Servicing septic tanks, soil absorption fields, holding tanks, grease interceptors and privies
Wis. Stat. § 281.48
in effect(2) Definitions. In this section:
(b) “Grease interceptor” means a receptacle designed to intercept and retain grease or fatty substances.
(bm) “Private on-site wastewater treatment system” has the meaning given in s. 145.01 (12).
(c) “Privy” means an enclosed nonportable toilet into which human wastes not carried by water are deposited to a subsurface storage chamber that may or may not be watertight.
(d) “Septage” means the scum, liquid, sludge or other waste in a septic tank, soil absorption field, holding tank, grease interceptor, privy, or other component of a private on-site wastewater treatment system.
(e) “Septic tank” means any watertight enclosure used for storage and anaerobic decomposition of human excrement or domestic or industrial wastewater.
(f) “Servicing” means removing septage from a septic tank, soil absorption field, holding tank, grease interceptor, privy, or other component of a private on-site wastewater treatment system and disposing of the septage.
(g) “Soil absorption field” means an area or cavity in the ground which receives the liquid discharge of a septic tank or similar component of a private on-site wastewater treatment system.
(2m) Powers of the department. The department has general supervision and control of servicing septic tanks, soil absorption fields, holding tanks, grease interceptors, privies, and other components of private on-site wastewater treatment systems.
(3) License; certification.
(a) License; application. Every person before engaging in servicing in this state shall submit an application for a license on forms prepared by the department. Except as provided in ss. 299.07 and 299.08, if the department, after investigation, is satisfied that the applicant has the qualifications, experience, understanding of proper servicing practices, as demonstrated by the successful completion of an examination given by the department, and equipment to perform the servicing in a manner not detrimental to public health it shall issue the license. The license fee shall accompany all applications.
(b) Expiration date of license. All licenses issued under this section for a period beginning before July 1, 1997, are for one year. All licenses issued under this section for a period beginning after June 30, 1997, are for 2 years. All licenses issued under this section expire on June 30. Application for renewal shall be filed on or before June 1 and if filed after that date a penalty shall be charged. The department shall promulgate a rule setting the amount of the penalty for late filing.
(c) Wisconsin sanitary licensee. Any person licensed under this section shall paint on the side of any vehicle that is used for servicing, the words “Wisconsin Sanitary Licensee” and immediately under these words “License No. ....” with the number of the license in the space so provided with letters and numbers at least 2 inches high; and all lettering and numbering shall be in distinct color contrast to its background.
(d) License exception. A farmer who disposes of septage on land is exempt from the licensing requirement under par. (a) if all of the conditions in sub. (4m) (b) apply.
(e) Operator certification. No person, except for a farmer exempted from licensing under par. (d), may service a private on-site wastewater treatment system or operate a septage servicing vehicle unless the person is certified as an operator of a septage servicing vehicle under s. 281.17 (3).
(4g) Rules on servicing. The department shall promulgate rules relating to servicing septic tanks, soil absorption fields, holding tanks, grease interceptors, privies, and other components of private on-site wastewater treatment systems in order to protect the public health against unsanitary and unhealthful practices and conditions, and to protect the surface waters and groundwaters of the state from contamination by septage. The rules shall comply with ch. 160. The rules shall apply to all septage disposal, whether undertaken pursuant to a license or a license exemption under sub. (3). The rules shall require each person with a license under sub. (3) to maintain records of the location of private on-site wastewater treatment systems serviced and the volume of septage disposed of and location of that disposal.
(4m) Site approvals.
(a) The department may require a soil test and shall require a site approval for any location where septage is disposed of on land.
(b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department may not require a site approval for a location where septage is disposed of on land if the person who disposes of the septage is a farmer who owns or leases that location and if:
1. The septage is removed from a septic tank which is located on the same parcel where the septage is disposed of; and
3. The person complies with all applicable statutes and rules in removing and disposing of the septage.
(c) If a location is exempt from site approval under par. (b), the department may require the person who services the septic tank to provide the department with information to show that sufficient land area is available for disposal.
(d) A person seeking a site approval under par. (a) shall submit an application to the department at least 7 days prior to using the site. Upon receiving an application for site approval, the department may enter and inspect the site if the department determines that an inspection is necessary. Commencing 7 days after submitting the application, the applicant may use the site unless the department notifies the applicant that the site may not be used.
