Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions
of this chapter, the building sewer must be connected to a private
disposal system complying with the requirements of the Maine State
Department of Health and Welfare dealing with septic tank installations.
Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal
system, the owner must first obtain a written permit signed by the
Plumbing Inspector. The application for such permit is to be made
on a form furnished by the Town, which the applicant is to supplement
by any plans, specifications and other information as is deemed necessary
by the Plumbing Inspector. A permit and inspection fee as set out
in Appendix A is to be paid at the time the inspection is filed.
A permit for a private sewage disposal system does not become
effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction
of the Plumbing Inspector who is allowed to inspect the work at any
stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit
is to notify the Plumbing Inspector when the work is ready for final
inspections and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection
is to be made within 24 hours of the receipt of notice by the Plumbing
Inspector.
The owner must operate and maintain the private sewage disposal
facilities in a sanitary manner at all times at no expense to the
Town.
No statement contained in this article may be construed to interfere
with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the Health
Officer.
When a public sewer becomes available, the building sewer must
be connected to said sewer within 90 days after the date of official
notice. At the time of connection to the public sewer, any private
septic tank or cesspool shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with
clean bank-run gravel or dirt.
A.
Generally. The contents from septic tanks, holding tanks or other
approved facilities for private wastewater treatment located on properties
within the Town or any other town with which a duly negotiated contract
has been signed by the Town Council for the purpose of wastewater
treatment and disposal may be discharged to the wastewater treatment
works at a point designated by the Superintendent under the following
conditions:
(1)
The contractor must be licensed by the State of Maine Department
of Environmental Protection and record name, address and license number
with the Sewer Department on forms supplied by the Department;
(2)
Must submit the owner's name and location of the property from
which the tank was pumped prior to discharge;
(3)
The contractor must have a sight glass or other approved means
mounted on the truck tank in clear view to show the amount of sludge
contained within the tank prior to discharge. In the absence of such
equipment, the tank will be considered to be full and charged accordingly;
(4)
All discharges are to be made during normal working hours of
the Sewer Department. In emergencies, discharges may be made after
normal working hours on approval of the Superintendent. All discharges
made after hours are to be charged at the regular rate plus a labor
charge as set out in Appendix A;
(5)
The Superintendent has the right to inspect, test and reject any and all discharges which do not comply with the restrictions found in § 13.1.2.5 or in any way appears detrimental to the wastewater treatment works; and
(6)
Facilities used for the purpose of serving industries must submit satisfactory evidence, prior to discharge, that the sludge contains no waste deemed hazardous by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Superintendent may request the sludge be analyzed, at the owner's expense, for heavy metals and to ensure compliance with § 13.1.2.10.
B.
Rates for discharge.
(1)
Septic tank contents are to be charged at the rate set out in
Appendix A.
(2)
Holding tank contents are to be charged at the rate set out
in Appendix A.
(3)
All discharges containing less than 1,000 mg/l total suspended
solids (0.1%) are considered to be holding tanks. All others are considered
septic tanks for the purpose of rate charges.
(4)
All fees are to be paid prior to discharge except when the contractor
has made previous arrangements with the Sewer Department to be billed
monthly. If fees are more than 60 days in arrears, the contractor's
discharge privileges terminate until account is brought up-to-date.
C.
Penalties for violation. Any person who willfully falsifies information
or in any other way violates this section loses the right of discharge
for a period not to exceed 90 days for each offense.
