For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABS. Acrylonitrilc-butadiene styrene.
ASTM. The American Society for Testing and Materials.
BOARD. The state or local board of health.
COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of the State Board of Health or his or her legally authorized representative.
DISTRIBUTION BOX. A structure designed to distribute effluent by gravity from a septic tank equally into pipes of an absorption system connected thereto.
DRAINAGEWAY. The channel portion of the landscape in which surface water or rainwater runoff gathers intermittently to flow to a lower elevation.
DWELLING. Any house or place used or intended to be used as a place of seasonal or permanent human habitation or for sleeping for one or two families.
FILL. Soil transported and deposited by humans, as well as soil recently transported and deposited by natural erosion forces. FILL is evidenced by one or more of the following:
(1) No soil horizons or indistinct soil horizons;
(2) Depositional stratification;
(3) Presence of a soil horizon which has been covered;
(4) Materials in a horizon such as cinders or construction debris; and/or
(5) Position in the landscape.
FOUNDATION DRAIN. The portion of residential drainage system provided to drain only ground water from outside of the foundation of the house or from under the basement floor.
HEALTH OFFICER. The health officer of the local board of health or his or her duly authorized agent.
LOADING RATE. The allowable rate of application of septic tank effluent to the soil. It is expressed in gallons per day per square foot.
OWNER. The owner of a dwelling or his or her agent.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, copartnership, firm, company, corporation, association, trust, estate or any other legal entity, its or their successors or assigns or agents of the aforesaid.
PVC. Polyvinyl chloride.
RESIDENTIAL DRAIN. The horizontal piping in a house drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and drainage pipes inside the walls of the house and conveys the same to the residential sewer.
RESIDENTIAL SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. All equipment and devices necessary for proper conduction, collection storage, treatment and on-site disposal of sewage from a one- or two-family dwelling. Included within, but not limited to the scope of this definition, are residential sewers, septic tanks, soil absorption systems, temporary sewage holding tanks and sanitary vault privies.
RESIDENTIAL SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM FAILURE. A residential sewage disposal system which exhibits one or more of the following:
(1) The system refuses to accept sewage at the rate of design application thereby interfering with the normal use of residential plumbing fixtures;
(2) Effluent discharges exceeds the absorptive capacity of the soil, resulting in ponding, seepage or other discharge of the effluent to the ground surface or to surface waters; and/or
(3) Effluent is discharged from the system causing contamination of a potable water supply, ground water surface waters.
RESIDENTIAL SEWER. The horizontal piping beginning two feet outside the house which carries discharges from the residential drain to its connection with sanitary sewerage system or a residential sewage disposal system.
SANITARY SEWERAGE SYSTEM. A sewer or a system of sewers which convey sewage away from the lot on which it originates to a wastewater treatment facility owned and operated by an incorporated city or town, conservancy district, regional sewer district or private facility.
SCS. The United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.
SDR. Standard dimension ratio.
SEPTIC TANK. A water-tight structure into which sewage is discharged for settling and solids digestion.
SEWAGE. All water-carried waste derived from ordinary living processes.
SLUDGE. The digested or partially digested solid material accumulated in a septic tank.
SOIL ABSORPTION. A process which utilizes the soil to treat and dispose of effluent from a septic tank.
SOIL ABSORPTION SYSTEM. Pipes laid in a system of trenches or elevated beds into which the effluent from the septic tank is discharged for soil absorption.
SOIL HORIZON. A layer of soil or soil material approximately parallel to the land surface and different from the adjacent genetically related layers in physical, chemical and biological properties or characteristics, such as color, structure, texture, consistency, kinds and numbers of organisms present, and degree of acidity or alkalinity.
SOIL PROFILE ANALYSIS. The observation and evaluation of the physical characteristics of the soil horizons or layers to a depth of at least five feet or, if shallower, to a layer which cannot be readily penetrated.
SOIL SCIENTIST. An individual with a baccalaureate decree with a major in agronomy, soils or a closely allied field of science who is proficient in the application of the principles of pedology to soil; classification investigation, education and consultation and on the effect of measured, observed and interfered soil properties and their use.
(BC Ord. 1991-3, passed 5-28-1991)