AN ACT to provide flexibility in the calculation of wastewater design flow rates for permitted wastewater treatment systems.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 143‑215.1(f3) reads as rewritten:

(f3)     The permittee for a wastewater system:

(1)        May calculate its wastewater flows for new dwelling units discharging to wastewater systems serving two or more dwelling units that have yet to be connected and for which the permittee has allocated capacity, at 75 gallons per day per bedroom, or at a lower rate approved by the Department. Department in accordance with subdivision (3) of this subsection. If wastewater flows are calculated pursuant to this subdivision, the minimum volume of sewage from each dwelling unit is 75 gallons per day and each additional bedroom above one bedroom increases the volume by 75 gallons per day.

(2)        Shall calculate its wastewater flows for new dwelling units discharging to wastewater systems serving two or more dwelling units that have yet to be connected and for which the permittee has not allocated capacity at 75 gallons per day per bedroom, or at a lower rate approved by the Department. Department in accordance with subdivision (3) of this subsection. For wastewater flows calculated pursuant to this subdivision, the minimum volume of sewage from each dwelling unit is 75 gallons per day and each additional bedroom above one bedroom increases the volume by 75 gallons per day.

(3)        May calculate its wastewater flows for new dwelling units discharging to wastewater systems serving two or more dwelling units that have yet to be connected at a flow rate less than 75 gallons per day per bedroom if approved by the Department based on the permittee demonstrating that the calculated flow rate corresponds to the average actual flow experienced during the last calendar year and that using this flow rate will not result in any adverse impact on public health or the environment. The Department shall not approve any flow rates for new dwelling units calculated at less than 55 gallons per day per bedroom.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be used by the Department for the purpose of reviewing wastewater design flow rates proposed by permitted wastewater treatment systems in accordance with Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2026.