Arizona Administrative Code
Title 18 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 9 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
Article 3 - AQUIFER PROTECTION PERMITS - GENERAL PERMITS
Part E - TYPE 4 GENERAL PERMITS
Section R18-9-E303 - 4.03 General Permit: Composting Toilet, Less Than 3000 Gallons Per Day Design Flow A.

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 18-9-E303

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. A 4.03 General Permit allows for the use of a composting toilet with less than 3000 gallons per day design flow

1. Definition. For purposes of this Section, "composting toilet" means a manufactured turnkey or kit form treatment technology that receives human waste from a waterless toilet directly into an aerobic composting chamber where dehydration and biological activity reduce the waste volume and the content of nutrients and harmful microorganisms to an appropriate level for later disposal at the site or by other means.

2. An applicant may use a composting toilet if:

a. Limited water availability prevents use of other types of on-site wastewater treatment facilities,

b. Environmental constraints prevent the discharge of wastewater or nutrients to a sensitive area,

c. Inadequate space prevents use of other systems,

d. Severe site limitations exist that make other forms of treatment or disposal unacceptable, or

e. The applicant desires maximum water conservation.

3. A permittee may use a composting toilet only if:

a. Wastewater is managed as provided in this Section and, if gray water is separated and reused, the gray water reuse complies with18 A.A.C. 9, Article 7; and

b. Soil conditions support subsurface disposal of all wastewater sources.

B. Restrictions.

1. A permittee shall ensure that no more than 50 persons per day use the composting toilet.

2. A composting toilet shall only receive human excrement unless the manufacturer's specifications allow the deposit of kitchen or other wastes into the toilet.

C. Performance. An applicant shall ensure that:

1. The composting toilet provides containment to prevent the discharge of toilet contents to the native soil except leachate, which may drain to the wastewater disposal works described in subsection (F);

2. The composting toilet limits access by vectors to the contained waste; and

3. Wastewater is disposed into the subsurface to prevent any wastewater from surfacing.

D. Notice of Intent to Discharge. In addition to the Notice of Intent to Discharge requirements specified in R18-9-A301(B) and R18-9-A309(B), the applicant shall submit the following information:

1. Composting toilet.

a. The name and address of the composting toilet system manufacturer;

b. A copy of the manufacturer's warranty, and the specifications for installation operation, and maintenance;

c. The product model number;

d. Composting rate, capacity, and waste accumulation volume calculations;

e. Documentation of listing by a national listing organization indicating that the composting toilet meets the stated manufacturer's specifications for loading, treatment performance, and operation, unless the composting toilet is listed under R18-9-A309(E) or is a component of a reference design approved by the Department;

f. The method of vector control;

g. The planned method and frequency for disposing the composted human excrement residue; and

h. The planned method for disposing of the drainage from the composting unit; and

2. Wastewater.

a. The number of bedrooms in the dwelling or persons served on a daily basis, as applicable, and the corresponding design flow of the disposal works for the wastewater;

b. The results from soil evaluation or percolation testing that adequately characterize the soils into which the wastewater will be dispersed and the locations of soil evaluation and percolation testing on the site plan; and

c. The design for the disposal works in subsection (F), including the location of the interceptor, the location and configuration of the trench or bed used for wastewater dispersal, the location of connecting wastewater pipelines, and the location of the reserve area.

E. Design requirements for a composting toilet. An applicant shall ensure that:

1. The composting chamber is watertight, constructed of solid durable materials not subject to excessive corrosion or decay, and is constructed to exclude access by vectors;

2. The composting chamber has airtight seals to prevent odor or toxic gas from escaping into the building. The system may be vented to the outside;

3. The capacity of the chamber and rate of composting are calculated based on:

a. The lowest monthly average chamber temperature; or

b. The yearly average chamber temperature, if the composting toilet is designed to compost on a yearly cycle or longer; and

4. The composting system provides adequate storage of all waste produced during the months when the average temperature is below 55oF, unless a temperature control device is installed to increase the composting rate and reduce waste volume.

