Apply for a Permit to Haul and Dump Septic Waste

To haul septic waste in Salem or use the septic waste discharge receiving station, you must apply for a septic waste hauler discharge permit and follow the guidelines listed below [Salem Revised Code (SRC) Chapter 74].

Permit application process

Issuance of a septic waste hauler dicharge permit is contingent on maintaining a State of Oregon License for Sewage Disposal Service. If the State license lapses or is revoked, the City permit is revoked.

You need to submit a completed septic haulers discharge permit application to Environmental Services and receive an approval before you can haul septic waste.

​Septic haulers discharge permit guidelines

If you are granted a discharge permit, you are expected to follow the rules outlined below. You can also download and print the septic haulers discharge permit guidelines.

1. ​The discharge of all hauled wastes must be performed at the designated area: Public Works Operations Waste Processing Facility, 3111 Airway DR SE, Salem OR. Discharge to the City of Salem (City) sewer system at any other location is prohibited. Discharges may be performed 24 hours a day.

2. Hauled wastes are subject to sampling by the City. The hauler may be required to suspend the discharging of wastes until the analysis is complete. The City reserves the right to refuse permission to dump any load.

3. The permit is issued contingent on maintenance of a State of Oregon License for Sewage Disposal Service. If the State license is allowed to lapse or is revoked by the State, this City permit will also expire or otherwise be revoked.

4. Permit holders must maintain their account with the City in current status. Any user not paying their City account by the date stipulated in the account bill will not be allowed further use of the dump station until such time as the account is paid in full.

5. All wastes shall be declared on the discharge forms provided and shall not contain a prohibited discharge. Each user must present a completed dump slip, accurately listing each source of the load, prior to disposal.

6. Approval to dispose of any material other than residual septic tank waste and approved portable toilet wastes must be requested in advance of bringing in the load for disposal, and written consent must be given by the Public Works Director or his designated agent before that waste will be accepted for disposal.

1. ​The following types of waste will not be accepted for disposal at the Public Works Operations Waste Processing Facility: industrial or business wastes, including wastes from any sand/oil separators, grease traps, hot tanks, dip or batch tanks, or any other tank, pit, pond, or container used to hold wastes or products used in a business or related purpose; wastes from other than domestic residential use.

2. Any waste that may cause pass-through of pollutants or interfere with the wastewater treatment plant operations, or that violates Federal, State, or local restrictions, shall not be discharged to the Salem wastewater treatment system.

3. The permittee is prohibited from discharging wastes as listed in SRC 74.050 and SRC 74.180. In general, prohibited materials include wastes containing:

• Fats, wax, grease, or oils of petroleum origin, whether emulsified or not

• Any liquids, solids, or gases that can create fire, explosion, or health hazard

• Any substances capable of causing obstructions or other interferences with proper operation of the sewer system

• Any pollutant that will cause a pass-through of pollutants to occur, or an interference with the City wastewater treatment facility’s operations or sludge use and/or disposal practices

• Any wastes, sludge, screenings, or other residues from business or industrial wastes, or the pretreatment of business or industrial wastes

• Detergents, surface active agents, or other substances that may cause excessive foaming in the municipal wastewater system

• Ammonia, ammonia salts, or other chelating agents that will produce metallic complexes that interfere with the municipal wastewater system

• Material considered a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (R.C.R.A.), or materials that are toxic, hazardous, radioactive, or infectious medical wastes

1. The City shall have the right to enter the facilities (mobile and fixed) of any industrial user to ascertain whether the purpose of this permit and SRC Chapter 74 are being met and all requirements are being complied with. Industrial users shall allow the Director or his representative ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records examination and copying, and the performance of any additional duties [SRC 74.480].

2. All wastes must be accompanied by a completed waste dump slip. All information regarding the wastes origin of each waste generator will be included. The hauler shall also sign the form indicating that he has accepted no wastes other than those listed. Failure to accurately record every load, falsification of data, or failure to transmit the form to the City prior to discharge may result in revocation of this permit, a fine of up to $1,000 per offense [SRC 74.590], or other enforcement remedies covered in SRC 74.510 through SRC 74.620.

3. The permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, waste manifest forms, copies of any reports required, and records of all data pertaining to hauled loads for a period of at least three years. This period may be extended by request of the City at any time [SRC 74.450].

• Severability

  The provisions of this permit are severable, and if any provision of this permit, or the application of any provision of this permit to any circumstance, is held invalid, the application of such provision to other circumstances, and the remainder of this permit, shall not be affected thereby [SRC 74.640].

