145.20(3)(c)(c) If the governing body for a governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems does not adopt a private on-site wastewater treatment system ordinance meeting the requirements of s. 59.70 (5) or if the governmental unit does not appoint personnel meeting the requirements of sub. (1) or if the governmental unit does not comply with the requirements of sub. (2) or s. 145.19 (3), the department may conduct hearings in the county seat upon 30 days’ notice to the county clerk. As soon as practicable after the public hearing, the department shall issue a written decision regarding compliance with s. 59.70 (5) or 145.19 (3) or sub. (1) or (2). If the department determines that there is a violation of these provisions, the governmental unit may not issue a sanitary permit for the installation of a private on-site wastewater treatment system until the violation is corrected.
145.20(3)(d)(d) The department shall conduct training and informational programs for officials of the governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems and employees and persons licensed under this chapter and s. 281.48 and certified as operators of septage servicing vehicles under s. 281.17 (3) to improve the delivery of service under the private on-site wastewater treatment system program. The department shall obtain the assistance of the Wisconsin counties association in planning and conducting the training and informational programs.
145.20(4)(4)Special assessment for holding and septic tank pumping. A governmental unit may assess the owner of a private on-site wastewater treatment system for costs related to the pumping of a septic or holding tank. The governmental unit shall make any assessment in the same manner that a city, village or town makes an assessment under s. 66.0703.
145.20(5)(5)Maintenance.
145.20(5)(a)(a) The department shall establish a maintenance program to be administered by governmental units responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems. The department shall determine the private on-site wastewater treatment systems to which the maintenance program applies. At a minimum the maintenance program is applicable to all new or replacement private on-site wastewater treatment systems constructed in a governmental unit after the date on which the governmental unit adopts this program. The department may apply the maintenance program by rule to private on-site wastewater treatment systems constructed in a governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems on or before the date on which the governmental unit adopts the program.
145.20(5)(am)(am) Each governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall adopt and begin the administration of the program established under par. (a) before October 1, 2019. As part of adopting and administering the program, the governmental unit shall conduct and maintain an inventory of all the private on-site wastewater treatment systems located in the governmental unit and shall complete the initial inventory before October 1, 2017.
145.20(5)(b)(b) The maintenance program shall include a requirement of inspection or pumping of the private on-site wastewater treatment system at least once every 3 years if the private on-site wastewater treatment system does not have a maintenance plan as prescribed by rule by the department. Inspections may be conducted by a master plumber, journeyman plumber or restricted plumber licensed under this chapter, a person licensed under s. 281.48 or by an employee of the state or governmental unit designated by the department, and the department may determine by rule other persons who are qualified to undertake required inspection, maintenance, or repairs. The department shall specify the methods to establish the required frequency of inspection, maintenance, and pumping for each type of private on-site wastewater treatment system that does not have a maintenance plan and shall periodically update the methods.
145.20(5)(c)(c) The department of natural resources may suspend or revoke a license issued under s. 281.48 or a certificate issued under s. 281.17 (3) to the operator of a septage servicing vehicle if the department of natural resources finds that the licensee or operator falsified information on inspection forms. The department of safety and professional services may suspend or revoke the license of a plumber licensed under this chapter if the department finds that the plumber falsified information on inspection forms.
145.20(6)(6)Restrictions on reviewers and inspectors.
145.20(6)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), a governmental unit employee who has responsibilities related to any of the activities under sub. (2) (a) to (i) may not do any of the following in the county in which the employee is employed or in an adjacent county:
145.20(6)(a)1.1. Conduct any activities for which certification is required under s. 145.045 (1), except that the employee may review and verify soil tester reports as provided in sub. (2) (a).
145.20(6)(a)2.2. Install, design, maintain, repair, or sell a private on-site wastewater treatment system, component of a private on-site wastewater treatment system, drain field designed to serve a private on-site wastewater treatment system, or pipe from a private on-site wastewater treatment system to the immediate inside of the existing or proposed foundation wall of the building served by the private on-site wastewater treatment system.
