Subsurface Wastewater Publications

 

1998 Peat System Assessment
Results of a 1998 field study of peat systems conducted by the Division in response to complaints regarding premature failures.  View or download (PDF).

 

DHHS/DEP Memorandum of Agreement for Engineered Systems
Memorandum of agreement between the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), under which the DEP shall provide to DHHS reviews of potential water quality impacts from large subsurface wastewater disposal systems. Revised 2023.  View or download (PDF).

 

Disposal Field Design Theory
An overview of how and why septic system leach fields work the way they do.  View or download (DOC).

 

Enforcement Manual
Guidance for Local Plumbing Inspectors (LPI) concerning enforcement of the Maine State Plumbing Code, Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, and related statutes.  View or download (PDF).

 

Guidance Manual – Supplement to the Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules
Provides interpretations of certain sections of the Rules, such as suggested methods for preparing applications for onsite sewage disposal systems, as well as implemention of various aspects of the Rules, including the design of systems and their components. The manual also contains copies of the Division's forms, and a list of approved products.  View or download (DOC).

 

Minimum Lot Size Rules
View or download (PDF).

 

Numerical System for Site Evaluations
An explanation of the rationale behind the Program's adoption of a score based assessment of variances for undeveloped properties.  View or download (RTF).

 

Prior Codes Requirements
A compliation of the evaluation and system sizing criteria from major revisions of the Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, to aid in determining what was allowed at any given time.  Subsurface Wastewater Team Past Rules.

 

Site Evaluation Manual
Guidance for individuals interested in Site Evaluation. The interested person should seek training and education in basic soils, classification, morphology, and subsurface wastewater disposal system design. This manual should also be of interest to planning boards, local plumbing inspectors, contractors, real estate brokers and others concerned with on-site subsurface wastewater disposal in Maine.  View or download (PDF).

 

Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules
View or download (PDF).

 

Terra Lift Conditional Approval
Conditional approval for the Terra Lift system, detailing the specific conditions under which the device is allowed for use in Maine.  View or download (RTF).

 

Updated 12/5/2023