(A) All sewage treatment or disposal systems to be installed in the county must comply with the requirements of this chapter and must comply with State Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code and all other applicable laws or ordinances.
(B) A sewage permit must be issued by the Health Authority before the commencement of construction or repair of a sewage treatment or disposal system.
(C) In addition, for sewage disposal systems that would require a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an approval from the Environmental Protection Agency must be obtained before a permit can be issued by the Health Authority regarding the installation or repair of a sewage treatment or disposal system designed to discharge a liquid effluent to to the Waters of the United States.
(D) All sewage treatment or disposal units which have liquid surfaces open to the free atmosphere must be located at least 200 feet from the property line. Utility easements, railroad easements, statutorily dedicated roadways, rivers and other bodies of water may be used to comply with the 200-foot requirement.
(E) All sewage treatment and disposal systems shall be operated and maintained in a neat and orderly manner so that no objectionable health hazards, odor conditions or unsanitary conditions exist and shall be operated and maintained with all other applicable laws or ordinances.
(F) A building permit shall not be issued in the county on construction which will require a sewage treatment or disposal system, until the Health Authority has issued a written sewage permit authorizing the installation of the system. A building being served by a sewage treatment or disposal system shall not be occupied until the Health Authority has provided its final approval on the installation of the sewage treatment or disposal system.
(G) A satisfactory on-site soil evaluation/classification must be obtained on each lot before a sewage permit can be issued for the installation of individual sewage disposal systems consisting of ground absorption trenches. The minimum requirements for each lot shall be determined by the criteria listed in Appendix C, Table 2
or by a soil classifier or Illinois licensed professional engineer.
(H) The following minimum requirements shall apply to the installation or repair of all individual sewage disposal systems constructed to serve a single- family dwelling.
(1) (a) All septic tanks must have the approval of the State Department of Public Health. Any tank constructed in place must meet the requirements of § 905.40 of the State Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code. Septic tanks installed to serve a three- bedroom home or less must have a liquid capacity of 1,000 gallons. For each bedroom in excess of three bedrooms, an additional 250 gallons must be added to the liquid capacity of the tank. If a garbage disposal or grinder is provided, the total liquid capacity of the tank must be increased by 50%.
(b) Whenever more than one tank is to be installed, they must be installed in series with the first tank having between one-half and two-thirds the total capacity provided.
(2) Distribution boxes must be installed in accordance with § 905.50 of the State Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Act and Code.
(I) For each bedroom in excess of three bedrooms, an additional 100 linear feet of a 36-inch wide trench or equivalent shall be added to the system. If a garbage disposal or grinder is provided, an additional 100 linear feet of a 36-inch wide trench or equivalent shall be added to the system.
(J) If the contour of the ground requires a hillside or step-down type of absorption system, then a serial type installation shall be made.
(K) The following rules shall apply to all ground absorption trench installations.
(1) Seepage area shall be 900 square feet, minimum.
(2) A minimum four-inch inside diameter tile must be installed for every linear foot of a conventional perforated pipe trench system.
(3) Conventional tile shall be perforated or open joint tile. Where open joint tile is used, the tile sections shall be spaced not less than one-fourth inch nor more than one-half inch apart. Perforated piping (with the exception of eight-inch or ten-inch gravel- less ground absorption trench installations) shall have one-half to one-fourth-inch diameter openings on three- to five-inch centers with a minimum two rows. Gravel-less ground absorption trench installations must meet the requirements of § 905.60, of the State Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code.
(4) A maximum length for any one trench will be 100 feet or sized according to the installation guidelines approved by Illinois Department of Public Health.
(5) Conventional trenches shall not be constructed closer than ten feet on center unless prior approval has been granted for lesser distances by the Health Authority.
(6) The bottom of the subsurface seepage field, each trench and its distribution line shall be level. Level for this part shall mean plus or minus one-half inch in any direction over the entire area of the subsurface seepage system.
(7) The trench shall be of an approved width according to Health Authority regulations and industry standards.
