[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Penn Yan 7-5-1993 by L.L. No. 3-1993; amended in its entirety 9-18-2012 by L.L. No.
4-2012. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of these regulations is to preserve and protect
the quality of Keuka Lake as well as surface water and groundwater
in the Village of Penn Yan. These standards are established to ensure
adequate performance of wastewater treatment systems, to protect public
health and to optimize the effectiveness of the systems at removing
nutrients from wastewater.
These regulations shall be applicable throughout the Village
of Penn Yan and apply to all wastewater systems not subject to continuous
licensing or regulations by the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation hereafter referred to as "NYSDEC," or New York State
Department of Health, hereafter referred to as "NYSDOH."
In the event that any section, paragraph, subdivision or provision
of this chapter shall be determined to be invalid or unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not
affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any part or provision
thereof other than the part determined to be invalid or unconstitutional.
All definitions (printed) contained in Appendix 75-A to the
NYSDOH Code of Rules and Regulations shall be applicable to this chapter.
Additional definitions include:
A person or entity requested, employed or contracted by an
owner or owners, occupant or lessee.
Any inspector that has fulfilled the requirements of the
New York Onsite Wastewater Treatment Training Network, Inc. (OTN)
for inspection of wastewater systems and is registered and has been
approved by the KWIC and the municipality where the inspection is
to be performed.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Penn Yan.
The shortest horizontal linear measurement from the nearest
point or structure or object to the high water mark of the nearest
watercourse or the edge, margin or top of precipitous bank forming
the mean high water mark of a watercourse.
Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative.
Any building constructed or placed on an undeveloped site
and requiring a new wastewater system and currently not utilizing
an adequately functioning wastewater system.
The National Sanitation Foundation founded in 1944 and accredited
by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and by the Standards
Council of Canada (SCC) in Canada.
The Watershed Inspector and/or the KWIC's Watershed
Manager with duties as described in the KWIC Policy and Procedures
Manual.
Any construction or modification of a system for an existing
building which already has a system. Complete replacement of a system
for an existing property with a system shall be considered a replacement
wastewater system.
Any fluid containing sewage or other contaminated liquids
of any kind in or from the drainage system or sewer of a domestic
dwelling or any other structure utilized for commercial, recreational,
agricultural, institutional, or industrial purposes.
Any stream, creek or other waterway so designated by the
KWIC after consultation with the Yates and Steuben County Soil and
Water Conservation Districts and the Department of Environmental Conservation
and published on a set of maps.
The Village of Penn Yan.
Wastewater from any new construction shall be discharged directly
into public wastewater disposal systems if available and accessible
within 100 feet of the property line. In the event that there is no
public wastewater disposal system available within 100 feet of the
subject property line, residential, commercial or institutional wastewater
must be treated by a wastewater treatment system approved by a regulatory
officer.
There shall be two zones within the Village for the protection
of water, public health and safety. Zone 1, or the Critical Water
Protection Zone, shall include any lot with an on-site wastewater
system located within 200 feet of a lake or watercourse. Zone 2 shall
include all other lands in the Village.
A.
No untreated wastewater shall be deposited or allowed to escape into
any watercourse in the Village, or allowed to surface or be washed
over the ground.
B.
No human excreta, either raw or partially decomposed, may be deposited,
pumped or shoveled from a septic, aerobic or holding tank and placed
in or on the ground within the Village without specific approval of
the site by the NYSDEC.
A.
Wastewater systems for new household construction shall be designed
in accordance with current Appendix 75-A to NYSDOH Administrative
Codes, Rules and Regulations hereinafter referred to as Appendix 75-A.
The definitions contained in Appendix 75-A shall also apply to these
regulations.
B.
Wastewater systems for new commercial or institutional construction
shall be designed in accordance with the current NYSDEC guidelines
for Standards for Waste Treatment Works--Institutional and Commercial
Sewage Facilities or current reference.
A.
Construction of replacement wastewater systems shall be pursuant
to a design or plan by a New York State (hereafter referred to as
"NYS") licensed design professional and must be installed under the
direction of a regulatory officer or a NYS licensed design professional.
Replacement systems shall conform with the provisions of Appendix
75-A.
B.
On limiting site conditions, the regulatory officer shall utilize up-to-date practical technology and require the system to be designed and installed under the direction of a NYS licensed design professional. A holding tank may be constructed under the supervision of the regulatory officer as described in § 194-16 hereof.
C.
Any household served by a replacement wastewater system may be required
to install NYSDEC certified water conservation fixtures prior to the
issuance of a permit to operate.
D.
Wastewater systems for replacement of commercial or institutional
construction shall be designed pursuant to the NYSDEC guidelines in
Standards for Waste Treatment Works--Institutional and Commercial
Sewage Facilities or any revision or replacement thereof.
A.
