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Rio Blanco Board of Health adopts state-aligned Regulation 43 for on‑site wastewater systems
Summary
After a public hearing, the Rio Blanco County Board of Health adopted a resolution to readopt local on‑site wastewater regulations to align with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Regulation 43; staff said changes are largely definitional and staff expects little cost impact for most residential systems.
The Rio Blanco County Board of Health voted May 19 to adopt local on‑site wastewater treatment system regulations that align the county with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Regulation 43.
County attorney Rose Footley presented the draft and described the procedural steps: the county submitted its draft to CDPHE 30 days before the hearing and received pre‑adoption approval on May 7, 2026. “The last time you adopted was in 2018,” Footley told the board, and the draft aims to make the county’s rules match current state practice and what is feasible for Rio Blanco landowners. She said staff had not received public comments prior to the hearing.
Commissioners asked what practical differences landowners would see. A staff presenter identified as Matt said the changes are mostly updates to definitions and a small set of engineering and design criteria; he said newer evaluation studies and protections for surface water and stepbacks are clarified, but “I don't see any increase in costs” for typical residential systems. He added that larger commercial or industrial septic systems and soil treatment areas would likely experience the most substantive changes.
The board closed the public hearing following staff remarks and a roll‑call vote, then approved the resolution adopting the county regulation consistent with CDPHE Regulation 43. The county recorded the adoption by roll call; the motion carried with affirmative votes by the members present.
Board members noted next administrative steps: keeping the building department’s permitting role intact while relocating the policy language to the board of health’s policies rather than the land‑use code. Footley said the county must complete adoption by June 15 to satisfy CDPHE’s timeline.
The adoption is procedural rather than policy‑reshaping, officials said, and staff promised to circulate the final text and answer any follow‑up technical questions.
