Wet Weather Test Period Began Yesterday

Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Environmental Health (DEH):

The Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Environmental Health (DEH) announced the opening of the wet weather test period for the evaluation of proposed individual on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). The effective opening date [was, yesterday,] Jan. 16, 2024. Under normal rainfall conditions, the test period will continue until April 1, 2024. The test period is subject to closure if adequate rainfall is not received for a significant period.

While not required in all geographic regions of the county, wet weather testing is required for proposed OWTS sites with soils of low permeability requiring percolation testing and/or where the depth to seasonally high groundwater needs to be determined. Wet weather testing is mandatory in the Variance Prohibition Areas as described in the Humboldt County Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Regulation and Technical Manual at https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/62933.

All parties planning to subdivide land or develop sites with individual OWTS should contact a registered civil engineer, geologist or other qualified professional to arrange for testing as early in the wet season as possible. For all sites, the test process will require no less than three weeks of monitoring. An early start is highly recommended to ensure completion of testing before the test period closes.

Notification of installation of wet weather monitoring wells must be submitted to DEH and fees paid within five days of installation.

For additional information regarding wet weather testing procedures, call DEH at 707-445-6215 or 800-963-9241.