Sewage Disposal System Application

Water that has been brought into a building and used must be disposed of properly. Sewage disposed of improperly will contaminate the water supply. UCDOH works hard to never have this happen.

If a municipal system is not available, an onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) will need to be designed so the wastewater is properly treated, and our drinking water is protected. 

Instructions

In accordance with the State Education Law, plans for sewage disposal systems must be prepared by a design professional (professional engineer or registered architect) licensed to practice in New York State by the State Education Department (SED). The following steps are to be performed by the design professional.

Step 1.Submit a complete application

In consultation with the property owner, complete the sewage disposal system application, careful to follow all of the requirements detailed in the instructions.

Step 2.Schedule a site visit for Soil Profile

After the completed application has been submitted, contact the County to schedule a site visit to perform/have witnessed the soil-profile (Deep Hole or Test Pit) excavation.

Step 3.Water absorption test

Perform a water absorption test (Percolation Test) for the field(s).

Step 4.Prepare Drawings

Review the requirements for engineering design drawings and double-check you include all the necessary information. 

Step 5.Submit Drawings for Review

Submit a minimum of two copies to the Ulster County Department of Health for approval.

Step 6.Finalize Plans

The County will review the design for regulatory compliance, and send back any questions or comments. When all issues are resolved, the submitted drawings (hard copies) will be approved.

Step 7.Issuance of a permit

With approved drawings, a permit will be issued for the construction of the OWTS.

Step 8.Obtain an on-site inspection

During the construction, County field representatives will verify the design of the system including the length of the installed laterals.

Step 9.Certify completion

After construction, a professional Engineer will certify that the installation is in complete compliance with the design drawing. If a well is drilled on site, the well log will also need to be submitted.

Step 10.Finalization

After all construction documentation has been accepted, the back of the initial application will be completed. This finalized document may be required by institutions lending money (mortgage) for the development of the land and\or the municipality’s building department so that a certificate of occupancy (C of O) can be issued.

Forms and Documents

Designs will be developed, submitted, reviewed and approved. Depending on the workload of the architect/engineer and the County, this process can take up to 6 months on smaller residential properties. It will take even longer for designs of subdivisions and commercial installations. Most townships in the County will require approved OWTS plans before issuing a building permit.

 

Engineering design drawings shall include at a minimum the following information:

  1. An inset site location map
  2. PE/AIA stamp with signature
  3. Deep-hole and percolation test locations and results within the primary and reserve areas (include separate completed NYSDOH Form DOH-1327, “Percolation Test Data”)
  4. Field contours shall be shown, using two (2) feet maximum interval in the location of the house or facility sewage system and water well. Contours elsewhere shall be a maximum of five (5) feet
  5. Sizing calculations for the proposed system
  6. Overall footprint on the plat and typical elevation cross section detail for the proposed system. Show system components, quantities and sizes.
  7. Details for all tanks, boxes and manholes.
  8. Dosing system calculations with pump/flout/siphon details, including chamber dimensions, on/off/alarm/reserve volume settings, flout draw and siphon settings.
  9. 100% reserve system: note proposed technology, number & length of laterals, area for absorption beds, seepage pits and sand filters (or note “same as primary” if applicable). Show overall footprint on plat.
  10. Water well: show required setback radius to absorption field, neighboring septic systems and waterways.
  11. Include a typical well system detail with the statement “Well shall be constructed per NYSDOH Appendix 5-B, “Standards for Water Wells, latest edition”)
  12. Applicable general construction notes.
  13. A minimum of two copies shall be submitted for UCDOH approval.

Contact Us

Phone

(845) 340-3010

Location

Ulster County Department of Health - Environmental Health Services Division
239 Golden Hill Lane
Kingston, NY
12401
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