Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) commonly known as septic systems that primarily treat domestic wastewater and employ subsurface disposal. On June 19, 2012, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted Resolution No. 2012-0032, adopting the Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy).  This Policy uses a risk-based, tiered approach for the regulation and management of OWTS installations and replacements and sets the level of performance and protection expected from OWTS. Most notably the Policy establishes a framework that promotes Local Agency Management Plans (LAMPs) developed for local governments to implement (Active LAMPS can be found via the links in the table at the bottom of this page). The revision of Chapter 4 of the Basin Plan to incorporate the statewide OWTS Policy, with modification, has been approved by Office of Administrative Law and is now in effect. 

OWTS Policy

• Summary of the Board Adopted Policy
• Resolution No. 2012-0032 Adopting the OWTS Policy
• Board Adopted OWTS Policy
• Board Adopted Substitute Environmental Document