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2024 Season - Wet Weather Groundwater Determinations & Percolation Testing: Partially Open
Groundwater determinations and percolation testing are necessary for onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Groundwater determinations have reopened in the Guerneville testing area, closed in all other testing areas. Percolation testing is open in all testing areas.
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2024 Season - Wet Weather Groundwater Determinations & Percolation Testing: Partially Open
Groundwater determinations and percolation testing are necessary for onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Groundwater determinations have reopened in the Guerneville testing area, closed in all other testing areas. Percolation testing is open in all testing areas.
Updates to the Groundwater Determinations Policy
The Groundwater Determinations Policy has been updated. The changes reflect clarifying language and updates regarding the radius distance surrounding a groundwater test hole, the number of test holes required for a proposed septic system and depths of test holes based on site conditions such as impermeable layers.
End of Extended COVID Permit Expiration Date
In order to support the difficulties the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the community, Permit Sonoma offered customers a two-year extension above and beyond the regular timelines for various ministerial applications and permits. The conditions attributing to the local emergency no longer exist and the Board of Supervisors is rescinding the local emergency as of May 16, 2023. As such the policy extending the expiration dates will sunset effective May 17, 2023.
Sonoma County Building & Fire Code Updates
The new building and fire codes became effective on January 1, 2023. Permit applications received before December 31, 2022 are not required to meet the new codes, and will instead be reviewed and permitted according to the 2019 codes.
Board of Supervisors Consideration of Revised OWTS Manual early 2023
The Board of Supervisors will be considering the revised OWTS Manual at an upcoming meeting early in 2023. With direction from the Board of Supervisors, the revised manual will be submitted to the local Regional Water Board for approval.
Dry Weather Well Season Opening Early Due to Ongoing Drought Emergency
Due to the declared and prolonged drought emergency in Sonoma County, Permit Sonoma is opening the dry weather season for well yield testing on June 1, 2022. The typical dry weather season runs from July 15 to October 1 of each year. The Director of Permit and Resource Management has the discretion to extend the dry weather season in accordance with Sonoma County Code section 7-12(1)(c). Given the current and prolonged drought conditions, this year’s time frame is extended from June 1, 2022 to October 1, 2022.