A. 
The department may reject, revoke, suspend or otherwise limit or restrict a license, certificate or permit granted under part III of this chapter.
B. 
The department may require specific types of AWWTS in areas it deems necessary for the protection of surface water, groundwater, and the public health.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
AWWTS's shall be regulated by their performance. A Category I system is defined in section 15.65.335. A Category II system is defined in section 15.65.340. A Category III is defined in section 15.65.345.
B. 
The department, with the advice of the on-site water and wastewater technical review board, shall determine:
1. 
Selection of proposed systems. The designs and/or types of systems selected for testing under this program.
2. 
Number of systems to be tested. The number of systems selected for testing during any one annual period. This number may vary depending on staffing levels within the department, complexities of systems, numbers of individual systems tested, and other variables.
3. 
Number of systems of each design and/or type to be tested. Testing shall occur on a predetermined number of systems of each design and/or type proposed and shall range from two to five individual systems. This number may be based on the complexity of the system, the number and locations of any other systems currently operating, the projected reliability of the system, and other considerations.
4. 
Acceptance procedures. A system passing all testing requirements for Category I, II or III, and functioning adequately for the entire testing period, shall be accepted for standard permitting and installation within the municipality.
C. 
A system selected for the testing program that does not meet the requirements for a Category II or Category III system, may be accepted as an AWWTS for installation as a Category I system, if it meets those requirements. Maintenance and repair requirements shall be identical to those specified when the system was accepted for testing under this chapter.
D. 
The sampling period to determine acceptance or rejection and regulatory category shall occur over a period of 12 consecutive months.
E. 
Design changes to approved AWWTS must be approved by the department.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
Following the testing period, the system representative may request a hearing on the rejection or category classification of the AWWTS. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 3.60. Justification for the rejection or classification shall be determined by the department and shall be in writing.
B. 
Any decision to reject, revoke, suspend or otherwise limit or restrict a license, certificate or permit granted under part III of this chapter shall be effective immediately.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
Department approved, independent third-party individuals shall conduct all sampling and testing in accordance with approved procedures.
B. 
A proposed sampling schedule and sampling procedures shall be submitted to the department for approval prior to the start of the sampling period. Deviations from the approved schedule and procedures require approval from the department. Any required system start-up time shall be included in this schedule.
C. 
The department reserves the right to collect random samples at its discretion.
D. 
All samples shall be tested by a laboratory certified by the State of Alaska for each parameter tested. A copy of the results of all samples shall be mailed directly to the department by the laboratory.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
All systems selected for testing as an AWWTS shall undergo a one-year minimum sampling program unless otherwise approved by the department. The sampling regimen shall meet the following requirements:
1. 
CBOD5 and TSS. The arithmetic mean of the CBOD5 and TSS values for the effluent samples collected (whether grab or composite technique is used) during a sampling period shall meet requirements in sections 15.65.335, 15.65.340, and 15.65.345.
a. 
Year long sampling: A minimum of 12 consecutive monthly samples shall be collected approximately thirty days apart. One sample result from section 15.65.325A.1.b, month long sampling, may be used as one of the 12 monthly samples required by this paragraph.
b. 
Month long sampling: A minimum of four consecutive weekly samples shall be collected approximately seven days apart. One sample result from section 15.65.325A.1.c, Week Long Sampling, may be used as one of the four monthly samples required by this paragraph.
c. 
Week long sampling: A minimum of seven daily samples shall be collected on a separate day of seven consecutive days.
2. 
Fecal coliform. The geometric mean of the fecal coliform values collected during a sampling period shall meet the requirements in sections 15.65.335, 15.65.340, and 15.65.345.
a. 
Year long sampling: A minimum of 12 consecutive monthly samples shall be collected approximately 30 days apart. One sample result from section 15.65.325A.2.b, month long sampling, may be used as one of the 12 monthly samples required by this paragraph.
b. 
Month long sampling: A minimum of four consecutive weekly samples shall be collected approximately seven days apart. One sample result from section 15.65.325A.2.c, week long sampling, may be used as one of the four monthly samples required by this paragraph.
c. 
Week long sampling: A minimum of seven daily samples shall be collected on a separate day of seven consecutive days.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
A Category I system using advanced treatment technology may be comprised of a tank or tanks, filters, air pumps (or other devices).
B. 
