What's Required Now for Southern Deschutes County?

Groundwater Protection Action:

On June 11, 2008, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 2008-019 to require groundwater protection actions for:

all new construction,
major repairs (repairs to drainfields, this does not include tank replacements), and
major alterations (changes that would cause increases in flows or proposing to connect to a system that doesn't meet minimum sizing requirements for the use).

This ordinance directs Deschutes County staff to follow state rule, which requires:

OAR 340-071-0130, General Standards, Prohibitions and Requirements:

(1) Protection of public waters from public health hazards. An agent may not authorize installation or use of a system that is likely to pollute public waters or create a public health hazard. If, in the judgment of the agent, the minimum standards in this division will not adequately protect public waters or public health on a particular site, the agent must require a system to meet requirements that are protective. This may include but is not limited to increasing setbacks, increasing drainfield sizing, or using an alternative system. The agent must provide the applicant with a written statement of the specific reasons why more stringent requirements are necessary.

NOTE: This ordinance does not change siting criteria for onsite systems (these criteria are contained in state rule). Siting criteria include setbacks from property lines or wells and separation from ground surface to the highest level reached by groundwater.

Basic Information: