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Notice
New Virginia state requirements for alternative onsite sewage disposal systems went into effect July 1, 2009. Information is online from the Virginia Department of Health.
New Loudoun County Ordinance
The Loudoun County Health Department sent out letters during the first week of May 2009 to the 1,200-plus owners of non-conventional septic systems advising them that they are required to have their system inspected before July 1, 2009.
The new Loudoun County Ordinance Chapter 1067 - Ordinance to Regulate the Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of Non-conventional Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems  established requirements for operation, maintenance, and inspection of these non-conventional septic systems. (Note: To view the document, you will need the free Adobe Reader,which may be downloaded here.)
Examples of non-conventional systems by some of their colloquial names are peat filters, sand filters, ATU’s, drip, low pressure, and spray. Manufactures names include Advantex, Aquarobic, Puraflo, Eco-Flo, Whitewater, FAST, BEST, American Drip, and Geoflo, etc. If you have one of these systems it is most likely that you have a non-conventional system and if you did not receive a letter from the Health Department, you should call the department at 703-777-0234.
Questions and answers about the inspections are online:
Inspectors
Owners of non-conventional systems are required to make arrangements to have their system inspected by a private inspector. Recognized inspectors are being identified by the Health Department, based on their certification, license or other factors allowed by the ordinance. The list of recognized inspectors will be updated regularly to keep the information current. Individuals who are qualified due to their certification or license are Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator’ (A.O.S.E.), Professional Engineers (PE), and NSF Certified Inspectors. Others may be qualified if designated by a manufacturer and concurred on by Health Department.
Importance of Maintenance
Failure to maintain an onsite system can cause partially treated or raw sewage to surface on the ground creating an unsanitary condition. This effect may be local or may extend for miles in certain cases. Non-conventional onsite systems typically cost two to four times that of a conventional onsite system. If these systems are not maintained, repairs can be costly. It is recommended that all non-conventional systems owners have some form of agreement with a maintenance provider to look at the system twice per year.
Certain inspectors may also provide maintenance and can combine visits for maintenance and inspection. However, please recognize that maintenance is not inspection and inspection is not maintenance. Maintenance recorded by service providers as well as inspections recorded by inspectors can be viewed on-line at www.septicsearch.com. Select "Virginia" and "Loudoun" and then on the left side click on "property search."
Civil penalties or tickets may now be issued to owners who do not stay in compliance with the new requirements. Penalties start at $100 per day and can go to $3,000. This provision was established for local governments by the General Assembly in 2006 but only became effective here in November 2008 under the new Loudoun County Ordinance 1067.
For More Information
Contact the Loudoun County Health Department for more information at 703-777-0234.
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