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SCDHEC REGULATION 61-56 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025
Alternative System - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A system
incorporating design modifications of the proposed
subsurface wastewater infiltration trench area (drain
field) or absorption trench geometry for the purpose of
achieving compliance with required setbacks and offset
to the zone of saturation and/or restrictive horizons. No
such system shall be utilized unless the Department has
established a specific standard.
Alternative Infiltration Trench Products - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ Products specifically designed to replace or
eliminate the aggregate typically utilized in subsurface
infiltration trenches. Such products must be approved for
use by the Department and must adhere to required
equivalency values established herein.
Bond - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A sum of money set aside
(Surety Bond) to insure completion of work under a
contract.
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Canal - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ An artificial waterway
used for navigation, drainage, or irrigation.
Cleaning - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ The removal and
transportation of septage from an onsite wastewater
system, self-contained toilet, or other sewage holding
system to an approved disposal location.
Color Charts (Munsell System or equivalent) -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Charts bearing various color chips
established by a recognized color system which uses
three elements—hue, value, and chroma—to make up a
specific color notation. The notation is recorded in the
form of hue, value, and chroma (e.g., 10YR 5/6). The
three attributes of color are arranged in the system in
orderly scales of equal visual steps, which are used to
measure and describe color accurately under standard
conditions of illumination by comparing soil samples to
color chips on various charts.
Conventional System - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ An onsite
wastewater system that utilizes a network of
conventional wastewater infiltration trenches installed in
the naturally occurring soil for the treatment and
disposal of domestic wastewater.
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Critical Area - S. C. Code Section 48-39-10(J) defines
critical area as the following - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ 1)
coastal waters; 2) tidelands; 3) beaches; 4) beach/dune
systems which are the areas from the mean high-water
mark to the setback line as determined in S. C. Code
Section 48-39-280.
Curtain Drain - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A subsurface
interceptor drain that is installed to collect and redirect
groundwater as it flows through the soil profile to an
appropriate discharge point.
Ditch - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A long narrow excavation
intended for the purpose of drainage and/or irrigation.
Domestic Wastewater - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ The
untreated liquid and solid human body waste and the
liquids generated by water-using fixtures and
appliances, including those associated with food service
operations. For the purposes of this regulation, domestic
wastewater shall not include industrial process
wastewater.
Dwelling - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A self-contained unit
used by one (1) or more households as a home, such as
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a house, apartment, mobile home, house boat, tiny
house, park model RV, RV or camper, or other
substantial structure that provides living facilities for one
(1) or more persons, including permanent or semi-
permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating,
cooking, and sanitation.
Effluent - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ The liquid discharged
from a septic tank, effluent pump station, or other
sewage treatment device.
Embankment - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A bank of soil with
at least two (2) feet of vertical height from top to
bottom.
Environmentally Sensitive Waters - .....ANSWER ...✔✔
Outstanding resource waters (ORW), Shellfish
Harvesting Waters (SFH), and Trout-Natural Waters
(TN) as defined in R.61-68 and classified in R.61-69,
and including lakes greater than forty (40) acres in size
and the Atlantic Ocean, regardless of their
classifications in R.61-69.
Existing System - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ An onsite
wastewater system, which has received final construction
SCDHEC REGULATION 61-56 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025
Alternative System - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A system
incorporating design modifications of the proposed
subsurface wastewater infiltration trench area (drain
field) or absorption trench geometry for the purpose of
achieving compliance with required setbacks and offset
to the zone of saturation and/or restrictive horizons. No
such system shall be utilized unless the Department has
established a specific standard.
Alternative Infiltration Trench Products - .....ANSWER
...✔✔ Products specifically designed to replace or
eliminate the aggregate typically utilized in subsurface
infiltration trenches. Such products must be approved for
use by the Department and must adhere to required
equivalency values established herein.
Bond - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A sum of money set aside
(Surety Bond) to insure completion of work under a
contract.
,2|Page
Canal - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ An artificial waterway
used for navigation, drainage, or irrigation.
Cleaning - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ The removal and
transportation of septage from an onsite wastewater
system, self-contained toilet, or other sewage holding
system to an approved disposal location.
Color Charts (Munsell System or equivalent) -
.....ANSWER ...✔✔ Charts bearing various color chips
established by a recognized color system which uses
three elements—hue, value, and chroma—to make up a
specific color notation. The notation is recorded in the
form of hue, value, and chroma (e.g., 10YR 5/6). The
three attributes of color are arranged in the system in
orderly scales of equal visual steps, which are used to
measure and describe color accurately under standard
conditions of illumination by comparing soil samples to
color chips on various charts.
Conventional System - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ An onsite
wastewater system that utilizes a network of
conventional wastewater infiltration trenches installed in
the naturally occurring soil for the treatment and
disposal of domestic wastewater.
,3|Page
Critical Area - S. C. Code Section 48-39-10(J) defines
critical area as the following - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ 1)
coastal waters; 2) tidelands; 3) beaches; 4) beach/dune
systems which are the areas from the mean high-water
mark to the setback line as determined in S. C. Code
Section 48-39-280.
Curtain Drain - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A subsurface
interceptor drain that is installed to collect and redirect
groundwater as it flows through the soil profile to an
appropriate discharge point.
Ditch - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A long narrow excavation
intended for the purpose of drainage and/or irrigation.
Domestic Wastewater - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ The
untreated liquid and solid human body waste and the
liquids generated by water-using fixtures and
appliances, including those associated with food service
operations. For the purposes of this regulation, domestic
wastewater shall not include industrial process
wastewater.
Dwelling - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A self-contained unit
used by one (1) or more households as a home, such as
, 4|Page
a house, apartment, mobile home, house boat, tiny
house, park model RV, RV or camper, or other
substantial structure that provides living facilities for one
(1) or more persons, including permanent or semi-
permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating,
cooking, and sanitation.
Effluent - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ The liquid discharged
from a septic tank, effluent pump station, or other
sewage treatment device.
Embankment - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ A bank of soil with
at least two (2) feet of vertical height from top to
bottom.
Environmentally Sensitive Waters - .....ANSWER ...✔✔
Outstanding resource waters (ORW), Shellfish
Harvesting Waters (SFH), and Trout-Natural Waters
(TN) as defined in R.61-68 and classified in R.61-69,
and including lakes greater than forty (40) acres in size
and the Atlantic Ocean, regardless of their
classifications in R.61-69.
Existing System - .....ANSWER ...✔✔ An onsite
wastewater system, which has received final construction
