The following definitions and permit specifications are outlined for the Onsite Wastewater Installers Workshop and come directly from the Public Health – Sanitary Code LAC Title 51 Part XIII. This document is meant to be a study guide for installers to become familiar with the terminology outlined by the office of public health.

Community sewerage systems – This refers to sewerage systems with multiple connections that also have collection, pumping and transport systems to a treatment facility. These systems must be provided for all new subdivisions and developments. The developer/owner shall be responsible for the provision of adequate sewage treatment.

Commercial treatment facility – Facility dedicated for use when individual systems are unfeasible or not authorized.

Exceptions to community sewerage systems:

• Subdivisions comprised of less than 125 lots with comprehensive draining plan
• Total anticipated design flow to the sewerage system does not exceed 1,500 gallons per day (GPD) and there no food service is involved
• Lots with 1 acre or more have a minimum frontage of 125 feet
• System is located on a lot with a minimum area of 22,500 square feet and a minimum frontage of 125 feet; frontage minimum can be waived if less than 15% of lots in development are not less than 60 feet and at least 125 feet wide
• Parishes with formal sewage permitting systems
• Lots formed before July 28, 1967
• When upgrading an existing system
• State health officer doesn’t see a hazard to the public health

Conventional septic system – Septic tank system which consists of a septic tank(s) followed by a subsurface absorption field.

Discharges – A person shall not directly or indirectly discharge the contents or effluent from any septic tank into any road, street, gutter, ditch, watercourse, body of water or onto the surface of the ground.

Electrical connections – The Office of Public Health does not have the authority to inspect or approve electrical connections and is not qualified in the area of such electrical connections and will not assume responsibility for such electrical safety considerations. Plans must include proper specifications for electrical connections like air pumps or mechanical units.

Facility/facilities – Any or all of the apparatus and appurtenances associated with sanitary sewerage treatment (systems, elements or processes).

Gravelless pipes – Propriety device that can be used for absorption trenches with approval from the state health officer.

Individual mechanical plant – Uses mechanical action to sustain aerobic bacteria that provide primary and secondary treatment.

Individual sewerage systems – Any component (except building drain) that connects to the treatment of sewage where it originates. Individual sewerage systems shall be kept in service and in a serviceable condition sufficient to ensure compliance with this code and in order to avoid creating or contributing to a nuisance or a public health hazard.

Installation – No sewerage system component will be installed wherever contamination of a groundwater supply may occur. The location of any sewerage facility shall not conflict with the placement requirements for a water well (50 feet).

Installer certification – The certification by the installer shall be submitted to the state health officer within 15 days after completion of the installation of a septic system. Via certification, installers become agents and have a duty to the public.

Limited use sewerage system – Structure/dwelling that is occupied less than four days in a week (i.e. three days or less), and the use of which generates less than 100 gallons per day (GPD) of sanitary sewage.

Manufacturer – People responsible for the construction and evaluating compliance of mechanical systems.

Onsite inspection – This will be conducted by a representative of the state health officer and/or in the form of a completed “Certification by Installer” form submitted to the state health officer by the licensed installer.

Permits – A person shall not install, cause to be installed, alter or operate an individual sewerage system of any kind without first having obtained a permit from the state health officer. A temporary permit will be issued once the proposed plans are approved and the final permit approving installation will be after the verifying the system is up to code.

Permits (community systems) – A person shall not construct, operate or make a modification (changes in capacity, effluent quality, point of discharge, hydraulic or contaminant loadings) to existing community sewerage systems, without having first obtained a permit from the state health officer.

Permits (individual systems) – These will be issued where community systems are not feasible and it’s not likely to cause a public health hazard or nuisance.

Person – Anybody that represents a public or private organization.

Plat/property survey – Must be filed and approved for use of individual sewerage systems by the Office of Public Health.

Plumbing facilities – All facilities should have proper fixtures and be connected to appropriate systems when feasible.

Premise – Any structure or dwelling in which a person may live, work or congregate.

Previous permits – Any issued or approved before the 1998 revision shall remain in effect.

Responsible for permits – A person installing or providing maintenance of an individual sewerage system and the person who is the owner of the premises shall be responsible for compliance with sections 701 and 703.

Responsible parties – A person who controls any premise shall provide for sewage disposal in a manner which is in compliance with this code.

Sanitary sewerage – Any and all human waste and/or domestic waste (day-to-day residential waste) that requires a sewerage system.

Secondary treatment standards – The analyses are to be performed for compliance in accordance with the 18th edition of the “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.”

• A maximum 30-day average concentration of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 30 milligrams per liter (mg/l)
• A maximum daily concentration of biochemical oxygen demand of 45 mg/l.

Septic tank system – Individual system that has primary treatment followed by processes to treat septic tank’s effluent.

Sewerage system – Any component (except building drain and building sewer) that collects, transports, pumps, treats and/or disposes of sanitary sewage.

Subdivision – The division of land into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or plots, any one of which has an area of less than 3 acres. For the purpose of these regulations, the requirements for wetlands might be more stringent in some parishes.

Sub-manufacturer – Anybody licensed by a manufacturer to construct or assemble their units.

Trailer coach – Any form of structure that has wheels, whether moving under its own power or not, and where a person or persons may live, work or congregate.

Trailer park – Anywhere that more than one trailer coach is located and spaces are rented/leased.

Exception to the resubdivision of land divided into lots, tracts, sites or parcels:

• Subdivision legally established and recorded prior to July 28, 1967.
• A small parcel of land sold to or exchanged between adjoining property owners does not create additional lots.

Authors

M.P. Hayes, Assistant Professor in the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Science and Louisiana Sea Grant

Richard Grabert, Sanitarian Program Specialist for the Louisiana Department of Health

Paula Guient, Assistant Program Administrator, Onsite Wastewater and Compliance for the Louisiana Department of Health