§ 700-030. DEFINITIONS

Administrative Officer means the Director of Development Services.

Administrative Rule means a standard, statement of policy, or other statement of general applicability, that is intended to be judicially enforceable and implements, interprets or makes specific the requirements of this Ordinance and Manual, or describes the procedures or practices of the Department.

Alternative System means any on-site sewage system other than a conventional gravity or pressure distribution system.

Appeals Board means the Environmental Health Appeals Board appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The Appeals Board shall consist of a commercial installer, a registered environmental health specialist, a professional engineer, a member of the public, and a medical doctor specializing or possessing training in an environmental or public health related field.

Approved means a written statement of acceptability, in terms of the requirements in this Ordinance, issued by the Health Officer or the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Area of Special Concern means an area of definite boundaries delineated by the Health Officer, after consultation with the Regional Water Quality Control Board, where additional requirements for on-site sewage systems may be necessary to reduce potential failures, or to minimize negative impacts of on-site sewage systems upon public health.

Authorized Professional means a California State Registered Environmental Health Specialist, California State Registered Civil Engineer, California State Registered Geotechnical Engineer, California State Certified Engineering Geologist or a Certified Professional Soil Scientist.

Bedroom means any room in a dwelling unit with a floor area equal to or greater than 70 square feet that could reasonably be used as a bedroom. For example, rooms such as lofts, sewing rooms, offices, and game rooms shall be considered bedrooms. Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other rooms such as family rooms and living rooms with large ("48") arched doorways or half walls opening onto living areas shall not be considered as bedrooms. The final determination will be by the Building Division of Sutter County.

Board of Supervisors means the Sutter County Board of Supervisors.

Building Sewer means that part of the system of drainage piping which conveys sewage into the septic tank or other treatment facility outside the building or structure within which the sewage originates.

Cesspool means a pit receiving untreated sewage and allowing liquid to seep into the surrounding soil or rock. Cesspools are specifically prohibited by this ordinance.

Commercial Installer means a person licensed by the California Contractor State License Board in accordance with the California Business and Professions Code and meeting the requirements of this Ordinance to install and/or repair on-site sewage systems.

Conforming System means any on-site sewage system, except an experimental system, that meets any of the following criteria:

(1)

A system in full compliance with the new construction requirements of this [Chapter];

(2)

A system approved, installed, and operating in accordance with previous regulations pertaining to on-site sewage systems, unless considered a failing system under Section 700-160 of this [Chapter]; or

(3)

A system (including a repaired system) that has been granted a waiver by the Local Agency or the RWQCB.

Covenant means a recorded agreement stating that certain activities and/or practices are required or prohibited.

Cover means soil material that is used to overlay the treatment and disposal area.

Cuts and/or banks means any naturally occurring or man-formed slope which is greater than one hundred percent (forty-five degrees) and extends vertically at least five feet from the toe of the slope to the top of the slope.

Deep Trench System means a system in which the effluent is distributed to trenches with a depth greater than 36 inches without receiving treatment in the upper soil horizons.

Department means the Sutter County Department of Development Services, Environmental Health Division (Local Agency).

Design Flow means the daily sewage flow in gallons per day that a single-family residence or non-residential facility is expected to produce during peak operating flows and from which the drainfield is sized.

Designer means an authorized professional.

Development means the creation of a residence, structure, facility, mobile home park, subdivision, planned unit development, site, area, or activity resulting in the production of sewage.

Drainfield means the treatment and disposal component of an OSS receiving effluent from a septic tank or other pretreatment device and transmitting it into native soil.

Drainage Course means a natural or man-made open depression created and maintained to transport storm water away from the surrounding property, structure, and/or encumbrances.

Effective Soil Depth means the depth of suitable native soil above a restrictive layer.

Effluent means liquid discharged from a septic tank or other on-site sewage system component.

Effluent Sewer means that part of the system drainage piping that conveys partially treated effluent from the septic tank or other treatment facility into a distribution unit or drainfield.

Emergency Repair means repair of a failing septic system where immediate action is necessary (1) to prevent sewage from backing up into a dwelling or building or (2) to fix a broken pressure sewer pipe.

Equivalent Dwelling Unit means:

(1)

A single-family residence (≤ 4 bedrooms); or

(2)

Six hundred gallons of sewage per day where the proposed development is a non-residential facility.

Expansion means a change in a residence, facility, site, or use that:

(1)

Causes the waste strength or flows to exceed the existing treatment or disposal capability of an on-site sewage system.

(2)

Reduces the treatment or disposal capability of the existing on-site sewage system or the replacement area. For example, a shop, building addition, pool, or impervious area that encroaches into the primary or replacement area, or any other activity reducing the capability of the soil to maintain design acceptance rates.