(4s) Fees.
(a) The department shall collect the following fees:
1. For a license under sub. (3) (a) to a state resident, for each vehicle used for servicing, $25 if the license period begins before July 1, 1997, and $50 if the license period begins after June 30, 1997.
2. For a license under sub. (3) (a) to a nonresident, for each vehicle used for servicing, $50 if the license period begins before July 1, 1997, and $100 if the license period begins after June 30, 1997.
(d) In addition to the license fee under par. (a) 1. or 2., the department shall collect from each licensee a groundwater fee of $50 if the license period begins before July 1, 1997, and $100 if the license period begins after June 30, 1997. The moneys collected under this paragraph shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.
(e) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (d), an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44 is not required to pay a license fee or groundwater fee.
(5) Authority to suspend or revoke licenses.
(a) The department may and upon written complaint shall make investigations and conduct hearings and may suspend or revoke any license if the department finds that the licensee has:
2. Made a material misstatement in the application for license or any application for a renewal thereof.
3. Demonstrated incompetency in conducting servicing.
4. Violated any provisions of this section or any rule prescribed by the department or falsified information on inspection forms under s. 145.20 (5).
(b) The department may not reissue a license for a period of one year after revocation under par. (a).
(c) The department may promulgate by rule a procedure for the temporary suspension of a license.
(5m) County regulation.
(a) A county may submit to the department an application to regulate the disposal of septage on land. The county shall include in its application a complete description of the proposed county program, including a proposed ordinance and forms and information on plans for personnel, budget and equipment. The department shall investigate the capability of the county to implement a regulatory program under this subsection and shall approve or deny the application based on the county’s capability. If the department approves the county application, the county may adopt and enforce a septage disposal ordinance.
(b) The county septage disposal ordinance shall apply uniformly to the entire area of the county. No city, village or town may adopt or enforce a septage disposal ordinance if the county has adopted such an ordinance. If a city, village or town adopts a septage disposal ordinance, the ordinance shall conform with requirements applicable to a county septage disposal ordinance under this section.
(c) The site criteria and disposal procedures in a county ordinance shall be identical to the corresponding portions of rules promulgated by the department under this section. The county shall require the person engaged in septage disposal to submit the results of a soil test conducted by a soil tester certified under s. 145.045 and to obtain a site approval for each location where the person disposes of septage on land. The county shall maintain records of soil tests, site approvals, county inspections and enforcement actions under this subsection. A county may not require licensing or registration for any person or vehicle engaged in septage disposal. The county may establish a schedule of fees for site approvals under this paragraph if the department determines that the fees are no more than is necessary to fund the county program under this paragraph. The county may require a bond or other method of demonstrating the financial ability to comply with the septage disposal ordinance. The county shall provide for the enforcement of the septage disposal ordinance by penalties identical to those in s. 281.98.
(d) The department shall monitor and evaluate the performance of any county adopting a septage disposal ordinance. If a county fails to comply with the requirements of this subsection or fails adequately to enforce the septage disposal ordinance, the department shall conduct a public hearing in the county seat upon 30 days’ notice to the county clerk. As soon as practicable after the hearing, the department shall issue a written decision regarding compliance with this subsection. If the department determines that there is a violation of this subsection, the department shall by order revoke the authority of the county to adopt and enforce a septage disposal ordinance. At any time after the department issues an order under this paragraph, a county may submit a new application under par. (a). The department may enforce this section and rules adopted under this section in any county which has adopted a septage disposal ordinance.
(5p) Limit on local regulation. No city, village, town, or county may prohibit or regulate, through zoning or any other means, the disposal of septage on land if that disposal complies with this section and rules promulgated under this section or with an ordinance adopted under sub. (5m) (a) or (b).
(5s) Citations.
(a) The department may follow the procedures for the issuance of a citation under ss. 23.50 to 23.99 to collect a forfeiture for a violation of subs. (2) to (5).
(b) Notwithstanding s. 23.66 (4), the department shall promulgate rules establishing the basic amount of the deposit that may be made under s. 23.66 (1) by a person to whom a citation is issued under par. (a). The rules shall specify a different amount for each offense under subs. (2) to (5).
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/281.48Fetched: 10/7/2026