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I. ' Wisconsin. I have also heard estimates that in terms of nitrates, an acre of land with dwelling(s) and lawn is approximately equivalent to an acre of land being cropped. An acre of land is more than adequate to provide sufficient area for a primary and replacement system. Many half acre lot rural subdivisions have been developed in Dane County without creating problems relating to locating the private sewage systems. Reviews of our records have not revealed any consistent indication of nitrate contamination in these subdivisions. In regard to your last question, it is very likely that the revised private sewage code, Wisconsin Administrative Code ch Comm 83, will be implemented in early 1998. That code will not require a replacement system area for newly developed sites. This is in part due to the fact that all systems will have performance criteria which must be met, and treatment units can be attached to the system achieve the effluent purification standards without using the soil as a treatment medium. Therefore the new code more or less obviates the need for ever larger lots to provide space for absorption areas to achieve effluent purification. To that extent, the assumptions that have been made about minimum lot sizes based on current private sewage treatment technology are no longer valid. In summary, it is my opinion that one acre lot sizes are more than adequate to allow for placement of private sewage systems as well as to provide protection of public health and the groundwater under the current plumbing code, and the soon to be implemented code will authorize systems which will further reduce the necessary lot sizes based on these considerations. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 242-6515 between the hours of 7:45 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Sincerely, James P. Clark, RS, Director Environmental Health Section