An Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Owner’s Manual

ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY: The unit of government that establishes and enforces regulations related to the permitting, design, construction, installation, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, and performance of onsite and clustered wastewater treatment systems; examples include the Department of Health and Senior Services or Local Public Health Agency (LPHA), planning and zoning commissions, county building departments, county public works departments, sewer districts and/or municipalities that have authority to govern ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS.

AEROBIC: Having molecular oxygen as a part of the environment or a biological process that occurs only in the presence of molecular oxygen.

ANAEROBIC: The absence of molecular oxygen as a part of the environment or a biological process that occurs in the absence of molecular oxygen.

ATTACHED GROWTH PROCESSES: The process of the microorganisms responsible for treatment of wastewater colonize a fixed medium.

BLACKWATER: The portion of the WASTEWATER stream that originates from toilet fixtures, dishwashers, and food preparation sinks.

EFFLUENT: The liquid discharge from a septic tank or other wastewater treatment device.

GRAYWATER: Water captured from nonfood preparation sinks, showers, baths, spa baths, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs.

HOLDING TANK: A watertight tank for the temporary storage of SEWAGE until it can be transported to a point of approved treatment and disposal.

INSPECTION: The process of identifying, evaluating, and reporting the current status of the ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM’s performance and/or condition. INSPECTIONS may be performed for many reasons, including monitoring, OPERATION, troubleshooting, point-of-sale assessment, or for reporting purposes to the ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY.

MAINTENANCE: The routine and/or periodic actions taken to assure the ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM operates properly; extends the longevity of the system; and assures the system meets the manufacturer’s, designer’s and ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY’s performance requirements.

MALFUNCTION OR MALFUNCTIONING: The breakage, displacement, or permanent deformation of a structural component or connection of an ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM that results in the reduced structural integrity or supportive capabilities of the system; or condition which a component of the system is not performing as designed and/or installed. MALFUNCTIONING systems are categorized by the following:

• The system is performing in manner as to create or cause an imminent health hazard; or
• The system is performing in a manner that cannot be corrected via MAINTENANCE or other OPERATIONAL activities.

ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM (OWTS) OR DECENTRALIZED WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM: A managed wastewater treatment system used to collect, treat, and disperse or reclaim WASTEWATER from individual homes, clusters of homes, or isolated communities.

OPERATION: The process of keeping an ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM functioning properly, including the routine MAINTENANCE requirements specified by the ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY, manufacturer, and/or designer.

OWNER/PROPERTY OWNER: The PERSON in whose name legal title to the real estate is recorded.

PERSON: An individual, group of individuals, association, trust, partnership, corporation, person doing business under an assumed name, the state of Missouri or other department of the state of Missouri or any political subdivision of this state.

REGISTERED ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM PROFESSIONAL: An individual registered or licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to provide ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM services.

RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT ENTITY (RME): A legal entity responsible for providing various management services with the requisite managerial, financial, and technical capacity to ensure the long-term, cost-effective management of onsite or clustered wastewater treatment systems.

RESTRICTIVE LAYER: A condition in the soil profile that restricts movement of fluids; a restrictive layer may constitute a limiting soil/site condition; examples include fragipan or certain bedrock.

SATURATED: Condition wherein all available soil pore space is occupied by water.

SCUM: The layer of floating material on a liquid surface.

SEPTAGE: The solids and liquids removed, during periodic MAINTENANCE, from a septic tank or other pretreatment device, lagoon, aeration treatment unit tank, or similar ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM components.

SERVICE PROVIDER: Any PERSON engaged in the business of maintaining, servicing or cleaning ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS including the hauling or disposal of SEPTAGE removed from ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS.

SEWAGE OR DOMESTIC SEWAGE: The untreated domestic waste, including but not limited to, liquid waste produced by bathing, laundry, culinary operations, toilets, floor drains, and other plumbing fixtures in places of human habitation, employment, or recreation; also known as wastewater. Sewage or domestic sewage excludes footings and roof drainage, animal waste, commercial process water, and other similar wastes.

SLUDGE: Accumulated solids and associated entrained water within a pretreatment component, generated during the biological, physical, or chemical treatment, coagulation, or clarification of wastewater.

WASTEWATER: Water or liquid carried waste from plumbing fixtures, appliances, and devices such as toilets, bath, laundry, and dishwashers. See also SEWAGE OR DOMESTIC SEWAGE and SEPTAGE.