House committee substitute to the 1st edition adds the following new content and makes the following changes.

Section 1.

Amends GS 130A-334 (definitions pertaining to wastewater systems) as follows. Adds defined terms advanced pretreatment (any biological, chemical, or physical process or system used in addition to or in place of a septic tank system. Advanced pretreatment includes, but is not limited to, aeration, clarification, digestion, disinfection, filtration, separation, and settling. Advanced pretreatment effluent shall meet the treatment standards adopted by the Commission for Public Health (Commission) for  better than septic tank effluent quality), removes term pretreatment (any biological, chemical, or physical process or system for improving wastewater quality and reducing wastewater constituents prior to final treatment and disposal in a subsurface wastewater system and includes, but is not limited to aeration, clarification, digestion, disinfection, filtration, separation, and settling). Makes organizational changes. Replaces references to ”pretreatment” with “advanced pretreatment” in GS 130A-335(f) and GS 130A-336.1(e)(1).

Section 2.

Further amends GS 130A-343(g)(3) (allowing for a manufacturer of a wastewater system for on-site subsurface to apply for and be considered for innovative system status) as follows. Replaces reference to “wastewater system” with reference to “advanced pretreatment system” when describing the system to be approved as an innovative wastewater system under the subsection so long as the statutory conditions are met. Now also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to verify that (1) the protocol testing dataset includes a minimum of 55 influent and effluent datasets that include the applicable constituents identified in rules adopted by the Commission and obtained from testing for a minimum of 26 weeks, with protocol sampling conducted during all weeks of the testing period and (2) the protocol testing data complies with the applicable effluent standards identified in rules adopted by the Commission in addition to other required verifications for issuance of an innovative wastewater permit under the statute. 

Allows the Commission to adopt temporary and permanent rules to implement the changes to GS 130A-343(g). 

Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.