On-Site Sewage

On-Site Sewage Facility

An On-Site Sewage Facility is a wastewater treatment and disposal system  that treats and disposes of no more than 5,000 gallons of sewage per day. To learn more click here. State law requires property owners and on-site sewage facility installers to possess an on-site sewage facility permit issued by the City of Grand Prairie before an on-site sewage facility is constructed, altered, or repaired. 

Regulatory Authority

The City of Grand Prairie is an Authorized Agent of The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The program falls primarily under the authority of TCEQ rules contained within 30 TAC Chapter 285 On-Site Sewage Facilities. Additional regulatory authority is derived from Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 5, Section C, Chapter 341, and Section D, Chapter 366 of Sanitation and Environmental Quality. In the City regulations can be found in Ordinance 7512 or in Chapter 13 Section 190.

Services Provided

Permitting: Applications for permits and related fees are processed for planning materials on new and/or existing systems in order to receive a permit to construct and also obtain a license to operate an on-site sewage system.

Inspections: As part of the permitting process or complaint investigation process, inspections are performed to receive a permit to construct an on-site sewage system and subsequently operate it and/or to address regulatory compliance issues.

Complaint Investigation: Exposed sewage complaints are typically handled as system inspections with a focus on regulatory compliance. Inherent to this activity are legal notices to achieve compliance over a period of time and/or subsequent potential enforcement actions if system owner is unresponsive.

Fee Schedule

$210.00 fee (includes On-site Wastewater Treatment research Council fee) collected when application for service are made and submitted.

OSSF Maintenance Practices

• The excessive use of garbage grinders and grease discharges should be avoided. Garbage grinders can cause a rapid buildup of sludge or scum resulting in more frequent septic tank treatment unit pumping or failing.

• Do not use the toilet to dispose of cleaning tissues, paper towels, cigarette butts or other trash. This disposal practice will waste water and increase the amount of undesired solids into the treatment system.

• Septic tank (s) should be inspected at least once a year and pumped when necessary. Treatment tanks should at least be pumped at 2 or 3 year intervals. Sludge or scum can accumulate allowing solids to leave treatment tanks clogging drainfields or causing sewage to back up into plumbing fixtures. Chemical additives or enzymes are not necessary for the operation of a septic tank. Chemicals should not be used to clean septic tanks.

• Commercial septic tank pumping companies can pump out tanks. State law requires owners of on-site sewage facilities to employ only persons registered as liquid waste haulers with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to pump out on-site sewage facility treatment tanks.

• Do not build driveways, storage building or other structures over the treatment tanks or drainfields.

• Soaps, detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners, and other household cleaning materials normally used will have no appreciable adverse effect on the operation of septic tanks. Moderation is recommended.

Ordinance

• On-Site Sewage Ordinance

Documents

• On-Site Sewage Application Packet

Education

• On-Site Sewage TCEQ Rules Compilation

Links

• Texas Environmental Quality Division (TCEQ)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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