Plans and specifications for municipal wastewater treatment or
disposal facilities must comply with the facility and design standards set
forth in Sections 410 through
599. If design issues are not
addressed by the facility and design standards, then guidance documents, some
of which are listed in Section
008, shall be used as guidance in
the design and review of plans and specifications for municipal wastewater
treatment or disposal facilities. See also Section
007. (3-31-22)
01.
Ownership. Documentation of
the ownership and responsibility for operating the proposed system shall be
made available to the Department prior to or concurrent with the submittal of
plans and specifications as required in Subsection
400.03. The documentation must
show the financial arrangements adequate to demonstrate the ability for
construction and operation and maintenance of the system according to these
rules. Documentation shall also include the name of the wastewater system; the
name, address, and phone number of the wastewater treatment facility; and the
name, address, and phone number of the responsible charge operator.
(3-31-22)
02.
Connection to
Existing System. If the proposed project is to be connected to an
existing wastewater system, a letter from the existing system must be submitted
to the Department stating that the existing system will be able to provide
services to the proposed project. The Department may require further
documentation showing the ability of the existing system to provide service to
the new system. This letter must be submitted prior to or concurrent with the
submittal of plans and specifications as required in Subsection
400.03. (3-31-22)
03.
Plan and Specification
Review. (3-31-22)
a. Except as provided
in Subsection 400.03.b., all plans and
specifications for the construction of new sewage systems, sewage treatment
plants or systems, other municipal wastewater treatment or disposal facilities,
or for material modifications to existing sewage treatment plants or systems,
municipal wastewater treatment or disposal facilities shall be submitted to the
Department for review and approval before construction may begin and all
construction shall be in substantial compliance therewith. This does not
include plan and specifications for facilities for sludge disposal, but does
include plans and specifications for treatment or storage of sludge. If
construction does not commence within twelve (12) months of the Department's
final approval of plans and specifications, the Department may require
resubmittal of all or part of the plans and specifications for review. The
Department shall review plans and specifications and endeavor to resolve design
issues within forty-two (42) calendar days of submittal such that approval can
be granted. If the Department and applicant have not resolved design issues
within forty-two (42) calendar days or at any time thereafter, the applicant
may file a written demand to the Department for a decision. Upon receipt of
such written demand, the Department shall deliver a written decision to the
applicant within no more than seven (7) calendar days explaining any reasons
for disapproval. The Department shall maintain records of all written demands
for decision made pursuant to Subsection
400.03.a. with such records
including the final decision rendered and the timeliness thereof. No material
deviation shall be made to the approved plans and specifications without the
prior approval of the Department. (3-31-22)
b. Plans developed for simple wastewater main
extensions, when such facilities will be owned and operated by a city, county,
quasi-municipal corporation or regulated public utility, shall not require
preconstruction approval by the Department, provided that such plans and
specifications are reviewed and approved by a QLPE to verify compliance with
the requirements of these rules prior to initiation of construction. At the
discretion of the city, county, quasi-municipal corporation or regulated public
utility, the plans addressed by this subsection may be referred to the
Department for review and approval prior to initiation of construction. The
Department has the authority to review plans and specifications approved by a
QLPE and can require modifications if the plans and specifications do not meet
facility and design standards. Any plans and specifications approved pursuant
to Subsection 400.03.b. shall be transmitted
to the Department at the time construction is authorized and shall be marked or
stamped as "Approved for Construction." Along with the plans and
specifications, the transmittal must include the items listed in Subsections
400.03.b.i. through
400.03.b.vii. The plans and specifications must be sealed, signed, and dated by
the professional engineer in responsible charge of their preparation, and the
approval or transmittal letter must be sealed, signed, and dated by the QLPE
that is approving the plans and specifications. (3-31-22)
i. A statement that the author of the
transmittal letter is the QLPE representing the city, county, quasimunicipal
corporation or regulated public entity. (3-31-22)
ii. A statement that the extension project
complies with the current facility plan or preliminary engineering report, or a
statement that the sewer system/treatment facility has adequate capacity.
(3-31-22)
iii. A statement from the
city, county, quasi-municipal corporation or regulated public entity or its
authorized agent that the wastewater system owner will serve the project.
(3-31-22)
iv. A statement from the
city, county, quasi-municipal corporation or regulated public entity or its
authorized agent that the wastewater system owner will own and operate the
project after construction is complete. (3-31-22)
v. A statement by the QLPE that the plans and
specifications are approved for construction. (3-31-22)
vi. A statement by the QLPE that the plans
and specifications comply with the facility standards within these rules.
