Waste Prohibitions Fact Sheet
This guidance document is advisory in nature but is binding on an agency until amended by such agency. A guidance document does not include internal procedural documents that only affect the internal operations of the agency and does not impose additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties or include confidential information or rules and regulations made in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. If you believe that this guidance document imposes additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties, you may request a review of the document.

Form #: 12-046 Guidance Documents Revised: 10/31/22


The type of waste that can be directed to an onsite wastewater treatment system is limited to domestic wastewater. Domestic waste or domestic wastewater is defined in Title 124 - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems as human body waste and household type wastes including bath and toilet wastes, household laundry wastes, household kitchen wastes and other similar wastes from a dwelling or a non-dwelling facility.

The following wastes are prohibited from entering an onsite wastewater treatment system unless approved in an operating permit issued for the system:
  • Cooling water, ground water infiltration, discharge from roof drains, discharge from foundation tile drains, swimming pool wastewater or other clear water discharges.
  • Any pollutants or combination of pollutants or disease causing agents, which after discharge and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, will on the basis of information available to the Department cause either death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutations, physiological malfunctions (including malfunction in reproduction), or physical deformations on such organism or its offspring.
  • Motor vehicle waste or maintenance shop wastes - Motor vehicle means mechanized equipment used in agriculture, construction, industrial activities, maintenance, recreation, or transportation.
  • Wastewater containing high strength disinfectants, biological inhibitors, or deodorants or similar chemicals (such as those used in camper waste tanks, laboratories, medical or veterinary facilities, or industrial facilities).

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