Outside of metropolitan areas, residential developers are blazing the trail with smart growth developments. Without the ability to hook into municipal or city sewer, residential developers have looked towards innovative methods to collect, treat and dispose of wastewater. By implementing decentralized wastewater systems, smart growth planning opportunities are able to be implemented resulting in the efficient use of land, lower infrastructure costs and the building of communities.

In Minnesota, decentralized wastewater systems have become more and more popular for residential developers. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has permitted over 100 new wastewater systems in the last 5 years with over 60% of permits for new decentralized wastewater systems.

When a decentralized wastewater system is constructed, the developer is initially accountable for ensuring responsible management of the water and wastewater system; however, once the development nears completion, that responsibility is transferred over to a homeowners association, utility or local governmental unit. Until ownership is transferred, the developer is responsible for operations and management and their liability is the greatest at this time. To minimize liability, residential developers need a wastewater operator that can assist in the initial management of the wastewater system and can also act as a liaison for transferring these responsibilities to their management entity.

The services EcoCheck provides to residential developers include:

• Financial planning and risk management. Short- and long-term financial planning is a key component of effective wastewater management. EcoCheck helps manage risk and minimize liability issues by providing long term financial plans for monthly rates and annual budgets for the lifetime of the system. EcoCheck also is able to project how much money the developer will need to invest in the system initially until ownership is transferred.
  How to set an annual budget · How to set a monthly billing rate

• By-law establishment and disclosure statements. EcoCheck is experienced in working with attorneys to protect systems through homeowner association by-laws and can help prepare the necessary information for disclosure purposes at the time of closing. A well-crafted set of by-laws is a key component in the implementation and management of any decentralized water or wastewater system.

• Lot pricing. Competitive lot pricing is important. EcoCheck helps developers protect their investments by helping them price lots to cover the capital cost and initial operation and maintenance of the development's water/wastewater system.

• Operations and maintenance (O&M). The developer is responsible for initiating and maintaining the water and/or wastewater system. Having a knowledgeable operator for your water or wastewater system from the onset provides continuity during the transfer of ownership. Other services EcoCheck provides include regulatory reporting (as required by the permit), sample collection, preventative maintenance, and overall operation of the system.

• 24/7 emergency services. EcoCheck is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle any emergencies that may arise with your water or wastewater system. Having an operator who can respond quickly to emergency situations minimizes the potential for property damage and environmental issues.

• Regulatory reporting and compliance. EcoCheck ensures that engineering designs are in compliance with regulatory permits, before, during, and after the system is constructed. We provide regulatory reports that comply with reporting requirements at the county and state level.
  Example year-end report

• Newsletters and important updates. EcoCheck produces and distributes newsletters to homeowners that reiterate the importance of protecting their wastewater system. Education helps minimize liability for the developer, protects the system for future homeowners and gets the project going down the right path the first time around.
  Newsletter · Important Updates

• Resources. EcoCheck is a leader in the field of decentralized wastewater management and planning. We produce articles and presentations for local and national conferences.
  Article: Wastewater Management Ideas for Successful Homeowners Associations