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Frequently Asked Questions
for OSSF’s (septic systems)
1. What are the
requirements for OSSF’s and water wells in Brazoria County?
Brazoria
County has adopted the states rules regarding OSSF and can be found
at this link:
http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=30&pt=1&ch=285&rl=Y
Residential
water wells do not require a permit.
2. Can I install my
own OSSF?
You can
install your own OSSF provided that it
is your single family
dwelling that you own and it is not to be
developed for
sale or lease. You must obtain a permit to install to county
and state rules.
3. How do I obtain a
permit to install an OSSF?
Call the
Brazoria County Environmental Health Department at 979.864.1600 to
receive an application
by mail and a guide on how to obtain the
permit or stop by 451 N. Velasco, Ste. 270 in Angleton,
Texas. Office
Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am through 5:00 pm.
4. How long does it
take to obtain a permit?
You should
allow up to 30 days for our office to review the application and
contact you regarding
the disposition.
5. What is the fee for
a permit?
$210 for a
single family dwelling and $410 for all other types of OSSF’s.
6. How much land do I
need to install an OSSF and water well?
Subdivisions
of single family dwellings platted or created after July 5, 1985
require at least one
full acre or one-half acre if it is served by a
public water supply. Subdivisions platted or created before this
date
must meet the minimum required separation distances set forth
in Table X, Chapter 285.91.
7. What if I have over
10 acres of land?
If you have
one single tract of land that is over 10 acres, there is only one
single family dwelling
on the tract of land and all parts of the
septic system are at least 100 feet from the property line, then no
planning materials, permit or inspection are required for the septic
system for that dwelling. However, the OSSF
must still be installed
according to state standards.
8. Do I need a
maintenance contract for my OSSF?
If your OSSF
uses aerobic treatment, then the answer is YES. Texas
Administrative Code Chapter
285 requires perpetual maintenance on
these systems.
9. What kind of
company should I get to do this maintenance?
State law
requires a certified maintenance company, which requires at lease
one person in the
company to be certified by the manufacturer’s
program for the unit being maintained and also someone
that holds an
Installer II certification or a Class D or higher wastewater
operator certificate. A list of companies
is available at our
office. A homeowner of a single family residence may obtain 6
hours training from the installer
or manufacturer to maintain that system, only.
10. What should I
expect to receive from the maintenance company?
A contract,
prepared in accordance with the law, outlining both your and the
company’s responsibilities
and signed by both you and an authorized
representative of the maintenance company. Also, written reports,
relating to the results of each site visit, that must be mailed to
you or left at your property and a copy of the
report mailed to our
department within 14 days of the site visit. Maintenance companies
are required to do a
site visit at least once every four months.
11. Can I use swimming
pool chlorine in my aerobic OSSF?
NO. You must
use chlorine tablets that are made for this purpose. These tablets
are marked
somewhere on their label as “wastewater”. If the label
does not say wastewater, it is not to be used for your
OSSF.
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