The regulatory officer shall be allowed to make regular and thorough inspections and/or testing of wastewater treatment systems in the Village for purposes of determining proper functioning and compliance with regulations. Whenever it shall appear to the regulatory officer that a wastewater system is inadequate, a written notice of violation shall be given to the property owner specifying the nature of the violation and required corrective action. The owner of the wastewater system shall comply with said notice within 30 days from receipt of the notice of violation. The property owner shall obtain a wastewater system construction permit and complete the work outlined in the wastewater system construction permit within the time period specified in the permit, pursuant to § 194-14 hereof.
B.
Wastewater systems located in Zone 1 shall be scheduled for inspection
a least once every five years. For newly installed wastewater systems,
the first required inspection shall be no sooner than five years after
installation or one year after for holding tanks, unless a property
transfer or a complaint requires sooner action.
C.
The regulatory officer shall investigate all complaints under the
provisions of this chapter and document all follow-up investigations.
D.
It shall be the duty and obligation of the wastewater system owner
to supply, upon request to the regulatory officer, available information
regarding wastewater system type, capacity, location, usage, age,
maintenance or other pertinent information, in order to determine
the system's effectiveness.
A.
In conjunction with any real property transfer, the septic, wastewater
treatment unit or holding tank located on the subject property must
be pumped by a NYSDEC-licensed waste hauler at least 10 days prior
to the time of property transfer, unless it has already been pumped
and subsequently inspected by the regulatory officer within the past
one year. The property owner shall provide the regulatory officer
at least 48 hours' notice to arrange for inspection of the tank.
It is highly recommended that property transfer inspections and pumping
be arranged by the property owner as early in the selling process
as possible to obtain an accurate assessment of the system.
B.
The filtration and/or absorption area must be evaluated by the regulatory
officer at least 10 days prior to the time of property transfer.
C.
In the event that a lending institution requires a property owner
to obtain a wastewater system inspection for property refinancing
in the watershed, a regulatory officer or approved New York Onsite
Wastewater Treatment Training Network (hereafter referred to as "OTN")
registered on-site wastewater treatment system inspector shall perform
the inspection pursuant to the applicable provisions in this section.
D.
In the event that the wastewater system is determined to be failing or inadequate, a written notice of violation shall be issued pursuant to § 194-18 hereof, and an approved construction permit to correct the violation must be obtained prior to property transfer.
E.
For aerobic systems or other enhanced treatment system, the new owner
must send a signed copy of a service contract to the regulatory officer
within 30 days after property transfer.
F.
Only a regulatory officer of KWIC or an OTN registered on-site wastewater
treatment system inspector approved by the Village and the KWIC are
authorized to conduct a property transfer or mortgage refinance inspection
as defined by this chapter. An OTN registered on-site wastewater treatment
system inspector shall file the OTN approved inspection forms with
the municipality and the KWIC. The OTN inspector shall follow the
OTN protocols and policy and procedures of the KWIC.
G.
Upon transfer of real property serviced by holding tanks, the new
owner must send a signed copy of a pumping or service contract to
the regulatory officer within 30 days after property transfer. The
provider of the pumping or service contract shall notify KWIC of any
termination of the contract within 14 days of such termination.
H.
Sewer connected systems shall be inspected for proper plumbing to
the sewer line.
I.
Property transfer inspections are not required for the following
types of transfers:
A.
All septic tanks require regular inspection to ensure baffles are
adequate; check for holes or cracks; and determine if the tank needs
pumping. Maintenance of the septic tank will help to protect the filtration/absorption
area from clogging. Septic tanks, pump stations and enhanced treatment
units shall be inspected every three to five years in Zone 1 by the
regulatory officer. Septic tanks, with total depth of sludge and scum
exceeding 1/3 of the liquid depth, as demonstrated by the property
owner or his agent, will be required to be pumped at the property
owner's expense. Physical measurement will be exempt, provided
the tank is pumped and visually inspected by a NYSDEC certified contractor
and is approved by the regulatory officer. If the tank is undersized,
more frequent inspections may be required. Additional tank volume
may be required by the regulatory officer to meet system use and capacity
standards.
B.
After septic tank pumping, the NYSDEC certified contractor is required
to send a septic tank pumping inspection form to the KWIC verifying
the septic tank was pumped and describing other maintenance work completed.
A.
No construction of new or replacement wastewater systems shall be
commenced until an application for a wastewater system construction
permit is reviewed and a permit is issued by the regulatory officer.
B.
No person shall build, erect, construct, expand, enlarge, add bedrooms,
or convert to another use any structure or system that is subject
to the provisions of this chapter and involves wastewater discharge
without first obtaining a wastewater system construction permit. Building
expansions, which do not alter property wastewater discharge, such
as the building of a deck or garage, are exempt.
C.
Construction of a system shall be in accordance with the specifications
approved in the wastewater system construction permit.
D.
No element of the system shall be covered until inspected and approved
in accordance with the wastewater system construction permit. Covered
work shall be uncovered to permit inspection whenever considered necessary
by the regulatory officer.
