Effective January 1, 1995, no person shall construct, install, replace, alter, or repair any part of any on-site sewage system in the county unless the person is certified by the County Health Department.
(A) An installer shall file an application for certification with the County Health Department, and keep on file at the County Health Department a current certificate of insurance, issued by a company registered in the state, evidencing the existence of a liability policy. The liability policy shall be sufficient to indemnify persons for whom faulty work may be performed.
(B) Every person engaged in the construction of OSS in the county shall be knowledgeable of all laws, rules, technical specifications, and ordinances of both the state and the county governing OSS.
(1) The applicant for certification shall demonstrate knowledge of the applicable laws, rules, technical specifications, and ordinances by passing a written proficiency examination conducted by the County Health Department before becoming certified.
(2) The examination shall be in multiple parts. The County Health Department will develop standardized examinations to test applicant knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances of the state and county in the following areas:
(a) Part A will cover gravity OSS;
(b) Part B will cover flood dose OSS; and
(c) Part C will cover sand mound OSS, experimental, and alternative technology.
(3) The examinations shall be reviewed from time to time to determine their applicability to current laws, rules, technical specifications, and ordinances.
(4) A score of 80% or higher on each part will be considered passing. If the applicant fails to pass any part of the examination, the applicant may re-apply for installer certification no earlier than one month following the examination date. An application fee of $50 shall be paid prior to re-examination.
(5) When taking a written examination is not feasible due to language or reading difficulties, oral examination will be allowed. The questions and answers from the standardized examination will be read and recorded by a representative of the County Health Department.
(C) Upon successful completion of Part A, the applicant shall be issued a certification to install sub-surface gravity feed trickle flow systems and will pay set fees for such certification. Upon successful completion of Part B, the applicant shall be issued a certification to install flood dosed OSS and will pay set fees for such certification. Upon successful completion of Parts A, B, and C the applicant shall be issued a certification to install all types of OSS including experimental systems and will pay set fees for such certification.
(D) Such certification shall be valid for a term of one year beginning January 1, and expiring December 31, of the same year and shall be renewed annually. The certification shall bear the name and address of the certified installer and the expiration date and shall not be transferable. Certification, which is not renewed within 30 days of the expiration date, shall be considered void, and the installer shall re-apply for certification and pass the proficiency test.
(E) The installer shall possess a copy of the certification at all times when installing OSS.
(F) A certified installer may register additional installers under their certification. Additional registered installers must apply for registration with the County Health Department, pass the written proficiency examination, and maintain employment with the certified installer they are registered with.
(G) A certified installer, or one of the corresponding registered installers, shall be on the site at all times during OSS construction. A certified installer may supervise other construction workers as necessary to assist in the construction.
(H) (1) A property owner wanting to install, repair, replace, or otherwise work on the OSS serving the property owner’s dwelling and on his or her property shall be required to demonstrate knowledge of the applicable laws, rules, technical specifications, and local ordinances by taking the proficiency exam, conducted by the County Health Department.
(2) The property owner is exempt from certification fees and insurance requirements. Property owners are exempt from this requirement if making only minor repairs to their OSS. Minor repairs do not include repairs to the septic tank, distribution box, or absorption field.
(Prior Code, § 151.55) (Ord. 94-15, passed 8-1-1994; Ord. 95-12, passed 11-20-1995; Ord. 2009-03, passed 7-6-2009)