§ 36-74. Private sewage disposal.

(a)

No public sewer available. Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of section 36-73, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this section.

(b)

Permit prior to construction. Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the public works director. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary by the public works director. The disposal system shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the plans and specifications and operated and maintained in such a manner as to prevent the seepage or discharge of sewage or other liquid waste from such systems to the surface of the ground; to a watercourse, drainage ditch, canal, storm sewer storm drain, lake, stream, river, estuary, or other bodies of water. A permit and inspection fee of $25.00 shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed.

(c)

Permit; effective date. A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed according to the standards hereinafter set forth. The public works director shall utilize the then current environmental protection and acceptable building standards, normal to the trade, in arriving at his determination of satisfaction. He shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the public works director when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 72 hours of the receipt of notice by the public works director.

(d)

Private sewage disposal system. The type, capacities, location, and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the environmental protection division of the state department of natural resources. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than 15,000 square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.

(e)

Subsequent available public sewer. At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in section 36-73, and should a direct connection be made to the public sewer in compliance with this article, any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be cleaned of sludge, and filled with clean bank run gravel or dirt and abandoned as a sewage treatment or disposal system.

(f)

Sanitary operation of private systems. The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner, as determined by the state, city and county health officers at all times, at no expense to the city.

(g)

State and county officers. No statement contained in this section shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the state and county health officers.

(Code 1985, § 7-103)