Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS)
Program Code Chapter: SPS 383
Disclaimer: Review WI statute for full program requirements
Overview
Protects public health and the waters of Wisconsin by regulating onsite wastewater treatment and recycling systems, and by prompting use of the best available technology to provide onsite sewage treatment system solutions for property owners.
Announcements
The POWTS program offers a POWTS update via Zoom on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 9am. Each free update provides one hour of continuing education credit for certain POWTS credentials. You must pre-register to receive the meeting link.
Register on the DSPS page of bookwhen.com.
8/22/2025: DSPS received input from the POWTS Technical Advisory Committee and the public about the WGNHS Report and continued use of the Hydrograph Procedure. Considering this input, DSPS continue indefinite suspension of the Hydrograph Procedure until adequate controls are created in Chapter SPS 385 to safely allow continued use of the method. See the Hydrograph Suspension page for additional information.
7/30/2025: The hydrograph method is used in Wisconsin to evaluate site and soil conditions for proposed private onsite wastewater treatment systems. DSPS suspended use of the method in April 2024 due to erratic groundwater elevations observed in recent years DSPS, with an update notice provided in May 2024. This suspension affected areas in the Wisconsin Central Sands Region (parts of Adams, Juneau, Portage, Waushara, and Wood counties). Suspension of the Hydrograph Procedure is intended to remain in effect until such a time that groundwater levels normalize and suitable controls are in place to safely allow for use of the method. DSPS contracted with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey to assist in evaluating the observation wells used and create maps indicating average depth to groundwater in portions of the state where the method was utilized. See the WGNHS Hydrograph Procedure Report for more information.
Plan Review
Plans must be submitted for installation or construction of a POWTS and replacement and addition of POWTS treatment, holding, and dispersal components. Other plans required for review are identified under Tables 383.22-1, 383.22-2, and 383.22-3.
When submitted plans comply with DSPS requirements, you will receive a conditional approval letter granting permission to start construction of the project, pending local permitting requirements.
Where do I submit my plans?
If the project is in an area with delegated authority to conduct plan review, and the project is not for a state-owned building or land, you may be able to submit to the county directly.
Check the POWTS Delegated Agent list to see if your municipality has authority to review plans for your project.
If your municipality does not have authority, submit your plans to DSPS via esla.wi.gov.
The following plans should always be submitted to the local government unit with jurisdiction over the project area:
POWTS that serve a single one- or two-family dwelling utilizing an approved component manual and gravity distribution to an in-ground distribution cell.
Holding tanks that have a product approval and comply with a component manual.
What is needed for plan review to DSPS?
Owner information
Site and project information
Plan set (signed, sealed, and dated)
Supporting documentation such as specifications
Plan review fee payment
See the eSLA Information page for user guides and general instructions.
Permit
See the local municipality or county covering your project location. However, a local permit is conditional on an approved plan review.
Applications for state-owned POWTS are submitted to DSPS via esla.wi.gov. You will need to provide:
Owner information
Site and project information
Plumber information
Plan set (signed, sealed, and dated)
Permit fee payment
See the eSLA Information page for user guides and general instructions.
Inspection
Inspection of POWTS construction and installation is required in accordance with the plan review conditional approval letter.
Contact the agency that issued your POWTS permit.
Product Approval
POWTS Products
Products identified under Table 384.10 must be approved by DSPS before they may be sold for use, or installed, in a plumbing system.
Use the eSLA Look-Up Tool to view approvals of plumbing, POWTS, and pool products.
How do I request a product approval?
Submit applications to DSPS via esla.wi.gov. You will need to provide:
Owner and designer/manufacturer information
Product information
Specifications and plans/drawings
Product review fee payment
See the Plumbing Reference Material page for product checklists.
See the eSLA Information page for user guides and general instructions.
Renewal
Plumbing product approvals are valid for five years. An approval is eligible for renewal six months prior to expiration. If the approval expires, it cannot be renewed and a new application is required.
Soil Erosion/Stormwater Products
Erosion control product requirements are in accordance with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Practice Standard 1071, Interim Manufactured Perimeter Control Slope Interruption Products.
Resources
Forms
Reference Material
POWTS Standard Plan Pages
Contact Us
If the county covering your project location has been delegated authority for your project type, and the project is not for a state-owned building or land, contact the county directly.
Use the POWTS Delegated Agent List to determine if you should contact the county or DSPS.
If the municipality does not have proper authority, contact the DSPS plan review team at DSPSSBPowtsTech@wisconsin.gov.
If the county covering your project location has been delegated authority for your project type, and the project is not for a state-owned building or land, contact the county directly.
Use the POWTS Delegated Agent List to determine if you should contact the county or DSPS.
If the municipality does not have proper authority, use the Inspector Look-Up Tool to determine the DSPS-appointed inspector for your county.
DSPS maintains program-specific email inboxes (tech boxes) to answer general code questions. Responses should not be construed as formal code interpretations nor do they supersede any previously issued correspondence from DSPS. Tech boxes should not be used for projects where code officials are already involved.
Amusement Rides: DspsSbHealthAndSafetyTech@wisconsin.gov
Boilers and Pressure Vessels: DspsSbBoilertech@wisconsin.gov
Camping Units: DspsSbUdcTech@wisconsin.gov
Commercial Buildings and HVAC: DspsSbBuildingTech@wisconsin.gov
Electrical: DspsSbElectricTech@wisconsin.gov
Elevators: DspsSbElevatorTech@wisconsin.gov
Fire Prevention and Fire Departments: DSPSSBFirePrevention@wisconsin.gov
Fire Suppression and Fire Alarm Systems: DspsSbFireProTech@wisconsin.gov
Gas Systems: DspsSbBoilertech@wisconsin.gov
Manufactured Home Communities: DspsSbUdcTech@wisconsin.gov
Mines and Explosives: DSPSMineSafety@wisconsin.gov
Modular Dwellings: DspsSbUdcTech@wisconsin.gov
One- and Two-Family Dwellings: DspsSbUdcTech@wisconsin.gov
Plumbing and Cross Connection: DspsSbPlbgTech@wisconsin.gov
Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment (POWTS): DspsSbPowtsTech@wisconsin.gov
Product Evaluations (Building, Plumbing, Pools, POWTS): DspsSbProductTech@wisconsin.gov
Public Sector Safety: DspsSbHealthAndSafetyTech@wisconsin.gov
Public Swimming Pools: DspsSbPoolTech@wisconsin.gov
Refrigeration Systems: DspsSbBoilertech@wisconsin.gov
Ski Lifts and Tows: DspsSbHealthAndSafetyTech@wisconsin.gov
Welding (Structural): DspsSbBoilertech@wisconsin.gov
For general questions not related to specific programs or technical codes, use these contacts:
General permitting, plan submittal, invoicing, eSLA: eSLAsupport@wisconsin.gov
Materials Orders: DspsSbMaterialOrders@wisconsin.gov
Fire Safe Cigarettes: eslaSupport@wisconsin.gov
Fire Dues: DSPSSBFireDues@Wisconsin.gov
NERIS: DSPSISNERIS@wisconsin.gov
Delegated Agents: DSPSSBDelegations@wisconsin.gov
Grants: DSPSGrants@wisconsin.gov
Credential (licenses, certifications, registrations): https://license.wi.gov/s/file-a-complaint
Subscribe to email updates from DSPS and receive upcoming announcements and notifications.
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Under Subscription Topics, expand the Industry Updates section.
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More Information
Related Pages
You may be interested in the pages below.
Codes and Statutes
Explore current and past codes and statutes for DSPS public safety programs.
Credentialing
Look up DSPS credentials.
