(A) The Health Officer shall carry proper credentials and present said credentials to any and all who may ask prior to the performance of duties enumerated under this subchapter.
(B) The design, construction, installation, location, repair, maintenance, replacement, expansion, alteration and operation of private on-site sewage systems including, but not limited to, conventional private on-site sewage systems, alternative private on-site sewage systems, aerobic treatment systems, or any parts thereof shall comply with this subchapter and shall comply with engineering practices acceptable to the Indiana State Department of Health.
(C) All persons owning real estate in areas where a sanitary sewerage system is not available shall comply with the provisions of this subchapter concerning private on-site sewage systems.
(D) Any dwelling or facility which is not connected to a sanitary sewerage system and which has no sanitary sewerage system available to it shall have its own separate private on-site sewage system which complies with the applicable standards of 410 I.A.C. 6-8.3 and 410 I.A.C. 6-10.1. No on-site system permit may be issued for the construction of an on-site system within the territorial limits of a town or city or other entity furnishing a sanitary-sewerage system without express written authorization of the entity to the Health Department stating its non-objection to the system installation.
(E) Every commercial on-site wastewater disposal facility shall be designed, constructed, installed, located, maintained and operated in accordance with the requirements of 410 I.A.C. 6-10.1 et seq.
(F) Every residential on-site sewage system shall be designed, constructed, installed, located, maintained and operated in accordance with the requirements of 410 I.A.C. 6-8.3 et seq.
(G) Fill shall not constitute a suitable installation media. Fill deposited over existing undisturbed soil does not have a predictable, uniform permeability rate. Use of filled areas as an installation repair or replacement location for a private on-site sewage system or field absorption area is prohibited. Spec 23 highway sand does not constitute fill when placed as part of permitted system installation.
(H) System maintenance. All private on-site sewage systems, both existing and new, must be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. All components, devices, alarms and equipment required by this subchapter or previous ordinances and permits shall be maintained in a proper working, functioning, non-failing condition as when installed or replaced. Nuisance and health hazard conditions are prohibited and require abatement immediately upon documentation of failure via a permitted, inspected, system which is approved by the Health Officer. All septic tanks should be pumped and cleaned by a licensed pumper/hauler once every three to five years as part of regular system maintenance.
(I) Every privy, when approved by the Health Officer, shall be of the sanitary vault type and shall be designed, constructed, installed, operated and maintained in a clean condition and in a manner that prevents insects and rodents from entering the vault. Every privy shall be located properly to protect water supplies from contamination and shall be constructed in strict compliance with the requirements of the Indiana State Department of Health Bulletin S.E. 11 entitled “The Sanitary Vault Privy,” as amended from time to time, which is hereby adopted as part of this code. A privy may only be considered on a site where there is no indoor plumbing or electricity. Water under pressure is prohibited.
(J) The design, construction, installation, location, maintenance and operation of any other residential private on-site sewage system not described in 410 I.A.C. 6-8.3 may be approved by the Health Officer after the plans, specifications and requirements for such systems have been approved in writing by the State Department of Health prior to construction and installation.
(K) Surface discharges of septic effluent or any type of grey water, laundry discharge, black water or other wastewater are prohibited and shall not be permitted or allowed to persist.
(L) If any condition or defect exists or occurs that violates divisions (B), (C), (D), (E) or (F) above with respect to any private on-site sewage system or privy, or if a private on-site sewage system failure occurs, the owner shall correct the violation or failure within 15 days of the violation or failure or as otherwise directed by a written order from the Health Officer.
(M) If a sanitary sewerage system becomes available to any property served by a private on-site sewage system or privy, the owner shall make connection to that sanitary sewerage system as prescribed by the municipality or entity having jurisdiction or in the event of the private on-site sewage system failure. All private on-site sewage systems, privies and treatment facilities on the property shall be abandoned and filled in a safe and sanitary manner as prescribed by the Health Officer. Permits for private on-site sewage systems shall not be issued where a sanitary sewerage system is available.
(N) Where the local Plan Commission grants approval of a subdivision designed to be developed on sanitary sewer, no permits for private on-site sewage system will be issued for real estate in that subdivision.
(O) Subject to the approval of the area having jurisdiction, if a subdivision is approved by the local Plan Commission and other public agencies with the responsibility therefore after the effective date of this subchapter in an area where a sanitary sewerage system is available, the subdivision developer shall make connection to that sanitary sewerage system and shall extend or allow the municipality or other entity to extend sewer lines throughout the subdivision in order to make the sanitary sewerage system available to all lots in the subdivision.
(P) Well abandonment. All private wells requiring abandonment under this subchapter or other legal standards shall be properly abandoned in accordance with applicable law and regulation by a licensed well driller and properly documented by providing a copy of the well abandonment log to the Health Department prior to issuance of any permits.
(Q) Rough plumbing. No rough plumbing for sanitary facilities is permitted in outbuildings or secondary structures without providing an on-site system design and having a permit issued at minimum sizing of 300 GPD or providing a demonstration with elevations that the sanitary facilities can be connected to the existing residential system without creating an overload or disruption to the permitted residential system. The existing residential system must not be exhibiting apparent signs of failure. Lack of documentation for the existing system will disqualify it for connection and use.
(R) Audio and visual alarms. Audio and visual alarms are required when any effluent filter is installed or replaced after the effective date of this subchapter. Audio and visual alarms are required for any mechanical pump, aerobic treatment device, secondary treatment device or other mechanical equipment as provided in 410 I.A.C. 6-8.3 et seq. and 410 I.A.C. 6-10.1 et seq., as amended from time to time.
(S) Basal area preparation. The use of implements which achieve deep tillage below compaction or topsoil in the basal preparation area is required. Implements to be used must be authorized by the Health Department prior to use.
(T) Operating permits. Operating permits must be obtained and maintained by owners who install or replace a secondary treatment device after the effective date of this subchapter. To obtain or to renew an operating permit will require a copy of a valid and in-force operation and maintenance contract by an authorized service provider for the system in use and payment of the permit fee. Operating permits shall be valid for three years and renewable upon submittal of a valid and in-force operation and maintenance contract, copy of service history and with the applicable permit fee paid.
(U) Operation and maintenance contracts. Operation and maintenance contracts shall be required in conjunction with required operating permits and must remain in effect with an authorized service provider as specified by the service and warranty requirements of the secondary treatment device manufacturer. Operation and maintenance contracts shall be in force at the owner’s expense. Property transfers where there is a secondary treatment device in use will require the new owner to secure a valid and in-force operation and maintenance contract by an authorized service provider for the system in use. Failure to obtain and maintain the operating permit will constitute a violation of this subchapter. Operation and maintenance contracts must be in effect for the life of the operating permit to be considered valid and in-force. The owner shall forward to the Health Department copies of all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance provided within 30 days after work is performed during the term of the operation and maintenance contract. Notice shall be provided by the service provider to the Health Department upon termination or expiration of the operation and maintenance contract.
(V) Siphons. A siphon may be used in lieu of an effluent pump if the dose volume may be shown to be delivered to the absorption field at the prescribed rate in the rule as demonstrated by calculations and elevation data.
(Ord. 2012-153, passed 4-16-2012) Penalty, see § 52.99