Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Policy

On June 19, 2012, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted resolution No 2012-0032, adopting the Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy). The policy addresses a state wide, tiered approach of regulation for on-site septic systems.

For your review and comments please view our OWTS Manual draft policy , which is primarily a reformatted version of existing County regulations and standards which addresses the State Water Resources Control Board adopted OWTS Policy.

There are 3 parts to the proposed regulation documents:

• Part 1, Tier 2, Local Area Management Plan (LAMP)
• Part 2, the OWTS Manual
• Part 3, Tier 3 Advanced Protection Management Program

Along with the OWTS Manual our Local Area Management Plan draft policy (Tier 2 LAMP) is available.

Part 3 (Tier 3) the Advanced Management Program within the impaired areas is not completed. We anticipate the Part 3 (Tier 3) will be developed as an addendum to the LAMP upon final adoption of the Russian River TMDL.

The purpose of these documents is to allow continuing Permit Sonoma authorization for oversight of OWTS countywide.

We encourage and welcome your comments regarding the content of these documents. Please respond by March 18, 2016 to Bob Swift at Bob.Swift@sonoma-county.org