State Wide Septic System Regulations Meeting

November 2^nd - Public meeting 

with State Water Resources Control Board 

AB 885 – Statewide Septic System Regulations

 In response to AB 885 (2000), the State Water Resources Control Board has finally issued a new public review draft policy for statewide regulation of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS, commonly referred to as septic systems). The draft policy is very different from earlier versions and better in many respects. Among other things it allows local agencies to develop their own regulatory program to address local conditions and needs. It imposes performance criteria on owners of existing OWTS within 600 feet of an “impaired” waterway, but the policy puts the Regional Water Boards, not the County, in the enforcement role for those requirements.

Because much of Sonoma County is rural, and not served by public sewer systems, many properties rely on OWTS or septic systems for household waste disposal.  The rule and its impacts affect many property owners in Sonoma County.  If your property has a septic system, you should consider attending the meeting and following news reports on this issue. 


There will be two public meetings…

There will be a public meeting in Santa Rosa to discuss AB885 in Santa Rosa at the Wells Fargo Center, Ruth Finley Person Theater from 1-4pm and from 6-9pm.  The last time that these meetings were held in Santa Rosa in 2009, there was an overflow crowd…so be prepared to stay for the entire meeting.