In 2007 the Texas County Health Department issued 23 “Permits To Construct” on-site sewage disposals systems, unchanged from 2006. Eleven permits were for new systems, nine for replacement of a failed existing system & three for repair of an existing system. Twenty or 87% of these permits went to private residential housing or homeowners. Three systems were commercial type facilities such as a lodging facility, animal shelter & campground. To determine the type and/or amount of system required a soil morphology report (an analysis of soil to a depth of 5 ft) must be obtained. This is evaluated along with available space for system, amount of projected effluent, property lines/set-backs, utilities, etc. Once an application is completed, soils report submitted, permit fee of $90 paid and site evaluation conducted the actual permit can be issued to a homeowner/contractor and work can begin.

The majority (83%) of these on-site sewage effluent disposal systems consisted of a septic tank followed by a distribution box and some form of lateral field. The lateral field of choice currently is not gravel & pipe (11%), but chambers (89%). These come in 15, 22 or 34 inch wide slotted domes that are completely open on the bottom. These are known to perform better than the old standard gravel/pipe trenches and are easier to install. Three sites that failed the required soils morphology report were required to install an advanced sewage treatment system. In these cases the selected systems were “low pressure pipe”, which applies small amounts of effluent very shallow and over a large area. There was also one lagoon installed preceded by a proper sized septic tank and one pressure dosed system into chambers.

It has been over ten years since Missouri enacted its first set of statutes & regulations concerning onsite sewage. RSMO 701.025-.059 defines the requirements for systems, installers training, complaint investigations, etc. The only exception to getting a permit in Texas/Shannon County is the one private house on more than 3 acres. People with more than 3 acres but multiple houses on the property would also need a permit. If you are buying a new or existing home that would have needed a permit for the on-site sewage disposal system, contact the local health dept. to determine if a properly sized system is on record.

In 2007 the health department responded to 13 complaints concerning on-site sewage disposal systems. Five of these complaints were found to be made by appropriate parties and the system in violation of the 701 statutes. All received a “Notice of Violation” and a compliance schedule was set. Four parties corrected the problem sewage system. One failed to respond and has been referred to the prosecuting attorney. Ronnie Gaston, Environmental Public Health Specialist II at the health department states, “As water usage increases & populations rise, we will have to do a better job of protecting the Ozark’s fragile groundwater resources”.

If you have questions about construction permit requirements, registered installers list, training, soils morphology list, would like to make a comment or complaint contact Gaston at 417-967-4131.