Guidelines for Control of Septic Tank Systems

As the population of the San Francisco Bay Area increases, the demand for new development increases. In response to these development pressures, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted a policy on discrete sewerage facilities which sets forth the actions the board will take with respect to proposals for individual or community sewerage systems. An important provision of the policy required the development of guidelines to control individual wastewater and disposal systems. Major recommendations of the guidelines pertaining to design and construction, operation and maintenance, and cumulative impacts of septic tank systems are summarized.