§ 19.07.027. Septic tank abandonment.

(a)

Every cesspool or septic tank that has been abandoned or has been discontinued otherwise from use, or which no waste or soil pipe from a plumbing fixture is connected, shall have the sewage removed therefrom and be completely filled with earth, sand, gravel, concrete or other approved material.

Exception: Septic tanks may be re-used as rainwater storage cisterns if all the following conditions are met.

(1)

The applicant shall obtain a system abandonment permit from county building department. The permit application shall specify the intended use of the septic tank.

(2)

The activities related to abandoning the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system shall not create a sanitary nuisance.

(3)

The septic tank shall be disconnected from the drain field and from the building sewer pipe.

(4)

All work to disconnect, clean and sanitize the septic tank shall be conducted by a registered septic tank contractor or a state-licensed plumber or by the owner of the owner-occupied single family residence being served by the septic tank.

(5)

All septage, wash water, and other liquids removed from the tank shall be removed and handled as septage by an approved disposal service and disposed of at an approved regulated wastewater treatment facility.

(6)

The planning and building department shall inspect the tank once it is disconnected, emptied, cleaned, disinfected and filled with water. The inspection shall determine that:

a.

The tank has been disconnected from the drain field and the building sewer.

b.

The tank is full of water within 12 inches from the top of the tank.

c.

The clarity of the water is such that a Secchi disk is visible at the bottom of the tank.

d.

The pH of the water is between 6.0-8.0.

e.

The free chlorine residual of the water in the tank is >5.0ppm.

f.

The total coliform count <1,000 per 100 ml.

g.

The fecal coliform count is <200 per 100 ml.

h.

No sanitary nuisance condition exists on the property related to the abandonment activities.

(7)

While one inspection is included in the abandonment permit fee, the applicant shall pay a re-inspection fee for any additional inspection visits necessary until all of the criteria in #6 are met and final approval of the abandonment is granted by the county planning and building department.

(8)

The applicant shall be responsible for all required laboratory fees. All sampling shall be conducted by county planning and building department staff during the final inspection.

(9)

The abandonment permit shall be valid for 12 months. The septic tank shall be properly abandoned within 90 days after the connection to the sanitary sewer.

(10)

The tank shall not be connected to any irrigation components nor the water used for irrigation purposes until final approval of the abandonment has been granted by the county planning and building department.

(11)

Upon final approval of the abandonment, use of the tank or the drain field for sewage storage, treatment or disposal is prohibited.

(12)

Upon final approval of the abandonment, the water collected in the tank shall be utilized for non-potable, irrigation purposes only.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16)