§ 50.22 MAINTENANCE.
   (A)   All new and replacement SSTS must be operated in accordance with the management plan submitted, reviewed and approved by the Department or local unit of government. At a minimum, management plans must include the following:
      (1)   Maintenance requirements, including frequency;
      (2)   Operational requirements, including which tasks the owner can perform and which tasks a licensed service provider or maintainer must perform;
      (3)   Monitoring requirements;
      (4)   Requirements that the owner notify the Department when the management plan requirements are not met;
      (5)   Disclosure of the location and condition of the additional soil treatment and dispersal area on the lot or serving that residency; and
      (6)   Other requirements determined by the Department.
   (B)   SSTS and all components must be maintained in compliance with this chapter and manufacturer requirements.
   (C)   The owner of an SSTS or the owner’s agent shall regularly, but in no case less frequently than every three years:
      (1)   Assess whether sewage tanks leak below the designed operating depth and whether sewage tank tops, riser joints, and riser connections leak through visual evidence of major defects.
      (2)   Measure or remove the accumulation of scum, grease, and other floating materials at the top of each septic tank and compartment, along with the sludge, which consists of solids denser than water.
   (D)   All solids and liquids must be removed by pumping from all tanks or compartments in which the top of the sludge layer is less than 12 inches from the bottom of the outlet baffle or transfer hole or whenever the bottom of the scum layer is less than three inches above the bottom of the outlet baffle or transfer hole. Total sludge and scum volume must not be greater than 25% of the tank’s liquid capacity.
   (E)   Removal of accumulated sludge, scum, and liquids from septic tanks and pump tanks must be through the maintenance hole. The removal of solids from any location other than the maintenance hole is not a compliant method of solids removal from a sewage tank, and this method does not fulfill the solids removal requirements of this Section or a management plan. Liquid and solids removal from cleanout pips is allowed for holding tank.
   (F)   After removal of solids and liquids, from a system installed after the effective date of this Chapter, the system shall be secured as described in § 52.13(M). Covers secured by screws shall be refastened in all screw openings.
   (G)   After removal of solids and liquids from a system installed prior to the effective date of this chapter covers must:
      (1)   Be brought into compliance with § 52.13(M) if retrofitted to be brought above the ground surface.
      (2)   Be secured by covering with a minimum of 12 inches of soil.
      (3)   If the cover was currently at or above grade, the system must be secured by a method that was deemed secure prior to the effective date of this chapter.
   (H)   Pump tanks must be maintained according to this part. Sludge must be removed if within one inch of the pump intake.
   (I)   When a privy is filled to one half of its capacity, the solids must be removed. Abandoned pits must have the sewage solids and contaminated soil removed and must be filled with clean earth and slightly mounded to allow for settling. Removed solids shall be disposed of according to division (K) of this section.
   (J)   Additives, which are products added to the sewage or to the system with the intent to lower the accumulated solids in sewage, must not be used as a means to reduce the frequency of proper maintenance and removal of sewage solids from the sewage tanks as specified in this section. The use of additives does not fulfill the solids removal requirement of this section or a management plan. Additives that contain hazardous waste must not be used in an SSTS.
   (K)   Septage or any waste mixed with septage must be disposed of in accordance with state, federal, or local requirements for septage and other wastes. If septage is disposed of into a sewage or septage treatment facility, a written agreement must be provided between the accepting facility and the maintenance business.
   (L)   Activities on the current soil dispersal system or the reserve soil dispersal system, as defined in § 52.02 and described in § 52.09(D), that impair the current or future treatment abilities or hydraulic performance of the soil dispersal system are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, covering all or part of the soil treatment system with an impermeable surface as determined by the local unit of government.
   (M)   Any maintenance activity used to increase the acceptance of effluent to a soil treatment and dispersal system must:
      (1)   Not be used on a system failing to protect groundwater as defined in § 52.04(C)(2), unless the activities meet the requirements of §§ 52.20 or 52.21.
      (2)   Not decrease the separation to the periodically saturated soil or bedrock.
      (3)   Not cause preferential flow from the soil treatment and dispersal system bottom to the periodically saturated soil or bedrock.
      (4)   Be conducted by an appropriately certified qualified employee or an appropriately licensed business as specified in Minn. Rule 7083.0790. Any substance added with the intent to increase the infiltration rate of the soil treatment and dispersal system must not contain hazardous substances.
   (N)   Licensed maintenance businesses must maintain accurate records of pumping activity in the County and shall report such data annually to the Department on forms provided.
   (O)   MSTS must be maintained according to this section.
   (P)   All external grease interceptors must be routinely inspected to determine the volume of grease present. All external grease interceptors must be properly maintained to prevent clogging of downstream piping and system components.
   (Q)   For all MSTS constructed after the effective date of this chapter, the designer must complete an operation and maintenance manual and the manual must be submitted to the Department or the local unit of government before system operation. The manual shall include a copy of the plans and specifications, as-built drawings of the system, and information to properly operate the system.
   (R)   All new MSTS shall be operated under a local operating permit submitted and approved with the design.
   (S)   All groundwater shall be monitored in accordance with § 52.11.
   (T)   Any operational noncompliance must be immediately corrected and reported by the owner or service provider to the Department or local unit of government.
(Ord. 2010-162, passed 5-17-2010)