Waste Hauling and Septage Rules in Albuquerque, NM

What does 20.7.3.306 NMAC say about disposal?

Septage may be disposed of only at a permitted facility, with the facility owner's consent. The rule also requires customer invoices and disposal records, which are kept for the period the rule sets.

The rule is about where the waste goes. A hauler cannot choose a convenient place, and a facility without a permit is not a valid destination for septage.

A copy of the rule is available through the state's regulatory publications. This site describes the rule's requirements and does not replace the regulation itself.

What is the NMED pumper application?

The NMED septage pumper application names the trained person who must be present at a pumping site. It names the NAWT Vacuum Truck Technician Training certification as evidence of competence.

The application is a form from the state's environment department. Its 2018 version is the one reviewed for this page, and the current version should be checked with NMED before relying on it.

The point of the application is that a trained, registered person is present when septage is pumped. Ask the hauler who that person is and what certification they hold.

Do groundwater discharge permits apply?

Individual haulers operate under NMED groundwater discharge permits issued under 20.6.2 NMAC. Whether a portable-toilet service needs its own NMED permit was not confirmed, so the hauler is asked to name the permit it holds.

The rule places the permit on the hauler. A rental company that does not haul the waste itself does not hold that permit, and the hauler's permit is the one that matters.

This site does not state that a portable-toilet service needs an NMED permit. It states that the hauler carries the permits its work requires, and that the caller is entitled to see them.

What should the caller ask for?

The hauler's name, its NMED permit numbers, the name of the trained person on the truck, and the facility where the waste goes. Those four items are the basis of a sound service file.

Ask for the facility name and address. A caller who knows where the waste goes can check that the place is a permitted facility.

Ask for a copy of the disposal record for each load on request. A hauler that will not provide it is not one the caller should use.

• Hauler's name and NMED permit numbers
• Name of the trained person on the truck
• Facility name and address for disposal
• Disposal record for each load on request

What is a pump-out and how is it done?

A pump-out empties the holding tank of a portable unit into a vacuum truck, using a hose and a trained pumper. The tank is then rinsed and the unit is checked before it goes back to service.

The pumper connects the hose, runs the pump and records the volume. The process is done with the unit closed and the area around it kept clear of foot traffic.

After the pump-out the unit is checked for leaks, the door and the vent are tested and the record is completed. The truck leaves the site with the load and the record, and the unit is left ready for use.

What should happen if a unit overflows?

The site is cleaned by the trained crew, the unit is pumped and checked, and the incident is recorded with the time and the cause. The overflow is reported to the site contact the same day.

An overflow is a health and hygiene problem. The crew uses protective equipment and keeps guests away from the area until the site is clean.

The cause is recorded: a unit that filled early, a hose blocked, or a schedule that was not kept. The record guides the next schedule and the next count.

What belongs in the service file for a site?

The hauler's name and permit numbers, the trained person's name, the facility name and address, and the disposal records for each load. The file is kept with the site plan, so any question can be answered from it.

A complete file lets the site contact answer a question from the City, the owner or a neighbor without a phone call. The file should be complete before the first pump-out, not assembled after a complaint.

The file is shared with the site contact on request, and it is updated at each pump-out with the new load record.

How do the rules apply at a rural or remote site?

The same rules apply: a permitted facility, a trained pumper and a disposal record. Distance changes the route, not the rule, and the hauler plans the trip so the load goes to a permitted facility.

A remote site may be farther from a permitted facility, and the trip is longer. The hauler plans the route to the facility and does not take a shorter route to an unpermitted place.

The record for a remote pump-out is the same as for a city one. The file shows the date, the facility and the volume.