(8) There shall be installed in each conventional gravel trench at least eight inches of gravel or similar material below the tile and two inches above the tile. This gravel or similar material shall have sufficient voids and have a minimum diameter of one and one-half inches.
(9) Subsurface trench systems must be thoroughly covered before the backfilling with a six- inch layer of uncompacted straw or untreated building paper or other pervious and/or biodegradable material to support the backfill unless not required by manufacturer’s installation guidelines.
(10) There shall be a minimum cover of backfill over the trenches of six inches and a maximum cover of 18 inches. The bottom of the trenches shall not be more than 33 inches below finished grade.
(11) All absorption trench systems shall be backfilled, weather permitting, within 48 hours after approval has been issued by the Health Authority.
(12) Other types of subsurface seepage systems approved by State Department Public Health § 905.60 are incorporated by reference. Any alternative methods for the construction of ground absorption trench systems must be approved by the State Department of Public Health and the Health Authority.
(L) Location of the components of a sewage disposal system shall conform with the minimum distances given in Appendix C, Table 3
.
(M) The following sewer types and construction shall be used.
(1) All sewers from the house to the septic tank shall be four-inch diameter construction of cast iron with mechanical joints or Schedule 40 PVC with water tight joints whenever any portion of this sewer is within ten feet of a water well. This sewer can be coot ductile iron pipe, vitrified clay sewer pipe or Schedule 40 PVC plastic pipe or its equivalent, provided there is no water well located within 50 feet of any portion of this sewer. The joints shall be root-proof and watertight.
(2) Sewer pipes from the tank to the distribution boxes and from the distribution boxes to each individual soil absorption trench shall be vitrified clay pipe or Schedule 40 PVC plastic pipe or its equivalent. The joints shall be root-proof and watertight.
(3) All solid pipes carrying domestic sewage by gravity flow shall have a nominal diameter of at least four inches and minimum slope of 12 inches per 100 feet. Solid header lines used for equal distribution shall be level.
(4) Other materials may be approved by the Health Authority as they are developed, provided that sufficient operational and technical data is submitted so that the Health Authority is assured that the materials are suitable to provide an acceptable installation.
(N) The installation of ground absorption trenches in ground that has been recently filled in excess of one foot is prohibited.
(O) The excavation and refilling of lots in the area designated for the installation of a ground absorption trench system is not acceptable.
(P) Sewers used under driveways or other areas subject to heavy loads shall be Schedule 40 equivalent or greater. This portion of the pipe may be packed in gravel for reinforcement.
(Q) The construction of driveways, parking areas, paved areas, garages, sheds, patios, above-ground swimming pools or other building or structures of a permanent nature over any portion, or within ten feet, of the ground absorption trench system or septic tank is prohibited. In-ground swimming pools shall not be located closer than 25 feet to any portion of the septic system.
(R) Individual sewage treatment or disposal systems are designed for the sole purpose of treatment and disposing of sewage waste only. Under no circumstances shall liquids from the following facilities be discharged into any portion of the sewage system: downspouts, water softeners, footing or foundation drains or other surface run-off.
(S) Footing or foundation drainage must be discharged to the surface of the ground by gravity, provided the contour of the ground is satisfactory for gravity flow. If the contour of the ground will not permit this type of drainage to flow by gravity to the surface of the ground, then it will be necessary to install a sump hole and electric sump pump to serve this drainage. This sump hole and sump pump cannot be the same sump hole and sump pump used for the conveyance of laundry waste, floor waste, shower waste or any other sewage waste into the sewage system. This prohibits the use of so-called butterfly valves for this purpose, and where two sump holes and pumps are necessary, they must be located a minimum of ten feet apart unless one of the sump holes contains a properly constructed ejector pit.
(T) Where sewage disposal systems consisting of ground absorption trenches are proposed for buildings consisting of more than one-family dwelling, the following minimum requirements apply.
(1) An on-site soil evaluation/classification must be conducted by methods prescribed in Appendix B
or by a soil classifier or Illinois licensed professional engineer.
