Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 511 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 511-3 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS
Subject 511-3-1 - ON-SITE SEWAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Rule 511-3-1-.02 - Definitions

(a) "Absorption Field" means a configuration of absorption trenches installed in a portion of land and used for the absorption and final treatment of sewage.

(b) "Absorption Line" means a pipe line of perforated pipe laid in an absorption trench to serve as a conduit for sewage effluent.

(c) "Absorption Trench" means an excavation in which an absorption line is laid.

(d) "Absorption Trench Bottom and Side Wall Area" means the total interface of bottom and side soil area with undisturbed soils of all absorption trenches in an absorption field and occurring horizontally and downward from the point of distribution into the soil, expressed in square feet.

(e) "Aggregate" means washed gravel or washed stone meeting the Georgia Department of Transportation standards for hardness or other materials approved by the Department that shall be one half inch (1/2") to two inches (2") in diameter.

(f) "Alternative On-Site Sewage Management System" means an approved on-site sewage management system which differs in design or operation from the conventional or chamber septic tank system or privy.

(g) "Approved" or "Approval" means compliance with applicable specifications or criteria developed or accepted by the Department.

(h) "Auxiliary System" means a system to serve a portion of a residence, a pool house, or other adjunct facility.

(i) "Bedroom" means any room that is intended primarily for sleeping purposes, as shown on the building plan.

(j) "Black Water" means wastewater generated by fixtures or appliances that come into direct contact with human excreta or solid organic matter, such as toilets, urinals, bidets, kitchen sinks and garbage disposals.

(k) "Building Drain" means that part of the lowest piping of a building drainage system inside the walls of a building, which receives the discharge from soil, waste or other drainage systems and conveys the discharge to the building sewer.

(l) "Building Sewer" means that part of the horizontal piping of a building drainage system beyond the building drain which receives the discharge from the building drain and conveys it to a public sewer, private sewer, on-site sewage management system or other disposal.

(m) "Central On-Site Sewage Management System" means an on-site sewage management system serving more than one building, business, residence or other facility designed or used for human occupancy or congregation on an individual lot or single parcel of land.

(n) "Chamber Septic Tank System" means a septic tank with a chamber system as defined in definition (o) below.

(o) "Chamber System" means a system of chambers with each chamber being a molded polyolefin plastic, arch shaped, hollow structure with an exposed bottom area and solid top and louvered sidewall for infiltration of effluent into adjoining bottom and sidewall soil areas. Chambers may be of different sizes and configurations to obtain desired surface areas.

(p) "Conventional System" means a traditionally used system that is composed of perforated pipe surrounded by gravel or stone masking for the infiltration of effluent into adjoining bottom and side wall areas.

(q) "Conventional Septic Tank System" means any septic tank and conventional system as defined in (p), but does not include alternative or experimental systems.

(r) "County Board of Health" means a County Board of Health organized pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 31-3-1et seq.

(s) "Department" or "DPH" means the Georgia Department of Public Health.

(t) "Distribution Device" means a watertight structure which receives sewage effluent from a septic tank, dosing tank, or other sewage retention device and distributes it in equal portions to two or more absorption lines.

(u) "Dosing Tank" means an approved watertight tank, located after a septic tank or other sewage retention device, to receive and retain sewage effluent, and so equipped as to discharge sewage effluent intermittently to a distribution device, either by pump or by siphon.

(v) "Experimental On-Site Sewage Management System" means any on-site sewage management system proposed for testing and observation, and provisionally approved for such purposes by the Department, but which has not been fully proven under field use.

(w) "Failure" or "failed" meansthe on-site sewage system constitutes a health hazard by reason of inadequate treatment or disposal of sewage.

(x) "Filter" means an approved device that removes solids or other materials from the effluent that could cause failure of an on-site sewage management system.

(y) "Flood Plain" means a generally flat plain or depression susceptible to being flooded from any source, including small and intermittent water courses and coastal areas subject to intermittent tidal action.

(z) "Gray Water" means wastewater generated by water-using fixtures and appliances that does not come into direct contact with human excreta or solid organic matter.

(aa) "Grease Trap" means a device in which the grease content of sewage is intercepted and congealed, and from which grease may be skimmed or otherwise removed for proper disposal.

(bb) "Hardscape" means any area devoted to a landscape made up of hard wearing materials such as stone, concrete, decking and other similar construction materials.

(cc) "Individual Water Supply System" means a non-public system of piping, pumps, tanks or other facilities, utilizing groundwater to supply a single family dwelling.

(dd) "Lot" means a portion of a subdivision, or any other parcel of land, intended as a unit for transfer of ownership, or for development, or both. It does not include any part of the right-of-way of a street or road.

(ee) "Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems" means the most current version of the technical handbook adopted and periodically updated by the Department in the implementation of this Chapter.

(ff) "Mobile Home Park" means a parcel of land developed for subsequent rental, lease, or placement of two or more mobile homes.

(gg) "On-Site Sewage Management System" means a sewage management system other than a public or community sewage treatment system serving one or more buildings, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, residences, or other facilities designed or used for human occupancy or congregation. Such term shall include, without limitation, conventional and chamber septic tank systems, privies, and experimental and alternative on-site management systems which are designed to be physically incapable of a surface discharge of effluent.

(hh) "Percolation Coefficient" means the ratio of trench bottom area to percolation time, expressed as the allowable rate of sewage application in gallons per square foot per day.

(ii) "Percolation Rate" means the time, expressed in minutes per inch, required for water to seep into saturated soil at a constant rate.

(jj) "Percolation Test" means the method used to measure the percolation rate of water into soil as described in the Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems.

(kk) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, and bodies both political and corporate.

(ll) "Physical Development" means the alteration or improvement of real property, including site preparation, erection of any structure or road, well construction, or installation of on-site sewage management systems.

(mm) "Privy" means a structure and necessary appurtenances used for the sanitary disposal or storage of human wastes without the aid of water carriage. It does not include chemical, composting, portable or incinerator toilets.

(nn) "Public Water Supply System" means a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption, if such system has at least fifteen service connections, or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five individuals daily, at least sixty days out of the year.

(oo) "Septage" means a waste that is a fluid mixture of partially treated or untreated sewage solids, liquids, and sludge of human or domestic waste, present in or pumped from septic tanks, malfunctioning on-site sewage management systems, grease traps, or privies.

(pp) "Sewage Treatment System" is a system that provides primary treatment and disposal, including absorption field components, devices, and appurtenances intended to be used for disposal of sewage by soil absorption. It does not include a conventional or chamber septic tank system. The system shall be designed to be physically incapable of a surface discharge of effluent.

(qq) "Septic Tank" means an approved watertight tank designed or used to receive sewage from a building sewer and to affect separation and organic decomposition of sewage solids, and discharging sewage effluent to an absorption field or other management system.

(rr) "Sewage" means and includes human excreta, black water, water-carried wastes, and liquid household waste from residences or commercial and industrial establishments.

(ss) "Sinkhole" means a depression in the land surface, generally in a limestone region, which communicates or has the potential to communicate with a subterranean passage developed by solution.

(tt) "Site" means the location where the absorption field will be installed, to include replacement area.

(uu) "Soil Classifier" means a person who has been approved by the Department to conduct soil evaluations to determine suitability of a sit for an on-site sewage management system.

(vv) "Subdivision" means any division of a tract or parcel of land into five or more lots, building sites, mobile home sites, or other divisions, resulting in at least one single lot of less than three acres, for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or legacy, and includes re-subdivision. It does not include:

(ww) "Well" means an excavation or opening into the ground by which groundwater is sought or obtained.