NJ Septic Contractors New Rules
For Septic System Installers or Septic System Contractors the New Year is approaching fast in New Jersey. For those that may or may not know-NJDEP has required all Septic System authorized installers to be certified by January 1st, 2013. This certification is titled Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (advanced level) or CIOWTS issued by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Listed below are the requirements by NJDEP.
November 28, 2012 Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control
Requirements for Authorized Installers Take Effect January 1, 2013
On March 7, 2011, the Department published proposed requirements for “authorized installers” that require all installers of products that are not traditional “stone and pipe” systems, including gravel alternative products (including chambers), advanced wastewater pre-treatment units (including aerobic treatment units) and drip dispersal systems to have an authorization from the manufacturer of those products, but also a credential from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). NEHA’s Certified Onsite Installer of Wastewater Treatment Systems (CIOWTS) at the advanced level would have been required by January 1, 2012 according to that proposal. While the Department did not receive any comments requesting an extension, the decision was made to extend that deadline to January 1, 2013 to help the installers deal with the new requirement. However, based upon the NEHA website, few installers have taken the opportunity to obtain this credential.
Any installation of these system components as of January 1, 2013 must be performed by or under the direct supervision of an authorized installer. Health Departments must verify that an authorized installer is present. This can be done during physical inspection of those system components and personally verifying credentials at the site or by obtaining copies of the credentials of the authorized installer. For those agencies that require a New Jersey Licensed Professional Engineer to certify system installations prior to the issuance of a certificate of compliance pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9A-3.13(a), those certifications must include verification of the authorized installer’s credentials and their oversight of the installation of the applicable components. Since it would be unfortunate to start an installation, to only halt that installation in process because the installer is not properly credentialed, the Department suggests health departments consider a safeguard. This could include, for example, a condition on design approvals to require a copy of the authorized installer’s credentials be provided prior to commencing with the installation of any part of the system.
For more information on the NEHA credential, please visit http://www.neha.org/onsite/index.html.
Currently there are only seven (7) companies or individuals that certified at the advanced level as a Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (CIOWTS) in New Jersey.
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