Liquid Waste (Septic Tank) Program
Laws, Regulations, and Policies
- New Mexico Statutes and Court Rules:
- Environmental Improvement Act (Sections 74-1-1 through 74-1-16) creates the Environmental Improvement Board, and authorizes Liquid Waste regulations and fees; and
- Department of Environment Act (Sections 9-7A.1 through 9-7A-15) establishes NMED as an executive agency, and creates the Wastewater Technical Advisory Committee
- Liquid Waste Disposal and Treatment Regulations, 20.7.3 NMAC (PDF Version
)
Adjudicatory Procedures for the Environment Department 20.1.5 NMAC (HTML Version) (PDF Version)
Liquid Waste Program Guidance Memos related to the new Liquid Waste Disposal and Treatment Regulations:
Guidance No. 4: Treatment Level Required for Type Ia Soils Guidance No. 6: Voluntary Installation of Advanced Treatment Units Guidance No. 8: Regulatory Requirements for Existing Unpermitted Systems Guidance No. 12: Photographic Inspection by Contractor Guidance No. 13: Priority of Liquid Waste Inspections Guidance No. 15: Certificate of Registration for Single Compartment Tank Guidance No. 16: NMED Acceptance Period for Ownership Transfer Inspections
- Bernalillo County has enacted a new on-site wastewater ordinance, which can be viewed at the link below. This ordinance applies only to Bernalillo County. Bernalillo County is the only county in New Mexico that has its own onsite wastewater regulations. Bernalillo County Wastewater Ordinance 2006
- NMED Liquid Waste Program Guidance (aboveground use of reclaimed wastewater, bituminous coatings on advanced treatment units, drainfield additions and replacements, evapotranspiration systems, existing unpermitted liquid waste systems, lots less than 3/4 acre - "Areas of Concern", single lot policy, tank water-tightness testing, variances, and septic tank reuse guidelines)