[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the County of Rappahannock as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-1-2004]
Alternatives to conventional septic systems
on properties not served by public sewer service shall be used only
on lots of record in existence as of the date of application for such
system. Such systems shall only be used to provide service to a primary
residence or, in the case of nonresidential uses, a principal use,
and only after it has been established by the Virginia Department
of Health that no conventional septic system site exists on the property.
A maintenance and monitoring plan is required
for all alternative septic systems. Said plan must be approved by
the manufacturer of the system and is to be maintained in effect for
the entire lifetime of the system. A copy of this plan must be submitted
to the Virginia Department of Health. All alternative systems shall
be designed by an AOSE or a CPSS, working in conjunction with an engineer,
and must be specific for the site. All plans submitted to the Health
Department must bear the stamp of the engineer who designed them.
All alternative systems shall be considered conditional permits and
provided with a site-specific maintenance and monitoring document
which clearly details all necessary requirements of the operator for
the system to continue to function satisfactorily.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A conventional septic system (on-site sewage disposal system) consists of a sewer line, septic tank, pump chamber (when required), distribution box(es) and a series of two-foot to three-foot-wide drainfield laterals with gravel and pipe. Trench depths shall be anywhere from 18 inches to 54 inches as appropriate to the site. Conventional septic systems shall provide for a one-hundred-percent reserve and repair area except in the case of family subdivisions as provided in § 147-36B.
Any on-site sewage disposal system other than that defined
in "conventional septic system." Alternative septic systems (alternative
on-site sewage disposal systems) are defined as any system that is
not a "traditional" septic tank and graveled drainfield. Alternative
systems are only allowed for the repair of an existing failing system
or for family subdivisions or in cases where no conventional septic
system site can be found. In the latter case, said systems shall be
considered conditional permits.
A.
The District Health Director or his/her designee is
authorized to inspect occupied or vacant land or premises to ascertain
the existence of health or safety menaces on such land or premises.
The District Health Director or his/her designee shall inspect the
land or premises at reasonable daylight times in a reasonable manner.
If the owner, lessee, occupant or person in control of the land or
premises denies the District Health Director or his/her designee free
access for such purposes, the District Health Director or his/her
designee may inspect after obtaining a search warrant.
B.
When any condition that constitutes a public health
or safety menace is found on occupied or vacant land or premises,
the District Health Director or his/her designee shall notify in writing
the owner, lessee, occupant or person in control of such land or premises.
Such written notice shall contain a description of the health or safety
menace; the time within which the menace shall be abated, corrected
or eliminated; a statement that the owner or occupant may request
a hearing within 10 days of the receipt of the notice; and an address
and/or telephone number at which information may be obtained concerning
such public health or safety menace. Notice sent by registered or
certified mail to the last known address of the owner as shown on
the current real estate tax assessment books shall be deemed compliance
with the notice requirement to the owner.
C.
If the written notice as provided in this section
is undeliverable or if an emergency is found to exist, the ENS shall
cause a public notice, as described by this section, to be posted
on the land or premises on which the public health or safety menace
exists.
D.
Every owner, lessee, occupant or person in control
of any land or premises within the jurisdictional limits of the city
shall, upon written notice from the EHS, abate, correct and end the
existence of any condition that is a public health or safety menace.
