There are many unanswered questions and we will do our best to provide answers as they become available. At the moment, we know the following:

  • The new DEP Rules will establish NSAs - Nitrogen Sensitive Areas that are the areas that contribute to estuaries negatively impacted by nitrogen.

  • The initial plan is to mandate that every property owner within a NSA augment their septic system with Innovative / Alternative denitrifying technology within 5 years.

  • Municipalities can apply to have some or all of a Town offset this deadline.

  • The areas in color on the map will automatically be NSAs.

Innovative / Alternative Technologies

MassDEP Approval Page

Provisional Use - Best Available Technology:

These systems are more expensive and they will remove more nitrogen from sewage. General Use Approval is being fast-tracked and we can expect these to be the main systems to be required.

Nitrex Approval Lombardo Website

Nitroe Approval KleanTu Website

General Use Systems:

Please speak with an engineer, sanitarian, designer, health agent or product representative regarding the right system for your property.

Advantex AX20, AX100, and AX-RT Treatment System by Orenco Systems, Inc.

Amphidrome Treatment System by F.R. Mahony & Associates, Inc.

Bioclere Units by Aquapoint.3 LLC

Biofilter by Waterloo Biofilter System, Inc.

Busse-MF by Busse Green Technologies, Inc.

The Clean Solution Treatment System by Wastewater Alternatives of New England, LLC Models: 250, 250 PT, 250ST3, 250ST4, 600, 1000, 1750, 2500, 3100 and 10000

FAST Systems by Bio-Microbics, Inc.

JET Aerobic Wastewater Treatment by Jet Inc. Models: J-500, J-500-PLT, J-750, J-800-PLT, J-1000, J-1250, and J-1500

Hoot Aerobic System H (A)-Series, Inc. by Hoot Systems, LLC

Modular FAST System by Smith and Loveless, Inc.

SeptiTech Treatment Systems by Bio-Microbics of Maine, Inc.

Norweco Singulair Bio-Kinetic Wastewater Treatment System General Use Approval


It is important to note that there are two systems whose manufacturers purport more advanced treatment. These are currently permitted under the provisional status.