The owner shall comply with 410 I.A.C. 6-8.3-1 et seq., the Technical Specification, and all of the provisions of this subchapter for an OSS. These documents and this subchapter provide minimum requirements for OSS. Although housing subdivisions and other moderate to high-density land development may qualify for individual OSS, consideration should first be given to other sewage disposal methods. Other methods for sewage disposal include cluster OSS and sewerage systems.
(A) No person shall throw, run, drain, seep, or otherwise dispose into any of the surface waters or ground waters of the county, or cause, permit, or suffer to be thrown, run, drained, allowed to seep or otherwise disposed into such waters, any organic or inorganic matter from an on-site sewage disposal system that would cause or contribute to a health hazard or water pollution.
(B) The owner or agent shall comply with 410 I.A.C. 6-8.3-1 et seq., the Technical Specification, and the following installation requirements:
(1) Before the start of any construction at the site, the location of the soil absorption field, dispersal area, set aside area, and area designated for future expansion of the soil absorption field shall be staked out and protected from compaction by vehicles and construction equipment.
(2) Soil absorption fields shall not be constructed during periods when the soil is sufficiently wet, at the surface or at the depth of installation, to exceed its plastic limit. The plastic limit of a soil is exceeded when the soil can be rolled between the palms of the hands to produce threads one-eighth of an inch in diameter that do not break apart or crumble. Sufficient samples shall be taken to assure that the plastic limit of the soil is not exceeded throughout the soil absorption field.
(3) Special caution shall be taken to prevent compaction by vehicles and construction equipment at the site before, during, and after construction, especially during wet weather. The site includes: the area selected for placement of the soil absorption field and dispersal area, set aside area (when required); and areas designated for future expansion of the soil absorption field. Alteration of soil structure by the movement of vehicles and construction equipment may be grounds for rejection of the site.
(4) An OSS must contain a minimum of two monitoring wells at the manifold and distal ends of each subsurface drain trench and a minimum of two monitoring wells in opposing corners of the subsurface drainage system.
(5) A minimum of two soil tests are required before the issuance of any permit for construction of an OSS. Two acceptable soil tests are required in the area of the soil absorption field. Additional borings may be required to determine compliance with 410 I.A.C. 6-8.2-1 and this subchapter.
(C) Should an OSS fail, the failure shall be corrected by the owner of the property served by such OSS within 90 days or less at the discretion of the Health Officer.
(D) Whenever a public sanitary sewage system becomes available and is within 300 feet of a residence within the county, and that building is used as a dwelling or business building and is served by an on-site sewage disposal system or privy, a direct connection of the building sewer shall be made to the sanitary sewer and any septic tanks, vaults, and similar sewage disposal and treatment facilities shall be abandoned and filled in a safe and sanitary manner. The direct connection to a sanitary sewage system shall be made within 180 days of issuance of orders of connection.
(E) All septic tanks installed in the county must contain outlet filters and filter alarms.
(1) Use, sizing, installation, and service of outlet filter must be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Outlet filters must be designed to handle the design daily flow (DDF) of the OSS.
(2) Outlet filters must be maintained by the owner or agent of the owner and must remain in service for the life of the septic tank.
(3) The outlet filter must be placed in the last septic tank for septic tanks place in series.
(4) The filter alarm must be recommended by the filter manufacturer for each type of outlet filter.
(5) Outlet filters must be placed to allow accessibility for routine maintenance without entering the tank.
(6) Service must be performed as required and no less than each time the septic tank is pumped.
(F) All distribution boxes installed in the county must have access manholes at least 12 inches in diameter extending to the ground surface. The access manhole must be fitted with a safely secured, gas- tight cover.
(G) All distribution boxes should be equipped with port levelers designed to split the effluent flow equally among all ports.
(Prior Code, § 151.56) (Ord. 94-15, passed 8-1-1994; Ord. 95-12, passed 11-20-1995; Ord. 2009-03, passed 7-6-2009)