If sewer is installed in my neighborhood, do I have to connect even if my septic system is working fine?
If sewer is installed in my neighborhood, do I have to connect even if my septic system is working fine?
The short answer is yes, but there are some exceptions for which the Administrator of GEPA may grant a variance.
The first thing to determine is whether public sewer is “available” to your home per its official meaning in Guam’s laws and regulations. You are only required to connect to public sewer if it is considered to be “available” as described above under the section titled “How do I determine if public sewer is available?”.
The next thing to determine is if you will be able to connect to public sewer by gravity, with a minimum pipe slope of 1/8th of an inch per foot. This may require an engineer to help you determine, but when new sewer is installed it is usually designed to ensure that all adjacent residents can be connected by gravity at the minimum pipe slope or greater. Situations where gravity connection cannot be made are rare, but do happen – things to look for would be if your home appears to be below the grade of the adjacent roadway where the sewer was installed. If you are able to determine that you cannot connect to the new sewer by gravity, you may qualify for a variance as described below, as long as your existing septic system is working and meets all setback requirements.
If public sewer is available, and you don’t qualify for a variance, you must connect within the timeframes provided in the Guam Toilet Facilities and Sewer Disposal Act (10 GCA Chapter 48) and the Connection to Public Sewer Regulations (22 GAR Chapter 25), which in general is five (5) years from the time public sewer first becomes available for existing dwellings served by adequate septic systems, but this may be reduced to 6 months or even less in some situations. See the section below titled “How long do I have to connect to sewer if it is installed in my neighborhood?” for additional details and criteria required for time extensions.
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Waste System Permit Application Update
Notice to the Public: Pursuant to Public Law 37-105, GEPA’s interim authority to issue construction and operating permits for Type 4 facilities and holding tanks expired on July 31, 2025. GEPA is unable to proceed with the review or approval of Waste Disposal System permit applications until regulations have been adopted.
UPDATED AS OF JULY 18, 2024: Requirements for Septic Systems
Please be advised that the Toilet Facilities and Sewage Disposal Chapter codified in 10 GCA Chapter 48 has been amended through the enactment of Guam Public Law 37-105.
On July 18, 2024, Bill 175-37(COR) as substituted and amended on the floor was signed into law as Guam Public Law 37-105 and is effective upon enactment. As a result of this enactment, certain conditional environmental clearances issued by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency for building permits issued by the Department of Public Works have changed and will now be performed in accordance to this new law and its amended provisions.
Permitting Tips Presentations: Contractors, Home Builders and Property Buyers
In case you missed our Construction & Industry Forum on March 29, 2023, you can click on the links below to access presentations about Guam EPA’s construction permitting process:
In Guam, the use of onsite wastewater disposal systems commonly referred to as ”septic systems,” is regulated through a number of laws and regulations. These laws and regulations cover specific requirements for the permitting, design and construction of septic systems in Guam. Guam EPA has developed this FAQ to help you understand the application of various requirements to the design, permitting, and construction of a septic system for a single family dwelling.
Guam Business License & Permit Center Window Hours
Guam Business License and Permit Center Agency Window Hours:
