Big Bear Lake Municipal Code Ch. 8.44 Liquid Waste Disposal

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth criteria and standards which will provide for installation of liquid waste disposal systems in such a manner that hazards to public health, water quality and creation of nuisances will be minimized.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1 (part), 1982)

The following words shall have the following meanings:

A. "Department" means the city department of environmental health services.

B. "Director" means the director of the city department of environmental health services.

C. "Liquid waste" means water which has undergone use for domestic purposes. The term sewage is included within liquid waste.

D. "Mountain areas" means the area included within the boundaries of the San Bernardino National Forest and the Angeles National Forest.

E. "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation or governmental agency.

F. "Seepage pits" means a lined excavation in the ground which receives the discharge of a septic tank so designed as to permit the effluent from the septic tank to seep through its bottom and sides.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)

An approved liquid waste disposal system shall be one of the following:

A. A system which complies with applicable portions of the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted in Title 15 of this code; or

B. A system which has been approved by the director and the director of the city department of building and safety and for which standards have been adopted and made a part of this code by reference.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)

An alternative liquid waste disposal system, not in compliance with Section 8.44.030, may be approved by the director provided:

A. The applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director that no hazard to health, degradation of water quality or nuisance is likely to occur.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)

Three copies of Minimum Requirements for Location of a Liquid Waste Disposal System, prepared by the director under date of January 20, 1981, as the same may be amended by the director from time to time and approved by the city council, have been filed in the office of the clerk of the city council; the same is hereby designated and adopted by reference in this chapter. Liquid waste disposal systems shall be installed only in compliance with these minimum standards.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)

Because of special conditions for liquid waste disposal in the mountain areas, the following shall apply:

A. Three copies of Liquid Waste Disposal System Approval for the San Bernardino Mountain Areas, prepared by the director, under date of January 20, 1981, as the same may be amended by the director from time to time and approved by the city council, have been filed in the office of the clerk of the city council; the same is hereby designated and adopted by reference in this chapter. Applications for approval to install liquid waste disposal systems shall be made only with the meeting of the requirements set forth in said approval documents.

B. Installation of seepage pits in mountain areas shall be prohibited.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)

When required by the director, soil percolation testing shall be done in compliance with the current percolation test report requirements adopted by the department. The director may establish other means for determining liquid waste application rates and charge such fees as are appropriate and authorized by this code.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)

Persons performing soils percolation tests for review by the department shall be subject to the following requirements:

A. Testers shall be qualified as one or more of the following:

1. State registered civil engineer;

2. State certified engineering geologist;

3. Business firm employing or comprised of one or more state registered civil engineers or state certified engineering geologists;

4. State registered sanitarian.

B. Demonstration to the director of competence in soil percolation testing and local procedures.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1 (part), 1982)

Any tester may have his testing privileges revoked or suspended for any one or more of the following causes:

1. if found by the department to have lost the status which qualifies such person to perform percolation testing; or

2. if found to have falsified information submitted to the department in a report(s) or correspondence; or

3. if found to have provided any other false information to the department on a material question; or

4. if found generally to have performed in other than a diligent manner regarding any testing performed or reports filed with reference to this code.

A. Upon determining probable cause for revocation or suspension of testing privileges, the department shall give written notice to the tester to show cause why his testing privileges should not be revoked or suspended.

B. Upon written notification to show why his privileges should not be revoked or suspended, the tester may appeal to the director within ten working days for a hearing.

C. Within five working days after the close of any hearing, the director shall notify the tester whether his privileges have been revoked or suspended. If the decision of the director is to revoke or suspend the privileges, the notice of revocation or suspension shall state the grounds therefor.

D. Unless special approval is granted by the director, a person whose privileges have been revoked pursuant to this section may not reapply for reinstatement unless revocation was based solely upon loss of status which qualified the person for testing privileges and such loss of status was without wrongdoing on the part of such person.

(Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)