For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms and words are herein defined as follows; the word "shall" and "must" are mandatory, not permissive. All distances, unless otherwise specified, shall be measured horizontally. Words used in the present tense shall include the future, and words used in the singular number shall include the plural number and the plural the singular.
AS-BUILT. Drawings and documentation specifying the final in-place location, elevation, size, and type of all system components.
BEDROOM.
(1) A room designed or used for sleeping; or
(2) A room or area of a dwelling that has a minimum floor area of 70 square feet with access gained from the living area or living area hallway. Architectural features that affect the use as a bedroom under this item may be considered in making the bedroom determination.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE. A document written after a compliance inspection certifying that a system is in compliance with applicable requirements at the time of the inspection.
CERTIFIED STATEMENT. A statement signed by a certified individual, apprentice, or qualified employee under Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7083 certifying that the licensed business or qualified employee completed work in accordance with applicable requirements.
CLASS V INJECTION WELL. A shallow well used to place a variety of fluids directly below the land surface. This includes SSTS that are designed to receive sewage or non-sewage from a two-family dwelling or greater or receive sewage or non-sewage from another establishment that serves more than 20 persons per day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and delegated state groundwater programs permit these wells to inject wastes below the ground surface provided they meet certain requirements and do not endanger underground sources of drinking water. Class V motor vehicle waste disposal wells and large capacity cesspools are specifically prohibited (see 40 CFR Parts 144 & 146).
CLUSTER SSTS. A subsurface sewage treatment system under some form of common ownership that collects wastewater from two or more dwellings or buildings and conveys it to a treatment and dispersal system located on an acceptable site near the dwellings or buildings.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT. A business with a private SSTS serving food, beverage, and lodging establishments that are required to obtain a license under M.S. § 157.16, Subd. 1 or successor statutes, including manufactured home parks and recreational camping areas licensed according to M.S. Chapter 327 or successor statutes.
COMPLIANCE INSPECTION. An evaluation, investigation, inspection, or other such process for the purpose of issuing a certificate of compliance or notice of non-compliance.
DEPARTMENT. The City of Glenwood.
DESIGN FLOW. The daily volume of wastewater for which an SSTS is designed to treat and discharge.
DWELLING. Any building or place used or intended to be used by human occupants as a single-family or multi-family residence with no more than nine bedrooms and producing sewage. DWELLING does not include a single-family or multi-family residence that serves as both a domicile and a place of business if the business increases the volume of sewage above what is normal for a dwelling or if liquid waste generated no longer qualifies as sewage.
EXISTING SYSTEMS. Systems that have been previously inspected and approved by the local unit of government during installation. In addition, all operating systems installed before the adoption of a local permitting and inspection program are considered existing systems.
FAILURE TO PROTECT GROUNDWATER. At a minimum, an SSTS that does not protect groundwater is considered to be a seepage pit, cesspool, drywell, leaching pit, or other pit; an SSTS with less than the required vertical separation distance, described in Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7080.1500 Subpart 4 D and E; and a system not abandoned in accordance with part 7080.2500.
GROUNDWATER. Water contained below the surface of the earth in the saturated zone including, without limitation, all waters whether under confined, unconfined, or perched conditions, in near-surface unconsolidated sediment or regolith, or in rock formations deeper underground.
HOLDING TANK. A tank for storage of sewage until it can be transported to a point of treatment and dispersal. Holding tanks are considered a septic system tank under M.S. § 115.55.
IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY (ITPHS). At a minimum, an SSTS with a discharge of sewage or sewage effluent to the ground surface, drainage systems, ditches, or storm water drains or directly to surface water; SSTS that cause a reoccurring sewage backup into a dwelling or other establishment; SSTS with electrical hazards; or sewage tanks with unsecured, damaged, or weak maintenance access covers.
INCORPORATION. The mixing of septage with the topsoil, concurrent with the application or immediately thereafter, by means such as discing, plowing, rototilling, injection, or other mechanical means.
LAND SPREADING. The placement of septage or human waste from septic or holding tanks on or into the soil surface.
LAND USE PERMIT APPLICATION. The term includes, but is not limited to, applications for the following: construction permits, or other types of zoning permits, conditional use permits, amendments to this chapter, variances from the provisions of ordinances, and the subdivision of real estate. The application is not considered complete and will not be accepted by the city unless all fees are paid, preliminary reviews and approvals completed and submitted with associated supporting information and documents, and such other information as required by the city.
LIMITING LAYER. Layer in the soil treatment system area as shown by redoximorphic features, altered structure, bedrock, or a geologic aquifer formation where treatment ceases.
MANAGEMENT PLAN. A plan that requires the periodic examination, adjustment, testing, and other operational requirements to meet system performance expectations and potentially lower risk to human and environmental health, including a planned course of action in the event a system does not meet performance expectations.
MINOR REPAIR. The repair or replacement of an existing damaged or faulty component/part of an SSTS that will return the SSTS to its operable condition. The repair shall not alter the original area, dimensions, design, specifications, or concept of the SSTS.
