Liquid Waste Program
Jurisdiction Change for Building Sewer Connection to a Septic Tank
Effective October 1, 2006 - Environmental Health Services assumed responsibility for permitting and inspection of building sewers and/or laterals between structures and septic tanks. The applicable regulations are located in Chapter 7 of the California Plumbing Code.
Our goal with this change is to improve customer service and streamline the permit process by eliminating the need for multiple agency involvement with private sewage treatment systems.
As a guardian of public health, Environmental Health Services has a vested interest in the containment of communicable disease, and the prevention of surface water pollution.
Our liquid waste program protects the public from direct exposure to contaminated waste water and promotes the proper treatment and disposal of all sewage. Environmental Health Services reviews the testing, plans, installation, and repair of all on site sewage disposal systems. This helps to insure the adequate and safe construction of new and remodeled systems.
An on-site individual sewage disposal system (ISDS), also referred to as a septic system, is used for the disposal of wastewater from structures that do not have access to a public wastewater treatment facility. Wastewater from a septic system may contain many types of contaminants such as nitrates, harmful bacteria, chemicals, and viruses. If a septic system is designed incorrectly or is not constructed in conformance with applicable building codes and construction practices, contaminants may enter the groundwater supply or may result in the ponding of sewage above ground causing direct exposure to people and animals.
The Environmental Health Division Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS) Program is responsible for protecting public health and the environment from the potential adverse health and environmental impacts associated with on-site individual sewage disposal systems. We carry out this responsibility through our review of septic system design proposals, review of septic system design criteria, and inspection of new septic system construction and repair of existing systems to determine conformance with applicable codes.
What Environmental Health Services can provide to you:
• Lists of qualified septic tank pumpers
• Lists of septic system contractors
• Printed information about septic system maintenance
• Available recent history of your property
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