F. Design requirements for the disposal works.

1. Interceptor. An applicant shall ensure that the design complies with the following:

a. An interceptor may not accept human excreta or toilet wastewater;

b. Wastewater passes into an interceptor before it is conducted to the subsurface for dispersal;

c. The interceptor is designed to remove grease, oil, fibers, and solids to ensure long-term performance of the trench or bed used for subsurface dispersal;

d. The interceptor is covered to restrict access and eliminate habitat for mosquitoes and other vectors; and

e. Minimum interceptor size is based on design flow.

i. For a dwelling, the following apply:

No. of Bedrooms	Design Flow (gallons per day)	Minimum Interceptor Size (gallons)
No. of Bedrooms	Design Flow (gallons per day)	Kitchen Wastewater Only (All gray water sources are collected and reused)	Combined Non-Toilet Wastewater (Gray water is not separated and reused)
1 (7 fixture units or less)	90	42	200
1-2 (greater than 7 fixture units)	180	84	400
3	270	125	600
4	330	150	700
5	380	175	800
6	420	200	900
7	460	225	1000

ii. For other than a dwelling, minimum interceptor size in gallons is 2.1 times the design flow from Table 1, Unit Design Flows.

2. Dispersal of wastewater. An applicant shall ensure that the design complies with the following:

a. A trench or bed is used to disperse the wastewater into the subsurface;

b. Sizing of the trench or bed is based on the design flow as determined in subsection (F)(1)(e), including all black and gray water, and an SAR determined under R18-9-A312(D);

c. The minimum vertical separation from the bottom of the trench or bed to a limiting subsurface condition is at least 5 feet; and

d. Other aspects of trench or bed design follow R18-9-E302, as applicable.

3. Setback distances. Setback distances are no less than 1/4 of the setback distances specified in R18-9-A312(C), but not less than 5 feet, except the setback distance from wells is 100 feet.

G. Operation and maintenance requirements. A permittee shall:

1. Composting toilet.

a. Provide adequate mixing, ventilation, temperature control, moisture, and bulk to reduce fire hazard and prevent anaerobic conditions;

b. Follow manufacturer's specifications for addition of any organic bulking agent to control liquid drainage, promote aeration, or provide additional carbon;

c. Follow the manufacturer's specifications for operation and maintenance regarding movement of material within the composting chamber;

d. If batch system containers are mounted on a carousel, place a new container in the toilet area if the previous one is full;

e. Ensure that only human waste, paper approved for septic tank use, and the amount of bulking material required for proper maintenance is introduced to the composting chamber. The permittee shall remove all other materials or trash. If allowed by the manufacturer's specifications the permittee may add, other nonliquid compostable food preparation residues to the toilet;

f. Ensure that any liquid end product is:

i. Sprayed back onto the composting waste material;

ii. Removed by a person who licensed a vehicle under 18 A.A.C. 13, Article 11; or

iii. Is drained to the interceptor described in subsection (F);

g. Remove and dispose of composted waste as necessary, using a person who licensed a vehicle under 18 A.A.C. 13, Article 11 if the waste is not placed in a disposal area for burial or used on-site as mulch;

h. Before ending use for an extended period take measures to ensure that moisture is maintained to sustain bacterial activity and free liquids in the chamber do not freeze; and

i. After an extended period of non-use, empty the composting chamber of solid end product and inspect all mechanical components to verify that the mechanical components are operating as designed;

2. Wastewater Disposal Works.

a. Ensure that the interceptor is maintained regularly according to manufacturer's instructions to prevent grease and solid wastes from impairing performance of the trench or bed used for dispersal of wastewater, and

b. Protect the area of the trench or bed from soil compaction or other activity that will impair dispersal performance.

H. Reference design.

1. An applicant may use a composting toilet that achieves the performance requirements in subsection (C) by following a reference design on file with the Department.

2. The applicant shall file a form provided by the Department for supplemental information about the proposed system with the applicant's submittal of the Notice of Intent to Discharge.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.