An advanced treatment system which undergoes the sampling regimen and fails to meet the requirements of Category II, may be installed as a Category I system. Maintenance and repair requirements shall be identical to those specified when the system was accepted for testing under this chapter.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A Category II system using advanced treatment technology, comprised of a tank or tanks, filters, air pumps (or other devices), shall produce an effluent, prior to discharging to the disposal field, with the following maximum contaminant levels (Table 4):
Table 4 Category II Wastewater Treatment Maximum Contaminant Levels
Contaminant
Year Long Sampling
Month Long Sampling
Week Long Sampling
CBOD5 and TSS (mg/l)
30
40
45
Fecal Coliform (col/100 ml)
50,000
75,000
100,000
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A Category III system using advanced treatment technology, comprised of a tank or tanks, filters, air pumps (or other devices), shall produce an effluent, prior to discharging to the disposal field, with the following maximum contaminant levels (Table 5):
Table 5. Category III Wastewater Treatment Maximum Contaminant Levels
Contaminant
Year Long Sampling
Month Long Sampling
Week Long Sampling
CBOD5 and TSS (mg/l)
10
20
30
Fecal Coliform (col/100 ml)
10,000
20,000
30,000
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
All Category I, II and III systems may be additionally classified as nitrogen reducing systems if their effluent meets the following total nitrogen characteristics:
1. 
Year long sampling: The arithmetic mean of the TN values for the effluent samples collected (whether grab or composite technique is used) during an annual period shall not exceed 20 mg/l. A minimum of 12 monthly samples shall be collected approximately 30 days apart.
2. 
Month long sampling: The arithmetic mean of the TN values for a minimum of four effluent samples, each collected (whether grab or composite technique is used) on a separate day approximately seven days apart during a period of 30 consecutive days shall not exceed 30 mg/l.
3. 
Week long sampling: The arithmetic mean of the TN values for a minimum of seven effluent samples, each collected (whether grab or composite technique is used) on a separate day of seven consecutive days shall not exceed 40 mg/l.
B. 
The department shall have the authority to require nitrogen reducing systems in areas it deems necessary for the protection of groundwater resources and public health.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
Components. Any components of wastewater treatment systems being evaluated as AWWTS and those systems approved as AWWTS shall meet all requirements set forth in this chapter, the Uniform Plumbing Code (latest adopted revision), and the Standards and Specifications for Component Parts and Materials used in Construction of On-site Wastewater Disposal Systems, issued by the department.
B. 
Alarms or warning devices. Any system component utilizing a mechanical device shall be provided with an automatic visual or audible means of notifying the user of the system of a mechanical device failure.
1. 
Any alarm that is electrically powered is to be on a separate circuit from the circuit supplying power to the mechanical device.
2. 
An alarm indicating the failure of a pump shall remain audible or visible until manually turned off.
3. 
Where duplex-pumping equipment is employed to provide continuous component operation in the event that one pump fails, the pumps shall be installed in such a manner so as to provide the continuous operation automatically.
4. 
The control panel and electrical panel shall be outside in a location visible and readily available to the system maintainer.
C. 
Remote monitoring. Category II and III systems that rely on mechanical devices and processes shall be monitored remotely by the equipment provider or other approved entity.
Exception: AWWTS's already approved without remote monitoring.
D. 
Accessibility. The design of a system shall include provisions to provide access to all components that require maintenance and repair or observation.
E. 
Buoyancy forces. An AWWTS holding or treatment tank subject to buoyancy forces shall be anchored or ballasted as required to prevent flotation regardless of the liquid level in the tank.
F. 
Frost protection. All system components shall be designed for protection from freezing and excessive heat loss that could detrimentally affect the system performance.
G. 
Disposal field sizing. Wastewater disposal fields shall be sized according to the requirements of the following table:
Table 6. AWWTS Effluent Application Rates
Soil Percolation Rate
(minutes/inch)
AWWTS Category Application Rate
(gallons/day/square foot)
I - Trench
I - Bed
II
III
1—5
1.2
0.8
4
6
6—15
0.8
0.5
3
5
16—30
0.6
0.4
2
4
31—60
0.45
0.3
1
2
61—90
N/A
N/A
0.5
1.0
90—120
N/A
N/A
0.3
0.5
1. 
The above application rates for Category II and Category III systems are valid for systems using a discharge pump or timed dosage only. Category II and Category III systems using gravity feed without timed dosage shall be allowed 50 percent of the above application rates.
2. 
All categories must use a sand filter layer in gravel soils that have a percolation rate of less than one minute per inch.
H. 
Drainfield. A drainfield served by an AWWTS shall be installed in accordance with section 15.65.210.
Exception: The following reduced separation distances are allowed for a drainfield served by a Category II or Category III AWWTS equipped with a remote monitoring system.
1. 
Reduced horizontal separation distances (from closest edge of drainfield):
a. 
