Whenever any part of the waste in any privy vault or cesspool extends to a point less than 3 feet below the surface of the ground adjacent thereto, or whenever use of any such vault or cesspool is abandoned or where such use or maintenance is prohibited by ordinance or health order, the owner, lessor, occupant or person in charge of such premises shall cause the vault or cesspool to be emptied of its contents, thoroughly cleaned, and disinfected, and if abandoned, to be filled with clean earth or mineral matter to the level of the adjacent ground.