OWTS

OWTS permit required. Please visit https://cityview2.iharriscomputer.com/RouttCountyPortal/Account/Logonpplication to apply. There is a $700 application fee. Please call Environmental Health when application is completed. Please upload all engineer documents when applying. The property located on 31555 Green Ridge Road (Lot 4, Meadows and Stagecoach) has a permitted septic system designed in accordance with 2007 regulations for onsite wastewater treatment systems and sized for a 3-bedroom home. According to the current real estate listing and Routt County Assessor’s Office the home now has four bedrooms. The Seller’s Agent stated in a phone conversation that at some point a space/room in the dwelling was converted into a bedroom. It is assumed that conversion did not required any alteration or construction as no building permit was issued. This correspondence is being written to alert current and future owners of the potential risk of having an undersized system. The system was inspected by Nordic Pumping, LLC. in May of 2022 and states that it is functioning as designed. Septic systems are sized to accommodate maximum assumed flows based on the number of bedrooms. For a 3-bedroom dwelling the design flow is 450 gpd (3 x 150 gpd/bedroom). For a 4-bedroom dwelling the design flow is 525 gpd (regulations assume 2 persons/bedroom (75 gps/person) up to 3 bedrooms then one person for four or more bedrooms). The minimum septic tank size for a 3-bedroom is 1,000 gallons and 1,250 gallons for a 4-bedroom. In order to bring the system into compliance either a new minimum 1,250 gallon tank would need to be installed or an additional (smaller) tank would need to be added in series, along with an appropriate expansion of the drainage field. The system should continue to function as designed if it is properly maintained (inspected, pumped, clean effluent filter every 1-3 years recommended) and flows don’t consistently exceed 450 gpd. For this reason along with risks associated with making alterations (excavation) our recommendation is leave the system as-is. The system was installed in 2007. Septic systems typically last about 30 (+/-) years (depending on soil type, use, and maintenance). Any new system must be designed and sized according to current regulations. Additionally, any alterations to the system (or addition of bedrooms) from this point in time should include expansion to the appropriate design capacity (application and engineered design to this office required). For more details about maintaining healthy and functional septic system please refer the Routt County Environmental Health website for septic systems and/or refer to https://www.epa.gov/septic/septicsmart-homeowners.