Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 310 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Title 310 CMR 15.000 - The State Environmental Code, Title 5: Standard Requirements for the Siting, Construction, Inspection, Upgrade and Expansion of On-site Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems and for the Transport and Disposal of Septage › Subpart C - DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, AND REPLACEMENT OF ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS › Section 15.202 - Use of Recirculating Sand Filters

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1) A
				recirculating sand filter ("RSF") or equivalent alternative technology approved
				by the Department in accordance with
				310
				CMR 15.280 through
				15.288 is a required
				component of all systems designed to serve a facility or facilities with a
				design flow of 2,000 gpd or more to be located in a Nitrogen Sensitive Area, as
				designated in
				310
				CMR 15.214(1)(a), provided
				that such RSF shall not be required for a facility for which subdivision
				approval has been obtained to construct dwellings with a cumulative total
				design flow of 2,000 gpd or greater if a disposal system construction permit to
				construct a system with a total design flow of less than 2,000 gpd in full
				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) A
				recirculating sand filter or equivalent alternative technology approved by the
				Department in accordance with
				310
				CMR 15.280 through
				15.288, may be used to
				enhance nitrogen removal in systems in Nitrogen Sensitive Areas designated
				pursuant to
				310
				CMR 15.214(1)(a), in
				accordance with
				310
				CMR 15.217 (Systems with Enhanced Nitrogen
				Removal).
(3) Recirculating sand
				filters designed and approved in accordance with Department guidance are
				certified for general use.
(4)
				Recirculating sand filters or equivalent alternative technology shall meet the
				following requirements:
(a) effluent discharge
				concentrations shall meet or exceed secondary treatment standards of 30 mg/L
				BOD5 and 30 mg/L TSS. The effluent pH range shall be 6.0 to 9.0.
(b) total nitrogen concentration in the
				effluent shall not exceed 25 mg/L.
(c) system owners shall have effluent quality
				monitored quarterly for systems serving a facility with a design flow of less
				than 2,000 gallons per day, and both influent and effluent quality monitored
				quarterly for systems serving a facility with a design flow of 2,000 gallons
				per day or greater, for BOD5, TSS, pH and total
				nitrogen, unless otherwise required or approved by the Department. Unless
				otherwise required by the Department, the system owner shall submit all
				monitoring results to the local Approving Authority and the Department by
				January 31st of each year for monitoring conducted
				during the previous calendar year.
(d) recirculating sand filter systems shall
				contain all components of a standard on-site system and be capable of
				functioning as a conventional system. Any departures from this provision
				require written approval from the Department.
(e) the system owner shall notify the local
				Approving Authority of any system failure within 24 hours of detection of such
				failure.
(f) pressure distribution,
				in accordance with
				310
				CMR 15.254, is required for all systems
				serving a facility with a design flow of 2,000 gallons per day or greater.
				Pressure distribution systems shall be designed in accordance with Department
				guidance.
(g) for systems serving a
				facility with a design flow of 2,000 gpd or greater, the separation from high
				groundwater as required under
				310
				CMR 15.212 shall be calculated after adding
				the effect of groundwater mounding to the high groundwater elevation as
				determined pursuant to
				310
				CMR 15.103(3).
(h) by January
				31st of each year, unless otherwise determined by
				the Department, the system must be inspected at least annually by a
				Massachusetts certified operator of an appropriate grade to operate the system,
				unless the Department has approved in writing a reduction in frequency of
				inspection or the facility is subject to a Department approved comprehensive
				local plan of on-site system inspection, the system owner shall submit a
				certification by the system operator to the local Approving Authority and the
				Department for the previous calendar year stating that the system and its
				components are functioning as designed and were inspected in accordance with
				the Department's approval.
(i) an
				operation and maintenance manual shall be prepared by the system designer or a
				Massachusetts Registered Professional Engineer and submitted as part of the
				application.