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Updated rules for treating home wastewater means good news for the environment - although it comes with a price.

Larry Antosch, OFBF director of environmental research, said this is first time regulations for home septic systems have been updated since the 1970s.

"The existing rules are titled ‘home sewage disposal.’ The new rules that go into effect January 1, 2007 are titled ‘home sewage treatment,’" he said, highlighting the change to the state's approach in regulating wastewater.

Antosch said the purpose of the regulations is to make sure septic systems are adequately treating sewage. The rules provide uniform standards for all 88 counties.

"A very small percentage, only 6.5 percent, of soil in Ohio is suited for traditional septic tank leach fields," Antosch said. Wastewater must percolate through 4 feet of soil to be thoroughly treated, which is unable to occur in most of Ohio.

That means homeowners who replace or install new septic systems will likely have to pay for more expensive treatment methods. For example, mound systems that typically cost around $10,000 allow water to filter through two feet of sand before reaching the ground. Antosch said the cost of alternative systems is likely to come down as they become more common.

All new systems will need to be installed by certified professionals and will be subject to inspections to ensure they are functioning properly. Homeowners will also need to pay for permits to install the systems.

"It's not supposed to be a big money maker," Antosch said. "It should be a self-sustaining process."

He said the new regulations are in line with current OFBF policy that calls for homeowners to properly maintain their septic systems, although he acknowledged that increased costs will be a burden to some.

"The goal here is protecting the environment and not causing a health problem," he said. OFBF is in the process of developing materials to guide rural residents on the new regulations. To learn more about the suitability of soil in your area to treat wastewater, visit www.ofbf.org and click on featured links or call you local OSU Extension office.