2019.02.04 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Summary Washington County Development Code Chapter Four Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Regulations Ordinance No. 196 Subsurface sewage treatment systems, more commonly referred to as septic systems, have been regulated in Washington County since 1972. There have been numerous iterations of the ordinance regulating septic systems. In September 2009, the Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance No. 179, Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Regulations. Ordinance No. 179 is the County's current ordinance that regulates the location, design, installation, use and maintenance of individual sewage treatment systems. The regulations are Chapter Four of the Washington County Development Code and applies in all areas of Washington County, other than cities and towns that have adopted ordinances that complied with Minn. Stat. § 115.55 and the rules promulgated thereunder which were as strict as Ordinance No. 179. On March 14, 2011, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) published changes to Minnesota Rules, Chapters 7080 through 7083, governing Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS). Minor changes were also made in 2014. Washington County is required to revise and implement an SSTS Ordinance in compliance with Chapters 7080, 7081, 7082, and 7083. On April 28, 2015, at its public hearing, the Washington County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution adopting Ordinance No. 196 which will repeal Ordinance No. 179. A brief summary of Chapter Four Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems, Ordinance No. 196 is as follows: Sections 1, 2, and 3 address the Purpose and Intent of the SSTS ordinance, provides expanded Definitions and describes how the Ordinance will be Administered. Section 4 establishes the Compliance Criteria for existing systems, new construction, and those systems receiving replacement components. Section 5 deals with Acceptable and Prohibited Discharges of those systems receiving sewage and those systems that receive both sewage and non sewage discharge. Section 6 addresses Permits, the permitting process, and when permits are required for SSTS. Permit applications will now require management plans for the proposed system before a permit can be issued. Section 7 addresses Operating Permits and what must be included in the operating permits. Operating permits will be required for Type III systems, Type IV systems, Type V systems, all Midsized Sewage Treatment Systems, Holding tanks, SSTS serving Food Beverage and Lodging Establishments, and SSTS serving Hazardous Waste Generators. Operating permits include maintenance requirements, operational requirements, compliance limits and boundaries, reporting frequency, notification by permitted, identified reserve areas, and prohibited discharges. Section 8 addresses when Inspections are required to determine compliance with Chapter Four. Compliance inspections must be conducted prior to issuance of a permit for the addition of a bedroom, all new construction and replacement, and prior to the transfer of any real property Washington County Development Code