CHAPTER 64E-6 STANDARDS FOR ONSITE SEWAGE …

1 - 749 CHAPTER 64E-6 STANDARDS FOR ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMSPA RT for System Construction and Evaluation of Systems in Floodways. (Repealed) Size , Grease, Holding Tanks and Portable of for the Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Aerobic Treatment Materials and STANDARDS for Treatment STANDARDS for Drainfield and Construction of Department of Agriculture Soil Textural Classification RT I Location, Design and Maintenance and Undocumented System Replacement, and Interim System RT I I for Septic Tank of Registration Certificates and of Partnerships and (Repealed)PART IVPERFORMANCE-BASED TREATMENT for Innovative System Permits and System Construction and System RT General.(1) The provisions of Part I of this rule shall apply to all areas of the state except where specific provisions found in Part IIwhich specifically addresses the Florida Keys, or specific provisions found in Part IV which specifically addressperformance-based treatment systems, exempt or modify compliance with Part I or Part II requirements.

2 Performance-basedtreatment systems are intended as an alternative to the systems conforming to the prescriptive STANDARDS detailed in Parts I and II ofthis rule and shall be used only for a single family residence. Designs for performance-based treatment systems allow for the use ofalternative and innovative methods, materials, processes, and techniques that reduce the total biological, chemical, hydraulic,organic, nutrient, bacterial and viral discharge to the environment. Where used, the performance-based treatment systems shall bedesigned, operated, constructed, maintained and used in conformance with Section (4)(j), Part III addresses theregistration of septic tank contractors and certification of partnerships and corporations. Part V addresses fees for Parts I, II, III, andIV of this rule.(2) Except for places of employment meeting the provisions of CHAPTER 64E-10, , buildings used or intended for humanoccupancy, employment or service to the public and locations where people congregate shall connect toilets and other wastewatergenerating fixtures to an approved wastewater treatment and disposal system.

3 Also, property or locations where people congregate,are employed, or where property is used by the public for temporary and short periods, such as construction sites, fairs, carnivals, - 750revivals, field locations for agricultural workers, encampments or other use shall be provided with an approved wastewatertreatment and disposal system. Establishments with permanent structures shall not rely upon systems designed for temporary use asthe primary means of wastewater treatment and disposal.(3) Use of holding tanks and portable toilets shall be in accordance with the provisions of Rule , (4) Except as provided for in Section , , any existing and prior approved system which has been placed into useand which remains in satisfactory operating condition shall remain valid for use under the terms of the rule and permit under whichit was approved.

4 Alterations that change the conditions under which the system was permitted and approved, SEWAGE characteristicsor increase SEWAGE flow will require that the owner, or their authorized representative, apply for and receive reapproval of thesystem by the DOH county health department, prior to any alteration of the structure, or system. If an applicant requests that thedepartment consider the previous structure s or establishment s most recent approved occupancy, the applicant must providewritten documentation that the ONSITE SEWAGE treatment and disposal system was approved by the department for that previousoccupancy. An applicant will be required to complete Form DH 4015, 10/97, Application for ONSITE SEWAGE Treatment andDisposal System Construction Permit, herein incorporated by reference, and provide a site plan in accordance with (3)(a), , to provide information of the site conditions under which the system is currently in use and conditionsunder which it will be used.

5 The applicant shall have all system tanks pumped by a permitted septage disposal service to determinetank volume based on the actual measurements of the tank. The service pumping the tank shall perform a visual inspection of thetank when the tank is empty to detect any observable defects or leaks in the tank, and shall submit the results to the DOH countyhealth department as part of the application. If a prior approved existing system has been approved by the DOH county healthdepartment within the preceding three years, and the system was determined to be in satisfactory operating condition at that time, anew inspection is not required unless there is a record of failure of the system. If it is determined that a new inspection is notrequired, there will be no charge for this application, but reapproval shall be required.

6 A commercial system out of service for morethan one year shall be brought into full compliance with current requirements of this CHAPTER prior to the system being placed intoservice. If the use of a building is changed or if additions or alterations to a building are made which will increase domestic sewageflow, change SEWAGE characteristics, or compromise the integrity or function of the system, the ONSITE SEWAGE treatment anddisposal system serving such building shall be brought into full compliance with the provisions and requirements of these well setbacks shall be maintained. Prior to any modification of the system, the owner shall apply for and obtain a permit formodification of the system from the county health department in accordance with Rule , The permit shall be validfor 18 months from the date of issue.

7 Where building construction has commenced, it shall be valid for an additional 90 site investigations and tests shall be performed at the expense of the owner by either an engineer with soils training whois registered in the state of Florida pursuant to Section 471, , registered septic tank contractors, master septic tank contractors,or persons certified under Section , , or department personnel for the appropriate fee specified in Section , .(a) For residences, flows shall be calculated using new system criteria for bedrooms and building area, including existingstructures and any proposed additions. Table I and footnotes shall apply. For example, a current three bedroom, 1300 square foothome would be able to add building area to have a total of 2250 square feet of building area with no change in their approvedsystem, provided no additional bedrooms are added.

8 No part of the existing structure, or the addition to the structure shall beallowed to cover any part of the system. Non-load bearing structures, such as a concrete patio floor, are allowed to cover the septictank, provided that access to the tank is provided for maintenance. The structure above the septic tank shall have a minimumopening of 225 square inches at each end of the septic tank for access into the tank. The structure shall not be in direct contact withthe tank. A barrier of soil or plastic shall be used between the tank and non-load bearing structure. For those residences that addsewage flow, the system shall be required to be altered to meet the following criteria:1. The septic tank need not be replaced if it is structurally sound and is within one tank size of the required specifications foundin Table II, for the proposed structure.

9 An approved outlet filter shall be installed if one is currently not in The county health department shall require the existing drainfield to be increased to current rule drainfield size requirementsfor the proposed estimated SEWAGE flow using the appropriate soil loading rate and sizing criteria for new systems. Where theexisting elevation of the bottom surface of the drainfield is less than 24 inches above the wet season high water table, the bottom ofthe drainfield shall be maintained at the existing separation or a minimum of 12 inches above the wet season high water table,whichever is Where the bottom of the drainfield is less than 12 inches above the wet season high water table, the drainfield shall bebrought into full compliance with all new system STANDARDS , as long as it is the intent of the applicant to proceed with the addition tothe Any system where the tank needs to be replaced or is replaced as part of a system upgrade shall be brought into fullcompliance with all new system specifications.

10 (b) For commercial establishments, the system shall not be required to be altered if domestic SEWAGE flow is not expected toincrease by more than 20% of original design flow or require more than one tank size adjustment. A department approved outletfilter device shall be installed. Any commercial system where the tank needs to be replaced shall be brought into full compliancewith all new system specifications. - 751(c) These requirements do not authorize a residence or establishment to exceed the lot flow allowances authorized underparagraph (7)(c), Establishments that currently exceed lot flow allowances shall not be allowed to increasesewage flow.(d) Any system which is used to treat and dispose of commercial wastewater shall be brought into full compliance with theprovisions and requirements of current rules when any change in SEWAGE flow or characteristics is made.