[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health
of the Township of Washington as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 3-27-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90 (Ch. BH-XV
of the Revised General Ordinances); amended in its
entirety 3-22-2016 by Ord. No.
1-2016]
A.
The regulations promulgated by the State Commissioner of the Department
of Environmental Protection pursuant to the Realty Improvement Sewerage
and Facilities Act (1954) and subsequent amendments thereto[1] and known as "Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage
Disposal Systems (2012)," and subsequent amendments thereto, which
provide standards for the proper location, design, construction, installation,
alteration, operation and maintenance of individual subsurface sewage
disposal systems are hereby adopted and are of full force and effect
in the Township of Washington, except for the regulations and higher
standards prescribed by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 58:11-23 et seq.
B.
Reference to the Realty Improvement Sewerage and Facilities Act,
P.L. 1954, c. 199, and Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage
Disposal Systems (2012) shall include subsequent amendments thereto.
C.
Three copies of said Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal
Systems (2012) have been placed on file in the office of the Secretary
of this Board of Health upon the introduction of this chapter and
will remain in said office for the use and examination of the public.
A.
License required. No person shall engage in the business of installing
individual or any other type of sewage disposal systems in the Township
unless he has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the law applicable
to installation of individual sewage disposal systems.
B.
Examination. The Board of Health or its authorized agent shall conduct
examinations designed to test the knowledge and ability of an applicant
for a license as a certified builder and installer of individual sewage
disposal systems in accordance with the code. Examinations shall be
held at least once yearly. No person shall be admitted to the examination
for a license as a certified individual sewage disposal system installer
unless he/she has met the requirements as set forth on the application
and has shown proof of being at least 18 years of age, is a citizen
of the United States and has had at least two years' experience in
the business of installing individual sewage disposal systems or the
equivalent thereof. There shall be an examination fee of $25 to be
paid by the applicant upon submission of the septic installer's examination
application.
C.
Issuance of license. The Board of Health shall issue an appropriate
license to each applicant who has successfully passed the examination
for a license to build and install individual sewage disposal systems
in the Township, and such license shall not be transferable. Current
licenses held in other municipalities or a National Environmental
Health Association CIOWTS advanced certification may be accepted in
lieu of taking the examination. A current copy of the contractor's
home improvement contractor's license issued by the State of New Jersey
is required at the time of license application.
D.
Renewal of license. All licenses to build and install individual
sewage disposal systems in the Township shall expire on April 15 each
year and shall be renewed for the ensuing year prior to any work being
done during that year. A current copy of the contractor's home improvement
contractor's license issued by the State of New Jersey is required
at the time of renewal.
E.
Revocation of license. The license held by a certified installer
of individual sewage disposal systems in the Township may be suspended
or revoked by the Board of Health or by the Board's authorized agent
if the holder of such license is shown to be incompetent in his work
or if it is proven that the license was obtained through fraudulent
means or misrepresentation.
F.
License fee. A fee of $100 shall be paid annually by each certified
installer of individual sewage disposal systems for a license to operate
in the Township.
If any license, permit or certificate required by this chapter
is denied by the Board of Health, a hearing shall be held thereon
before the Board within 15 days after request is made by the applicant.
Upon such hearing, the Board of Health shall affirm, alter or rescind
its previous determination and take action accordingly within 15 days
thereafter.
The Board of Health may order all further work in and about
any individual sewage disposal system which is being erected or installed
in violation of the code to be stopped forthwith, except such work
as shall be necessary to remedy the violation, and thereafter the
work continued without any violation of any of the provisions of the
code, and after issuance of such order and the service of a copy upon
the person connected with or working in and about the erection or
installation of the disposal system or any part thereof, no further
work shall be done except as aforesaid.
The following fees and charges shall be established:
A.
For the filing of an application and plans for a permit to locate
and construct an individual sewage disposal system, the fee shall
be $200. For the filing of a redesign, the fee shall be $200. For
the filing of a revision, the fee shall be $50.
B.
For the filing of an application and plans for a permit to alter
an existing individual sewage disposal system, the fee shall be $50.
For the filing of a revision, the fee shall be $50.
C.
For the filing of an application and plans for a permit to repair
an existing sewage disposal system, the fee shall be $25. For the
issuance of a permit to repair an existing sewage disposal system,
the fee shall be $25. The permit shall be valid for one year from
the date of issuance, but may be renewed upon the payment of an annual
fee of $25. No permit may be renewed more than four times.