E.
The regulatory officer shall be notified a minimum of two business
days prior to the requested inspection date.
F.
Final inspection and certification of new or replacement systems
shall be performed by the design professional and witnessed by the
regulatory officer.
G.
A wastewater system construction permit shall be valid for up to
one year from the date of issuance.
A.
Where a written notice of violation has been issued for an inadequate
wastewater system or component thereof, corrective action according
to an approved wastewater system construction permit must be completed
within six months.
B.
Where a wastewater system violation is considered by the regulatory
officer to be a public health hazard, such as raw sewage on the ground
or entering a watercourse, a maximum of 60 days will be allowed for
corrective action. Corrective action shall be required sooner, depending
on the risk to public health and safety, in the sole discretion of
the regulatory officer.
No wastewater system shall be placed in operation, or any new
building, structure or mobile home occupied, until a permit to operate
has been issued by the regulatory officer, indicating that such system
has been constructed and is operating in compliance with the wastewater
system construction permit.
A.
Holding tanks for residential systems are allowed for replacement
systems only and must be approved by the regulatory officer.
B.
Newly installed holding tanks shall:
(1)
Be vehicle accessible;
(2)
Have an access port above grade not to exceed eight inches in diameter;
(3)
Have a capacity of five days' storage based upon design flow of 110
gallons/bedroom/day;
(4)
Have an audio and visual float alarm as specified in the owner's
on-site wastewater treatment system construction permit; and
(5)
Have anchoring devices for areas where seasonal high water table
is evident from soil investigations.
C.
All holding tanks shall be inspected by the regulatory officer on
an annual basis at the time of pumping. Homeowners shall give the
regulatory officer 48 hours' notice prior to the inspection date.
D.
All existing holding tanks shall be equipped with an acceptable alarm
device to alert the property owner that the tank is filled within
12 inches of the inlet pipe.
E.
Holding tanks shall be pumped by a New York State licensed septic
tank pumping contractor when the tank is a minimum of 12 inches of
the inlet pipe, and documentation shall be sent to the KWIC annually
by the contractor.
F.
For holding tanks, the new owner must send a signed copy of a pumping
or service contract to the regulatory officer within 30 days after
property transfer. The provider of the pumping or service contract
shall notify KWIC of any termination of the contract within 14 days
of such termination.
A.
Only National Sanitation Foundation (referred to as "NSF") standard
40 Class I aerobic tanks are acceptable for new systems or as approved
in Appendix 75-A of Rules and Regulations of the State of New York
Title 10, Department of Health, Chapter II, Part 75, Standards For
Individual Water Supply and Individual Sewage Treatment Systems and
must be approved by the regulatory officer. For both new and replacement
systems, aerobic tanks are considered a septic tank substitute and
must be used in conjunction with a properly sited and designed filtration
and/or absorption area approved by the regulatory officer. A permit
from the NYSDEC and a state pollution discharge elimination system
(SPDES) permit are required for surface discharge.
B.
A visual and audio warning device shall be installed in a conspicuous
location so that activation of such warning device will alert property
occupants of aerobic unit malfunction or failure. All warning devices
shall be wired separately from the aerobic unit so that disconnecting
the aerobic unit from electricity will activate the warning device.
C.
All enhanced treatment units shall be wired and constructed so that
electrical disconnection of the aerobic tank will result in closure
in the sewer line and eventual system backup.
D.
All aerobic tanks must have a continuous maintenance contract agreement
with an authorized service contractor of the manufacturer and/or KWIC
approved service contractor. Each aerobic unit shall be inspected
at least two times a year by an authorized service contractor. All
service contracts must be sent to the Watershed Department annually
to verify that a continuous contract exists for the aerobic tank.
The service contractor shall have aerobic unit effluent tested by
a certified laboratory and/or supply to the KWIC an annual maintenance
report containing information as specified by the regulatory officer
to determine that the unit conforms with manufacturer's treatment
specifications.
E.
It is recognized that state-of-the-art technology may develop treatment
units other than the standard aerobic treatment units (NSF standard
40 Class I). These units may include but are not limited to units
such as media treatment units or inoculators. This state-of-the-art
technology also needs standards and because of the unique nature of
state-of-the-art technology, each system needs to be approved by the
regulatory officer. The regulatory officer shall approve the installation
and any maintenance requirements based upon the manufacturer's
recommendations for replacement systems.
A written notice of violation shall be issued to any property
owner with a wastewater disposal system determined to be in violation
hereof or applicable rules and/or regulations, stating the date by
which corrective action shall be completed. Any violation existing
beyond that date shall be an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed
$250 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 15 days per violation. Each
week of violation shall be considered a separate offense. In the event
of continued violations, the regulatory officer may apply for an injunction
or other relief, including property condemnation from a court of competent
jurisdiction.
The fee for inspections and permits shall be set by resolution
by the Board of Trustees based upon the recommendation of KWIC.
