General Regulations

This chapter establishes general regulations for private sewage disposal systems, including scope, specific waste limitations, and requirements for systems in flood hazard areas.

301 — General

301.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the general regulations of private sewage disposal systems, including specific limitations and flood hazard areas.

302 — Specific Limitations

302.1 Domestic waste. All wastes and sewage derived from ordinary living uses shall enter the septic or treatment tank unless otherwise specifically exempted by the code official or this code.

302.2 Cesspools and privies. Privies shall be prohibited. Cess-pools shall be prohibited, except where approved by the code official. Where approved, cesspools shall be designed and installed in accordance with Chapter 10.

302.3 Industrial wastes. The code official shall approve the method of treatment and disposal of all waste products from manufacturing or industrial operations, including combined industrial and domestic waste.

302.4 Detrimental or dangerous waste. Material such as ashes, cinders or rags; flammable, poisonous or explosive liquids or gases; oil, grease or other insoluble material that is capable of obstructing, damaging or overloading the private sewage disposal system, or is capable of interfering with the normal operation of the private sewage disposal system, shall not be deposited, by any means, into such systems. The code official shall approve the method of treatment and disposal.

302.5 Clear water. The discharge of surface, rain or other clear water into a private sewage disposal system shall be prohibited.

302.6 Water softener and iron filter backwash. Water softener or iron filter discharge shall be indirectly connected by means of an air gap to the private sewage disposal system or discharge onto the ground surface, provided that a nuisance is not created.

302.7 Food waste disposals. Where a food waste disposal connects to a private sewage disposal system, the system shall be designed to accommodate the solids loading from the disposal unit.

303 — Flood Hazard Areas

[B] 303.1 General. Soil absorption systems shall be located outside of flood hazard areas.

Exception: Where suitable soil absorption sites outside of the flood hazard area are not available, the soil absorption site is permitted to be located within the flood hazard area. The soil absorption site shall be located to minimize the effects of inundation under conditions of the design flood.

[B] 303.2 Tanks. In flood hazard areas, tanks shall be anchored to counter buoyant forces during condition of the design flood. The vent termination and service manhole of the tank shall be a minimum of 2 feet (610 mm) above the design flood elevation or fitted with covers designed to prevent the inflow of floodwater or outflow ofthe contents of the tanks during conditions of the design flood.

[B] 303.3 Mound systems. Mound systems shall be prohibited in flood hazard areas.

Frequently asked questions

What types of waste are allowed in a private septic system?

All domestic wastes and sewage from ordinary living uses must enter the septic or treatment tank, unless explicitly exempted by the code official or this code.

Where can private sewage disposal systems be located in relation to flood hazards?

Soil absorption systems for private sewage disposal must be located entirely outside of designated flood hazard areas.