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Approved Title 5 innovative/alternative technologies

MassDEP must approve alternative septic systems for use in Massachusetts.

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Overview

Under the Title 5 Regulations (310 CMR 15.000), MassDEP must approve an innovative/alternative septic-system technology before it can be used in Massachusetts. There are 4 categories of approval:

  • General Use systems will provide a level of environmental protection at least equivalent to that of a conventional on-site system designed in accordance with Title 5.
  • Piloting is intended to provide field-testing and technical demonstration to determine if the technology can or cannot function effectively.
  • Provisional Use approval is intended for evaluation of alternative systems that appear technically capable of providing levels of protection at least equivalent to those of a standard on-site disposal system.
  • Remedial Use systems improve existing conditions at a particular facility or facilities served by a failed, failing, or nonconforming system.

Please note that MassDEP approval does not constitute an endorsement of any specific technology.

In each case, the system owner must follow the inspection and testing schedule required by the approval. Contact the manufacturers listed for schematics of these technologies. 

In addition to the approval categories listed above, Title 5 also allows the use of effluent tee filters at the outlet of the septic tank in lieu of an outlet tee.

Summary Table

The following summary table lists all approved technologies by category. This table contains the most recent address for each company. Address changes are not noted on the individual approvals.

Summary Table of Innovative/Alternative Technologies Approved for Use in Massachusetts

Additional Resources

Septic Systems/Title 5 Glossary

General Use

Through broad field use in Massachusetts or other states, alternative systems with Certification for General Use will provide a level of environmental protection at least equivalent to that of a conventional on-site system designed in accordance with 310 CMR 15.000 through 15.296. These systems can be used anywhere a conventional Title 5 system can be installed. The system owner is required to have inspection and testing performed as required by the approval on a regular schedule. All alternatives in other categories of approval could eventually be certified for General Use. Contact the manufacturer for schematics of these I/A technologies.

Inspection and Sampling in Single Family Homes

Advantex Wastewater Treatment System Models AX20, AX20RT, AX25RT and AX100 [Nitrogen Reducing] by Orenco Systems, Inc.

Bioclere Technology by Aquapoint 3. LLC. less than 2000 gpd

FAST (Nitrogen Reducing) less than 2,000 GPD by Bio-Microbics, Inc.

PERC-RITE Drip Dispersal System Models ASD-15, ASD-25 & ASD-40 by American Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Polyethylene Septic Tank by Norwesco, Inc./Snyder Industries General Use Approval

Polyolefin Septic Tank Models Infiltrator TW-1050, TW-1250, IM-1060 and TW-1500 Septic Tank by Infiltrator Water Technologies, LLC

ProStep Effluent Pumping Systems and Biotube Pump Vault by Orenco Systems, Inc.

Recirculating Sand Filters (Generic)

RUCK System by Innovative RUCK Systems, Inc.

SeptiTech Models STAAR 0.5 (M400), STAAR 0.75 (M550N), STAAR 1.0 (M750N), STAAR 1.2 (1200N), STAAR 1.5 (M1500NN), STAAR 3.0 (M2500N), and STAAR 4.5 (M300N) and SeptiTech Engineered Systems less than 2,000 GPD by Bio-Microbics of Maine, Inc.

SEPTECH Polyethylene Tanks by Roth Global Plastics, Inc.

SepTech/Pirana System by Pirana

Singulair Treatment System Models: 960 DN 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500 and Green 600 (Nitrogen Reducing) by NORWECO, Inc.

Sludgehammer Alternative Treatment System

SoilAir Models RF-3952TB, RFG-3952MP, RF-564MP, RF-5295MP, RF-9858MP, RF-15652, RF-21650MP, RF-29450MP

Subsurface Drip Wastewater Disposal System by Geoflow Inc.

General Use - Alternative Aggregate

EZ Flow Polystyrene Aggregate System by Infiltrator Water Technologies, LLC

General Use - Alternative SAS, Patented Sand Filters and Chambers

Standard Conditions for All Alternative Soil Absorption Systems

Chamber Field Drain Contactors and Recharger by Cultec, Inc.

H-20 Reinforced Concrete Chamber CTL-12 and CTL-18 by Cur-Tech, LLC

Biodiffuser and ARC Chamber by Infiltrator Water Technologies, LLC

Eljen Geotextile Sandfilter System by Eljen Corporation

Enviro-Septic Wastewater Treatment System by Presby Environmental, Inc.

