HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-22 SSTS Administration Memorandum
Government Center • 14949 62nd Street North — P.O. Box 6, Stillwater, Minnesota 55082-0006
Phone: 651-430-6655 • Fax: 651-430-6730 • TTY: 651-430-6246
Service Centers also located in Cottage Grove and Forest Lake
www.co.washington.mn.us
Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action
Department of Public
Health and Environment
Lowell Johnson
Director
David Brummel
Deputy Director
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 22, 2016
To: Kristina Handt, City of Lake Elmo Administrator
From: Girard Goder, Environmental Program Supervisor
Re: Consideration of Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Regulation Variances
Following up on previous communications, this letter will serve to elucidate which unit of local
government shall consider and decide variance requests to subsurface sewage treatment system
(SSTS) regulations in the City of Lake Elmo. As previously discussed, by December 31, 2016 the
City of Lake Elmo must either 1) repeal its SSTS ordinance, in which case the county SSTS
ordinance would take effect, or 2) adopt an updated ordinance which meets current standards
established in Minnesota Rules Chapter 7082.
If the City chooses to adopt a current ordinance, the City could then Contract with the county to
administer the City ordinance. This would include reviewing all installation and operating permit
applications, issuing permits and conducting installation inspections as well as other associated
functions. In this scenario, all variance requests would be considered by the City.
If the City chooses to repeal Section 51.002 of the city code, the Washington County Subsurface
Sewage Treatment System ordinance would take effect within Lake Elmo. In this scenario, variance
requests would be considered by the county, with the exception of variances for the setbacks and
zoning requirements in the attached document, which would be considered by the city.
Cc: Lowell Johnson, Director of Washington County Public Health and Environment
Jeff Travis, Senior Program Manager
Setbacks Applicable to the Installation of a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System
Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Minimum Setback Distances (Feet)
Feature Sewage Tank
Soil Treatment
and Dispersal
Area
Water supply wells less than 50 feet deep and not
encountering at least 10 feet of impervious
material
50 100
Any other water supply well or buried suction
pipe 50 50
Buried pipe distributing water under pressure 10 10
Occupied buildings and buildings with
basements or crawl spaces 10 20
Non-occupied structures, deck post footings 5 10
Property lines 10 10
Above ground and in-ground swimming pools 10 10
The Ordinary High Water Level (OHWL) of:
Natural Environment Lakes 150 150
Recreational Development Lakes 75 75
General Development Lakes 75 75
Unclassified Body of Water 75 75
Transition Rivers/Streams 150 150
Tributary Rivers/Streams 150 150
Setbacks Applicable to the Sites Used for Land Spreading of Septage
To be approved as a site for land application of domestic septage, the following minimum
requirements must be met:
The site shall:
Not be in a shoreland area;
Setbacks to Physical Features
Setback Distances in Feet
Surface
Application
Incorporated
within 48
hours
Injected
Private drinking water well 200
Public drinking water well 1000
Irrigation well 50 25 25
Occupied building (residences) 200 200 100
Residential developments 600 600 300
Commercial subdivision 600 600 300
Recreation area 600 600 300
Public contact sites 600 600 300
Property line 50 50 50
Road right-of-way 50 50 50
Down gradient lakes,
rivers, streams,
wetlands, intermittent
streams, or tile inlets
connected to these
surface water
features**, and
sinkholes
Slope 0 % to 6 %
Slope 6 % to 12 %
Winter (0 % to 2
%)
200
Not
Allowed
600
50
100
Not
Applicable
50
100
Not
Applicable
Grassed Water Ways Slope 0 % to 6 %
Slope 6 % to 12 %
100
Not
Allowed
33
33
33
33
Shoreland Area Not
Allowed
Not
Allowed
Not
Allowed