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The SEO Field Manual contains instructions and procedures to assist SEOs with their duties in the field. This manual may also serve as a resource to help others understand what the SEO must do to follow the DEP sewage regulations (PA Code Title 25, Chapters 72 and 73).
One copy of the SEO Field Manual is provided free of charge to SEOs who are employed or contracted by a municipality, township, county, or any group that is considered a local agency by DEP under the PA Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537). Proof of such employment is required and may be satisfied by submitting a letter from the local agency. The letter must be on the agency's official letterhead and signed by an authorized representative.
Any municipality, township, county, or group that is considered a local agency by DEP under the PA Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) may request one free field manual. A letter requesting a field manual must be on the agency's official letterhead and signed by an authorized representative.
Additionally, the SEO Field Manual may be purchased for $40 by placing an order with PSATS. Payment is required with each order. You cannot be billed at a later date.
To order a copy of the SEO Field Manual, contact PSATS at the address below.
PSATS
4855 Woodland Drive
Enola, PA 17025-1291
Phone: (717) 763-0930
Fax: (717) 763-9732
E-mail: seo@psats.org
SEO Field Manual Order Form (PDF format)
The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537, as amended) was enacted to correct existing sewage disposal problems and prevent future problems. To meet this objective, the act requires proper planning in all types of sewage disposal situations and local agency permitting of onlot sewage treatment systems. This is the official act for planning and regulating community and individual sewage systems. You can access this act online by visiting the DEP website, www.depweb.state.pa.us, or through this link.
DEP, together with PSATS, developed a short video demonstrating the proper procedures and information on maintaining an onlot septic system. This video is helpful to view with homeowners to introduce them to maintenance procedures and to alert them to the problems that can occur within their system. This video can be obtained free of charge by contacting PSATS.
To order a copy of the "Down the Drain: Septic System Sense," you may contact PSATS directly via the outlets shown below. Please specify if you would like the DVD or VHS format.
Click here to view the video on the web on DEP's website.
PSATS
4855 Woodland Drive
Enola, PA 17025-1291
Phone (717) 763-0930
Fax (717) 763-9732
E-mail seo@psats.org
The Alternate Systems Guidance provides current technical standards for alternate onlot systems. DEP updates this document on a recurring basis, and it is recommended that you check routinely to ensure that you have the most recent information available on alternate onlot technologies. You may access this document online by visiting the DEP website, www.depweb.state.pa.us, or through this link.
This book provides guidelines for classifying colors of various soils. It also contains illustrations of soil structures and charts for estimating proportions of mottles and coarse fragments. You can obtain this book by contacting most forestry supply companies. Two options are the Ben Meadows Company at (800) 241-6401 or www.benmeadows.com and Forestry Suppliers, Inc. at (800) 647-5368 or www.forestry-suppliers.com.
Many of the forms necessary for an SEO to do his or her job completely and effectively can be found on the DEP website. Below is a listing of the forms that are currently accessible. A number of these are interactive and may be downloaded for your use. These forms are grouped into two general subject areas: (1) sewage facilities program administration and (2) sewage facilities planning. You can access these forms online by visiting the DEP website, www.depweb.state.pa.us, and or through this link.
Those forms that are particularly useful to SEOs are marked with an arrow  .
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watersupply/cwp/view.asp?a=1260&q=449403
- Act 537 Local Agency Program Evaluation Questionnaire
- Activity Report for Enforcement of Act 537
- Application for Act 537 Sewage Facilities Planning Assistance
- Combined Application for Reimbursement for Enforcing the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act and Onlot Sewage Disposal Program Annual Report
- Bonded Disposal System Confirmation
- Experimental Drip Irrigation System Monitoring Record
- Field Narrative Form
- Municipal Request for Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI)
- Pre-Qualification for Increased Municipal Reimbursement and New Land Development Planning Review Delegation
- SEO Evaluation Report Form
- Site Investigation and Percolation Test Report for Onlot Disposal of Sewage
- Task/Activity Report
- Verification of Prior Testing
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watersupply/cwp/view.asp?a=1260&q=449410
- Act 537 Municipal Sewage Form
- Sewage Facilities Planning Application Mailer
- Component 1, Exception to the Requirement to Revise the Official Plan
- Transmittal Letter for Sewage Facilities Planning
- Resolution for Plan Revision for New Land Development
- Component 2, Individual and Community Onlot Disposal of Sewage
- Component 3, Sewage Collection and Treatment Facilities
- Component 3M, Minor Act 537 Update Revisions
- Component 3S, Small-Flow Treatment Facilities
- Component 4, Planning Agency or Health Department Review
- Act 537 Plan Content and Environmental Assessment Checklist
- Request for Planning Waiver and Non-Building Declaration
Educating the public about onlot sewage disposal systems is a never-ending challenge for most SEOs. To assist in this educational effort, DEP has written a number of fact sheets that address many of the more common issues that SEOs must deal with on a daily basis. These fact sheets may be economically printed off the DEP website and distributed to the public. You can access these documents online by visiting the DEP website, www.depweb.state.pa.us, or this link and look for the fact sheets.
Those forms that are particularly useful to SEOs are marked with an arrow .
- An Overview of Act 537 Sewage Facilities Program
- Appealing a Local Agency Decision Under Act 537
- Bonded Disposal Systems and Soil Mottling
- Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) Planning Module Review Fees
- Process for Resolving Complaints About Malfunctioning Onlot Sewage Disposal Systems
- Sales Contract Requirements Under Act 537
- Sewage Management Programs
- Sewage Planning Requirements Under Act 537 for Exceptions to the Requirements to Revise the Official Plan
- Subdivisions Exempt From Planning Under Act 537
- Understanding Holding Tanks
- Understanding Septic Systems
- Understanding the Importance of Soils in Siting an Onlot System
- Sewage Management Programs, What Does it Take?
- Sewage Management Programs, Conducing Education is Key
DEP uses formal guidance documents to establish many policies and procedures. Several titles are particularly appropriate for SEOs. You can access these documents online by visiting the DEP website, www.depweb.state.pa.us, and clicking on the DEP-Keyword "Sewage." Links to the guidance documents will be located in their respective subject areas. As new guidance documents are written and existing ones are revised, this section of the DEP website continues to be updated.
Those forms that are particularly useful to SEOs are marked with an arrow .
- Technical Decision Making and the Use of Conventional Technology, Alternate Technology, Experimental Technology, and Best Technical Guidance (BTG) in Onlot Sewage System Repair Situations
- Municipal Guidance - Reconstructive Planning
- PA Sewage Facilities Act 537, Enforcement Reimbursement
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) provides low-cost financing for wastewater systems across the Commonwealth.
PENNVEST - (717) 783-6798
PHFA - 1-(800) 822-1174
DEP - (717) 787-3481 or your local DEP office.
www.pennvest.state.pa.us
The Onlot System Component Matrix is a summary of the testing criteria that must be met to use specific conventional and/or alternate onlot system components. The matrix was developed to help SEOs determine which system components would work on a site with certain test results.
Onlot
System Component Matrix [PDF file]
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