Humboldt County Municipal Code Ch. 1 General Requirements

Sections: Purpose and Findings. Definitions. Approved Sewage Treatment System Required. Sewer Connection Required. Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Abandoned Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Site Evaluations. Subdivisions and Lot Line Adjustments. 611-1. Purpose and Findings. The Board of Supervisors finds that in urban areas of the County the most appropriate means of sewage treatment is the public sewer system. The Board further finds that, in the rural lands of the County, the dispersal or leach field method of sewage treatment is the most appropriate means of sewage treatment and is to be considered a permanent means. (Ord. 945, § 1, 10/2/73; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/07/2017) The Board of Supervisors enacts this division for the management of sewage treatment systems in the County in order to promote the health, safety, and well-being of the inhabitants of this County by providing to them a means to prevent water pollution, nuisances, and threats to public health. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/07/2017) In addition, this division is intended to bring Humboldt County into compliance with the Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems and applicable policies and regulations of the State Water Resources Control Board. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) This division shall apply to all territory embraced within the unincorporated area of the County of Humboldt, State of California. Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/07/2017) 611-2. Definitions. (a) Abandoned Onsite Wastewater Treatment System. “Abandoned onsite wastewater treatment system” means an onsite wastewater treatment system of which use has been discontinued with the intent of never resuming such use. Nonuse of such a system for a period of one (1) year shall be prima facie proof of such intent. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (b) Building and Place. “Building” or “place” means any residence, place of business, or other building or place where persons reside, congregate, or are employed. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017)

(c) Cesspool. “Cesspool” means an excavation in the ground receiving domestic wastewater, designed to retain the organic matter and solids, while allowing the liquids to seep into the soil. Cesspools do not have septic tanks. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (d) Dispersal System. “Dispersal system” means a leachfield, mound, at-grade, subsurface drip field or other type of system for final wastewater treatment and subsurface discharge. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (e) Graywater. “Graywater” means untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge; has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes; and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes. “Graywater” includes wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers. Graywater as defined above has the same meaning as “gray water,” “grey water,” and/or “greywater.” (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (f) Grease Interceptor. “Grease interceptor” means a plumbing appurtenance or appliance that is installed in a sanitary drainage system to intercept non-petroleum fats, oils, and greases (FOG) from a wastewater discharge. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (g) Health Officer. “Health Officer” means the Humboldt County Health Officer or his/her authorized representative or designee. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (h) Onsite Wastewater Treatment System or OWTS. “Onsite wastewater treatment system(s)” or “OWTS” means a water-carried system for the sanitary, safe, and nuisance-free receipt and treatment of sewage and wastewater. OWTS may also be referred to or known as a septic system, sewage treatment system, or sewage disposal system. The short form of the term may be singular or plural. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (i) Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Failure or OWTS Failure. “Onsite wastewater treatment system failure” or “OWTS failure” includes, but is not limited to, the following: (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/07/2017) (1) Surfacing of effluent with the bacteriological or chemical characteristics of sewage. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/ 2017) (2) Sluggish or inoperative plumbing fixtures. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (3) The flow or seepage of effluent from an onsite wastewater treatment system into surface or subsurface waters. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (j) Pit Privy. “Pit privy” means a self-contained waterless toilet used for disposal of non-water carried human waste; consists of a shelter built above a pit in the ground into which human waste falls. Also known as an outhouse or pit-toilet. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (k) Public Nuisance. “Public nuisance” means anything which: (1) Is injurious to health or well-being, or is indecent or offensive to the senses, or is an obstruction to the free use of the land space, or interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or environment; or (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017)

