Wastewater Treatment Environmental Fact Sheet
Print Version
WD-WEB-11	2006

Septage Hauling in New Hampshire

What is a Septage Hauler?

DES Septage Management Rules, Env-Wq 1600, define a hauler as any person engaged in the removal or transportation of septage. Septage is defined as “material removed from septic tanks, cesspools, holding tanks, or other sewage treatment storage units, excluding sewage sludge from public treatment works and industrial waste and any other sludge.” Septage includes solids and other material removed from septage lagoons, waste from portable toilet and Type III marine sanitation devices, and grease trap waste that has been co-mingled with wastewater. Septage does not include exceptional quality (EQ) solids or EQ filtrate.

What Permits are Required?

Any person wishing to haul septage that has been generated, processed, transferred, stored, used or disposed in New Hampshire must first apply for a septage hauler permit through the DES Wastewater Engineering Bureau. One permit is required for each tank that will be used to remove and transport septage.

What Are Permit Applicants Required to Submit?

General Applicant Information. This includes the name, mailing address and daytime telephone number of the applicant and owner (if an individual), the name, address and telephone number of the applicant’s business and contact person, and any telephone numbers to be used in case of emergency.

Vehicle Information. This includes the vehicle identification number and license plate number for each vehicle that will be used to transport septage, size of tanks in gallons, and the tank identification number(s) if applicable. All tanks used to transport septage shall have been inspected by the department within the previous two years and are in compliance with Env-Wq 1605.08.

List of Disposal Sites. This includes the location of each site, facility and wastewater treatment facility to which septage will be taken to for disposal and an owner or operator’s signature for each listed disposal site, facility, and wastewater treatment facility

Applicant Signature. This certifies that:

(a)	All vehicles and tanks proposed to transport septage have met all federal and state motor vehicle requirements for septage transportation,
(b)	The applicant assumes responsibility for ensuring that all persons who will be transporting septage with the applicant’s vehicle(s) are familiar with Env-Wq 1600 (DES’s Septage Management Rules), and
(c)	The applicant has not been convicted of a misdemeanor under any statute administered by the department within five years prior to the date of application or of a felony in any state or federal court during the ten years prior to the date of application.

Septage Hauler Permit Fees. A fee in the amount of $100 per tank and $5 per permit plate should be submitted with all septage hauler permit applications. Make checks payable to “Treasurer- State of New Hampshire.”

The Permit Process

Applications are reviewed for completion. All the necessary signatures and fees must accompany all applications submitted to DES. Septage hauler permits have a term of two years or less and expire on January 31 of odd-numbered years. Persons wishing to renew a septage hauler permit shall submit an application to DES at least 15 days prior to expiration of the permit. All tanks used to transport septage shall have been inspected by the department within the previous two years and are in compliance with Env-Wq 1605.08.

Any hauler who has been issued a permit shall:

Display the hauler’s name, principal place of business, and telephone number on both sides of the vehicle or tank used to transport septage, in permanent and legible lettering at least 3 inches high.
Maintain a copy of the permit in the vehicle to which the permit is issued and display the permit plate mounted according to Env-Wq 1605.07 (d).
Maintain all tanks and hoses used to pump and transport septage so as not to create unreasonable malodors or a public health hazard.

Transportation of Septage

All tanks shall be inspected by the hauler prior to transport on public roads to ensure that septage will not leak, spill, or run out of the tank or hoses; and All vehicles used to transport the tanks shall be equipped, at all times, with spill control or absorbent materials and disinfectant materials sufficient to treat a 25-gallon spill.

Contact Information

Septage hauler application forms can be obtained by visiting the DES Wastewater Engineering Bureau website at http://des.nh.gov/wwe/septslud.htm or by calling the DES septage hauling coordinator at (603) 271-2492. The Septage Management Rules, Env-Wq 1600, can be obtained by visiting the DES website at http://www.des.nh.gov/rules/desadmin_list.htm. An "official" hard copy of all DES-related rules may be obtained from the DES Public Information and Permitting office, (603) 271-2975.