§ 24-80. Private sewage disposal.

(a)

Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of section 24-79(c), the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this section.

(b)

Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the superintendent. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications and other information as are deemed necessary by the superintendent. A permit and inspection fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed.

(c)

A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent. The superintendent shall utilize the then-current environmental protection and acceptable building standards, normal to the trade, in arriving at his determination of satisfaction. He shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within seventy-two (72) hours of the receipt of notice by the superintendent.

(d)

The type, capacities, location and layout of private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the department of human resources. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.

(e)

The owner shall operate and maintain the private, sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner, as determined by the state, city and county health officers at all times, at no expense to the city.

(f)

No statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by state and county health officers.

(g)

The owner of a failed private sewer system must connect to the public sewer within sixty (60) days and must abandon the private system.

(h)

No septic tanks will be allowed in the city (i) unless at the time of the application there is no existing public sewer within three hundred (300) feet of subject property from either the city or county, or (ii) prior approval is given by the city manager due to exigent circumstances with respect to the particular piece of property to be served.

(i)

"Exigent circumstances" is defined as something arising suddenly or out of current events; any event or occasional combination of circumstances calling for immediate action or remedy; a pressing necessity, state of being urgent or exigent.

(j)

"Public facilities" Public facilities that are privately owned are not permitted. Sewage treatment that serves more than one (1) property owner shall only be allowed as a publicly-owned and operated system. Furthermore, any permits for such facilities shall be issued to City of Cartersville as the appropriate government agency.

(Ord. No. 11-97, 4-10-97; Ord. No. 33-98, 8-27-98; Ord. No. 03-05, § 1, 1-20-05)