General Compliance Questions:
May I make alterations to my wastewater system?
You may not alter your current wastewater system without a new WW Permit (Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Permit). You can repair the system that you currently have as long as you are not changing the location of any of the pipes or components, you are not installing any new components, and you are not changing the type of I/A system installed.
I got a compliance letter, what do I do?
Follow the instructions laid out in the letter. If you have any questions about the instructions, then please reach out to Megan Kane at megan.kane@vermont.gov or 802-461-5255.
I received a compliance letter. Are there any other compliance requirements not specified in my letter?
There may be additional compliance requirements not specified in your compliance letter. The landowner is responsible for ensuring they are in compliance with all requirements in their permit. If you are unsure of your permit requirements review your WW Permit or you may have a lawyer review the permit for you. If you have specific questions about a compliance requirement, please reach out to Megan Kane at megan.kane@vermont.gov or 802-461-5255.
What can happen if I do not respond to a compliance letter?
If you do not respond to your compliance letter you will be issued a Notice of Alleged Violation (NOAV) which will require you to fill out a form and you will be put on a compliance schedule. If you do not fill out the form required in the Notice of Alleged Violation or if you do not adhere to the compliance schedule, then you may be sent to enforcement and/or environmental court. With an unresolved compliance issue on your property, you may find it difficult to sell or refinance your property until the issue is resolved.
Am I allowed to switch licensed designers after receiving a permit?
Yes, you always have the option to switch to a different licensed designer if you would like to.
Where can I find my permit number?
You can find your permit number at the top of your permit. If you receive a letter from us, then you can also find your permit number on the letter that was sent. Our permits will most often start with WW- or EC- though there are some exceptions.
I have a failed system, where can I get funding to help me replace my system?
If you do not have the finances to pay for the new system and you were rejected for a loan through a bank, then there are still options for you.
Alternative Sources of Funding, Financing, and Information for Homeowners:
- Agency of Natural Resources On-Site Loan Fund - For homeowners that make less than 200 percent of state median income that has been denied financing for the repair or replacement of the failed system by at least one financing entity. Contact: Chris Rottler, 802-461-6051
- ARPA: if eligible can assist with costs of repairing or replacing wastewater and potable water supplies. For more information please visit: https://anr.vermont.gov/special-topics/arpa-vermont/manufactured-housing-community-solutions
- United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development - Open to low-income single-family homeowners of all Vermont towns except Burlington, South Burlington, Essex Junction, and Winooski. Grants and loans available; must be 62 or older to receive grants. Contact: Janice LeBlanc, Single-Family Housing Specialist, Janice.LeBlanc@usda.gov, 802-424-3151
- Downstreet Housing and Community Development - Loans for homeowners of Washington, Orange, or Lamoille counties that make less than 80% of the area median income for their county. Contact: 802-477-1343
- Champlain Housing Trust - Grants and loans for homeowners of Chittenden, Franklin, or Grand Isle counties that make less than 80% of the area median income for their county. Contact: 802-861-7388
- NeighborWorks of Western Vermont - Grants and loans for low-income homeowners of Addison, Rutland, or Bennington counties. Contact: 802-438-2303
- RuralEdge - Loans or grants for residents of Caledonia, Orleans, or Essex counties that make less than 80% of the area median income for their county. Contact: 802-535-3555, ask for the Homeownership Center
- Windham and Windsor Housing Trust - Grants and loans for low-income residents of Windham and Windsor counties. Contact: 802-246-2116
- Rural Community Assistance Project (RCAP) Solutions - Loans available for low and moderate income households to replace individual household water supply or septic systems. Contact: loanfund@sercap.org, 540-345-1184
How do I know if I am in compliance with my WW Permit?
You should review your WW permit or have a lawyer do it for you for any requirements. If your permit has specified additional requirements that need to be followed in another document, such as an IA approval letter, you will need to review that document as well. If you are unsure if a required document or report has been submitted to the state, please reach out to the individual who submits the report or document to the State. You can also reach out to the WW Compliance Team to see if we have received the document. Please know that the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division can’t give you a statement saying you are in compliance with your permit because not all compliance requirements require a submission be sent to us, and there may be issues we are not aware of that can impact your compliance with your permit. We can, however, let you know if you have any known outstanding compliance requirements that require a submission to be sent to us.
Where can I access documents submitted to the DEC under my WW permit?
You can access documents that were submitted under your permit number through the WW Permit Search Page https://anrweb.vt.gov/DEC/WWDocs/Default.aspx. Please note that if a document was recently submitted it may take a few days for us to process the submission and move it into the permit's file.
Water Quality:
Is my water safe to drink?
The landowner is responsible for checking that the water is safe to consume by doing water quality testing through a certified lab. If you have any general questions regarding your water quality, you may reach out to the Department of Health. If you have a specific question regarding water quality that is part of a compliance requirement in your WW Permit then you should reach out to Megan Kane at megan.kane@vermont.gov or call 802-461-5255. If you have a water quality issue to resolve, then please reach out to your licensed designer and/or a water treatment specialist.
How do I submit my water quality to the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division?
If your WW Permit requires you to submit your water quality to the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division then you may submit your water quality results using the online submission form Water Quality Report Submission.
If your WW Permit requires you to submit your water quality results to the Vermont Department of Health then the lab that did your water quality testing will submit them to the Vermont Department of Health as long as they are a laboratory certified by the Vermont Department of Health.
Innovative & Alternative Technology (IA) Letters:
If I am part of an HOA am I responsible for getting the IA system inspected?
Landowners are responsible for getting their system inspected, however getting the inspection done may be managed by the HOA, therefore if you are part of a HOA, please reach out to your HOA regarding this before reaching out to the WW Compliance Team.
Why do I need to do IA inspections?
IA systems require a lot more maintenance than a traditional system in order to keep working. You were permitted to have an IA system because the plan that the designer or engineer submitted to us included the IA system. IA systems are often needed in particular situations to reduce the strength of the wastewater effluent. This is typically in locations that are close to surface water though there are other situations that require them as well, such as restaurants and other businesses where the wastewater would be high strength.
Who can inspect my IA system?
IA systems need to be inspected by a service provider that is approved by the company that creates the IA technology. The list of approved service providers can be found on the List of Approved I/A Technology on this link https://dec.vermont.gov/water/wastewater-systems-and-potable-water-supply-program/innovative-and-alternative/innovative-and. Please make sure that you find the list of service providers that is specific to the technology you have installed.
Do I need to keep using the same service provider?
As long as you find a new service provider that is listed as approved for the technology you have installed then you don’t need to use the same service provider.
Failed System Letters:
I received a letter saying that I have a failed system after the build by date. What do I do?
If your new system has been installed, then it needs to be certified by a licensed designer. Please reach out to your licensed designer and make sure they have everything they need in order to submit the installation certification. If you want to get the installation certification done through another designer you may do so. Please make sure to reach out to Megan Kane at megan.kane@vermont.gov if you will not be able to have the installation certification submitted before the date specified in the letter.
If you have not had your new system installed, then you will need to have it installed as soon as possible. Please reach out to Megan Kane at megan.kane@vermont.gov or 802-461-5255 to let us know where you are in the process of getting the new system installed.