Advanced Enviro-Septic Wastewater Treatment System (Alternative SAS with 12" C-33 Sand Treatment) by Presby Environmental, Inc.

GeoMat Leaching System by Geomatrix Systems, LLC General Use Approval

GST Leaching System Models 37 and 62 by Geomatrix, LLC

Infiltrator ATL System by Infiltrator Water Technologies, LLC

Infiltrator Chambers by Infiltrator Water Technologies, LLC General Use Approval

Mantis M5 System by Eljen Corporation

Advanced Enviro-Septic Wastewater Treatment System by Presby Environmental, Inc.

Simple-Septic Wastewater Treatment System by Presby Environmental

General Use - Secondary Treatment Units

Standard Conditions for Secondary Treatment Units for General Use

Advantex AX20, AX100, and AX-RT Treatment System by Orenco Systems, Inc.

Amphidrome Treatment System by F.R. Mahony & Associates, Inc.

Bioclere Units by Aquapoint.3 LLC

Biofilter by Waterloo Biofilter System, Inc.

Busse-MF by Busse Green Technologies, Inc.

The Clean Solution Treatment System by Wastewater Alternatives of New England, LLC Models: 250, 250 PT, 250ST3, 250ST4, 600, 1000, 1750, 2500, 3100 and 10000

FAST Systems by Bio-Microbics, Inc.

JET Aerobic Wastewater Treatment by Jet Inc. Models: J-500, J-500-PLT, J-750, J-800-PLT, J-1000, J-1250, and J-1500

Hoot Aerobic System H (A)-Series, Inc. by Hoot Systems, LLC

Modular FAST System by Smith and Loveless, Inc.

SeptiTech Treatment Systems by Bio-Microbics of Maine, Inc.

Norweco Singulair Bio-Kinetic Wastewater Treatment System General Use Approval

Piloting Use

Piloting is intended to provide field-testing and a technical demonstration to determine if a particular alternative technology can or cannot function effectively. Technology is only approved when the Department has determined, based on relevant technical data, that the proposed alternative is likely to be capable of a level of environmental protection at least equivalent to that of a system designed in accordance with 310 CMR 15.100 through 15.293. These systems are generally approved for nitrogen reduction but can be approved to evaluate reduction of other parameters. Up to 15 systems can be installed and tested for a minimum of 18 months. The system owner is required to have inspection and testing performed as required by the approval on a regular schedule throughout the Piloting period. Contact the manufacturer for schematics of these I/A technologies.

Anua PuraSys SBR/Puraflo Peat Fiber System models PS1-4, PS1-5, PS1-6, PS1-7, PS1-8, PS1-9, PS1-10, PS1-11, PS1-12, PS1-13, and PS1-14 by Clearwater Recovery Piloting Use Approval

BioBarrier MBR Wastewater Treatment System by Bio-Microbics, Inc.

BioRock Monoblock by Vinicius Ranucci Ramos Acuantia Inc.

Clear Rex Bubbler by PekaSys Inc

ECOPOD-N by Delta Environmental - Pentair Water

GPC Filter by Ground Penetrating Carbon, Inc.

Hydro-Kinetic Wastewater Treatment System Model 600 by NORWECO, Inc.

Jet-1500CF System by Clearwater Recovery

NORWECO Drip Subsurface Disposal System

NORWECO Phos-4-Fade Phosphorus Removal

PhosRID Phosphorus Removal System by Lombardo Associates, Inc. (Phosphorus Reduction)

RetroFAST by Bio-Microbics Piloting Approval

RUCK CFT by North Coast Technologies, LLC

Waterloo EC-P by Waterloo Biofilter Systems Inc. (Phosphorus Reduction)

Provisional Use

This category is intended to evaluate, under actual field conditions, alternative systems that appear technically capable of providing levels of protection at least equivalent to those of a standard on-site disposal system. These systems are generally approved for nitrogen reduction but can be approved to evaluate reduction of other parameters. The system owner is required to have inspection and testing performed as required by the approval on a regular schedule throughout the Provisional Use period. Up to 50 systems can be installed per technology. These systems can be installed for new construction or on remedial sites to replace a failed system. Contact the manufacturer for schematics of these I/A technologies.

