Renewal of SSTS Proprietary Products

In 2008, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) began the process to review applications and officially register products used in Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS). The products include both treatment products (i.e.: aerobic treatment units) and distribution media products (i.e.: chambers). These are systems installed outside homes or other establishments that treat and disperse effluent into suitable soils. The products are registered in Minnesota for up to three years; thereafter the products need to be renewed by the product’s manufacturer.

The first round of registered SSTS products, all treatment products for residential strength wastewater, will expire on December 31, 2011. The manufacturer of each product is required to submit an application, along with an affidavit, to renew their product for use in Minnesota (both of the required forms are on the SSTS Product Registration site under ‘Forms for Treatment and Distribution Products’). This renewal requirement is part of the ‘feedback loop’ on product performance and to document whether the product has changed or not.

As part of product renewal, the MPCA is required to: 1) request field assessment comments from local units of government, no later than October 31, 2011, and 2) discuss any comments received on product performance with the SSTS Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) before the product is renewed for three years.

There are seven products (made by six different manufacturers) set to expire on December 31, 2011:

If you have any comments on the performance of these seven products (or on the Notice of Product Registration letters sent to each manufacturer and posted on our website), you can submit comments by November 1, 2011 by one of the following ways:

• provide written comments directly to Barbara McCarthy, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 525 South Lake Avenue, Suite 400, Duluth, MN 55802;
• provide written comments via email to Barbara McCarthy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• complete a SSTS product performance survey; get a copy of the survey by contacting Barbara McCarthy by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at 218-302-6647.

If you have any questions about the renewal process for septic system products, please contact Barbara McCarthy by telephone at 218-302-6647 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .