International Code Council Celebrates 2024 SepticSmart Week

SepticSmart Week is an annual campaign led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promote awareness about the importance of proper septic system care and maintenance.  

Held each September, the campaign aims to educate communities on the significance of maintaining their septic systems to protect public health, the environment and safeguard local water sources. 

This year’s campaign, being held from September 16-20, provides resources, tips and events to encourage actions like regular inspections, pumping and responsible water use, helping prevent costly repairs and ensuring the longevity of septic systems. 

In honor of SepticSmart week, we are going to be diving into an initiative the International Code Council has taken to promote proper septic system care.

Code Council Standards Supporting Proper Septic System Maintenance

ICC 825, Private Sewage Disposal Systems, is a new global standard being developed by the Code Council to set minimum requirements for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of private sewage systems. These systems include septic tanks and effluent absorption systems, as well as other treatment and disposal systems, for areas where public sewers are not available. 

The standard will emphasize resilience to climate change and extreme weather, supported by scientific research. ICC 825 will complement the sanitary drainage aspects of ICC 815, which covers the sizing of water distribution, sanitary drainage and vent piping systems. 

The standard’s development involves monthly committee meetings, which are open to the public, and several sub-committees working on areas like septic and holding tanks, soil absorption, mound systems, pressure distribution and other wastewater treatment systems. Leading one of these sub-committees is Bronwyn Humphries, a research scientist with the New Zealand Government’s Environmental Science Research, as New Zealand is at the forefront of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) technology.

Phase II of research is currently underway, analyzing existing OWTS and their geographical distribution, with a focus on how climate change may impact these systems across regions.

Additionally, the University of Miami has conducted an analysis on the environmental impacts of OWTS and developed mitigation strategies. The ICC 825 committee aims to produce a standard that offers innovative solutions for OWTS, while ensuring compliance with local regulations. The target completion date for the ICC 825 standard is late 2025.

To learn more about the development off ICC 825, click here. For access to more PMG-related resources, click here.