Provisional Use Approval Certification Forms for Design and Installation

Advantex AX20, AX20-RT, AX25-RT and AX100 Treatment System by Orenco Systems, Inc. Provisional Use Approval

Amphidrome Process by F.R. Mahony & Associates

Bioclere 2000 gpd to less than 10,000 gpd by Aquapoint.3 LLC

Bioclere less than 2000 gpd by Aquapoint.3 LLC *

Biofilter - for less than 2000 gpd by Waterloo Biofilter Systems, Inc.

Biofilter - for 2000 gpd to less than 10,000 gpd by Waterloo Biofilter Systems, Inc.

FAST for residential >2,000 gpd and non-residential 0 to 10,000 gpd by Bio-Microbics, Inc.

Fuji Clean Models CEN5, CEN7, CEN10

SeptiTech Models STAAR 0.50 (M400N), STAAR 0.75 (M550N), STAAR 1.0 (M750N), STAAR 1.2 (M1200N), STAAR 1.5 (M1500N), STAAR 3.0 (M2500N) and STAAR 4.5 (M3000N) Systems by Bio-Microbics of Maine, Inc.

Modular FAST 2000 gpd to less than 10,000 gpd by Smith & Loveless, Inc.

NITREX by Lombardo Associates, Inc.

NitROE Waste-Water Treatment System Provisional Use Approval

Remedial Use

Remedial Use-approved alternative technologies are used to improve existing conditions at a particular facility or facilities served by a failed, failing or nonconforming system. The alternative system shall have evidence of effective past performance for at least one year of general usage in another state and will provide a level of environmental protection at least of a system designed in accordance with 310 CMR 15.100 through 15.293. The alternative can be used where there is no increase in design flow at the facility. The system owner is required to have inspection and testing performed as required by the approval on a regular schedule. These systems can only be installed on remedial sites to replace a failed system. Contact the manufacturer for schematics of these I/A technologies.

Inspection and Sampling in Single Family Homes

Bottomless Sand Filters - Generic

Composting Toilets - Generic

  • Composting toilets are approved for use under Title 5. See 310 CMR 15.289.

Recirculating Sand Filters - Generic

Aerobic Recovery SystemTM Septic Restoration Process by On-Site Treatment SystemsTM

PERC-RITE Drip Dispersal System by American Manufacturing Company, Inc.

SepTech/Pirana System by Pirana

Sludgehammer Alternative Treatment System by SludgeHammer Group Ltd.

Soilair by Geomatrix, LLC

Subsurface Drip Wastewater Disposal System by Geoflow, Inc.

White Knight Inoculator/Generator Alternative Treatment System by Knight Treatment Systems

Remedial Use - Alternative SAS, Patented Sand Filters Only (for Chambers, see General Use)

Standard Conditions for All Alternative Soil Absorption Systems

Eljen Geotextile Sandfilter System by Eljen Corporation

Enviro-Septic Wastewater Treatment System by Presby Environmental, Inc.

Advanced Enviro-Septic Wastewater Treatment System (Alternative SAS with 12" C-33 Sand Treatment) by Presby Environmental, Inc.

Advanced Enviro-Septic Wastewater Treatment System by Presby Environmental, Inc.

GeoMat Leaching System by Geomatrix Systems, LLC Remedial Use Approval

Infiltrator ATL System by Infiltrator Water Technologies, LLC

Infiltrator, Biodiffuser, Arc and Cultec Chambers

  • See under Alternative SAS General Use Approvals, above, which includes Remedial Use.

Simple-Septic Wastewater Treatment System by Presby Environmental

Remedial Use - Secondary Treatment Units

Standard Conditions for Secondary Treatment Units Approved for Remedial Use

AdvanTex Treatment Systems AX-15, AX-20, AX-100 and AX-RT by Orenco Systems, Inc.

Amphidrome by F.R. Mahony & Associates, Inc.

Bioclere by Aquapoint.3 LLC

Busse-MF by Busse Green Technologies, Inc. (Secondary Treatment Unit)

The Clean Solution Treatment System by Wastewater Alternatives of New England, LLC

Fuji Clean Models CE5, CE7, CE10 Remedial Use Approval

Hoot Aerobic System H (A)-Series, Inc. by Hoot Systems, LLC

JET Aerobic Wastewater Treatment by Jet, Inc. Models: J-500, J-500-PLT, J-750, J-800-PLT, J-1000, J-1250, and J-1500

Low-Rate Intermittent Sand Filter by Saneco, Inc.

