INSTALLER BASICS -

REGULATIONS
 DISCLAIMER:

The use of trade names or images in this

training presentation does not constitute
an endorsement or recommendation by
the Arkansas Department of Health.

All references to trade names or use of

product images are for educational
purposes only.
 Act 402 of 1977
• Individual Sewage Disposal Permits
• Subdivision Review
• Licenses for:
Installers
Designated Representatives
Septic Tank Manufacturers
Certified Monitoring Personnel
• Ten Acre Exemption:
200 Foot Setback from Boundaries
Does not apply to ADEQ requirements
• Fees
• Violations are a misdemeanor that may result in
maximum fines of $1,000.
 Rules and Regulations
Pertaining to
Onsite Wastewater System

• Found on ADH Website

www.healthy.arkansas.gov

• Copy in Installer Packet

• Last Revision August 2022

 Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ)

•Individual Treatment Facilities ARG550000

•Modification Effective Date: July 1, 2019 increase size of
treatment unit to 1500 gpd
•Effective Date: July 1, 2019
•Expiration Date: June 30, 2024

Onsite Wastewater System utilizing Surface Discharge

(i.e. ATU, PMF, Sand filter)

* ADEQ ARG550000 Permit Required

(regardless of acreage)
 INSTALLER LICENSING
REQUIREMENTS

Pass Licensing Test

Annual Training Course
$100 Annual License Fee
License Expires December 31
License Renewable January 1
50% Late Fee After March 1
Delinquent for more than one year, requires
retesting
 THE APPROVED PERMIT
• Individual Onsite Wastewater System Application (EHP-19)

• Completed by Designated Representative (DR)

• Soil & Site Information

• Signed on Line 21 by Environmental Specialist

• Good for 1 year without Revalidation

• No Changes or Substitutions without DR’s Authorization

• Installation Inspection and Permit for Operation
Line 21
 THE PLAT DRAWING
Plan(s) Attached to the Permit Form
Drawing Shows:
• House, Property Lines, & Setbacks
• Septic Tank Location
• Pump Tank Locations (if any)
• Solid Pipes, Cleanouts, & Distribution Box
• Absorption Trenches on Contour
• Other Important Details
 OTHER DOCUMENTS
• Pump Curves & Specification Sheets
• Memorandum of Agreement

• Monitoring Contracts

• Installation Instructions

• Vicinity Map
 NEW PRODUCTS
Reviewed & Authorized by
Onsite Wastewater Product
Review Committee
Listed On:
Authorized Onsite Wastewater Products List
Agency Website
www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-
services/topics/onsite-wastewater
Grouped by Categories
 IMPORTANT POINTS

! 24 Hour Notice to EHS Required

Before Installation Begins
Sec. 4.7

! Licensed Installer Must Be On Site

During Entire Installation
Sec. 14.1
 SYSTEM INSPECTIONS
EHS May Authorize Designated
Representative To Make Final Inspection
Final Inspections May Be Conducted by:
• Environmental Health Specialist
• Designated Representative
If no final inspection , installer completes Part 2 of the
EHP-19 and signs the System Installation Verification
Section.
In addition, installer must sign and submit the
Installation Specification Sheet (EHP-6) to the local
health unit within 5 working days!
Sign and submit in 5 days
 MINIMUM SET BACKS
HORIZONTAL DISTANCES FROM ALL SEWAGE
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• 300 Feet From High Water Mark of Lakes If Within One Quarter
(¼) Mile of Water a Supply Intake Structure
• 300 Feet From Any Spring Used as a Source of Domestic Water
• 100 Feet From a Domestic Water Well
• 100 Feet From High Water Mark of Streams & Lakes
• 100 Feet from Ponds on Other Property or 50 feet
from Ponds on the Same Property
• 10 Feet From Dwellings
• 10 Feet From Property Lines
• 10 Feet From Water Service Lines
Recommendations Before Final
Bid on an Installation
• Review permit completely for all
construction details
• Site Visit and Review
• Locate Stub Out (if applicable)
• Take elevations (if concerned)
• Locate required supplies and suppliers
• When in doubt, ask for assistance!
• Signed Contracts with homeowner
(optional)
 SEPTIC TANK
Primary Wastewater Treatment

