Septage Discharge

Septage Hauler Requirements

All haulers must obtain a Septage Hauler Discharge Permit before discharging septage at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant. Permits are issued to haulers that complete the following requirements:

• Discharge Permit Application (online or printable)
• Online Application
• Application Packet (PDF)
• Permits are valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.
• Provide an annual insurance certificate for July 1 through June 30 with the Town of Exeter as an additional insured. Insurance binders can be emailed, or mailed to 13 Newfields Rd, Exeter, NH 03833 (Attn: Trisha Allen)
• A permit form must be completed and approved at the Exeter Public Works Department before any work commences (Town Ordinances Ch. 15).
• Insurance Requirements:
  1. Prior to the issuance of the permit, certificates of minimum insurance, including automobile, property damage, liability, bodily injury liability, and worker’s compensation insurance, according to the amounts described in this section.
      
  2. Liability coverage: General liability $500,000 combined single limit comprehensive form, broad form property damage. Independent contractors insurance, product/completed operations insurance. If work involves the following, appropriate coverage is necessary: explosion; collapse; underground.
      
  3. Vehicle Insurance: $500,000 combined single limit, comprehensive form, owned, hired/non-owned.
      
  4. Worker Compensation: Statutory limits, employer liability $500,000. These certificates shall contain a provision that the insurance company will notify the certificate holder and Town, by registered mail, at least fifteen days in advance of any cancellation or material changes.
      

Haulers must have a satisfactory record of compliance with all conditions and requirements to receive a permit renewal. Haulers are invoiced monthly for the previous month's disposal services. The invoice is due within 30 days of the invoice date. Any account in arrears will result in immediate revocation of the haulers' disposal privileges.

Septage Discharge Fees

Septage discharge fees are assessed at a single rate per gallon for all NH districts, effective March 2025. Volumes are determined to the nearest 100-gallon increment based on flow meter readings.

Disposal Rate:  All NH Communities = $0.12 per gallon

Domestic septage is accepted from surrounding NH communities and can be discharged at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant at 13 Newfields Rd. Non-domestic septage will not be accepted.

What Is Domestic Septage?

Domestic septage is either liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank, cesspool, portable toilet, Type III Marine Sanitation Device, or a similar treatment that receives only domestic sewage. Domestic septage does not include liquid or solid material received from commercial or industrial wastewater. It also does not include grease removed from a grease trap.

Prohibited Sources

The following are all sources that are prohibited from septage discharge at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant:

• Grease traps
• Septage outside of New Hampshire
• Commercial and industrial septage (exceptions for approvals)

Receiving Procedures

Septage is only received at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant at 13 Newfields Rd. Septage can be received during our regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., excluding town-recognized holidays.

All haulers must check in at the lobby of the Wastewater Building to receive training for use of the septage equipment and continue to do so until completely trained on the equipment.

Haulers must electronically enter the Septage Discharge Manifest using the Portalogic Human Interface Control Panel. Our staff will review the Septage Discharge Manifest information and create invoices using this data.

The load will be charged at full tank volume if there is no flow meter reading available. Full tank volumes will be determined from a registered tank listing of all town permitted septage haulers. Any adjustments to the original declared volume will be recorded on the Septage Discharge Manifest and verified by the hauler.

The Exeter Wastewater Treatment Facility has limited capacity to collect septage.  The septage hauler station will be closed once the daily limit has been reached - NO EXCEPTIONS.  A group text and/or email will be sent when the capacity has been reached or if there is an equipment malfunction. 

Septage cannot be discharged without prior official town authorization.