Chapter 8 ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL REGULATIONS [1]
Sec. 8-4. Private wastewater disposal.
Sec. 8-5. Health Officer responsibilities.
This Chapter shall be known as the "Colchester On-Site Sewage Disposal Regulations."
(Ord. of 5-14-13; Ord. of 5-3-22; Ord. of 12-13-22)
This Ordinance is intended to prevent risk to public health and/or water supply as a result of the failure of a sewage treatment and disposal system to:
(a) prevent the creation of public health hazards; or
(b) prevent the pollution or contamination of drinking water supplies, groundwater, and surface water; or
(c) maintain sanitary and healthful conditions during operation.
The Town Health Officer shall be responsible for enforcing these regulations.
(Ord. of 5-14-13; Ord. of 5-3-22; Ord. of 12-13-22)
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words shall have the meanings indicated unless their context clearly requires otherwise:
Health Officer means the municipal official(s) appointed by the Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 601 who is responsible for performing the duties described in 18 V.S.A. § 602a on behalf of the Town.
Sewer Ordinance shall mean the Colchester Code of Ordinances Chapter 10: Sewers.
(Ord. of 5-14-13; Ord. of 12-13-22)
Sec. 8-4. Private Wastewater Disposal.
(a) Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of the Town’s Sewer. Ordinance, any building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this Ordinance.
(b) The type, capacities, location, and layout of a private wastewater disposal system shall comply with all mandates and permitting requirements of the State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and all other applicable Federal, State, and local Regulations.
(c) At such time as a property served by a private wastewater disposal system is approved for connection to the municipal sewer system, a connection shall be made to the municipal sewer in accordance with the Town’s Sewer Ordinance and any private sewage disposal facilities shall be decommissioned in accordance with State Environmental Protection Rules.
(d) The owner shall operate and maintain the private wastewater disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the Town.
(e) Private wastewater disposal facilities shall be operated at all times in a manner so as to:
(1) Prevent the creation of health hazards; and
(2) Prevent surfacing sewage or the pollution or contamination of drinking water supplies, groundwater and surface water.
(Ord. of 5-14-13; Ord. of 12-13-22)
Sec. 8-5. Health Officer Responsibilities.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the statutory authority granted to Health Officers or Local Boards of Health in Title 18 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated.
Should the Health Officer receive report of any actions being taken that constitute a public health hazard or create a public health risk, the Health Officer shall follow the procedures outline in 18 VS.A. § 126 (Health Orders), 18 V.S.A § 127 (Emergency Health Orders), and/or any applicable procedures outlines in Title 18 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated.
(Ord. of 5-14-14; Ord. of 12-13-22)
FOOTNOTE(S):
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Editor's note— An ordinance adopted May 14, 2013, amended Ch. 8 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. 8 pertained to the same subject matter and derived from ordinances adopted Feb. 24, 2004; June 17, 2007; and July 24, 2012. (Back)
Editor’s note – An ordinance adopted December 13, 2022 amending Ch. 8 deleted previous sections 8-3 and 8-7 to 8-13 in their entirety.