(3-31-22)
vii. A statement
recommending whether sanitary restrictions can be released or should remain in
force. (3-31-22)
c.
Subsections 400.03.c.i. through
400.03.c.vi. outline the projects which QLPEs may approve and which QLPEs may
not approve. (3-31-22)
i. A QLPE may approve
plans and specifications for simple wastewater main extensions that will be
able to discharge to an existing wastewater system owned by a city, county,
quasi-municipal corporation, or regulated public utility at the time the
extension is approved for construction by the QLPE. (3-31-22)
ii. A QLPE may approve plans for simple
wastewater main extensions which will discharge to an existing wastewater
system owned by a city, county, quasi-municipal corporation, or regulated
public utility, but are unable to connect to the system at the time the
extension is approved for construction by the QLPE, provided sanitary
restrictions remain in force for the proposed extension. (3-31-22)
iii. A QLPE may not approve plans and
specifications which include mechanical systems such as lift stations or
treatment works. (3-31-22)
iv. A
QLPE may not approve plans and specifications for projects which the QLPE was
the design engineer or otherwise involved in the design. (3-31-22)
v. A QLPE employed by a city, county,
quasi-municipal corporation, or regulated public utility may approve a design
that was prepared by a subordinate engineer or an engineer from a separate
design group within the city, county, quasi-municipal corporation, or regulated
public utility. (3-31-22)
vi. A
QLPE who is not employed by a city, county, quasi-municipal corporation, or
regulated public utility, but is retained by a city, county, quasi-municipal
corporation, or regulated public utility for the purpose of plan and
specification review may not approve projects designed by the company with
which the QLPE is employed. (3-31-22)
04.
Professional Engineer. Plans
and specifications for construction, alteration or expansion of any sewage
system, sewage treatment plant or system, or other municipal wastewater
treatment or disposal facility shall be prepared by or under the supervision of
an Idaho licensed professional engineer and shall bear the imprint of the
engineer's seal. Construction shall be observed by an Idaho licensed
professional engineer or a person under the supervision of an Idaho licensed
professional engineer. (3-31-22)
05.
Record Plans and
Specification. (3-31-22)
a. Within
thirty (30) calendar days of the completion of construction of facilities
covered by Subsection
400.03, record plans and
specifications based on information provided by the construction contractor and
field observations made by the engineer or the engineer's designee depicting
the actual construction of facilities performed, must be submitted to the
Director by the engineer representing the city, county, quasi-municipal
corporation or regulated public utility that owns the project, or by the design
engineer or owner-designated substitute engineer if the constructed facilities
will not be owned and operated by a city, county, quasi-municipal corporation
or regulated public utility. Such submittal by the engineer must confirm
material compliance with the approved plans and specifications or disclose
material deviations therefrom. If the construction does not materially deviate
from the approved plans and specifications, the owner may have a statement to
that affect prepared by an Idaho licensed professional engineer and filed with
the Department in lieu of submitting a complete and accurate set of record
drawings. (3-31-22)
b. Record plans
and specifications, or a statement submitted in lieu of record plans and
specifications, must be sealed, signed, and dated by the professional engineer
in responsible charge of their preparation. (3-31-22)
06.
Compliance With Applicable
Standards and Rules. All plans and specifications submitted to satisfy
the requirements of Sections
400 through
599 or approved in compliance with
Sections 400 through
599, shall be in compliance with
the requirements of these rules and shall conform in style and quality to
regularly accepted engineering standards. The Department shall review plans and
specifications to determine compliance with these rules and engineering
standards of care. If the plans and specifications comply with these rules and
engineering standards of care, the Department shall not substitute its judgment
for that of the owner's design engineer concerning the manner of compliance
with these rules. (3-31-22)
07.
Waiver of Approval Requirement. The Department may waive the plan
and specification approval for any particular facility or category of
facilities which will have no significant impact on the environment or on the
public health. (3-31-22)
08.
Requirement to Have Approved Plans and Specifications and Approval Letter
On-site During Construction. It is the responsibility of the owner to
maintain one (1) copy of the approved plans and specifications and the approval
letter from the reviewing authority on-site during construction at all times.
(3-31-22)
09.
Construction
Inspection Requirement. Except as provided in Subsection
400.03.b., no construction
shall commence until all of the necessary approvals have been received from the
Department. The owner shall provide for the inspection of the construction of a
municipal wastewater treatment or disposal facility by an Idaho licensed
professional engineer to the extent required to confirm material compliance
with the approved plans and to produce accurate record documents as required by
Subsection 400.05. (3-31-22)