145.20(6)(b)(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to activities performed by an employee on property owned by the employee that is outside of the governmental unit for which the employee works.
145.20 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. SPS 383, Wis. adm. code.
145.20 NoteNOTE: 2005 Wis. Act 347, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.
145.23145.23Rules. The department may make and enforce rules relating to lot size and lot elevation necessary for proper sanitary conditions in the development and maintenance of subdivisions not served by a public sewer, where provision for such service has not been made.
145.23 HistoryHistory: 1979 c. 221 ss. 607, 649.
145.24145.24Variances.
145.24(1)(1)If an existing private on-site wastewater treatment system either is not located in soil meeting the siting standards or is not constructed in accordance with design standards promulgated under s. 145.02, the owner of the private on-site wastewater treatment system may petition the department for a variance to the siting or design standards.
145.24(2)(2)The department shall establish procedures for the review and evaluation of existing private on-site wastewater treatment systems which do not comply with siting or design standards.
145.24(3)(3)Upon receipt of a petition for a variance, the department shall require the owner of the private on-site wastewater treatment system to submit information necessary to evaluate the request for a variance. If the department determines that the existing private on-site wastewater treatment system is not a failing private on-site wastewater treatment system, and continued use of the existing private on-site wastewater treatment system will not pose a threat of contamination of waters of the state, then the department may issue a variance to allow continued use of the existing private on-site wastewater treatment system. The department shall rescind the variance if the existing private on-site wastewater treatment system becomes a failing private on-site wastewater treatment system or contaminates waters of the state.
145.24 HistoryHistory: 1983 a. 410; 2011 a. 146; 2017 a. 331.
145.26145.26Public swimming pool plan review.
145.26(1)(1)In this section, “public swimming pool” means a fixed or mobile structure, basin, chamber, or tank and appurtenant buildings and equipment that serve or are installed for use by the state, a political subdivision of the state, a motel, a hotel, a resort, a camp, a club, an association, a housing development, a school, a religious, charitable, or youth organization, an educative or rehabilitative facility, or another entity. “Public swimming pool” does not mean an inflated mobile structure, basin, chamber, or tank; a swim pond; an individual therapeutic pod, tub, or bath; or a fixed or mobile structure, basin, chamber, or tank that serves fewer than 3 individual residences.
145.26(2)(2)The department shall, in advance of construction, alteration or reconstruction, review and approve plans and specifications for the construction, alteration or reconstruction of public swimming pools or water recreation attractions or the alteration of public swimming pool equipment in this state.
145.26(3)(3)The department shall require payment of fees that are established by rule for the review of plans and specifications for the construction, alteration or reconstruction of public swimming pools or water recreation attractions or the alteration of public swimming pool equipment.
145.26(4)(4)No one may maintain, manage or operate a public swimming pool or water recreation attraction for which construction, alteration or reconstruction is made after January 1, 1990, unless all of the following have taken place:
145.26(4)(a)(a) The department has reviewed and approved the construction, alteration or reconstruction under sub. (2).
145.26(4)(b)(b) The applicable fee under sub. (3) has been paid.
145.26(4)(c)(c) The construction, alteration or reconstruction of the public swimming pool or water recreation attraction conforms to the plans and specifications approved by the department under sub. (2).
145.26(5)(5)The department shall promulgate rules establishing all of the following:
145.26(5)(a)(a) The definition of “water attraction”.
145.26(5)(b)(b) The amounts of fees to perform review of plans and specifications as specified in sub. (2).
145.26(6)(6)Whoever violates this section or the rules promulgated under this section may be fined not less than $100 nor more than $5,000. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense.
145.26 HistoryHistory: 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 16 ss. 2402, 2561, 2562; Stats. 1993 s. 145.26; 2017 a. 331.
145.26 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. SPS 390, Wis. adm. code.
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2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2025 Wis. Act 7 and through all Supreme Court and Controlled Substances Board Orders filed before and in effect on July 8, 2025. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after July 8, 2025, are designated by NOTES. (Published 7-8-25)