Sewage Sludge Utilization Licenses

Why is a Sewage Sludge Utilization License necessary?

The purpose of the Sewage Sludge Utilization License is to ensure protection of the public health and ground water by requiring that all septage haulers properly handle and dispose of all septic waste.

When do I need a Sewage Sludge Utilization License?

A Sewage Sludge Utilization License must be obtained by any person or company engaged in the business of cleaning and emptying septic tanks, holding tanks, privies or other sewage disposal facilities.

Permit Process

A completed application and appropriate fee must be submitted by the applicant and a request for truck inspection must be made.  Please refer to the Sewage Sludge Utilization Permit Application.  The license fee is $231.00.

Conditions of Approval

The application will be reviewed for compliance with current standards and, if the application is acceptable, an inspection of the sludge hauling truck will be scheduled by a Well and Septic inspector.

License Issuance

Once a permit application has been approved, the permit will be issued after a truck inspection has been completed and a waste discharge location has been authorized.  A Sewage Sludge Utilization License number must be lettered on the vehicle in accordance with regulations before a vehicle may be allowed to operate.  Permit processing time is usually two weeks, depending on work load. 

License Duration

All licenses expire on January 31st of each calendar year, regardless of when they were issued during the preceding year.

Appeal Information

If a permit is denied, an appeal may be made to the Chief of the Division of Land Development.  If the appeal is denied based on County law, the denial may be appealed to the Montgomery County Board of Appeals.  If the denial is based on State law, an appeal may be made to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Inspection Information

Inspections of sludge hauing trucks are required annually.  The trucks must be properly lettered and at least one-half full of clean water at the time of inspection.  Sludge hauling truck inspections are done at the Well and Septic office and must be scheduled in advance.  The applicant will also need to specify an acceptable disposal site.  If the site is a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) facility, the proper WSSC approval must be provided to the inspector.