• Separates Solids From Liquids

Scum Layer: Floats to surface and may contain
Fats, Oils & Grease
Sludge Layer: Solids sink to the bottom and may contain
Heavier Organic & Inorganic Materials

• Start of Biological Process Using Anaerobic

Bacteria
• Stores Solids For Future Removal
 SEPTIC TANKS
Size Specified on Application Form (EHP-19 line 20a)
Concrete, Fiberglass, or Plastic
Minimum Size 1000 Gallons
Designated Representative Specifies:
Tank Manufacturer
Size (Gallons)
Material
Location on Lot
Outlet Flow-line
NO CHANGES WITHOUT DR’s OK!
Concrete
_Septic
_Tank_
Plastic & Fiberglass Septic Tanks
 SEPTIC TANK SIZE
Residential
1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms 1000 Gallons
4 Bedrooms 1250 Gallons
250 Gallons for Each Additional Bedroom

Commercial Establishments
Capacity Equal to 48 Hour Flow min.
 SEPTIC TANK DETAILS
Minimum of 10 Feet From House

Inlet Baffle Extends 6 Inches Below Liquid Level

Outlet Baffle Must Extend 35%-45%

of Liquid Depth

Risers Required Over Both Inlets & Outlets

DR May Specify Effluent Filter

 ALL SEPTIC TANKS MUST BE
WATER TIGHT
Potential Problems During a Significant
Rain Event and/or Wet Season
Ground Water Infiltration:
• Hydraulic Overload of the Absorption Field
• Excessive Pump Run Time

• Groundwater Contamination
 SITE PREPARATION
Find Primary Absorption Field Area
Look For DR’s Flags
Locate Benchmark
Check Soil Moisture
Avoid Soil Compaction
Avoid Smearing Trench Walls
Keep Heavy Equipment Off of Both Primary &
Secondary Absorption Field Sites
Use Low Impact Tracked Equipment When Possible
Minimize Vehicle Traffic
Septic Tank Inlet & Outlet Seal

Follow manufacturers directions for

proper fit of pipe into seal.
SEPTIC & PUMP TANK INSTALLATION
DR Selects:
All Tank Locations
Tank Depths

• Tank Holes Must Be Large Enough for

Backfilling
• Tanks May Need to be Bedded on Sand or
Gravel
• Fill Tanks With Water To Prevent Floating
• All Tanks Must Be Watertight
 ABSORPTION TRENCHES
Minimum Number of Trenches is 2
Maximum Length 100 Feet
Min. 8 ft. center to center
Bottom of Trench Level & On Contour
(Level is preferred but tolerant slope on perforated pipe 0-2 Inches/100 Feet)

DR Design May Include:

Diversion Device
Serial Distribution
Over Fill To Allow For Settling
ABSORPTION TRENCH MEDIA
Gravel Trench
Washed Gravel
(no fines)
¼ - 1½ Inch Diameter
2 Feet Wide & 1 Foot Deep

! 4-Inch ASTM-2729 or F-810 Perforated

Pipe 6 Inches Above Bottom
!
Authorized Gravel Substitute
Listed On Authorized Products List & Website
Installed As Specified By Manufacturer
Designated Representative Specifies Media
 ABSORPTION TRENCHES
• Installed On Contour
• Minimum spacing between the trenches shall be 6 feet between
the trenches and 8 feet center to center
• 18 Inches Deep Unless Otherwise Specified by the Designated
Representative

• Horizontal separation of 5 feet between the absorption area and

tight line trench
• Barrier Material Over Media
• Geo-Textile
• Building Paper (Not Roofing Felt)
• Authorized Media (Follow Manufactures Instructions)
 ABSORPTION TRENCH
CROSS-SECTION
Overfill

Backfill Barrier Material

4-Inch Perforated Pipe

12 Inches
6 Inches

¼ - 1½ Inch
24 Inches Washed Gravel
 Absorption
Trench
Installed on Contour
With Barrier
Material In Place
( Geo-Textile )

Note: Contour line.