MPCA. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
MSTS. A mid-sized subsurface sewage treatment system under single ownership that receives sewage from dwellings or other establishments having a design flow of greater than 5,000 gallons per day to 10,000 gallons per day.
MUNICIPALITY. Any incorporated city or township within the boundaries of Pope County.
NOTICE OF NON-COMPLIANCE. A document written and signed by a qualified employee or licensee after a compliance inspection that gives notice that an individual sewage treatment system is not in compliance.
OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS. Any public or private structure other than a dwelling or a portion of a dwelling used for any business purpose that generates sewage that discharge to an SSTS.
PRIVY VAULT. An above-ground structure with an underground cavity meeting the requirements of Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7080.2280 that is used for the storage or treatment and dispersal of toilet wastes, excluding water for flushing and gray water. A privy also means a non-dwelling structure containing a toilet waste treatment device.
PUMP TANK. A tank, or separate compartment following the sewage tank, that serves as a reservoir for a pump. A separate tank used as a pump tank is considered a septic system tank under M.S. § 115.55, Subd. 1, paragraph (p).
QUALIFIED CONTRACT INSPECTOR. An inspector licensed by the State of Minnesota to perform the duties related to onsite sewage treatment, who may be hired by the city to conduct inspections and soil verification of any new or existing SSTS. A contract inspector shall not perform any SSTS design or installation work within the city while working for the city as a contract inspector.
QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE. An employee of the state or a local unit of government who performs site evaluations or designs, installs, maintains, pumps, or inspects SSTS as part of the individual's employment duties and is registered on the SSTS professional register verifying specialty area endorsements applicable to the work being conducted.
SEASONAL SATURATION. The highest elevation in the soil that is in a reduced chemical state due to soil pores filled or nearly filled with water, causing anaerobic conditions. Periodically saturated soil is determined by the presence of redoximorphic features in conjunction with other established indicators as specified in part Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7080.1720, subpart 5, items E and F, or determined by other scientifically established technical methods or empirical field measurements acceptable to the permitting authority in consultation with the Commissioner of MPCA.
SEPTAGE. Solids and liquids removed from an SSTS, including solids and liquids from cesspools, seepage pits, other pits, or similar systems or devices that receive sewage. Septage also includes solids and liquids that are removed from portable, incinerating, composting, holding, or other toilets.
SEPTIC/SEWAGE TANK. Any watertight, covered receptacle that is designed and constructed to receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer or preceding tank, stores liquids for a detention period that provides separation of solids from liquid and digestion of organic matter, and allows the effluent to discharge to a succeeding tank, treatment device, or soil dispersal system.
SEWAGE/WASTEWATER. Waste from toilets, bathing, laundry, or culinary activities or operations, or floor drains associated with these sources, including household cleaners and other constituents in amounts normally used for domestic purposes.
SOIL PIT. An excavation into the soil of sufficient depth to allow for assessment of variability in the soil physical properties. The pit should have at least one face that extends through the entire profile cross section, may range from three to over seven feet in depth, and is large enough for two people to examine the soil profile.
SSTS. Sub-surface sewage treatment system, including an ISTS and MSTS as defined in Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7080.1100, subp. 82.
SSTS CONSTRUCTION. Any excavation or preparation of soil for the purpose of placing a sewage tank(s), soil dispersal system, and/or any related piping within or upon said excavation or soil preparation.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground.
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY. The act of a party by which the title of property is conveyed from one person to another. The sale and every other method, direct or indirect, of disposing or parting with property, or with an interest therein, or with the possession thereof, absolutely or conditionally, voluntarily, by or without judicial proceeding as a conveyance, sale, gift, or otherwise.
TYPE I SYSTEM. An SSTS that follows a standard trench, bed, at-grade, mound, or graywater system design in accordance with Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7080.2200 through 7080.2240.
TYPE II SYSTEM. An SSTS with acceptable modifications or sewage containment system that may be permitted for use on a site not meeting the conditions acceptable for a standard Type I system. These include systems on lots in floodplains and privies or holding tanks.
TYPE III SYSTEM. An SSTS system designed according to Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7080.2300.
TYPE IV SYSTEM. An SSTS designed according to Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7080.2350.
TYPE V SYSTEM. An SSTS which is a custom-engineered design to accommodate the site taking into account pre-treatment effluent quality, loading rates, loading methods, groundwater mounding, and other relevant soil, site, and wastewater characteristics such that groundwater contamination by viable fecal coli-form is prevented.
VERTICAL SEPARATION. The vertical measurement of unsaturated soil or sand between the bottom of the distribution medium and the periodically-saturated soil level or bedrock.
WINTER AGREEMENT. A binding agreement between a grantor and grantee or the city and an applicant when frozen conditions prevent a field evaluation, compliance inspection, or installation of a SSTS between the months of November and April.
(Ord. 1, passed 3-25-2015)