(2) The lot or lots involved must be of sufficient area to support a series of individual sewage systems or a combined sewage disposal system consisting of a minimum system for each dwelling unit.
(3) In all cases the decision regarding construction in this category shall be made by the Health Authority.
(U) The construction of privies, chemical toilets and outside toilets of any type to be used for the disposal of sewage is prohibited. The Health Authority may authorize the construction of a sanitary pit privy, vault privy, septic privy, chemical toilet, recirculating toilet, incinerator toilet and compost toilet in conformance with § 905.130 of the State Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code to serve forest preserves, park districts, summer camps, seasonal use facilities or cottages, and construction projects if they deem it advisable. In these cases, the summer camps or cottages must not be used as year-round dwellings and the construction projects will be for temporary periods only.
(V) All existing unsanitary privies are prohibited and must be replaced with some approved means of sewage disposal approved by the County Health Department.
(W) Holding tanks at least 1,000 gallons or greater capacity are approved for private sewage disposal only under the following circumstances:
(1) As a temporary measure while awaiting the extension of a sanitary sewer. This temporary condition shall not exceed one year in length;
(2) As a sanitary dumping station to receive the discharge from holding facilities on recreational vehicles;
(3) The holding tank shall be designed and constructed as a septic tank except that the outlet shall be permanently sealed;
(4) Holding tanks installed shall be converted to a conventional sewage disposal system if a sanitary sewer has not been extended to serve the property within one year of the original installation and
(5) Holding tanks used to receive waste products such as automotive grease, oils or solvents and chemicals, which are otherwise not allowed to be discharged into a private sewage disposal system. These waste products shall be handled according to rules for disposal of oil, gas and grease promulgated under EPA or according to 35 Ill. Adm. Code Subtitle G or shall be taken to an oil and gas reclamation center. Holding tanks to be used as described in this section shall be Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. certified and constructed of materials approved for gas and oil interceptors as specified in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890.520, and shall be properly anchored to prevent flotation.
(X) Septic tanks, aerobic treatment plants, lift stations, cesspools, pit privies, disinfection chambers, sample ports, and holding tanks that are no longer in use shall be completely pumped. The floor and walls shall be cracked or crumbled so the tank or tanks will not hold water, and the tank(s) shall be filled with sand or soil. If the tank(s) is removed from the ground, the excavation shall be filled with soil. Tank abandonment activities must be inspected by the Health Authority, and the applicable fee (see Appendix A) shall be submitted for each tank abandonment inspection.
(Y) When considering proposals for experimental systems, the Health Authority shall not be restricted by this chapter provided that:
(1) The experimental system proposed is approved by the State Department of Public Health;
(2) The experimental system proposed is attempting to correct an existing environmental and/or health problem; or
(3) The experimental system proposed is for new construction where it has been determined that a disposal system meeting the requirements of this chapter could be installed in the event of failure of the experiment.
(Z) (1) Where sewage disposal systems consisting of ground absorption trenches are proposed for nonresidential establishments, the Health Authority will base the size of the system on the estimated quantity of sewage flow. The minimum sewage disposal system of a nonresidential establishment shall consist of a 1,000 gallon septic tank and 900 square feet of horizontal trench area consisting of 300 lineal feet of 36-inch wide ground absorption trench system or equivalent.
(2) Appendix C, Table 4
shall be used to determine the minimum ground absorption trench system for nonresidential establishments regardless of the creation date of the lot or parcel.
(1980 Code, §51.05) (1963 pp. 365—370, adopted 8- -1963) (Sup. Rec. Bk. 235, pp. 259—261; Sup. Rec. Bk. , pp. 261—267, adopted 6-14-1976) (Res. 87-74, passed 7-16- 1987; Res. 79-59, adopted 4-25-1979; Res. 07- 412, adopted 10-18-2007; Ord. 11-74, passed 2-17-2011; Ord. 14-279, passed 10-16-2014; Ord. 16-235, passed 8-18-2016) Penalty, see § 51.99