Fifty feet from surface water.
b. 
Fifty feet from a private well. If an existing private well has nitrates greater than five mg/l, the department may require a separation distance up to 100 feet.
c. 
Thirty-five feet up-gradient from any human-made or natural break in the natural slope of the terrain where the slope changes to 25 percent or greater with a drop in surface height greater than ten feet below the invert elevation of horizontal drainpipe.
d. 
Five feet from any property line.
2. 
Reduced vertical separation distances. A subsurface disposal system utilizing pressure distribution or uniform gravity distribution segments not exceeding 20 feet in length shall not be located:
a. 
Where the water table during any season of the year is closer than two feet from the bottom of the absorption area.
b. 
Where bedrock or any other impermeable barrier occurs within four feet of the bottom of the absorption area. For nitrogen reducing systems, the minimum required vertical separation distance is three feet.
I. 
AWWTS components. Components serving AWWTS's shall comply with the required minimum horizontal separation distances in section 15.65.205B.1.
Exception: The following reduced separation distances are allowed for components serving a Category II or Category III AWWTS equipped with a remote monitoring system.
1. 
Fifty feet from surface water.
2. 
Fifty feet to a private water well.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
General. Due to the potential for degrading surface water and ground water quality or jeopardizing the public health, or both, routine maintenance and repair of AWWTS and a remote monitoring system is required.
B. 
AWWTS maintenance and repair agreement. Pursuant to section 15.65.365, and in order to assure maintenance and repair is performed in a timely manner, an AWWTS maintenance and repair agreement between the system owner and the municipality is required. A system designated as an advanced treatment system, whether Category I, II, or III shall meet this requirement.
C. 
Existing systems. All existing advanced treatment systems installed prior to the passage of this chapter shall be required to meet all maintenance and repair requirements required by this section. Existing maintenance and repair agreements on advanced treatment systems shall be replaced with an AWWTS maintenance and repair agreement between the system owner and the municipality.
D. 
Qualifications to perform maintenance and repair. Individuals who perform maintenance and repair on advanced treatment systems shall be certified by the system manufacturer or manufacturer's representative as adequately trained and familiar with the treatment processes and maintenance and repair procedures for these specific systems.
E. 
Certification approval. The department shall have the right to accept or reject a manufacturer's certification process for maintenance and repair personnel referenced in section 15.65.360D. This certification process shall be approved by the municipality prior to the acceptance of a specific system.
F. 
Revocation of AWWTS approval. The department may revoke a manufacturer's AWWTS approval if the manufacturer/manufacturer's representative fails to adequately maintain a sufficient certification process for maintenance and repair personnel pursuant to sections 15.65.360D and E.
G. 
Certificates. The manufacturer shall issue a certificate to each individual trained to maintain AWWTS. This certificate shall be issued only after the individual has completed approved training by the manufacturer (or approved designee) for each type of advanced treatment system to be maintained. The certificate shall specifically list each type of AWWTS for which the holder has been trained and certified. A copy of this certificate shall be provided to the municipality. The department shall maintain a listing of all approved maintenance and repair personnel.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)
A. 
System installation. The installation of an AWWTS requires a maintenance and repair agreement between the municipality and property owner in accordance with this section.
B. 
Transfer of property. The transfer of a property containing an AWWTS requires a maintenance and repair agreement between the municipality and transferee (buyer) in accordance with this section.
C. 
Service agreement required. In addition to the maintenance and repair agreement, the property owner shall enter into a third party service agreement with an AWWTS service provider approved by the manufacturer/manufacturer's representative. A service agreement shall be maintained for the life of the system.
D. 
Contents. The AWWTS maintenance and repair agreement shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following provisions:
1. 
A commitment by the owner to maintain the AWWTS in a satisfactory condition capable of producing treated effluent in accordance with chapter 15.65.
2. 
Acknowledgement by the owner that fines for failing to maintain an AWWTS may be assessed in accordance with chapter 14.60 for improper discharge.
3. 
The consent of the owner that only maintenance personnel from an approved AWWTS service provider will inspect, maintain and repair the system.
4. 
The consent of the owner allowing the department reasonable access to test and inspect the system with 24 hours written notice.
5. 
Acknowledgement by the owner that a new COSA is required by section 15.65.060 prior to any sale or transfer of title of the property.
6. 
A commitment by the owner to maintain remote monitoring.
E. 
The maintenance provider shall keep a copy of maintenance records for a period of no less than the past three years and they must provide a copy of the subject records to the MOA if requested.
(AO No. 2017-129, § 3, 1-23-2018)