D.
For the issuance of a license or permit to locate and construct an
individual sewage disposal system, the fee shall be $300. The permit
shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance, but may be
renewed upon the payment of an annual fee of $50. No permit may be
renewed more than four times.
E.
For the filing of an application and plans for a permit to alter
or expand an existing realty improvement serviced by an on-site sewage
disposal system, the fee shall be $50. For the filing of a revision,
the fee shall be $25. For the issuance of a permit to alter or expand
an existing individual sewage disposal system, the fee shall be $50.
The permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance,
but may be renewed upon the payment of an annual fee of $50. No permit
may be renewed more than four times.
F.
For each reinspection of an individual sewage disposal system or
part thereof caused by the failure of the permittee/contractor to
locate and construct or alter the same in accordance with the terms
of the permit issued or the terms of the aforesaid code, the fee shall
be $100.
G.
For the observation of a test of soil characteristics by a representative
of the Board of Health, for purposes of meeting the requirements of
an application for subdivision approval or the purpose of filing an
application for an individual sewage system permit, the applicant
must file an application with the Board of Health. Said application
shall be on file at the Board of Health office prior to the request
for the viewing of each test. A valid New Jersey one-call underground
utilities mark-out number is required for each site.
H.
For soil tests performed in conjunction with a sewage disposal system,
the fees shall be $50 per lot (two logs, no testing) for alterations
to existing systems and $200 per lot (two logs, one split soil sample)
for new construction. When additional tests are performed, additional
fees of $25 per soil log and $100 per soil class rating analysis split
sample shall be required.
I.
The fee for reviewing the feasibility of installing a septic system
within a subdivision for Planning Board approval shall be $50 per
proposed lot.
The Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems
is hereby amended, in part, to read as follows:
A.
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-4.3 is amended to change certain of the minimum distances
provided therein as follows:
|
Component
|
Water-course (feet)
|
|---|---|
|
Disposal field or trench
|
100
|
B.
Requirements for soil profile pits and borings.
(1)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-5.2(b) is hereby revised to read as follows: "A minimum
of two profile pits are required for each disposal field."
(2)
The provisions set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-5.2(c)(3) are not applicable.
(3)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-5.2(d) is hereby revised to read as follows: "When
a seepage pit(s) is proposed, as allowed in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-7.6, a minimum
of one profile pit shall be performed for each seepage pit. Profile
pits shall be located no further than 15 feet from the proposed seepage
pit."
C.
General design and construction requirements.
(1)
The construction of the disposal system must be performed after the
dwelling has been substantially constructed. Special permission may
be given by the Health Officer or authorized agent to grant a waiver
from this requirement if appropriate.
(2)
The design engineer must stake and certify the bed location when
the field is located within 20 feet of a neighboring property line.
Grading associated with the installation of a septic system cannot
encroach within five feet of a neighboring property line.
(3)
All excavation inspections require a valid underground utility mark-out
number.
(4)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-7.5 is hereby revised to read as follows: "A greywater
system may be approved by the administrative authority, provided that
all of the requirements of these standards are satisfied and provided
that an acceptable means for disposal of the black water from the
building served is indicated in the system design. When the black
water from the building serviced by a greywater system is to be disposed
of into a separate subsurface sewage disposal system, the black water
system shall meet all the requirements of this chapter, and the volume
of sanitary sewage used in the design of both the greywater system
and black water system shall be a minimum of 75% of the volume of
sanitary sewage determined as prescribed in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-7.4."
(5)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-7.6 is hereby revised to read as follows: "Each system
approved by the administrative authority pursuant to this chapter
shall consist of a septic tank which discharges effluent through a
gravity flow, gravity dosing, or pressure dosing network to a disposal
field as hereafter described. Seepage pits shall not be approved for
new installations. Installation of seepage pits may be approved as
an alteration for an existing system subject to the requirements of
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-3.3."
D.
Pretreatment units.
(1)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-8.2(c) is hereby revised to read as follows: "Garbage
grinder units are prohibited from use in those homes served by an
individual sewage disposal system."
(2)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-8.2(h) is hereby revised to read as follows: "Metal
septic tanks are prohibited. The use of septic tanks constructed of
materials other than concrete is prohibited except as approved by
the administrative authority."
