All premises intended for human occupation or occupancy shall
be provided with an adequate, functioning public sewer, privy, POWTS,
or other approved method of sewage disposal.
A.
Validity.
(1)
No person may install, repair, alter, modify or reconnect to a POWTS
or privy unless the owner of the property on which the POWTS or privy
is to be installed, repaired, altered, modified or reconnected holds
a valid sanitary permit.
(2)
No person may sell at retail a septic tank for installation unless
the purchaser holds a valid sanitary permit.
(3)
A sanitary permit is valid for two years from the date of issue and
is renewable for similar periods thereafter with a renewal permit.
(4)
A sanitary permit may be transferred from the holder to a subsequent
owner of the land. The subsequent owner must obtain a new sanitary
permit number and card from the issuing agent.
(5)
A revision sanitary county permit may be approved for a change of
plumber with a new permit application submitted and plan by a new
plumber, unless plans were prepared by a plumbing designer, architect,
or engineer. A new permit number is assigned and new card issued.
(6)
A sanitary permit may be revised for an approved plan on file subject
to § SPS 383.22(4) without a fee.
B.
Application forms. The issuing agent shall use the sanitary permit
forms approved by the Department for state permits and locally created
forms for County sanitary permits.
C.
Application process.
(1)
The applicant shall submit the completed sanitary permit application
to the issuing agent.
(2)
The issuing agent shall review the certified soil tester's reports
for the proposed POWTS and verify the report at the proposed site,
if necessary.
(3)
The issuing agent shall approve or disapprove applications for sanitary
permits and assist applicants in preparing an approvable application.
(4)
The issuing agent shall issue written notice to each applicant whose
sanitary permit application is disapproved. Each notice shall:
A.
Construction affecting existing structures when the proposed construction
will modify the design wastewater flow or contaminant load, or both,
to an existing POWTS shall be in conformance with § SPS
383.25(2), Wisconsin Administrative Code. For purposes of this section,
a modification in wastewater flow or contaminant load shall be considered
to occur:
(1)
For existing dwellings, when there is an increase or decrease in
the number of bedrooms.
(2)
For existing commercial facilities, public buildings, and places
of employment, when there is a proposed change in occupancy of the
structure; or the proposed modification affects either the type or
number of plumbing appliances, fixtures or devices discharging to
the system.
B.
A sanitary permit for construction modifying wastewater flow or contaminant
load, or both, shall be required. The sanitary permit shall require
documentation to verify whether the size of the existing private sewage
system can accommodate the increased wastewater. Documentation shall
comply with § SPS 383.25(2)(d) and (e) of the Wisconsin
Administrative Code.
C.
No permit for construction involving modified wastewater flow or contaminant load, or both, shall be issued unless the existing system is approved according to Subsection B of this section by recording a signed per capita flow statement or covenant in the Register of Deeds office or the existing system is modified to comply with this chapter.
A.
The fee for a sanitary permit shall be as established by the Pierce
County Board of Supervisors.
B.
Fees shall be established for all activities and systems listed in
Chapter SPS 383 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code and for other
activities and permits as established by the County Board.
C.
The County may not charge more than one fee for a sanitary permit
or the renewal of a sanitary permit in any twelve-month period.
D.
The issuing agent shall forward a copy of each valid state sanitary
permit and the Department's portion of the fee to the Department within
90 days after the permit is issued.
E.
Plan revision. No permit fee shall be charged for a system that requires
revision from the Department or Pierce County issuing agent on a parcel
that has a valid sanitary permit.
A.
The issuing agent shall inspect or cause the inspection of all POWTS
after construction but before backfilling, no later than the end of
the next workday, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after
receiving notice from the plumber in charge.
B.
The issuing agent shall file inspection reports and conduct surveys
and inspections as required by the Department.
A.
The applicant for a sanitary permit shall be provided written notice
of the maintenance program at the time the sanitary permit is issued.
The records of this notification shall be maintained by the issuing
agent.
B.
Every three years after the installation of a POWTS, the owner will
be provided a certification form by the County issuing agent at least
30 days prior to its due date. The form must be filled out and signed
by either a licensed master plumber or master plumber restricted sewer;
a certified septage servicing operator under Chapter NR 114 of the
Wisconsin Administrative Code; a certified POWTS inspector; or a registered
POWTS maintainer licensed to inspect septic systems.
D.
Circumstances, such as inclement weather, road weight restrictions
and site limitations, may necessitate a delay in septic tank maintenance
until conditions permit.
E.
The certification form is to be filed with the Pierce County Department
of Land Management.
A.
Soil evaluation reports shall be completed in accordance with §§ SPS
385.20 and 385.30 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. Soil and site
evaluation reports shall be prepared and submitted to the issuing
agent in accordance with § SPS 385.40 of the Wisconsin Administrative
Code.
B.
Plot plans shall be submitted in accordance with § SPS
385.40(3) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. All plot plans shall
have a location map.
C.
