Ethan Clarke
In Marathon County, Wisconsin, all septic systems and holding tanks, regardless of age, must be maintained according to State and County ordinances. This includes plastic septic tanks. The POWTS (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System) is the common term for a septic system and refers to all types of private sewage systems, including conventional, at-grade, mound, holding tank, and other types of systems. The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) has specific requirements for the disposal of industrial wastewater, which may include the use of a holding tank.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic septic tanks legality in Wisconsin | Not explicitly mentioned |
| Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS) | Required for all types of private sewage systems, including septic tanks |
| Maintenance Requirements | All septic systems and holding tanks must be maintained according to State and County ordinances; reports must be submitted electronically within 30 days of completion |
| Inspection Requirements | Qualified individual must inspect septic systems at least once every three years; if accumulated solids occupy more than one-third of the tank volume, pumping is required |
| Holding Tank Considerations | Allowed only when no other wastewater treatment system can be installed; must be pumped whenever they are full and reported to the County every 30 days |
| Wastewater Disposal | Municipal sanitary sewer connection or approved wastewater holding tank disposal at a wastewater treatment facility |
| Industrial Wastewater | May require collection in a holding tank and disposal at a municipal wastewater treatment facility; design requirements for subsurface soil absorption systems are specified |
| Domestic Wastewater | Defined as wastewater discharged from plumbing facilities in private dwellings or commercial establishments, including sanitary, bath, laundry, dishwashing, and cleaning wastewaters |
| Additives | Not recommended for cleaning or "sweetening" the system; must be reviewed by the Department of Safety & Professional Services prior to sale to ensure they do not harm users, bacterial action, soil absorption, or groundwater quality |
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What You'll Learn
Marathon County requires reports for septic tank maintenance
Marathon County, Wisconsin, has strict requirements for septic tank maintenance reports. The Marathon County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning (CPZ) Department administers a program that requires maintenance of over 14,000 Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS). This includes septic systems and holding tanks, regardless of their age or installation date.
Property owners in Marathon County must adhere to specific guidelines to ensure their septic systems are properly maintained and compliant with regulations. Firstly, they are required to engage the services of a POWTS professional, such as a plumber or pumper, to perform regular inspections and maintenance. During these inspections, the professional will assess the condition of the septic tank and determine if pumping is necessary.
If pumping is not required, the POWTS professional can indicate this on the report submitted to the County. However, if pumping is recommended or performed, the professional must submit a report to the CPZ office within 30 days of completion. This report must be submitted electronically and should include details about the maintenance performed and the condition of the septic tank.
It is important to note that maintenance requirements are not considered satisfied until the CPZ Department receives the completed report from the POWTS professional. If maintenance is not reported on time, the CPZ Department will send a reminder notice to the property owner, informing them that the legally required maintenance is overdue and that code violations may occur. Therefore, property owners in Marathon County, Wisconsin, must ensure timely and accurate reporting of septic tank maintenance to remain compliant with local regulations.
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Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS)
POWTS are classified as "large" if they serve more than 85 bedrooms in a residential development or exceed 12,000 gallons per day (gpd) in a nonresidential development. A combination of residential and non-residential systems will be classified based on a design flow calculation, taking into account the number of residential bedrooms and estimated non-residential wastewater flow.
When designing and installing a POWTS, specific factors must be considered. These include separation distances from buildings, water supply wells, property boundaries, and pipes. The location of existing onsite wastewater systems and paved surfaces and future wastewater flow rates should also be identified. Design calculations and plan drawings must demonstrate compliance with relevant chapters of the Wisconsin Adm. Code, including treatment, collection, monitoring, and control equipment. Piping should be labeled to indicate content and flow direction.
For more complex POWTS designs, a schematic flow diagram, including treatment units, monitoring, and control devices, is required. Additionally, information on septage generation, disposal methods, management plans, and a general description of the proposed site's environmental features must be provided. The disposal of industrial process wastewater requires appropriate treatment to remove any toxic materials before introducing it into the soil and groundwater. Vehicle maintenance wastewater, including fluids from repair activities, is prohibited from being discharged into onsite subsurface wastewater disposal systems.
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Requirements for industrial wastewater disposal
In Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for regulating industrial and mixed wastewater disposal. The process is governed by the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit program, authorized by Chapter 283 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and Section 281.41.
