Sec.19-13-B103e. Procedures and conditions for the issuance of permits and approvals

No subsurface sewage disposal system shall be constructed, altered, repaired or extended without an approval to construct issued in accordance with this section. No discharge shall be initiated to a subsurface sewage disposal system without a discharge permit issued in accordance with this section. Such permits and approvals shall be issued and administered by the local director of health.

(a) No permit or approval shall be issued:

(1) For any subsurface sewage system which is designed to discharge or overflow any sewage or treated effluent to any watercourse;

(2) For any new subsurface sewage disposal system until it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the local director of health that there is a public water supply available or a satisfactory location for a water supply well complying with Sections 19-13-B51a through 19-13-B51m of the Public Health Code;

(3) For any new subsurface sewage disposal system where the soil conditions in the area of the leaching system are unsuitable for sewage disposal purposes at the time of the site investigation made pursuant to this section. Unsuitable conditions occur where the existing soil is impervious, or where there is less than four feet depth of suitable existing soil over ledge rock, two feet of which is naturally occurring soil, or where there is less than 18 inches depth of suitable existing soil over impervious soil, or where the ground water level is less than 18 inches below the surface of the ground for a duration of one month or longer during the wettest season of the year;

(4) For any new subsurface sewage disposal system where the surrounding naturally occurring soil cannot adequately absorb or disperse the expected volume of sewage effluent without overflow, breakout or detrimental effect on ground or surface water.

(b) Approval of agents by commissioner of health services.

(1) A local director of health shall authorize only persons approved by the Commissioner of Health Services to investigate, inspect and approve plans relating to subsurface sewage disposal systems.

(2) The Commissioner of Health Services shall approve agents of the local director of health whose qualifications to investigate, inspect and approve plans relating to subsurface sewage disposal systems have been established by attending training courses and passing examinations given by the Department of Health Services, as follows:

(A) Agents who have attended training courses and passed examinations relative to Sections 19-13-B100, 19-13-B103 and 19-13-B104 of the Public Health Code and the Technical Standards shall be approved to investigate, inspect and approve all plans for subsurface sewage disposal systems except those prepared by a professional engineer registered in the State of Connecticut pursuant to Sections 19-13-B103d (c) or (e).

(B) Agents who have attended training courses and passed examinations relative to the engineering design of subsurface sewage disposal systems shall be approved to investigate, inspect and approve plans for such systems prepared by a professional engineer registered in the State of Connecticut pursuant to Section 19-13-B103d (e).

(c) Application for permit or approval.

(1) No investigation, inspection or approval of a subsurface sewage disposal system shall be made, or permit issued without an application by the owner in accordance with the following requirements.

(2) Applications for permits shall:

(A) Be on forms identical to Form #1 in the Technical Standards; or

(B) Be on forms prepared by the local director of health and deemed by the Commissioner of Health Services as equivalent to Form #1 in the Technical Standards; and

(C) Have attached a plot plan of the lot, which shall be a surveyor's plan if available or one prepared from information on the deed or land records.

(3) All the requested information shall be provided. If the information is not provided, it shall be indicated why it is not available or the application may be determined incomplete, and be rejected.

(d) Site investigation. (1) The local director of health or a professional engineer registered in the State of Connecticut representing the applicant shall make an investigation of the site proposed for the subsurface sewage disposal system and report the findings and recommendations of the investigation on a form identical to Form #2 in the Technical Standards to include:

(A) A record of soil test location, measures and observations.

(B) Soil percolation results.

(C) Observations of ground water and ledge rock.

(D) A conclusion as to the suitability of the site for subsurface sewage disposal.

(E) Special requirements for design of the system, or further testing which shall be in accordance with the most recent edition of the Technical Standards.

(2) Prior to the site investigation, the applicant shall:

(A) Provide for the digging of a suitable number of percolation test holes and deep observation pits in the area of the proposed leaching system and extending at least four feet below the bottom of the proposed leaching system, at the direction of the local director of health;

(B) Provide water for performing the percolation tests;

(C) If required by the local director of health, locate by field stakes or markers the sewage disposal system, house, well or property lines.

(3) The site investigation shall be made within ten working days of application unless otherwise required by subsection 19-13-B103d (e).

(4) The local director of health shall:

(A) Assure the accuracy of the findings of soil tests and deep observation pits; and

(B) When the maximum ground water level is in doubt the local director of health shall investigate pursuant to Section 19-13-B103d (e).

(5) The size of the leaching system shall be based on the results of soil percolation tests made in the area of the proposed leaching system or on other methods of determining the soil absorption capacity in accordance with the Technical Standards.

(6) In areas of special concern, or for leaching systems with a design sewage flow of 2,000 gallons per day or greater, the local director of health may require from the applicant whatever further testing or data necessary to assure that the sewage disposal system will function properly. Further testing may be required prior to or subsequent to issuance of the approval to construct. Such tests may include permeability tests, sieve analysis or compaction tests of natural soil or fill materials, and the installation of ground water level monitoring wells, or pipes, as well as additional observation pits and soil percolation tests.

