Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (i.e. Septic System) Home Page

Much of Oneida County exists beyond those areas served by municipal sewerage disposal systems. In these areas, there is a need for effective onsite disposal of wastewaters.

Onsite wastewater disposal systems utilize natural biological processes to absorb, filter and clean wastewater. In the old days these systems were referred to a "septic systems".

Septic systems derived their name from the fact much of the primary treatment for septic system took place in an anaerobic (that is oxygen depleted) environment (the septic tank). Now days, we utilize different systems on some sites (such as aerobic digesters, recirculating filters etc.) which are aerobic (i.e. oxygen rich). This has lead to the change in name from "septic systems" to "onsite wastewater treatment systems".

In New York State the minimum standards to which onsite wastewater disposal systems maybe designed and constructed are given in Appendix 75-A of 10 New York Codes Rules and Regulations (10NYCRR).

If you are interested in Appendix 75-A, or other design related information please click here OnSitePage1

In 2004, the New York State Department of Health issued a policy statement requiring all onsite waste water treatment systems to be designed by a Design Professional (that is a Registered Architect or a Licensed Professional Engineer). If you wish to see the documentation surrounding this finding please click here Information pertaining to the Requirement that a.htm

If you are searching for a listing of design professionals (Registered Architects or Professional Engineers) in the area please click here or in pdf format OC-15revisedFeb2_2004.pdf

If you are looking for information about maintaining your onsite wastewater disposal system try this links

For tips for homeowners with septic tanks:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1103/28septicqanda.html


For EPA's take on septic systems see "Decentralized Systems Fact Sheet"

http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/septicfc.pdf


A handy site which has a flow chart for figuring out what is causing the problem with your waste water disposal system can be found at

http://www.ruralhometech.com/septic/flowchart/

Here is another useful site: