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The Onsite Program includes certification of Onsite System Professionals, review of designs and plans for onsite septic systems (including large underground systems), operating permits and information about financial assistance available through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program for repair or replacement of septic systems when applicants meet the requirements.
Onsite (Septic) Wastewater Systems
- Rule—Utah Administrative Code R317-4. Revised Rule Effective January 1, 2016.
- Approved Septic Tanks and their Manufacturers (354 KB)
- Financial Assistance Application
- Manufactured Septic Tank Review (34 KB)
- New Onsite Technology Review Guidelines (205 KB)
- Operating Permits for Large Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems
- Maintenance Specialists List (76 KB)
Individuals who have Onsite Professional Certification Level 2 and/or Level 3 who have requested that their name be put on this list to be called on to perform the annual inspections for these operating permits.
- Maintenance Specialists List (76 KB)
- UIC Inventory Information Forms
- Variance Request Procedure
Onsite Professional Certification
Certification of Professionals—Original and Renewal
Onsite Professionals may become certified in the following categories:
- Level 1
Soil evaluations and percolation testing. - Level 2
Design, inspection, and maintenance of conventional underground wastewater disposal systems, including soil evaluations and percolation testing. - Level 3
Design, inspection, and maintenance of alternative or conventional underground wastewater disposal systems, including soil evaluations and percolation testing.
Levels 1, 2, and 3 are each valid for up to 3 years. A single application may be submitted to the Division of Water Quality for all Levels, or they may be done separately. A single certificate will now be issued to all qualified applicants. The certificate will bear the highest level of certification that the applicant has achieved. There will be gradual transition to a single, concurrent expiration date for all levels of certification held by an individual.
Each certificate issued will require a separate fee. In order to be certified at Level 2 or Level 3, current certification at the lower level(s) is required. In order to accomplish the transition to a single expiration date for multiple levels, the following procedures are in effect.
- Each application is individually reviewed and evaluated.
- When the previously issued lower level certificate expires after the new expiration date of the higher certificate, the new certificate is issued and the lower level certificate also remains valid with its current expiration date.
- If the lower level certificate expires two years prior to the new higher level certificate’s calculated expiration date, a compromise date is generally used which extends the lower level certificate by one year and reduces the higher level certificate by one year so that all levels now expire one year prior to the anticipated higher level certificate’s expiration date. At time of future renewal, requirements for all levels will need to be met in order to renew at the higher level.
- If the lower level certificate expires one year prior to the new higher level certificate’s calculated expiration date, generally the lower level certificate expiration date is extended to match the new higher level certificate’s date. However, if one of the lower level certificates has already been extended, it may be treated as a compromise and reduce the higher grade certificate by one year. At time of future renewal, requirements for all levels will need to be met in order to renew at the higher level.
- Once any higher levels have been achieved, a single certificate is issued at the highest level to which the person has qualified. One exception would be if the individual chose not to renew the higher level, but only meet the requirements to renew a lower level certification.
The application form and certification fee must be submitted to the Division of Water Quality. A $25 certificate fee is required each time a new certificate is issued. However, if application for multiple levels is on one form, only one certificate will be issued, and only one $25 fee is required. (Local health officers should contact DWQ for more information on the fee payments.)
Certification application and fees are separate from the registration and fees for training through the Utah Onsite Training Program.
Please note: The course completion certificate issued by the Utah Onsite Training Center is NOT a certification as an Onsite Professional by the Utah Division of Water Quality, but may be helpful for tracking continuing education for other professional licenses.
- Application Forms
Must include Citizenship/Alien ID Certification form (839 KB). - Certified Onsite System Professionals List (213 KB)
- Required renewal classes must be attended prior to expiration. There is now a “reinstatement” option (see Note below) which allows for reinstatement of a certificate within 6 months after expiration by attending the required renewal class(es) and submitting the renewal application with appropriate fees.
- Training Information for Professionals
Certification classes, renewal classes, or the renewal “Test-out Options” for non-governmental employees, are scheduled on the training calendar.- Current Training Calendar and Registration available through the Training Center
- Rule
Utah Administrative Code R317-11 - SB81
Beginning July 1, 2009, the Division was required to verify the lawful presence in the United States of an individual at least 18 years of age (includes sole proprietor doing business under assumed name) who has applied for Onsite Professional certification, Wastewater Operator certification, or who has applied for Federal SRF funding. A Citizenship/Alien ID Certification Form (839 KB) is available that must be completed, notarized, and submitted to the Division along with a copy of photo identification such as a driver license, passport, or similar.
Reinstatement Option
Expired certifications may be reinstated within 6 months after the expiration date by:
- completing the refresher course(s) as provided by the Training Center; and,
- submitting a renewal application and reinstatement fee to the Division of Water Quality.
After the reinstatement period, initial certification requirements must be met in order to be certified.
Note:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals whose certifications expired at the end of 2019 will be allowed an additional six months, until December 31, 2020, to attend the required “recertification” courses, or optional testing (if applicable), in order to reinstate those certifications.
The process includes:
- Submit a renewal application (968 KB) to the Division of Water Quality prior to June 30, 2020, indicating the dates that the recertification classes will be attended (they are posted on the USU Training Center website). (Make certain that you register for the training)
- Pay a non-refundable $25 Onsite Professional certification fee that will be used for the intended certificate after completion of the classes.
- Once the application and fee are received, the list of Onsite Professionals on the Division of Water Quality website will be updated to temporarily show the certifications as expiring “2020”.
- After confirmation of attendance is received by the individual and confirmed by the Division, the individual should notify the Division of Water Quality in writing (wwopcert@utah.gov or postal service) so that the certification can be processed.
- The Division of Water Quality issues new certificates that expire December 31, 2022, as if they had been “on time”.
- If the individual does not attend the recertification training, the official record reverts to the 2019 expiration date and the fee is forfeited.”
Onsite Related Rules
- Certification Required
Utah Administrative Code R317-11 - Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Vault Privies and Earthen Pit Privies
Utah Administrative Code R317-560 - Graywater Systems
Utah Administrative Code R317-401 - Large Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems
Utah Administrative Code R317-5 - Onsite Wastewater Systems
Utah Administrative Code R317-4 - Operating Permits for Large Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems
Utah Administrative Code R317-5-1.4 - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program
Utah Administrative Code R317-7 - Waste Disposal By Liquid Scavenger Operations
Utah Administrative Code R317-550, Changes in Effect July 30, 2014
Variance Request Procedure
Program Contacts
Onsite Professional Certification
Judy Etherington (jetherington@utah.gov) (801) 536-4344
All Other Information—Design, Financial, Technical
Robert Beers (rbeers@utah.gov) (801) 536-4380