During the 2022 Session, the General Assembly approved Chapter 486 of the Acts of the Assembly, directing VDH to provide oversight and enforcement of onsite sewage system (OSS) pump-outs required pursuant to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA). Chapter 486 of the 2022 Virginia Acts of Assembly limited the scope of the plan to the Eastern Shore, Middle Peninsula, and Northern Neck regions of the Commonwealth, with an effective date of July 1, 2023. This legislation also required licensed operators – including sewage haulers – conducting onsite sewage system (OSS) pump-outs to report the results of their visits to VDH using a web-based reporting tool. Chapter 486 of the 2022 Virginia Acts of Assembly required VDH to submit a final report on compliance with OSS pump-out requirements in the localities specified in subsection L of §32.1-164 of the Code of Virginia (the Code) by December 1, 2025. Key status updates on the transition of the program to VDH and operator compliance with OSS pump-outs are listed below.

KEY STATUS UPDATE

1. The web-based reporting tool for reporting of conventional onsite sewage system (COSS) pump-outs went live on July 1, 2023.

2. Sewage haulers have submitted over 5,980 COSS pump-out records since July 1, 2023, within the program area.

3. Program staff have created, reviewed, and approved over 20,000 OSS records and documents as part of developing a complete inventory of OSS in the program area. This includes approximately 14,000 new database records of installed OSS and adjacent private water supplies, as many historic hard copy records on file with local health departments have not yet been entered into VDH’s database.

4. Most sewage disposal facilities that receive OSS sewage from haulers who serve the Eastern Shore, Middle Peninsula, and Northern Neck regions are located outside of the areas they serve, and sometimes outside of the Commonwealth. The lack of local sewage disposal facilities impacts the cost of pump-outs and may impact the long-term success of the program and compliance with pump out requirements.

5. High staff turnover rates within Environmental Health at VDH have impacted the program, with three out of the seven program positions becoming vacant within the last year.