(3)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-8.2(i) is hereby revised to add a new item, 5, to read
as follows:
"5. All new tanks shall have two compartments and meet the requirements
of 7:9A-8.2(d)".
(4)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-8.2(j)(3) is hereby revised to read as follows: "A
septic solids retainer or septic effluent filter shall be installed
and maintained in conjunction with all new septic tanks prior to the
effluent distribution network and in accordance with all manufacturer's
specifications. Septic solids retainers and septic effluent filters
shall be certified by, and bear the mark of, NSF International (NSF)
under NSF Standard 46. Filters must be a minimum of six inches in
diameter (or equivalent area) measured at the inlet to the filter.
Additionally, the Department recommends that system designers provide
a means in the design to prevent flow of solids, scum and floatables
out of the tank when the filter is removed for maintenance through
a means of a solids retainer or gas deflector on the effluent filter
housing. Outlet connections of an existing tank or each compartment
thereof and connections between new tank compartments or tanks installed
in series shall be provided with a tee not less than six inches in
diameter or a durable baffle equivalent in size. They shall be permanently
fastened in place with the bottom opening extending below the liquid
level by a distance equal to 25% to 40% of the total liquid depth.
Outlet baffles or tees shall be provided with a gas deflection device
adequately designed to prevent gases generated in the septic tank
from rising through the outlet baffle or tee. The gas deflection device
shall be constructed of, or coated with, materials which are resistant
to corrosion by sulfuric acid and shall be securely fastened to the
tee or the side of the tank. Figure 12 of Appendix A illustrates several
acceptable gas deflection devices. Where two compartment tanks are
utilized the first chamber outlet pipe will be supplied with a gas
deflection device, and the second chamber outlet pipe will be supplied
with a minimum six-inch effluent filter.
(5)
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-8.2(l)(3) is hereby revised to read as follows: "An
inspection port extending to finished grade shall be provided over
each tank or compartment inlet and outlet which is not directly below
a manhole except for those outlets where a septic solids retainer
is used. Inspection ports shall extend to finished grade, shall be
constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and shall have a locked or
bolted cap."
(6)
The location of the septic tank and/or pump tank may not be within
10 feet of any encroachment (including, but not limited to, driveways).
Special permission may be granted if the applicant agrees to construct
a permanent barrier between the tank(s) and the encroachment, and
the engineer's plan specifies this requirement.
F.
Disposal fields.
[Amended 8-16-2021 by Ord. No. 15-21]
(1)
The location of the tanks, disposal field or trenches may not be
within 10 feet of any encroachment (including, but not limited to,
driveways and trees). Special permission may be granted if the applicant
agrees to construct a permanent barrier between the septic component(s)
and the encroachment, and the engineer's plan specifies this
requirement.
(2)
The header pipes out of the distribution box, prior to even lateral
separation distance must be constructed of solid PVC pipe.
A.
For new construction/expansion design, one permeability test is required
in each soil profile pit within the zone of disposal when a soil replacement
design is proposed. For conventional systems, tests must also be performed
in the zone of treatment in each soil profile pit.
B.
In the case of a slowly rising water table, the SCRA, percolation
test and tube permeameter test may be used as long as the soils are
not saturated at the time of sampling/testing. If the water table
rises into the percolation or tube permeameter tests, they must be
abandoned and a pit bail test performed.
For new construction/expansion and alterations of septic system
installations, the engineer must provide the following certifications
prior to the issuance of the certificate of compliance:
A.
A sample of suitable fill must be taken from a stockpile on site
for SCRA compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9A-10.1(f)4 and 7:9A-10.1(f)5
prior to installation.
B.
The engineer must certify that the suitable fill was installed per
N.J.A.C. 7:9A-10.4(f)3.
C.
If applicable, the engineer must certify the float settings and alarm
of the pump tank.
D.
The engineer or land surveyor must perform an as-built drawing locating
all components of the septic system in relation to a permanent structure
on the property.
E.
Provide a tank tightness test for any new tanks used in the installation
process.
F.
Must certify that the septic system was installed per the approved
plan and meets the standards of N.J.A.C. 7:9a.
G.
Must provide a percolation test of suitable fill used in the disposal
field that meets the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:9A-6.1A.