(2) Affects at the same time the occupants of one (1) or more habitable units of a community or neighborhood, or any considerable number of persons, although the extent of the annoyance, damage, injury, offense, obstruction or interference inflicted upon individuals may be unequal; or (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/ 2017) (3) Any condition, action, or use defined in § 351-3. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (l) Public Sewer. “Public sewer” means a common sewer system operated by a public entity. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/ 2017) (m) Public Water System. “Public water system” means a water system regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board or a Local Primacy Agency pursuant to the California Safe Drinking Water Act, Chapter 12, Part 4, Section 116275(h) of the California Health and Safety Code. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (n) Qualified Professional. “Qualified Professional” means a Registered Civil Engineer, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, Professional Geologist, or Certified Soil Scientist who has experience designing standard or non- standard onsite wastewater treatment systems. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (o) Repair. “Repair” means any alteration and/or replacement of any dispersal system component or tank of an onsite wastewater treatment system as a result of system failure. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (p) Seepage Pit. “Seepage pit” means a drilled or dug excavation, three to six feet in diameter, which receives the effluent discharge from a septic tank or other OWTS treatment unit for dispersal. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (q) Septic Tank. “Septic tank” means a watertight, covered receptacle designed for primary treatment of wastewater and constructed to: (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/07/2017) (1) Receive wastewater discharged from a building; and (2) Separate settleable and floating solids from the liquid; and (3) Digest organic matter by anaerobic bacterial action; and (4) Store digested solids; and (5) Clarify wastewater for further treatment with final subsurface discharge. (r) Sewage. “Sewage” means any substance, liquid or solid, which is classified as a waste product of human occupation and may be injurious or dangerous to health, and which contains or may be contaminated with human or animal excrement, offal, or feculent matter. Sewage may be synonymous with “wastewater” and/or “liquid waste”. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (s) Sewage Treatment System. “Sewage treatment system” means a system for the sanitary, safe, and nuisance- free receipt and treatment of sewage or waste other than a public sewer. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017)

(t) Vault. “Vault” means an enclosed receptacle for the receipt and temporary storage of wastewater, such as, but not limited to, grease interceptors, grease traps, chemical toilets, vault toilets, and holding tanks. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (u) Waste. “Waste” means any and all waste substances, liquid, solid or gaseous, associated with any producing, manufacturing, processing or commercial operation, of whatever nature, which substances are not further used by the entity producing, manufacturing, processing or commercial operation. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (v) Waste Well. “Waste well” means any hole in the ground used or intended to be used for the disposal of sewage, liquid waste, or wastewater. (Ord. 945, § 2, 10/2/1973; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) 611-3. Approved Sewage Treatment System Required. No person shall construct, reconstruct, repair, maintain, use or occupy any building or place which is not provided with a sewage treatment system approved by the Health Officer or with a connection to a public sewer. (Ord. 945, § 3, 10/2/1973; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) 611-4. Sewer Connection Required. (a) Connection Required. Every building or place which is within 300 feet of an approved public sewer shall be connected to the public sewer by the owner in accordance with and subject to requirements and/or conditions set forth by the public sewer authority. A separate connection for each building or place may be required. The measurement of the 300 feet shall start at a point where the public sewer authority’s jurisdiction terminates and continue to the nearest point of the property. The location of a structure upon the property shall not be a contributing factor unless the structure is located more than 1,000 feet from the public sewer line. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (b) Large Flow Situations. Multiple family units, mobilehome park, commercial establishments, motels, hotels, subdivision and minor subdivisions, and other buildings or places creating a large flow of sewage or waste may be required by the Health Officer to connect from distances greater than 300 feet. In requiring connections from greater distances, the Health Officer shall consider for the long term the following: (1) The intent and purpose of this division. (2) Effect on the General Plan, the Zoning Title and the Open Space Plan. (3) Potential nuisance creation. (4) Quantity of sewage flow. (5) Cost and suitability of such connection relative to the cost and suitability of constructing and maintaining sewage treatment systems. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017)

(6) Such other factors as the Health Officer deems appropriate. (c) Failed Systems. In instances of an onsite wastewater treatment system failure as defined in § 611-2(i), where site conditions preclude the installation of a reliable onsite wastewater treatment system replacement, the Health Officer may require connection to an approved public sewer from a distance of up to 1,000 feet. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (d) Pump Required. In the event a person required by this section to connect to a public sewer does not have gravity flow to the public sewer, he/she shall be required to install and maintain a sump pump at his/her own expense at the time of the hookup. Such installation shall be subject to the regulations of the entity operating the public sewer. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (e) Easements. This Board will assist any individual required under this section to connect to a public sewer in attempting to acquire any easements which may be necessary to allow for the most direct connection to the public sewer. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (f) Permit Procedures. Permit procedures, inspection procedures; and materials related to connection to a public sewer shall be in accordance with the specifications of the public entity operating the public sewer. (g) Connection to Public Sewers. All points of wastewater discharge from the building or place subject to the provisions of this section shall be connected to the public sewer. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (h) Waterless Toilet Permits. Notwithstanding the above, the Health Officer may permit the installation and use of waterless toilets as described in Chapter 5 of this division. (Ord. 945, § 4, 10/2/1973; Ord. 1275, § 1, 9/12/1978; Ord. 1338, § 1, 7/10/1979; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) 611-5. Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. (a) The owner of an onsite wastewater treatment system shall comply with the operational and maintenance requirements specified on the approved permit application. In addition, the owner of a non-standard onsite wastewater treatment system shall comply with Chapter 6 of this division. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (b) The operator of a dual-field dispersal system shall alternate the field annually or at times specified by the Health Officer. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (c) Unless otherwise specified by the Health Officer, septic tanks shall be pumped at least once every seven (7) years. (Ord. 945, § 7, 10/2/1973; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) 611-6. Abandoned Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. (a) Every abandoned building sewer or part thereof shall be plugged or capped in an approved manner within five feet (5') of the property line.

