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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DATE: 10/20/99 Department Approval: Administrator Reviewed: Agenda Section: Name Chris Pence City Administrator's Report Title On-Site Systems Manager Item Description: State On-Site Code Changes: "Performance Systems" On October 4, 1999 the state adopted revisions to Chapter 7080, the Minnesota On-Site Sewage Treatment Code. These changes are forcing all local governmental units (LGU)to revise their local septic codes. Many of the new changes will place in the hands of the LGU much of the regulation which was formerly under the control of the state. Our current regulatory method, used for decades in Minnesota and throughout the U.S., is a "prescriptive" method in which the design of the system is strictly regulated. By contrast, the "performance" method regulates the output, or environmental impact of the system, in essence accepting use of any design of a system as long as it continues to meet the established environmental standards. The revised Chapter 7080 became effective October 4, 1999. The City of Orono will need to adopt the new Chapter 7080 as part of the municipal code by the next building season. The MPCA has a provision included in the new Chapter 7080 whereby the LGU has the option of adopting "performance standards" as a regulatory method. If the City feels it wants performance standards, in addition to adopting the revised Chapter 7080, we would also need to adopt the standards for performance systems by reference. Performance Systems Chapter 7080 now allows the use of"performance systems" as a method of treating sewage. A performance system, as defined by Minnesota Chapter 7080, is " an individual sewage treatment system described in part 7080.0179 designed to adequately protect the public health and the environment and to provide long term performance." Basically this means that any type of system can be installed if allowed in the local code. A performance system basically entails the use of pretreatment (aerobic treatment unit, sand filter or peat filter) followed by a soil dispersal system. Examples of a soil dispersal system would be drip irrigation or an in ground trench system utilizing either a reduction in drainfield size or a reduction in separation to the seasonally high watertable. It is not recommended to use a combination of drainfield reduction and a reduction to the seasonal watertable when designing an on-site septic system.