In Missouri, businesses must comply with strict licensing regulation if they want to install a septic system.
According to Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services, 70 percent of citizens in the United States are served by municipal sewage treatment facilities. Thirty percent of the population, including businesses such as resorts, hotel and private schools that are located outside of areas served by centralized sewage plants, uses onsite septic systems. In order to obtain a license to design and install a septic system for business purposes in Missouri, the business owner must fulfill requirements set forth by Missouri's Department of Natural Resources.
General Requirements
In order to obtain a license to operate a septic system, the property owner must have a construction permit for the purpose of installing the system. The system must comply with all federal, state and local regulations. The site, system and installation will be examined before, during and after construction and must pass inspection. A system operator must be named. The operator can be the owner, but may also be a separated entity contracted for this purpose by the owner.
Construction Permit and Application
A construction permit is the first step required to obtain a license, and is issued by the local county engineer's office. In order to receive the permit, applicants must submit an "Application for Construction Permit" form, which includes detailed septic system plans created by a professional engineer. Along with the application, the applicant must submit a separate site investigation report prepared by Missouri's's Division of Geology and Land Survey office. The applicant must also provide proof of financial responsibility and provide "closure and post-closure" plans describing what will happen to the septic system and its location if the business shuts down.The application must also show that the proposed system complies with all local zoning statutes. There is a $2,000 non-refundable application fee due upon submission of the application, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has 12 months to review and approve or deny the application.
Operating Permit and Application
In order to obtain a license for a business septic system, an owner must also apply for and receive an operating permit. The permit must be obtained before the installed system is first used to receive waste. The owner has five years from the date of installation completion to obtain an operating permit.
In order to obtain an operating permit, the owner must hold a public session where questions about the septic system and its operation are solicited from attendees. The applicant for an operating permit must show evidence that the system's operation will be in compliance with all federal, state and local septic system operation ordinances.
Site Easment
In order to obtain a business septic system license, the owner must also provide a property easement that allows agents, inspectors or contractors from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources free access to the system for the purpose of monitoring or inspecting its operation and condition over time. The owner must submit to the department a copy of the covenant describing the easement that was recorded with the county recorder's office. The owner/operator must also have a professional surveyor place boundary markers defining the site of the system, and must provide evidence to the department that such markers have been placed.
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