(e) Submission of plan. (1) Every plan for a subsurface sewage disposal system shall be submitted to the local director of health.

(2) Every plan for a subsurface sewage disposal system shall include all information necessary to assure compliance with the requirements of Section 19-13-B103d of these regulations, and contain as a minimum the following information: the location of the house sewer, the location and size of the septic tank, the location and description of the leaching system, property lines, building locations, watercourses, ground and surface water drains, nearby wells and water service lines.

(3) Where required by the local director of health under subsections 19-13-B103d (c) and (e) of these regulations, the plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer, registered in the State of Connecticut, and shall be forwarded by the local director to the Commissioner of Health Services, together with his comments and recommendations.

(4) No plan shall be submitted directly by the applicant or engineer to the Commissioner of Health Services, unless requested by the local director of health.

(f) Approval to construct. (1) Upon determination that the subsurface sewage disposal system has been designed in compliance with the requirements of Section 19-13-B103d of these regulations, the local director of health shall issue an approval to construct. Approvals to construct shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of their issuance and shall terminate and expire upon a failure to start construction within that period. Approvals to construct may be renewed for an additional one year period by the local director of health upon a demonstration of reasonable cause for the failure to start construction within the one year period.

(2) Each subsurface sewage disposal system shall be constructed by a person licensed pursuant to Section 20-341 of the General Statutes. Such person shall notify the local director of health at least twenty-four hours prior to commencement of construction.

(3) The Commissioner of Health Services shall approve in accordance with Subsection 19-13-B103d (c) plans for a subsurface sewage disposal system to serve a building, the design sewage flow from which is two thousand gallons a day or greater prior to issuance of an approval to construct by the local director of health.

(4) Approval to construct a subsurface sewage disposal system in an area of special concern shall not be issued until twenty days following submission of the plans to the Commissioner of Health Services in accordance with subsection 19-13-B103d (e), unless earlier approved by the Commissioner.

(g) Inspection. (1) The local director of health shall inspect all subsurface sewage disposal systems for compliance with Subsection 19-13-B103d and the approved plans for construction prior to covering and at such other times as deemed necessary.

(2) After construction, and prior to covering, the subsurface sewage disposal system installer shall notify the local director of health the site is prepared for inspection. Such inspection shall take place as soon thereafter as feasible, but not later than two (2) working days after receipt of the request unless the owner agrees to an extension.

(3) A final inspection report shall be prepared by the local director of health on forms deemed by the Commissioner of Health Services as equivalent to Form #3 in the Technical Standards.

(4) A record plan of the sewage disposal system, as built, shall be required by the local director of health.

(h) Permit to discharge. (1) Upon determination that the subsurface sewage disposal system has been installed in compliance with the requirements of Section 19-13-B103d of these regulations and the approved plans, the local director of health shall issue a permit to discharge. A copy of such permit shall be sent to the local building official. No permit to discharge shall be issued until all required forms are completed and an approved as-built plan or record drawing is received.

(2) Any permit to discharge issued by the Commissioner of Health Services or a local director of health for a household or small commercial subsurface sewage disposal system with a capacity of five thousand gallons per day or less shall be deemed equivalent to a permit issued under Subsection 25-54i (b) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Such permits shall:

(A) specify the manner, nature and volume of discharge;

(B) require proper operation and maintenance of any pollution abatement facility required by such permit;

(C) be subject to such other requirements and restrictions as the commissioner deems necessary to comply fully with the purposes of this chapter and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; and

(D) be issued on forms approved by the Commissioner of Health Services.

(3) The local director of health shall record the granting of an exception from any requirement of Section 19-13-B103d on the permit to discharge.

(i) Enforcement. (1) A permit to discharge to a subsurface sewage disposal system shall not be construed to permit any sewage overflow, nuisance, or similar condition or the maintenance thereof.

(2) If such a condition is found to exist, the permit to discharge may be revoked, suspended, modified or otherwise limited and any such condition is subject to an order to abate the condition pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 19-79.

(j) Records. Copies of completed applications, investigation reports, review and inspection forms and as-built plans or record drawings of each sewage disposal system, certified as complying with this Section, shall be kept in the files of the town or health district for a minimum of ten years.

(k) Rights of applicant. (1) All site investigations, inspections, review of plans and issuance of permits or approvals by the local director of health shall be made without unreasonable delay.

(2) When requested in writing by the applicant, the local director of health shall designate in writing within 20 working days the requirement(s) of Section 19-13-B103d or 19-13-B103e of these regulations which prevents such investigation, inspection, review, permit or approval.

(3) Any final decision of the local director of health made in regard to these sections shall be made in writing and sent to the applicant. Any decision adverse to the applicant or which limits the application shall set forth the facts and conclusions upon which the decision is based. Such written decision shal be deemed equivalent to an order, and may be appealed pursuant to Section 19-103 of the General Statutes.

(Effective August 16, 1982)