1. (a) Any facility designed for the treatment or processing of septage that is independent of a wastewater treatment plant permitted under RSA 485-A:13 shall be designed and constructed in accordance with applicable provisions of TR-16, “Guides for the Design of Wastewater Treatment Works” by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, revised 2016 edition, available as noted in Appendix B.
2. (b) Septage composting facilities shall be designed, constructed, operated, and closed in accordance with Env-Sw 600 relative to composting facilities.
3. (c) The facility shall operate in such a manner to minimize the impact on abutters and the surrounding community from odors, vehicle traffic, and dust.

4. (d) All facilities shall:

   1. (1) Be posted with signs which:

      1. a. Contain the name and telephone number of the operator;
      2. b. Contain the name and address of the owner or lessee of the property;
      3. c. Shall be posted at gates, bars, and commonly used entrances; and
      4. d. State: “Septage Treatment Facility” printed with block letters not less than 2 inches in height;
   2. (2) Restrict access by the installation of a locked gate or cable;
   3. (3) Be operated such that odors from the facility are minimized;
   4. (4) Be maintained in a clean and orderly fashion to minimize attraction of vectors;
   5. (5) Be closed in accordance with Env-Wq 1609.10; and
   6. (6) Remove visible or identifiable plastics or other non-biodegradable solids from the septage, using a bar rack or screen, prior to the septage being discharged into the facility.

5. (e) In addition to the requirements in (d) above, all lagoons shall be:

   1. (1) Fenced around the perimeter with wire or plastic mesh at least 4 feet in height with openings no larger than 4 inches to control access;
   2. (2) Maintained to provide a minimum of 2 feet of freeboard at all times; and
   3. (3) Bermed on all sides no higher than 6 inches from the surface of the lagoon to divert surface drainage away from the lagoons.

6. (f) Subject to (g), below, no person shall situate or operate a facility within the setback distances specified in Table 1609-1:

   Table 1609-1 Setback Distances For Septage Facilities (in feet)

   Water Supplies:

   Nearest Well

   1000^a

   Surface Drinking Water Source

   1000^a

   Surface Water:

   Designated river under RSA 483

   500

   Other surface water

   250

   Non-Tidal Drainage Ditch

   200

   Nearest Residential Off-site Dwelling:

   Enclosed Facility

   400

   Open Facility

   600^b

   Property Line:

   Enclosed Facility

   200

   Open Facility

   500^c

   Estimated Seasonal High Water Table

   2^d

   Bedrock / Restrictive Layer

   4

7. (g) The following notes shall apply to Table 1609-1:

   1. (1) The letter “a” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest water supply may be reduced based on a hydrological evaluation performed by a professional geologist or professional engineer that demonstrates that a lesser distance will not result in any degradation to drinking water at the well or surface water source;
   2. (2) The letter “b” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest residential off-site dwelling shall be as far as practical beyond 1200 feet, but may be reduced below 1200 feet with the owner’s prior written consent;
   3. (3) The letter “c” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest property line shall be as far as practical beyond 1000 feet, but may be reduced below 1000 feet with the owner’s prior written consent; and
   4. (4) The letter “d” shall indicate the distance to the seasonal high water table.

8. (h) No person shall store, hold, or stockpile septage within the setback areas specified in Table 1609-2, subject to (i) below:

   Table 1609-2 Setback Distances For Septage Stockpiling, and Holding Tanks (in feet)

   Nearest Residential Off-Site Dwelling:

   Sealed & covered septage holding tank

   100^a

   Open septage holding tank or stockpiling

   600^b

   Nearest Drinking Water Well:

   Sealed & covered septage holding tank

   100^c

   Lined holding, storage or stockpiling

   150^c

   Unlined holding, storage or stockpiling

   1000^d

   Property Line:

   Sealed & covered septage holding tank

   200^e

   Lined and covered holding, storage or stockpiling

   200^f

   Unlined or open holding, storage or stockpiling

   500^f

   Public Roads other than federal interstate highways

   50

   Bedrock / Restrictive Layer

   4

   Estimated Seasonal High Water Table:

   Sealed & covered holding or storage tank

   2^g

   Lined and covered storage or stockpiling

   2^g

   Other storage or stockpiling

   4^g

   Surface water:

   Designated river under RSA 483

   500

   Other surface water

   250

   Non-Tidal Drainage Ditch

   100

9. (i) The following notes shall apply to Table 1609-2:

   1. (1) The letter “a” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest residential off-site dwelling shall be as far as practical beyond 100 feet, but may be reduced below 100 feet with the owner’s prior written consent;
   2. (2) The letter “b” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest residential off-site dwelling shall be as far as practical beyond 600 feet, but may be reduced below 600 feet with the owner’s prior written consent;
   3. (3) The letter “c” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest downgradient well shall be as far as practical, but in no case closer than 150 feet;
   4. (4) The letter “d” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest downgradient well shall be as far as practical, but in no case closer than 1000 feet;
   5. (5) The letter “e” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest property line shall be as far as practical beyond 50 feet, but may be reduced below 200 feet with the owner’s prior written consent;
   6. (6) The letter “f” shall indicate that the distance to the nearest property line shall be as far as practical beyond 500 feet, but may be reduced below 500 feet with the abutting property owner’s prior written consent; and
   7. (7) The letter “g” shall indicate that this shall be the depth to the seasonal high water table.
10. (j) Any person stockpiling septage containing 15 percent or greater solids for longer than 7 days shall cover the stockpile with an odor control material, such as lime or certified waste derived wood ash which has been approved for such use pursuant to Env-Sw 1700 to minimize odors.
11. (k) Stockpiles of septage solids shall be maintained to minimize water run-on and run-off.
12. (l) Stockpiling of septage shall not be permitted for greater than 48 hours on the 100-year flood plain as defined and delineated by the flood insurance rate maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
13. (m) Stockpiling of septage shall not be permitted on any poorly or very poorly drained soils.
14. (n) Septage containing less than 15 percent solids shall be stored in a tank or lagoon.
15. (o) Only domestic septage as defined in Env-Wt 1602.11 shall be discharged into a septage facility.
16. (p) A septage facility shall not be located within the 100-year floodplain as delineated by the flood insurance rate maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
17. (q) A septage facility shall not be permitted on any poorly or very poorly drained soils.
18. (r) Stockpiling of septage or solids shall not be permitted within a floodway.

Source. (See Revision Note #1 and Revision Note #2 at chapter heading for Env-Wq 1600) #13944, eff 4-27-24