(b) Every abandoned septic tank shall have the sewage removed therefrom and be completely filled with earth, sand, gravel, concrete or other approved material. The cover of the septic tank shall be removed before filling. The filling shall not extend above the top of the vertical portions of the sidewalls or above the level of any outlet pipe until an inspection has been completed by the Health Officer. After such inspection by the Health Officer, the septic tank shall be filled to the level of the top of the ground. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (c) No person owning or controlling any septic tank shall fail, refuse, or neglect to comply with the provisions of this section upon receipt of notice from the Health Officer. (d) Where an onsite wastewater treatment system is abandoned consequent to connecting with the public sewer, the property owner or his/her authorized representative making the connection shall fill the abandoned septic tank as required by the Health Officer within thirty (30) days from the time of connecting with the public sewer. (Ord. 945, § 10, 10/2/1973; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) 611-11. Site Evaluations. (a) The Health Officer may make inspection of a site to determine the potential suitability of the property for an onsite wastewater treatment system or to verify site evaluation information submitted by a Qualified Professional. The Health Officer may require that he/she be present along with the Qualified Professional conducting a site evaluation. The Health Officer shall issue a report on the inspection findings to the property owner or his/her authorized representative. The report shall not constitute approval for the issuance of the onsite wastewater treatment system permit or guarantee of such issuance. (Ord. 2351, § 18, 12/6/2005; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (b) Each application for inspection of a site shall be accompanied by a fee set by resolution or ordinance of the Board of Supervisors in an amount sufficient to cover costs. When inspection of more than one site is requested, the fee shall be charged for each site. (Ord. 945, § 15, 10/2/1973; Ord. 2351, § 18, 12/6/2005; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/ 2017) 611-12. Subdivisions and Lot Line Adjustments. (a) For any proposed subdivision or applicable lot line adjustment which will not be connected to a public sewer, the Health Officer shall require site specific onsite wastewater treatment system designs for each proposed parcel before recommendations are presented to the Planning Commission. The onsite system design for each proposed parcel shall be prepared from a site evaluation conducted by a Qualified Professional as defined in § 611-2(n). (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (b) Such designs shall recognize that the onsite wastewater treatment demands of any particular subdivision cannot be analyzed without reference to the onsite wastewater treatment demands of the land surrounding the subdivision. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017)

(c) Such designs shall recognize that the proposed onsite wastewater treatment systems of the subdivision must be viewed as a single system for purposes of analysis. The Health Officer may require that a cumulative impact study of the effects of wastewater discharge be conducted. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (d) Such designs shall be consistent with all the provisions of this division and regulations issued by the Health Officer. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (e) Such designs shall include provisions to meet sewage treatment demands over the long term. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (f) Such designs shall require the approval of the Health Officer. (Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) (g) The designs shall be accompanied by a fee estimate to cover the expenses incurred by the County in reviewing the designs. The fee shall be set by resolution or ordinance of the Board of Supervisors. In the event that the actual costs are less than the fee deposited, the balance shall be returned. In the event the actual costs are greater than the fee deposited, the subdivider shall pay to the County the excess of the actual costs over the amount of the fee deposited. (Ord. 945, § 16, 10/2/1973; Ord. 2351, § 14, 12/6/2005; Ord. 2584, § 1, 11/7/2017) § 612-1. § 612-2. § 612-3. § 612-4. § 612-5. § 612-6.