• Duty to comply

  The permittee must comply with all conditions of this permit [SRC 74.570]. Failure to comply with the requirements of this permit may be grounds for administrative action or enforcement proceedings including civil or criminal penalties, injunctive relief, and summary abatements.

• Duty to mitigate

  The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or correct any adverse impact to the public treatment plant or the environment resulting from noncompliance with this permit, including such accelerated or additional monitoring as necessary to determine the nature and impact of the noncomplying discharge.

• Permit modification

  This permit may be modified for good causes including, but not limited to, the following [SRC 74.320]:

• To incorporate any new or revised Federal, State, or local pretreatement standard or requirement.

• To incorporate any equipment modifications to existing vehicles or addition of new vehicles to fleet. All changes must be approved by the City prior to use of any new or modified equipment.

• Material or substantial alterations or additions to the discharger’s operation processes, discharge volume, or character that were not considered in drafting the effective permit.

• A change in any condition in either the industrial user or the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) that requires either a temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the authorized discharge.

• Information indicating that the permitted discharge poses a threat to the City’s collection and treatment systems, POTW personnel, or the receiving waters.

• Violation of any terms or conditions of the permit.

• Misrepresentation or failure to disclose fully all relevant facts in the permit application or in any required reporting.

• To correct typographical or other errors in the permit.

• Upon request of the permittee, provided such request does not create a violation of any applicable requirements, standards, laws, or rules and regulations.

The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit modification, revocation and reissuance, termination, or a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance, does not stay any permit condition.

• Permit termination

  This permit may be terminated for any of the following reasons [SRC 74.570]:

  • Failing to submit a completed dump slip for each load brought in for disposal.

  • Supplying false information on dump slip regarding content and/or source of load, amount discharged, or vehicle identification.

  • Refusing reasonable and/or timely access to the user’s premises for the purpose of inspection, monitoring, or sampling.

  • Failing to pay sewer charges.

  • Failing to pay fines.

  • Tampering with monitoring equipment.

  • Failing to dispose of waste at the designated City facility.

  • Failing to maintain a State of Oregon License for Sewage Disposal Service.

  • Failing to reapply for a permit within 90 days prior to the expiration date of the existing permit and pay any applicable fees or charges.

  • Failing to furnish or allow sampling of wastes, at the City’s request, prior to disposal of such wastes.

  • Failing to comply with all conditions of this permit.

  • Discharging any wastes that cause interference or damage to the POTW.

• Duty to reapply

  If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by the permit after the expiration date of the permit, the permittee must submit an application for a new permit at least 90 days before the expiration date of the permit [SRC 74.340].

• Continuation of expired permit

  An expired permit will continue to be effective and enforceable until the permit is reissued if:

  • The permittee has submitted a complete permit application at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of the user’s existing permit.

  • The failure to reissue the permit, prior to the expiration of the previous permit, is not due to any act or failure to act on the part of the permittee.

• Permit transfer

  Permits may not be reassigned or transferred from the permittee to a new industrial user [SRC 74.330].

• Property rights

  The issuance of the permit does not convey any property rights of any sort or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to private property or any invasion of personal rights, nor any violation of Federal, State, or local laws or regulations.

• Disposal procedure

  The septic tank dump facility is located at:
  Public Works Opertaions Waste Processing Facility
  3111 Airway DR SE, Salem OR
  Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day

• Access will be 24 hours through gate at 3111 Airway DR SE.

  In order to access the facility through the gate you will need to enter your PIN. The PIN is the same one you have been assigned to activate the septic station. If you need assistance opening the gate you will need to call Public Works Dispatch by phone.

  1. Connect truck to station intake using a city provided hose.

  2. Turn the station on “START,” and log in using your truck number and PIN number.

  3. Open truck valve and begin discharging. Pressurizing your tank 7 to 12 psi will be required to completely empty tank.

  4. When tank is empty, blow air through the hose to clean and to prevent wastewater from flowing back out when disconnecting the hose.

  5. Close tank valve, turn the system off “DONE,” and take the printed receipt.

  6. Disconnect hose from truck and then from the station intake.

  7. Rinse the hose out, place back on rack, and clean up any spills.

  8. If spillage outside of the containment area occurs, the driver must immediately notify Public Works Dispatch in Building #2. The spiller shall utilize their pumper truck to pick up the waste, so it can be discharged into the proper area. The septic hauler will be liable for any cleanup costs incurred due to release of septic wastes outside of the dump station containment area.

  9. Leave a copy of your manifest in the drop box.

  The last septic truck to use the dump facility will be held responsible for any spills not cleaned up. If you find spillage at the facility upon arrival, notify City staff before you hook up.

​Forms