 MAXIMUM STORAGE
INSTALLATION AND CONSTUCTION

Construction technique where the

placement of the distribution box or septic
tank flowline allows for maximum storage
within a trench as well as the surrounding
soil.
The two types of maximum storage
installations are:
Flat or Sloping
 HOUSE SEWER LINE
Septic Tank Inlet & Outlet Pipes Must Be
Schedule 40 PVC

Slope On “Inlet” Pipe 1/8 – 1/4 Inch Per Foot

4 Inch Cleanout Required

Before Entering Tank
Every 100 Feet
Changes In Direction > 45º
• Trench Width
6”-24” inches
 Soil Smearing
Smearing of sidewalls and bottoms reduces the absorption rate

Two critical factors: How wet is the soil?

What is the soil's clay content?

Roll the soil between your thumb and index finger. If the soil forms a
ribbon it is too wet to install the lateral field
 Soil Compaction
When soil particles are compressed, the void spaces in the
soil are eliminated. This also damages the soil structure.
The result is less storage in the soil and reduced hydraulic
conductivity.

Use low impact track equipment whenever possible. All

traffic on the absorption site should be avoided during
wet conditions.
SITE CLEARING & GRUBBING
Have A Specific Plan For Each Site
Leave Top Soil
Cut Trees Flush To Ground
Only Remove Roots That Interfere With Trenches
Remaining Roots Will Rot
Use Stump Grinder On Stumps

Rake Smeared Sidewalls to Depth of 1 Inch

 EFFLUENT DISTRIBUTION

• Gravity Distribution

• Pumped Distribution
 GRAVITY DISTRIBUTION
• Distribution Box
(Key: equal distribution)

• Serial Distribution
DISTRIBUTION BOXES
EFFLUENT FLOW CONTROL
DEVICES
AKA: Diversion Devices
 DISTRIBUTION BOX
Materials
Concrete
Plastic
Bedded on Undisturbed Earth, Gravel, or Concrete
Must Be Level
All Lines Feed the Same
Use Flow Control Devices
4 Inch PVC Solid Pipe In & Out
Schedule 40 PVC
SDR-35 PVC

NO PERFORATED PIPE FOR 5 FEET

 PUMPED DISPERSAL
• Distribution Box
• Low Pressure Distribution (LPD)
(Key: equal distribution in small doses)
• DR Designs Distribution System
Pressure Manifolds
 Orifice Disk must be sized
according to the specification found
in the permit. Accurate drill size is
important when the manifold is
used with uneven length lines.
Effluent Filters
 PUMP TANKS
Large Enough For:
Dose Volume Specified by DR
Ballast (to prevent floating) 1/4
Reserve (surge capacity) 1/3 daily usage

Electrical Connections Protected

From Corrosive Gasses
Filtered
Pump
Vaults
 FILTERED PUMP VAULTS
• 250 Gallon Larger Septic Tank Required

• Maximum drawdown per Dose Cycle is 3 Inches

• Pump Vault Inlets Between 35%-45% of the

Liquid Depth of Tank

• Pumped Effluent Line Goes Out Through

Septic Tank Outlet Riser
 DOSED DISTRIBUTION BOX

Inlet Pipe 1½ or larger Schedule 40 PVC

Outlet Pipes 4 Inch
Schedule 40 PVC
OR
SDR-35 PVC
Baffled For Even Flow To All Lines
DR Specifies Construction & All Components
 Dosed
Distribution
Box
90° Bend
Acts As
Baffle
 PUMPING DOWN HILL

When the soil absorption field is located

below the elevation of the pump tank,
measures must be taken to prevent the
effluent from being siphoned into the
absorption field.
HOW CAN THIS BE PREVENTED?
1/8 inch hole at head works