Alternatives to conventional septic systems
on properties not served by public sewer service shall be used only
on lots of record in existence as of the date of application for such
system. Such systems shall only be used to provide service to a primary
residence or, in the case of nonresidential uses, a principal use,
and only after it has been established by the Virginia Department
of Health that no conventional septic system site exists on the property.
A maintenance and monitoring plan is required
for all alternative septic systems. Said plan must be approved by
the manufacturer of the system and is to be maintained in effect for
the entire lifetime of the system. A copy of this plan must be submitted
to the Virginia Department of Health. All alternative systems shall
be designed by an AOSE or a CPSS, working in conjunction with an engineer,
and must be specific for the site. All plans submitted to the Health
Department must bear the stamp of the engineer who designed them.
All alternative systems shall be considered conditional permits and
provided with a site-specific maintenance and monitoring document
which clearly details all necessary requirements of the operator for
the system to continue to function satisfactorily.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC SYSTEM
A conventional septic system (on-site sewage disposal system) consists of a sewer line, septic tank, pump chamber (when required), distribution box(es) and a series of two-foot to three-foot-wide drainfield laterals with gravel and pipe. Trench depths shall be anywhere from 18 inches to 54 inches as appropriate to the site. Conventional septic systems shall provide for a one-hundred-percent reserve and repair area except in the case of family subdivisions as provided in §
147-36B.
ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC SYSTEM
Any on-site sewage disposal system other than that defined
in "conventional septic system." Alternative septic systems (alternative
on-site sewage disposal systems) are defined as any system that is
not a "traditional" septic tank and graveled drainfield. Alternative
systems are only allowed for the repair of an existing failing system
or for family subdivisions or in cases where no conventional septic
system site can be found. In the latter case, said systems shall be
considered conditional permits.