6.11.060 Private sewage disposal systems; septic tanks; drains; cesspools; pit privy; when allowed; requirements; sewer wells prohibited.
Every residence, place of business, or other building or place where persons congregate, reside, or are employed, and which does not abut a street or alley in which there is an approved sanitary sewer, or which is not within two hundred (200) feet of an approved public sanitary sewer, shall be provided with a private water flush toilet, or if in the opinion of the Health Officer conditions permit, a privy, by the owner or agent or occupant of the premises; said water flush toilet system, or privy, to be built or rebuilt, constructed, altered or reconstructed, or maintained in such manner as to meet the requirements of construction and maintenance hereinafter described, to wit:
Private sewage disposal systems. At any residence, place of business or other building where there is installed a water flush system or sewage disposal system which is not connected to a public sewer system, and where the customary users do not exceed fifteen (15) in number, there shall also be established or installed a private sewage disposal system. Said disposal system to consist of a septic tank and a system of underground drains for the disposal of the tank effluent. Said tank and drains shall be so constructed as to meet the requirements of construction and maintenance hereinafter described.
1. Septic tanks. The septic tanks shall be of two (2) compartment construction; the first compartment being twice the capacity of the second. Said tank shall be of a type, constructed and located in accordance with the recommendations of the State Department of Public Health and the Health Officer. If it is necessary to install the tank above ground surface, it must be made air and odor tight. The septic tank, distribution box, if used, and all inlets and outlets thereto, shall be water tight.
a. Size. The minimum capacity of the septic tank shall be seven hundred (700) gallons.
b. Materials. The septic tank shall be constructed of concrete, irrigation heart grade redwood or equal, or some other material of equal durable and waterproof qualities approved by the Health Officer.
2. Drains. The effluent from the septic tank must discharge into approved absorption field. The construction shall be such that the sewage shall at no time flow over the top of the ground. The absorption field shall be laid at a grade of not more than two (2) inches in one hundred (100) feet. The effluent lines shall be laid in a trench at least twenty-four (24) inches wide, which has a layer of one to two inch loose rock in the bottom at least twelve (12) inches deep and at least four (4) inches over the top of said effluent lines. The minimum length of the effluent leaching lines shall be one hundred and twenty-five (125) feet. Additional length of effluent line may be required by the Health Officer if unusual conditions are encountered. In any case where the topography or area of any lot, piece or parcel of land upon which septic tank is erected, maintained, constructed, or is proposed to be erected, maintained or constructed, is such that the minimum requirement for the length of leaching lines cannot be complied with, the Health Officer may grant a special permit for the erection, construction or maintenance of shorter effluent leaching lines, or other means of effluent disposal, if in his judgment such other means or shorter effluent lines are sufficient to provide for the efficient disposal of the effluent without endangering public health or safety.
3. Cesspools. It shall be unlawful to use a cesspool for the disposal of sewage without a permit from the Health Officer.
4. Sewer wells. All sewer wells are hereby declared to be a public nuisance. It shall be unlawful to drill, construct, maintain or operate a sewer well, and such offense shall constitute a misdemeanor.
5. At any residence, place of business, or other building where there is installed a water flush system of sewage disposal, which is not connected to public sewer system, and where the customary users exceed fifteen (15) in number, there shall also be established or installed a private sewage disposal plant, the plans and construction of which, in each separate case, shall be approved by the Health Officer.
A. Pit privy. It shall be unlawful to use a pit privy for the disposal of sewage without a permit from the Health Officer. When in the opinion of the Health Officer the conditions permit the disposal of sewage by means of a pit privy, said privy, if established or installed, shall be constructed, built, rebuilt, or maintained that:
1. The privy shall be placed at a distance approved by the Health Officer from all wells, streams and dwellings.
2. The sewage deposited therein shall not fall upon the surface of the ground, but shall enter into a vault or pit in the ground or a compartment built for that purpose.
3. Said vault and building thereon shall at all times be inaccessible to insects, rodents, or other animals.
4. The pit vault or compartment, together with the floor riser seat and other portions of the building shall, as a unit, prevent the entrance of either rain or surface water into the pit below.
5. All privy buildings shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.
6. Chemical privies, septic privies, concrete vault privies, or other privies not heretofore mentioned may be used only with the special permission of the Health Officer.