Failing System means the presence of any of the conditions delineated in Section 700-160-B, or a system or system component listed under Section 700-160-C of this Ordinance.

Gravity System means a conventional on-site sewage system consisting of a septic tank and a drainfield with gravity distribution of the effluent.

Groundwater means subsurface water occupying the zone of saturation, either permanently, or seasonally. Indication may be demonstrated by one or both of the following methods:

(1)

Water seeping into or standing in an open excavation or monitoring well from the surrounding soil.

(2)

The presence of redoximorphic soil features (or soil mottles) caused by intermittent periods of saturation and drying, and may be indicative of poor aeration and impeded drainage.

Health Hazard means a condition or situation where disease potential exists, and if left unabated the disease potential may increase, leading to a public health emergency.

Health Officer means the Health Officer appointed by the Board of Supervisors, or a representative authorized by and under the direct supervision of the appointed Health Officer or the Administrative Officer.

Holding Tank Sewage System means an on-site sewage system which incorporates a holding tank, designed and constructed to receive and retain sewage, the services of a septic tank pumper, and off-site treatment and disposal of the sewage generated.

Inactive System means an OSS that is connected to a structure that has not been served by electrical power during the previous six year period or that has been installed but has not been connected to a structure within six years of the date of final approval.

Local Agency (LA) means the Environmental Health Division of the Sutter County Development Services Department.

May means discretionary, permissive, or allowed.

Minimum Usable Sewage Disposal Area (MUSDA) means the minimum area of the parcel meeting the requirements of this Ordinance for the installation of an on-site sewage system and its replacement area.

Modification means any change in an OSS component without a change in the design capacity. Requires a site plan and approval by the Department.

Native Soil means undisturbed soil that exhibits the same structure, texture, and permeability as the area in question.

Net Land Area means the total parcel area excluding surface water, road easements, right-of-ways, and drainage and utility easements.

New Installation means any system not defined as repair, expansion, or modification.

Non-Conforming Repair means a repair or replacement of an existing on-site sewage system that cannot meet the new installation requirements of this Ordinance due to soil or site limitations. A non-conforming repair includes:

(1)

An OSS repair that must utilize the treatment standards shown in Table VI of Section 700-170-D in lieu of compliance with Section 700-080 for vertical separation and/or horizontal setbacks from surface waters or wells; and/or

(2)

An OSS repair in which the drainfield or other OSS component cannot meet the new system design and installation requirements of Section 700-150 due to insufficient replacement area. Also referred to as a partial repair.

Non-Residential Facilities means any facility that is constructed or used for commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural, or recreational purposes.

On-Site Sewage System (OSS) means an integrated arrangement of components for a residence, non-residential facility, or other place not connected to a public sewer system which:

(1)

Conveys, stores, treats, and/or provides subsurface soil treatment and disposal of sewage on the property where it originates, or upon adjacent or nearby property; and

(2)

Includes piping, treatment devices, other accessories, and soil underlying the drainfield and replacement area.

Ordinary High-Water Mark (OHWM) means the mark on all lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and ponds where the presence and action of waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil and vegetation a character distinct from that of the abutting upland. In any area where the ordinary high-water mark is not evident, the OHWM adjoining static freshwater shall be the line of mean high water and the OHWM for rivers located within man-made levees shall be the 10-year flood frequency line.

Owner of Record means the owner of real property as shown in the records of the Sutter County Recorder's Office.

Operational Permit means a permit issued by the Department for a specified period for the operation and/or use of an on-site sewage system that has special operational or maintenance needs.

Permit means a written certificate issued by the Department allowing an activity under the provisions of this [Chapter] and Manual.

Person means an individual, firm, association, company, organization, partnership, corporation, governmental entity, or any other entity of any kind. "Person" also includes an applicant, a permit holder, an authorized agent of any entity, or any third party acting on behalf of any entity.

Pressure Distribution System means a system designed to uniformly distribute septic tank or other treatment unit effluent under pressure.

Prior Approval means any valid written approval or permit pertaining to a specific septic system application that was issued before the effective date of this [Chapter].

Proprietary Device means any device classified as an alternative system or a component thereof that is held under a patent, trademark, or copyright.

Public Sewer System means a community sewage system under permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board which is owned or operated by a city, town, municipal corporation, county, political subdivision of the state, or other approved ownership consisting of a collection system and necessary trunks, pumping facilities, and a means of final treatment and disposal.

Redoximorphic Soil Features means the presence of soil mottles, or low-chroma colors, manganese and/or iron nodules, concretions, masses; depletions of iron and/or clay; and/or reduced matrices which may indicate the presence of groundwater.

Regulation means a statute, administrative rule, policy or adjudicatory decision that is adopted under the authority of the Sutter County Board of Supervisors, the State of California, or the Federal Government.

