(A) For purposes of this chapter, the terms below shall be defined as follows.
ABSORPTION FIELD. The part of a residential or commercial onsite sewage system that provides for the infiltration of sewage through pipes or chambers laid in a system of subsurface trenches, or pipes laid in elevated beds into which the effluent from the septic tank is discharged into the soil for treatment and dispersal.
AVAILABLE. Located within the corporate limits of the town or city providing the utility and within 300 feet of the property line of the affected property, as measured along accessible easements or right-of-ways, or connectable at a construction cost estimated by the Health Officer to not exceed 150% of the cost of installing a private water well system to serve the affected property.
COMMERCIAL ONSITE SEWAGE SYSTEM. All equipment and devices necessary for proper conduction, collection, storage, treatment, and on-site disposal of wastewater from other than one- or two-family dwellings, except where such dwellings are connected to a cluster system. Included within, but not limited to, the scope of this definition are building sewers, grease traps, septic tanks, dosing tanks, absorption fields, perimeter drains, vault privies, and temporary wastewater holding tanks serving such facilities as apartment buildings, campgrounds, churches, commercial establishments, condominiums, medical facilities, mobile home parks, motels, office buildings, restaurants, and schools. However, an onsite sewage system serving two single-family dwellings on the same property, with a combined DDF of less than or equal to 750 gallons per day, is a RESIDENTIAL ONSITE SEWAGE SYSTEM, not a COMMERCIAL ONSITE SEWAGE SYSTEM.
COUNTY. The County of Elkhart, State of Indiana.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any permanent or temporary physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water, and the other of which contains either water of unknown or questionable safety or steam, gas or chemical, whereby there exists the possibility for flow from one system to the other, with the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.
DUG WELL. A water well made by excavating with hand tools or power machinery, instead of by drilling or driving to below the water table.
EMERGENCY WELL INSTALLATION. Occurs when a water well driller/contractor or home owner is not able to obtain a water well permit from the Health Officer due to office closure, and extreme hardship would likely result if the water well construction were to be delayed until normal business hours arrive and the office is open for business.
GROUNDWATER. All water occurring beneath the surface of the ground regardless of location or form.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. The Elkhart County Health Department.
HEALTH OFFICER. The Elkhart County Health Officer and his or her duly authorized representatives.
IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIALS. The official identification credentials issued by the county to employees working for the Health Department.
LOCATION AREA. The proposed area or part of a property that meets the isolation distances, as outlined in this chapter, where the water well has the potential to be located as reflected in the site plan and application.
MONITORING WELL. Shall have the same meaning set forth in 312 I.A.C. 13-1.
OWNER. The owner, in whole or in part, of a dwelling, facility or property, or the agent of any such owner.
POTABLE WATER. Water that, at the point of use, is acceptable for human consumption under prevailing governmental standards.
PRIVATE WATER WELL. Any water well that does not meet the definition of a “public water supply well” as defined in 312 I.A.C. 13-1-20, or the definition of a “significant groundwater withdrawal facility” as defined in IC 14-25-4-6.
RESIDENTIAL ONSITE SEWAGE SYSTEM. All equipment and devices necessary for proper conduction, collection, storage, treatment, and onsite disposal of wastewater from:
(a) A one- or two-family dwelling;
(b) A residential outbuilding; or
(c) Two single-family dwellings on the same property with a combined DDF of less than or equal to 750 gallons per day.
This definition includes, but is not limited to, residential sewers, dosing tanks, septic tanks, soil absorption systems, perimeter drains, temporary sewage holding tanks, and sanitary vault privies.
TO SCALE. An engineering scale where one inch equals x number of feet, and where “x” equals 20, 30, 40, or 50 feet.
VULNERABLE LOCATION. A location in which the water well would be subject to damage, breakage or other undesired intrusion.
WATER LINE. Any buried pipe or conduit used to transport water from the water supply source to its final destination, including, but not limited to, water well lines, building plumbing, and geothermal heat pump piping.
WATER WELL PERMIT. A permit issued to a property owner or licensed water well contractor to construct a private water well in accord with the specifications of the approved plan, the requirements of this chapter, and both federal and state statutes and regulations.
WATER WELL.
(a) Any excavation, whether drilled, bored, driven, jetted, or dug, for the purposes of intersecting groundwater, obtaining water from the ground, returning water to the ground, or testing the quantity or quality of such water; or
(b) A closed loop geothermal well system.
WELL SEALING PERMIT. A permit issued to a licensed water well contractor, pump installer or property owner to seal/abandon a water well to the specifications of the approved plan, and the requirements of this chapter and state codes and rules.
(B) All other words and phrases shall have their usual and customary meaning.
(Ord. 2017-24, passed 11-20-2017)