General Requirements

01. Intent of Rules. The Idaho Board of Environmental Quality, to protect the health, safety, and environment of the people of the state of Idaho establishes these rules governing the design, construction, siting and abandonment of individual and subsurface sewage disposal systems. These rules are intended to ensure that blackwastes and wastewater generated in the state of Idaho are safely contained and treated and that blackwaste and wastewater contained in or discharged from each system: (7-1-25) a. Are not accessible to insects, rodents, or other wild or domestic animals; (3-31-22) b. Are not accessible to individuals; (3-31-22) IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 58.01.03 – Individual/Subsurface Sewage Department of Environmental Quality Disposal & Cleaning of Septic Tanks Rules Section 005 Page 7 c. Do not create a public nuisance due to odor or unsightly appearance; (7-1-25) d. Do not injure or interfere with existing or potential beneficial uses of the waters; and (7-1-25) e. Do not have an adverse impact on public health or the environment. (7-1-25) 02. Compliance with Intent. The Director will not authorize or approve any system if, in the Director’s opinion, the system will not (does not) comply with the intent of these rules. (7-1-25) 03. System Limitations. Cooling water, backwash or backflush water, hot tub or spa water, air conditioning water, water softener brine, groundwater, oil, roof drainage, or other substances detrimental to the system’s performance or to groundwater quality cannot be discharged into any system unless that discharge is approved by the Director. (7-1-25) 04. Increased Flows. Unless authorized by the Director, it is unlawful for any person to provide for or connect additional blackwaste or wastewater sources to any system if the resulting flow or volume would exceed the approved design flow of the system. (7-1-25) 05. Failing System. The owner of any failing system must obtain a permit and repair the failing system: (7-1-25) a. As soon as practical after the owner becomes aware of its failure; or (3-31-22) b. As directed with proper notice from the Director. (7-1-25) 06. Subsurface Disposal System Replacement Area. An area of land suitable for the complete replacement of a new subsurface disposal system disposal field must be reserved as a replacement area. This area must be kept vacant, free of vehicular traffic, and free of any soil modification that would negatively affect its use as a replacement disposal field construction site. (7-1-25) 07. Technical Guidance Committee (TGC). The Director appoints a TGC composed of three (3) representatives from the seven (7) health districts, one (1) representative from the Department, one (1) professional engineer licensed in the state of Idaho and one (1) licensed installer. Appointments to vacancies are three (3) year terms. (7-1-25) 08. TGC Duties. The TGC maintains the TGM used in the design, construction, alteration, operation, and maintenance of conventional systems, their components, and alternatives. The TGC reviews variance requests and commercially manufactured wastewater treatment components and systems at the request of the Director and provides recommendations. (7-1-25) 09. TGM. The TGM maintained by the TGC provides technical guidance on alternative sewage disposal components and systems, soil type determination methodology, and other information pertinent to the best management practices of individual and subsurface sewage disposal. (7-1-25) 10. Alternative System. If a standard system cannot be installed on a parcel of land, an alternative system may be permitted if that system is installed in accordance with the TGC’s recommendations and is approved by the Director as stated in Section 009. (7-1-25)