Repair means the restoration or replacement of a failed on-site sewage system.

Replacement Area means an area of land approved for the installation of an on-site sewage system and dedicated for replacement of the OSS in the event of its failure.

Residential Sewage means wastewater having waste strength typical of residential sewage as documented in the EPA Design Manual: On-Site Waste Water Treatment and Disposal System, United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-625/1-80-012, October 1980 (or the relevant section of any document that replaces the 1980 EPA Design Manual).

Residential Effluent Waste Strength

< 230 mg/L BOD ₅ (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)

< 150 mg/L TSS (Total Suspended Solids)

< 25 mg/L FOG (Fats, Oils, and Greases)

Restrictive Layer means a layer that impedes the movement of water, air, and growth of plant roots; including, but not limited to, groundwater tables, hardpans, claypans, fragipans, compacted soils, bedrock, unstructured clay soils or unsuitable soils.

RWQCB means the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Seepage Pit means an excavation of a pit more than three feet deep designed to dispose of septic tank effluent to underlying soils that are more permeable without receiving treatment in the upper soil horizons. Seepage pits may also be referred to as dry wells.

Septage means the mixture of solid wastes, scum, sludge, and liquids pumped from septic tanks, pump tanks, holding tanks, and other OSS components.

Septic Tank means a watertight receptacle which receives the discharge of sewage from a building sewer; and is designed and constructed to permit the separation of settleable and floating solids from the liquid, and detention and digestion of the organic matter, prior to discharge of the liquid portion.

Septic Tank Pumper means a person registered by the Department who cleans and pumps septic tanks, pump tanks, holding tanks, chemical toilets, or other sewage.

Sewage means urine, feces, and the water carrying human wastes; including kitchen, bath, and laundry wastes from residences, buildings, industrial establishments, or other facilities.

Shall means mandatory.

Shrink-swell soil means that the clay component of the soil has an expanding crystal and very small particle size, which results in wide, deep cracks after prolonged drying, and closed-up tightness after becoming saturated with water. Shrink-swell soils are also known as expansive clays, 2:1 clays, or vertisols.

Site Evaluation means evaluation of the soil profile and landscape features of a specific parcel or location for the purpose of determining whether the site complies with the requirements of this Ordinance for the installation of an on-site sewage system.

Soil Log means a detailed description of the soil profile or mantle, and other soil characteristics such as color, texture, structure, and density to provide information on the soil's capacity to act as an acceptable treatment and disposal medium for sewage.

Soil Type means a textural classification of fine earth particles and coarse fragments as described in Table II of Section 700-090-B(9) of this [Chapter].

Statute means any ordinance of the Sutter County Board of Supervisors, or any State or Federal law.

Subdivision means any division of land, as defined in section 1400-150 of the Sutter County Ordinance Code, as now or as hereafter amended.

Surface Water means any body of water that either flows or is contained in natural or artificial depressions for continuous periods of 30 days or more. Such bodies include, but are not limited to, natural and artificial lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, marshes, and unlined irrigation canals; but shall exclude surface water contained by flood-irrigated crops, a culverted drainage course, concrete impoundment, or other protected waterway with an impervious lining.

Swimming Pool means any constructed or prefabricated structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep. Swimming pools may be in-ground or above-ground structures, and shall include doughboys, spa pools, and any other special purpose pools.

Treatment Standard 1 means a thirty-day average of less than ten milligrams per liter of biochemical oxygen demand (five-day BOD ₅ ), ten milligrams per liter of total suspended solids (TSS), and a thirty-day geometric mean of less than 200 fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters.

Treatment Standard 2 means a thirty-day average of less than ten milligrams per liter of biochemical oxygen demand (five-day BOD ₅ ), ten milligrams per liter to total suspended solids (TSS), and a thirty-day geometric mean of less than 800 fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters.

Undocumented On-Site Sewage Disposal System means an installed on-site sewage disposal system for which no permit is on file with the Department.

Unsuitable Soils means soils that are not capable of adequate treatment and/or disposal of sewage effluent and include:

(1)

Silty clays, weak or structureless sandy clays and clays, silt, and strongly cemented, compacted, or massive soils;

(2)

Very gravelly sands having ≥35% and <60% gravel and coarse fragments by volume;

(3)

All extremely gravelly soils having ≥60% gravel and coarse fragments by volume;

(4)

Soils that have a clay content of 45% or more as determined by particle size analysis; and

(5)

Soils having a percolation rate of <1 mpi or >240 mpi.

Vertical Separation means the depth of unsaturated native soil of Soil Types 1-6 between the bottom of a drainfield and the highest seasonal water table, a restrictive layer, or unsuitable soils.

(Ord. No. 1632, § 1, 3-28-2017)