of Idaho.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare along with the health districts regulate large municipal septic system regulations.