FAST by Bio-Microbics, Inc.

Modular FAST by Smith & Loveless Inc.

Puraflo Peat Fiber Biofilter by Bord na Mona Environmental Products US Inc.

Singulair Bio-Kinetic Wastewater Treatment Systems 960 and TNT Models by NORWECO, Inc.

SeptiTech 400, 550, 750, 1200, 3000 by Bio-Microbics of Maine, Inc.

Waterloo Biofilter by Waterloo Biofilter Systems, Inc.

Effluent Tee Filters

Effluent tee filters are approved for installation at the outlet of the septic tank in lieu of an outlet tee. When installed on a septic tank, an appropriate outlet cover must be installed and maintained at grade and the filter must be inspected and cleaned at least on an annual basis. 

Flowlink Filter Baffles

Flowlink Filter Baffles Approval

GAG SIM/TECH Disposal Septic Tank Effluent Tee Filter

GAG SIM/TECH Disposal Septic Tank Effluent Tee Filter Approval

Norweco Bio-Kinetic Wastewater Management System Model BK 2000

Norweco Bio-Kinetic Wastewater Management System Model BK 2000 Approval

OSI Effluent Filter

OSI Effluent Filter Approval

Polylok Model PL-68 and PL-250 Effluent Tee Filter Approval

Polylok Model PL-68 and PL-250 Effluent Tee Filter Approval

Polylok Model PL-122 Effluent Tee Filter

Polylok Model PL-122 Effluent Tee Filter Approval

Polylok Model PL-525 and PL-625 Effluent Filters

Polylok Model PL-525 and PL-625 Effluent Filters Approval

Rissy Plastics, LLC Clik n' Stik Model 45

Rissy Plastics, LLC Clik n' Stik Model 45 Approval

Sim/Tech Filter

Sim/Tech Filter Approval

Tuf-Tite Effluent Filter, Model EF-4

Tuf-Tite Effluent Filter Model EF-4 Approval

Tuf-Tite Effluent Filter, Model EF-6

Tuf-Tite Effluent Filter Model EF-6 Approval

Zabel Filtered Pump Vaults

Zabel Filtered Pump Vaults Approval

Zabel Wastewater Effluent Filter

Zabel Wastewater Effluent Filter Approval

Zoeller Effluent Tee Filter

Zoeller Effluent Tee Filter Approval

Zoeller Effluent Tee Filter P/N 170-0078

Zoeller Effluent Tee Filter P/N 170-0078 Approval

Expired or Inactive Technology Permits

Amphidrome Process

The Piloting Approval for Amphidrome Process expired on May 30, 2006. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

Biocycle 525

The Remedial Use Approval for Biocycle, Inc. Biocycle 525 expired on December 30, 2004. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

Biolet XL

The General Use Approval for Biolet XL expired on January 16, 2007. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

Dominator Septic Tanks by Snyder Industries

The General Use Approval for Dominator Septic Tanks expired on September 2, 2014. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

Ecoflo Biofilter

The Remedial Use Approval for Ecoflo Biofilter expired on November 8, 2005. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

Jet J-335 Tertiary Sand Filter

The Remedial Use Approval for the JET J-335 Tertiary Sand Filter expired on November 2, 2006. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

MicroSeptec EnviroServer

The Piloting Approval for MicroSeptec Enviroserver expired on October 18, 2005. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

NITREX-PLUS by Lombardo Associates, Inc.

The Piloting Approval for MicroSeptec Enviroserver expired on February 26, 2012. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

OMNI-Cycle System

The Piloting Use Approval for the OMNI-Cycle System expired on January 16, 2014. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

OMNI Recirculating Sand Filter

The Piloting Use Approval for the OMNI Recirculating Sand Filter System expired on April 4, 2010. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

Orenco High-Rate Intermittent Sand Filter

The Remedial Use Approval for the Saneco Orenco High-Rate Intermittent Sand Filter expired on November 2, 2003. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

ZenoGem/Cycle-Let

The Provisional Use Approval for the Zenon ZenoGem/Cycle-Let expired on August 6, 2003. The company has not submitted a renewal application for this technology.

Related Guides

Innovative Technology and Title 5 Systems 

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