In addition to authority afforded to counties in Article XI, section 7 of the California Constitution to protect public health and safety, and in Government Code section 25845 to abate nuisances, the County's local onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) program is based on section 5410 et seq. of the California Health and Safety Code, sections 13002, 13290 to 13291.7 of the California Water Code and on California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Sections 2924 and 3991.1 implementing regulations. Those regulations adopt the State Water Resources Control Board's Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy), set baseline requirements for OWTS statewide, and provide for the implementation of those regulations by qualified local agencies. In accordance with the OWTS Policy, the County has prepared a Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) for OWTS permitting and regulation within the jurisdiction of San Diego County, and that program has been approved by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board for the San Diego Region.
This chapter is applicable to OWTS in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County, and within a jurisdiction where authority has been delegated through specific municipal ordinance, memorandum of understanding, or another appropriate mechanism.
Water Code section 14877.2 allows a county to approve installation of a graywater system if that county determines the graywater system meets the standards of the State Department of Water Resources. Water Code section 14877.3 allows a county to adopt more restrictive standards for graywater systems.
The purpose of this chapter is to implement these State laws and regulations and implement additional standards for septic systems and graywater systems that are necessary to protect the health and safety of the San Diego County community. This chapter also prohibits the improper disposal of sewage and provides regulations authorizing the Director of Environmental Health, responsible for environmental health services and programs transferred from the local health officer for the County pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 101275, to protect public health from threats from sewage.
This chapter shall apply to the siting, design, construction, and permitting of new and replacement OWTS and to existing individual systems confirmed as defective that receive a maximum of 3,500 gallons per day of domestic strength sewage.
(Added by Ord. No. 10136 (N.S.), effective 4-15-11; amended by Ord. No. 10389 (N.S.), effective 7-24-15; amended by Ord. No. 10709 (N.S.), effective 1-15-21; amended by Ord. No. 10918 (N.S.), effective 10-11-24)