The Water Quality Control Commission adopts rules for On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) called Regulation 43. Once the commission adopts rules, every county health department in Colorado must adopt detailed regulations for small wastewater treatment systems that comply with the commission's rules and the OWTS Act.
The division implements Regulation 43, which governs on-site wastewater treatment or septic systems. Regulation 43 sets minimum standards for how on-site wastewater treatment systems in Colorado (treating 2,000 gallons of wastewater or less per day) should be located, designed, constructed, and used. County health departments use these minimum standards to create local regulations, including permit application requirements, issuing permits, system inspection, and system maintenance.
As part of the regulatory update, the division invites all regulators and practitioners within the onsite wastewater industry and the general public to join the Regulation 43 workgroup and participate in this process.
How to get involved
In Aug. 2023, the division held large group stakeholder meetings to discuss possible changes to the regulation. After we completed our initial walkthrough of the regulation, we identified a number of topics for further discussion in subgroup meetings. We have completed the subgroup meetings and are transitioning back to the general stakeholder group to discuss suggested edits to Regulation 43 further. The division plans to hold monthly meetings, from July through Sept. 2024 to close out this engagement process. The division plans to end all sessions in Sept. 2024, followed by a rulemaking hearing by the commission on March 10, 2025.
Sign up to receive notifications about this effort.
After the meetings conclude, a copy of the meeting recording, chat, presentation, and other meeting materials will be stored in this public folder.
Scheduled large group stakeholder meetings
- Thursday, July 18, 2024 |1 to 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | 8:30 to 1 a.m.
- Thursday, September 5, 2024 | 9 to 11:30 a.m
After working with stakeholders to review and revise Regulation 43, the division identified several topics for further discussion in subgroup meetings, including:
- Leaving soil profile test pits open.
- P.E. stamp requirements.
- Mound system design requirements.
- Transfer of title program requirements.
- Gradation submission requirements.
- OWTS sizing reductions for composting toilets.
We have completed the subgroup meetings and are transitioning back to the general stakeholder group to further discuss suggested edits to Regulation 43.
For more information, please contact:
- David Kurz | david.kurz@state.co.us
- Chuck Cousino | chuck.cousino@state.co.us