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General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5749
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 5658
Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT
Introduced by:
(ENV)
AN ACT CONCERNING ADVANCED SEPTIC SYSTEMS WITH
NITROGEN-REMOVAL FEATURES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) For purposes of this 1
section: 2
(1) "Nitrogen-reducing septic system" means a septic system that 3
incorporates advanced treatment technologies to reduce nitrogen levels 4
in effluent before discharge into the soil and groundwater; 5
(2) "Environmentally sensitive areas" means those areas designated 6
by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection where 7
nitrogen pollution poses a risk to water bodies, including coastal zones, 8
watershed protection areas and locations near drinking water sources; 9
and 10
(3) "Conventional septic system" means a standard onsite wastewater 11
treatment system that does not include nitrogen-reducing technology. 12
(b) (1) On and after October 1, 2026, any new residential or 13
commercial development in an environmentally sensitive area shall 14
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install nitrogen-reducing septic systems that meet the performance 15
standards set by the Department of Public Health. 16
(2) Any renovation or expansion of an existing residential or 17
commercial structure that increases wastewater discharge by twenty-18
five per cent or more shall require the upgrade to a nitrogen-reducing 19
septic system. 20
(c) Whenever a conventional septic system in an environmentally 21
sensitive area fails or requires replacement, the property owner shall be 22
required to install a nitrogen-reducing septic system in compliance with 23
the performance standards established by the Department of Public 24
Health. 25
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any 26
municipality from enacting a local ordinance that requires nitrogen-27
reducing septic systems in any additional area where nitrogen pollution 28
poses a risk to water quality. 29
(e) (1) Not later than March 1, 2026, the Department of Public Health, 30
in consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental 31
Protection, shall establish nitrogen-discharge limits for nitrogen-32
reducing septic systems to ensure that nitrogen-reducing septic systems 33
achieve a discharge level comparable to the average discharge level 34
achievable by such systems that are readily available for consumer 35
purchase. 36
(2) Not later than March 1, 2026, the Department of Energy and 37
Environmental Protection shall designate environmentally sensitive 38
areas. 39
(f) (1) Any nitrogen-reducing septic system shall be installed by a 40
licensed professional who is certified by the Department of Public 41
Health to ensure compliance with all applicable state regulations for the 42
installation of any such system. 43
(2) Any property owner who installs a nitrogen-reducing septic 44
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system, or causes such a system to be installed, shall conduct, or cause 45
to be conducted, an annual inspection and maintenance of such 46
nitrogen-reducing septic system to ensure continued effectiveness. 47
(3) Each local health department shall maintain a database of 48
installed nitrogen-reducing septic systems in such applicable areas and 49
conduct periodic compliance checks of such systems. Such local health 50
departments may enforce the provisions of this section. 51
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 New section
Statement of Purpose:
To develop programs like those that exist in neighboring states for the
installation and use of advanced septic systems that have nitrogen-
removal features.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]
Co-Sponsors: REP. GAUTHIER, 38th Dist.; REP. MENAPACE, 37th Dist.
REP. RYAN, 139th Dist.; REP. CHAFEE, 33rd Dist.
REP. SHANNON, 117th Dist.
H.B. 5749