The Winter Water Table Testing Period (WWTTP) for Santa Cruz County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) is officially open, running from Monday, February 5, 2024, through Saturday, March 2, 2024.
This period is crucial for property owners considering development on previously undeveloped land, major remodels, or repairs on properties served by an OWTS that may be susceptible to high groundwater levels. The length of the WWTT period may be extended with continued rainfall.
“Determining groundwater levels is a critical constraining factor when designing an OWTS that meets current code standards,” said Heather Reynolds, Environmental Health program manager. “We encourage residents to act now and participate in the Winter Water Table Testing Period to ensure the safety and compliance of their property.”
Property owners are strongly encouraged to arrange for multiple groundwater observations on their property during this testing period. For the current WWTTP, applications must be submitted no later than February 12, 2024.
Piezometer readings, required at the beginning, middle, and end of the testing period, must be conducted by a Qualified Professional.
To assist property owners in this process, an updated list of Qualified Professionals can be found on the Environmental Health website at scceh.org.
Parcels with an active Winter Water Testing Site Evaluation application are encouraged to contact their Environmental Health Land Use District Inspector at [email protected] to schedule readings.
For any inquiries or further information, please reach out to [email protected].
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Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Agency is committed to the protection of public health and the environment within Santa Cruz County through oversight, inspection, monitoring, permitting, investigation, enforcement, information management, education, and collaboration, while providing excellent customer service.