Wastewater

With the growing population in Webster County, the risk of water contamination by human waste is greatly increasing. During 2003 there were 222 legal on-site sewage systems installed.

The average home discharges an estimated 360 gallons of sewage effluent each day. When multiplied by the 222 new permitted systems installed in 2003, the estimated daily amount of sewage effluent being discharged into our soil for absorption and evaporation increased 79,920 gallons per day in 2003.

Because there was no permitting system for on-site sewage systems prior to 1996, and only a percentage of permitting up to 2001, the exact number of lagoons and septic systems in Webster County is unknown.

From 2001 to 2004 all on-site sewage systems, regardless of acreage, were required to have permits, to be installed by Webster County Registered Installers and to be logged by location.

Currently, all installations on fewer than 3 acre parcels must obtain a permit. The 3 acre exemption for landowners on 3 or more acres (for 1 system) applies; but they can enter into a voluntary permit process which may help with lender and property transfer issues.

Our inspectors are responsible for issuing permits for new systems and providing inspections for ensuring that reported systems meet requirements for depth and setback distance from wells, waterways and property lines, in order to decrease the chances for discharges into the county water supply. Staff also pursue illegal system installers and investigate failing systems.

To report possible illegal installations, violations or failing systems, call (417) 859-2532.

You may also wish to view a list of state approved Onsite Soil Evaluators who are authorized to perform soil morphology evaluations for the design of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), and the list of state licensed onsite inspectors/evaluators who are licensed to inspect or evaluate onsite systems at the time of a property sale.