Perc test reports (EH 115 forms) that accompany an existing sanitary
permit will require a single boring for tank replacements, system
repairs, or reconnections and three borings for a dispersal cell installation
or replacement.
[Amended 7-26-2022 by Ord. No. 22-05[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection
D, regarding requirements for perc tests submitted prior to June 21,
1980, which immediately followed this subsection.
The issuing agent shall conduct an on-site inspection to verify
the soil conditions for all experimental soil absorption systems.
At least one soil observation pit is needed to verify the soil conditions.
Experimental systems approved by the Department shall comply with
§ SPS 383.27 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
A.
In an emergency or due to inclement weather, a sanitary permit may
be issued in an apparent noncompliance with the administrative rules
because the owner is acting under the direction of the County or Department
to abate a nuisance or other health or safety concern. A permit may
be issued prior to the conduct of a soil evaluation report and plan
submittal.
B.
As a part of this procedure, the owner must be made aware that he
or she is responsible for conducting a soil evaluation report or corrective
measures as specified in the sanitary permit if the existing POWTS
is failing.
The issuing agent shall not issue a land use or a conditional
use permit for the construction of a structure to be connected to
an existing POWTS, the reconstruction of a structure connected to
an existing POWTS, or the disconnecting of a structure from an existing
structure and connecting another structure to an existing POWTS, unless
the owner provides the documentation required per § SPS
383.25(2), Wisconsin Administrative Code.
No sanitary permit shall be issued for a temporary holding tank
unless the permit holder has a servicing contract with a certified
septage servicing operator.
A.
Privies shall be in conformance with § SPS 391.12, Wisconsin
Administrative Code. The storage chamber of a vault privy shall conform
to the construction requirements for holding tanks and shall have
a minimum storage capacity of 200 gallons or one cubic yard. The storage
chamber shall be anchored to prevent flotation caused by saturated
soil conditions. Applicants for vault privies shall record a signed
privy installation agreement in the Register of Deeds office. Applicants
for vault privies shall have a holding tank servicing contract signed,
notarized, and filed with the issuing agent prior to issuance of the
sanitary permit.
B.
Applicants for pit privies shall submit a soil evaluation report
by a certified soil tester indicating conformance with limiting factors
expressed in the plumbing code. The storage chamber of a pit privy
shall be sited in soils recognized to provide treatment and dispersal
in accordance with the plumbing code. Applicants shall record a signed
privy installation agreement in the Register of Deeds office.
C.
The storage chamber for a pit or vault privy shall be provided with
a vent for the purpose of relieving explosive gases. The vent shall
be at least three inches in diameter, installed in accordance with
§ SPS 382.31 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code and be
fabricated or provided with screening to prevent insects from entering
the storage chamber. All windows, ventilators and other openings of
privies shall be screened to prevent insects from entering.
D.
Servicing of a vault privy relative to the pumping, transporting
and disposal of the contents shall be in accordance with Chapter NR
113 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
E.
Abandonment of a vault privy shall be accomplished by having the
contents of the storage chamber pumped and disposed of in accordance
with Chapter NR 113 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code and per § SPS
391.12(4), Wisconsin Administrative Code.
F.
The abandonment of a pit privy shall be accomplished per § SPS
391.12(5), Wisconsin Administrative Code.
G.
A privy shall not be installed in the floodway. A privy installed in the flood-fringe shall comply with floodproofing and other applicable floodplain ordinance standards. (Note: See Chapter 238, Floodplain Zoning Ordinance for Pierce County, Wisconsin.)
H.
Setback requirements. Setback requirements shall be as follows:
|
Well
(feet)
|
Structure
(feet)
|
Lot Line
(feet)
|
Slope Greater Than 12%
(feet)
|
Ordinary High Water Mark
(feet)
|
Lake/ Stream
(feet)
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pit privies
|
50
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
50
|
75
|
|
Vaulted privies
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
50
|
75
|
I.
All privies shall be properly vented and rodent-resistant, have a
self-closing door and be kept in a nuisance-free condition.
J.
Public privies shall also comply with state requirements for public
facilities found in § SPS 391.12 and Chapters SPS 361 to
Chapter SPS 366, Wisconsin Administrative Code.
K.
Composting and incinerating toilets are permitted and allowed in
public parks and public recreational areas subject to §§ SPS
391.10 and SPS 391.11, Wisconsin Administrative Code.
This program is also commonly referred to as the Wisconsin or
WI Fund. Filing deadline for the application is December 15. Applications
received after the 15th of December will be processed the following
year. Owners shall pay for the replacement of their POWTS prior to
grant submittal.
A.
This chapter shall not create a liability on the part of or be a
cause of action against the County or any officer, agent or employee
thereof for any injury or damage that may result from reliance on
this chapter or approval or denial of any permit or site.
B.
The issuance of a sanitary permit and the final inspection of such
a system does not warrant the system's function nor is there a guarantee
that the system is free from defects or that all aspects of the system
comply with Wisconsin Statutes or Administrative Code requirements.
