Onsite wastewater treatment systems (hereafter, "systems") are regulated by State law. The State Water Resources Control Board and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board have delegated their authority to regulate systems in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Yolo County to the Yolo County Environmental Health Division.
(a) Water Code sections 13290 et seq. authorize a local agency to adopt or retain regulations and standards for systems that are at least equally protective of the public health or the environment than state laws and regulations.
(b) On June 19, 2012, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted the Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy), effective May 13, 2013. The OWTS Policy requires a local agency to implement the statewide minimum standards of the OWTS Policy which provides provisions for low risk OWTS, or develop a local program by adopting a Local Agency Management Program (LAMP). The LAMP may allow alternatives to the OWTS Policy; however the LAMP must demonstrate that the standards achieve the same purpose as the OWTS Policy which is to protect water quality and public health. This Ordinance and its partner document, the Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Manual are major components of Yolo County's LAMP. The Yolo County LAMP was submitted to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQB) prior to the OWTS Policy deadline of May 13, 2016, and has been determined to meet the minimum standards of the OWTS Policy by CVRWQB. Any modifications thereto must be approved by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. All elements of the LAMP must be implemented prior to May 13, 2018.
For graywater systems, Yolo County Environmental Health Division has the authority to enforce standards in the unincorporated area only. The local building official has jurisdiction in the incorporated cities.
This addition to the Yolo County Code is being done in conjunction with amendments to Chapter 5 and 8 of Title 6.
(Ord. 1469, eff. July 14, 2016)