Town of South Bristol, NY Article III General Regulations, Design Standards and Requirements

§ 120-6 General regulations.

A. It shall be unlawful to install, construct, alter, replace, enlarge, extend, or otherwise modify any on-site wastewater treatment system unless an on-site wastewater treatment system permit is issued by the authority having jurisdiction, except as specifically exempted in § 120-8.

B. It shall be unlawful to change the use of real property or any building thereon, convey real property, expand a building or dwelling by increasing the number of bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalents, or increase the building or dwelling square footage by greater than 25% of the square footage, or alter a building or dwelling such that the work area exceeds 50% of the aggregate area of the existing building without an inspection of the existing on-site wastewater treatment system by a certified inspector, pursuant to Article IV of this chapter.

C. It shall be a violation of this chapter to use any on-site wastewater treatment system that is in failure.

D. On-site wastewater treatment systems with the absorption area located within 200 feet of Canandaigua Lake shall also comply with § 120-9, Requirements of substandard systems.

E. There shall be no activities or conditions permitted which would interfere with the proper operation of on-site wastewater treatment systems. It is specifically prohibited to construct or place anything that would impact the absorption area, including but not limited to buildings, structures, paving, trees or shrubs, fill, the parking or crossing by vehicles, aboveground pools, driveways or parking areas.

F. It shall be unlawful to discharge anything but sewage into an on-site wastewater treatment system. Surface and subsurface water including roof, cellar, foundation and storm drainage shall not be discharged into the on-site wastewater treatment system and shall be disposed of so as to in no way affect the proper functioning of the system.

G. All new on-site wastewater treatment systems or modifications to existing on-site wastewater treatment systems shall be designed by a design professional. The design professional shall have the right to contract with the Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District through its Uniform Inspection Procedures Program for site and soil appraisals.

§ 120-7 Design standards.

Design standards to meet the requirements of this chapter are as follows:

A. New York State Department of Health's Appendix 75-A of Part 75 of Title 10 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations (10 NYCRR) for systems with a design load of less than 1,000 gallons per day.

B. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's "New York State Design Standards for Intermediate Sized Wastewater Treatment Systems - March 5, 2014" for systems with a design load equal to or greater than 1,000 gallons per day.

C. In addition to the New York State design standards, the following standards shall also be met for all dwellings:

(1) The minimum design of the system shall be based on 130 gallons/day/bedroom and/or bedroom equivalent for all on-site wastewater treatment systems greater than 200 feet from Canandaigua Lake.

(2) The minimum design of the system shall be based on 150 gallons/day/bedroom and/or bedroom equivalent for all on-site wastewater treatment systems located wholly or partially within 200 feet of Canandaigua Lake.

(3) The size of the house shall be considered along with the number of bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalent for design loading purposes, as follows:

(a) Minimum design: two bedrooms (Appendix 75-A).

(b) Two bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalents or up to 1,200 square feet of heated living space shall be designed as a two-bedroom design load.

(c) Three bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalents or 1,201 to 2,250 square feet of heated living space shall be designed as a three-bedroom design load.

(d) Four bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalents or 2,251 to 3,300 square feet of heated living space shall be designed as a four-bedroom design load.

(e) Five bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalents or 3,301 to 4,050 square feet of heated living space shall be designed as a five-bedroom design load.

(f) More than five bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalents or greater than 4,050 square feet of heated living space: 110 gpd per additional bedrooms and/or bedroom equivalents shall be added to the design load.

(g) Final determination of design loading shall be by the authority having jurisdiction.

§ 120-8 Exemptions.

A. Minor alterations to on-site wastewater treatment systems shall not require an on-site wastewater treatment system permit provided that such repairs are made to replace existing conditions in need of repair, and are done in a safe and sanitary manner.

B. Replacement of septic tanks and distribution boxes shall require an on-site wastewater treatment system permit but do not need to be designed by a design professional provided such repairs are made to replace existing conditions. All alterations to the absorption field shall require an on-site wastewater treatment system permit and a design completed by a design professional.

§ 120-9 Requirements for substandard systems.

A. Substandard systems with the absorption area located within 200 feet of Canandaigua Lake.

(1) Substandard systems with the absorption area located within 200 feet of Canandaigua Lake shall be brought into compliance with the design standards of § 120-7 within 12 months of the conveyance of real property and shall follow the procedures in Article V of this chapter.

B. Substandard systems with the absorption area located within 200 feet of Canandaigua Lake with lot limitations: On parcels with existing substandard on-site wastewater treatment systems that have topographic, physiographic, lot size or other limitations that do not allow for meeting the design standards of § 120-7, the authority having jurisdiction shall require the parcel owner to meet the design standards of § 120-7 to the greatest extent possible.

(1) The parcel owner shall follow the procedures in Article V of this chapter to bring their on-site wastewater treatment system into compliance to the greatest extent possible. The authority having jurisdiction shall have the ability to grant a local waiver to the requirements of the regulations on substandard lots if the applicant can prove that they have met the requirements to the greatest extent possible. The authority having jurisdiction shall take the following into consideration when determining if the on-site wastewater treatment system meets the design standards of § 120-7 to the greatest extent possible:

(a) Previous approvals and/or specific waivers granted by NYS-DOH, or the Watershed Inspector;

(b) Distance separations to surface water and groundwater wells in order to minimize pathogen, nutrient and/or other pollutant loading;

(c) The ability to utilize the latest technology and the ability to maintain that technology;

(d) Existing lot line setbacks and area requirements as related to individual properties; and

(e) The extent to which the limitations are self-created.

(2) On previously developed sites with a substandard system, holding tanks may be utilized if the authority having jurisdiction deems it is the best available technology for the existing site conditions and limitations.

(3) Once the authority having jurisdiction has determined that the substandard system meets the design standards of § 120-7 to the greatest extent possible, the authority having jurisdiction shall provide the parcel owner with an on-site wastewater treatment system permit and a letter of acknowledgement stating that the parcel owner is meeting the design standards of § 120-7 to the greatest extent possible.

C. Substandard systems with absorption areas greater than 200 feet from Canandaigua Lake.

(1) Based on the system inspection, the authority having jurisdiction shall notify parcel owners in a written letter that their system is substandard. The letter will list all components of the system that are substandard. The property owner will not be required to upgrade the system unless it is in failure.

§ 120-10 Maintenance of enhanced treatment units and holding tanks.

A. All enhanced treatment units (ETUs) are required to have a service contract with a certified manufacturer's representative, which provides for annual inspections or inspections at intervals specified by the manufacturer, whichever is stricter, as well as subsequent necessary adjustments by a certified manufacturer's representative for the life of the unit. Within 10 days of an inspection, a written report, which documents the results of the inspection and provides a written certification from the certified manufacturer's representative that the unit is fully functional and operating properly and is under a service contract, shall be sent to the authority having jurisdiction. Failure to hold a service contract, complete the required inspections, send the inspection reports to the authority having jurisdiction, and/or complete the certified manufacturer's representative's maintenance schedule is a violation of this chapter and is punishable according to this chapter.

B. Holding tanks. All holding tanks shall be equipped with a float switch and high level alarm (audible and visual) located in a conspicuous place to indicate when pump out is necessary, which will be maintained in good working order at all times. The owner shall have a contract for service with a NYSDEC permitted septage waste transporter to pump the holding tank as needed. A copy of all pump-out records shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction. At no time will sewage discharge from the tank be allowed.