310 CMR 15.004
Applicability
(1) The Approving Authority shall not approve the construction, upgrade, or expansion of an
on-site subsurface sewage disposal system unless it is:
(a) a system serving or designed to receive only sanitary sewage from a facility where the
total design flow generated on the facility, is less than 10,000 gallons per day;
(b) a system upgrade approvable in accordance with 310 CMR 15.403 or 310 CMR 15.404;
or
(c) a facility for which subdivision approval has been obtained, to construct dwellings with
a cumulative total design flow of 10,000 gpd or greater provided that a disposal system
construction permit to construct a system in compliance with 310 CMR 15.000 on each of
the subdivision lots to be served by a system is obtained and such separate subdivision lots
are to be conveyed to independent owners.
(2) No system shall serve more than one facility except as explicitly allowed pursuant to
310 CMR 15.010 (division and aggregation) or 310 CMR 15.290 through 15.292 (shared
systems).
(3) No new system shall be constructed, and no system shall be upgraded or expanded, if it is
feasible to connect the facility, or any portion of the facility for which system approval is sought,
to a sanitary sewer, except in the following circumstances and particularly to promote recharge
of stressed basins, improve low stream flow, or address other local water resource needs:
(a) the system is an alternative system approved for use pursuant to 310 CMR 15.280
through 15.288 and the Department has made the determination that any person using such
alternative system need not connect the facility to such sanitary sewer;
(b) the system fully complies with 310 CMR 15.000 and does not require:
1. a local upgrade approval, unless issued pursuant to 310 CMR 15.405(1)(a) or (b); or
2. a variance; or
(c) the owner of an existing system has obtained a variance from this requirement pursuant
to 310 CMR 15.410 through 15.415.
(4) The provisions of 310 CMR 15.000 apply only to the on site collection, treatment and
disposal of sanitary sewage, and to the transport and disposal of associated septage and grease,
and do not apply to the wastewater containing wastes from any other activity including, but not
limited to, activities under the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes set forth at
310 CMR 15.004(5). SIC Codes are established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
and may be determined by referring to the publication Standard Industrial Classification
Manual. Systems designed to dispose of only sanitary sewage from facilities subject to the
following SIC codes may be approved under 310 CMR 15.000. Facilities discharging
wastewater that contains wastes from activities under the SIC codes listed below may request a
determination from the Department that the wastewater's constituents are substantially similar
to sanitary sewage and may be discharged to an on-site septic system.
(5) SIC CODE(S)
INDUSTRY CATEGORY
753-7549
Automotive Repairs and Services
7231,7241
Beauty Shops, Barber Shops
7211-7219
Laundry Cleaning and Garment
Services
4911,4925,4931,4939
Electric, Gas Services (Power
Generation Gas Production Only)
4011 - 4581
Transportation (Maintenance Only)
8062 - 8069
Hospitals
2000 - 3999
Manufacturing
2000 - 2099
Food Products
2100 - 2199
Tobacco Products
2200 - 2299
Textile Mill Products
2300 - 2399
Apparel and Other Finished Products
Made from Fabrics and Similar
Materials
2400 - 2499
Lumber and Wood Products, Except
Furniture
2500 - 2599
Furniture and Fixtures
2600 - 2699
Paper and Allied Products
2700 - 2799
Printing, Publishing and Allied
Industries
2800 - 2899
Chemicals and Allied Products
2900 - 2999
Petroleum Refining and Related
Industries
3000 - 3099
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics
3100 - 3199
Leather Tanning and Finishing
3200 - 3299
Stone, Clay, Glass and Concrete
Products
3300 - 3399
Primary Metal Industries
3400 - 3499
Fabricated Metal Products (Except
Machinery and Transportation
Equipment)
3500 - 3599
Industrial and Commercial Machinery
and Computer Equipment
3600 - 3699
Electronic and Other Electrical
Equipment and Components, Except
Computer Equipment
3700 - 3799
Transportation Equipment
3800 - 3899
Measuring, Analyzing and Controlling
Instruments; Photographic, Medical and
Optical Goods; Watches and Clocks
3900 - 3900
Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries
(6) No person shall discharge or allow the discharge of wastes from the industry categories
listed in 310 CMR 15.004(5) to any system regulated under 310 CMR 15.000. No system shall
receive oil, hazardous materials or waste, medical wastes or radioactive wastes.
(7) No person shall discharge or allow the discharge of stabilized recreational vehicle wastes,
stabilized boat wastes, stabilized motorcoach/bus wastes, stabilized portable toilet wastes, wastes
from funeral homes, or vehicles washes to any system regulated under 310 CMR 15.000.
(8) 310 CMR 15.000 prohibits the discharge of sewage to a dry well or open drain. Discharges
to dry wells shall be in compliance with the Department’s Underground Injection Control
regulations at 310 CMR 27.00: Underground Injection Control Regulations. Backwash of water
purification or filtration devices shall not be discharged to an on-site system. The owner of the
dry well shall register the dry well in accordance with 310 CMR 27.00: Underground Injection
Control Regulations.