The WPDES program requires that all facilities discharging industrial or mixed wastewater to surface waters or groundwater must obtain a discharge (operating) permit. This includes wastewater that is discharged onto the ground surface or into the subsurface. The DNR also reviews and approves construction plans for all wastewater treatment systems that treat and discharge industrial wastewater.
Some types of industrial or mixed wastewater may not be suitable for disposal through a typical subsurface system or land application. In these cases, the wastewater may be collected in a holding tank and transported to a municipal wastewater treatment facility for disposal.
For wastewater that is considered equivalent to domestic quality, compliance can be demonstrated by conforming to the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) site and design requirements for Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS). This includes providing plan drawings that indicate existing and proposed collection, treatment, and monitoring equipment, as well as piping that is labelled to indicate content and flow direction. A schematic flow diagram, including treatment units and monitoring devices, is also required for more complex designs.
Additionally, the DNR will assess the nature and source of the industrial wastewater, its potential impact on the treatment system and groundwater quality, and recommend any necessary preliminary treatment steps. If the industrial wastewater within the mixed wastewater is similar in characteristics to domestic wastewater, or the proposal presents minimal groundwater quality concerns, the DNR will issue a concurrence letter stating that discharge of the industrial wastewater to the treatment system is acceptable.
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Domestic wastewater defined
Domestic wastewater is water that has been used in homes and is discharged from residences. It is one of the three types of wastewater, the other two being industrial and stormwater. Domestic wastewater can also be referred to as sewage, municipal wastewater, or domestic sewage.
Sewage consists of wastewater from residences, as well as commercial, institutional, and public facilities in the locality. It is a mixture of water from the community's water supply, human excreta (urine and faeces), used water from bathrooms, food preparation waste, laundry wastewater, and other waste products of normal living. Sewage can be treated or untreated, with treated sewage known as "effluent".
Domestic wastewater can be further divided into two subtypes: greywater and blackwater. Greywater comes from sinks, baths, washing machines, and other household appliances, excluding toilets. Blackwater, on the other hand, refers to wastewater from toilets, which may contain human waste, urine, water, and toilet paper. Blackwater is distinguished from greywater by its potential for pathogen spread through the faecal-oral route.
The proper treatment of domestic wastewater is critical, as it is estimated that 48% of wastewater is returned to natural water sources like lakes, streams, and rivers without being treated. This untreated wastewater can contain harmful substances such as heavy metals, chemicals, and bacteria, posing a risk to the environment and human health. To address this issue, wastewater treatment plants are employed to treat and recycle wastewater, helping to lower the draw on the nation's water supplies.
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Additives for septic tanks must be reviewed
While septic tank additives are sold across the United States, they are largely unnecessary and can even be harmful to septic systems. They also lack standardised testing and formal certifications to back up their marketing claims.
Biological additives, for example, do not appear to improve the performance of healthy septic tanks. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in 2002 that they could not justify the cost of septic system additives for residential use. Many septic additives claim to break down organic waste, but your wastewater contains more than just organic waste. It contains minerals, synthetic fibres, plastics, and other solids that will not be broken down by additives.
Additives with enzymes (also known as bio enzymes) are meant to stimulate bacterial populations in septic tanks by changing the structure of organic matter so that bacteria can feed on it more easily. However, adding more bacteria to the tank can create conditions in which bacterial populations compete against each other, which can do more harm than good.
A well-designed and properly maintained septic system doesn’t need additives to function efficiently. The best approach to septic system care is to follow recommended maintenance practices, including regular inspections and pumping.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic septic tanks are legal in Wisconsin. However, they must be inspected by a qualified individual at least once every three years.
All septic systems and holding tanks in Wisconsin, regardless of their age, must be maintained according to State and County ordinances. Maintenance reports must be submitted electronically to the County by a licensed professional within 30 days of completion.
If maintenance is not reported on time, the County will send a reminder notice to the property owner informing them that the legally required maintenance is due and that the code requirements have not been met.
Domestic wastewater refers to the type of wastewater discharged from plumbing facilities in private dwellings or commercial domestic establishments. This includes sanitary, bath, laundry, dishwashing, garbage disposal, and cleaning wastewaters.
