Joint Groundwater Monitoring and ... - TCEQ e-Services

evisions effective on February 5, 1997, established a certification and continuing
education requirement for On-Site Sewage Facilities Installers, Apprentices,
Designated Representatives, and Site Evaluators. All certifications required by rule
were in place effective August 1, 1998. The regulations also required that new
OSSFs be designed and constructed using current technology and that older failing
systems be brought up to current standards. Rule revisions effective on June 13,
2001, provided the TCEQ and its local regulating entities more enforcement tools to
ensure that proper systems are installed, inspected, operated, and maintained. Rule
revisions effective on August 29, 2002, provided TCEQ with the authority to charge
a fee up to $500 per permit if the local permitting entity relinquishes its authority of
the program or if the entity’s program is revoked by the TCEQ for failure to
satisfactorily operate under state rules and regulations. Rule revisions effective on
September 11, 2003, were administrative in nature in an effort to clarify requirements
for issuing and renewing licenses and to achieve consistency with other legislation
(Professional Geoscientists Practice Act). Rule revisions effective on April 28, 2004,
addressed the disposal of water softener discharge and revisions effective on January
6, 2005 addressed the disposal of graywater. Rule revisions effective on August 3,
2006, addressed aerobic system maintenance, the registration of maintenance
companies and established requirements for homeowners who choose to maintain
their aerobic system without contracting with a maintenance company. This revision
also changed the definition of “subdivision” and provided direction for design of
mound and soil substitution disposal options. Rule revisions effective on September
11, 2008 addressed the training of individuals servicing wastewater treatment devices
and increased the treatment capacity of devices commonly used in OSSFs.
Construction of an OSSF treatment and disposal system must be isolated from certain
areas such as water wells, lakes, roads, and other objects subject to contamination
from the OSSF or that may prevent the proper operation of the system. To further
ensure protection of groundwater, no individual may install, construct, alter, extend,
or repair an OSSF unless the individual holds a valid certification issued by the
executive director of the TCEQ or has a valid exemption from licensing
requirements.
Status of Groundwater Monitoring Programs. The Field Operations Support
Division’s OSSF Program serves a complaint response function with regard to claims
concerning contamination from OSSFs. Response to OSSF complaints is
coordinated with either the appropriate TCEQ Regional Office or the local authorized
agent and does not generally involve the monitoring of groundwater to detect
contamination. When appropriate, during certain remediation or enforcement
activities involving potential groundwater contamination, the TCEQ may perform or
require groundwater monitoring to evaluate remediation progress or success.
Status of Groundwater Contamination. There are no identified cases of
groundwater contamination attributed to systems which fall under the OSSF program.
Permitting and Registration Support Division
The Permitting and Registration Support Division (PRSD) within the Office of
Permitting and Registration (OPR) contributes to the protection of the state’s
groundwater resources by functioning as a licensing entity. The PRSD licenses those
environmental professionals who design, construct, install, remove, operate, and
41