Interagency wastewater systems plan review

Plans for Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS) are subject to review by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), or may require a joint review by the DNR and DSPS.

Role of the Department of Safety and Professional Services

The DSPS has administrative rules for building plumbing and non-municipal sewer lines, and for Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. A POWTS is a system that receives domestic quality wastewater and either retains it in a holding tank, or treats it and discharges into the soil, beneath the ground surface. Any system with a final discharge exposing treated wastewater upon the ground surface, or discharging directly into surface waters of the state, is subject to DNR regulation.

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Plumbing Program [exit DNR]
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - POWTS Program [exit DNR]

Joint DNR/DSPS review process

A POWTS that is classified as "large" and that receives domestic wastewater is subject to a joint agency review process involving both the DNR and DSPS.

Large POWTS for Domestic Wastewater

An onsite wastewater treatment system of any size that receives non-domestic (or a mixture of domestic and non-domestic) wastewater is subject to DNR regulation, but in certain circumstances DSPS will still issue an approval.

Holding Tanks for Non-Domestic Wastewater
POWTS for Non-Domestic Wastewater