Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
a) Rate of
Flow for Domestic Sewage. Each unit of the private sewage disposal system shall
be designed to treat the volume of domestic sewage discharged to it. The volume
of sewage flow shall be determined from Appendix A, Illustration A. For
non-residential establishments, the Department will consider the use of actual
flow volumes obtained from similar installations in lieu of the quantities
contained in Appendix A, Illustration A, when the flow data is documented.
Examples of the documentation that could be accepted would be actual
measurements of the quantity of wastewater, or water use receipts. In the
design of a private sewage disposal system, peak flows shall be designed for or
attenuated.
b) Type of Waste. A
private sewage disposal system shall be designed to receive all waste from the
buildings served.
1) Prohibited Influent. No
sub-soil drainage, discharge from roof drains or swimming pool wastewater shall
be directed to the private sewage disposal system.
2) Hot Tub Wastewater. Wastewater generated
by a hot tub or similar device shall be discharged to one of the following:
A) A separate subsurface seepage system,
provided that the seepage field is designed to accommodate the liquid capacity
of the hot tub on a daily basis. A septic tank is not required in front of a
seepage field receiving flow from this device.
B) The seepage field serving the domestic
wastewater flow, provided the seepage field is increased in size to accommodate
the additional flow from the hot tub on a daily basis. This drainage shall be
piped around the septic tank and directly into the seepage field.
3) Motorized Equipment. Waste
products, such as automotive grease, oils, solvents and chemicals, shall not
discharge to a private sewage disposal system. These waste products shall be
handled according to rules for disposal of oil, gas and grease promulgated
under the Environmental Protection Act, or according to 35 Ill. Adm. Code,
Subtitle G, or shall be taken to an oil and gas reclamation center. The floor
drain of any non-residential property that meets the requirements of subsection
(b)(3)(A) or (B), and is connected to a public sewer, shall be connected to an
approved gas and oil interceptor meeting the requirements of Section
890.520
of the Illinois Plumbing Code. Wastes from floor drains in areas where vehicles
or motorized equipment are serviced and parked shall be treated in accordance
with the following:
A) For any
non-residential property in which a floor drain may receive fluids from vehicle
or motorized equipment repair or maintenance activities, floor drains shall be
connected to a public sewer or holding tank and not to a private sewage
disposal system. Repair and maintenance facilities shall include, but shall not
be limited to, service stations and auto body, muffler, transmission, small
engine, and brake repair shops. Floor drains in any facility that performs
vehicle or motorized equipment repair work shall be connected to a public sewer
or holding tank. If the floor drain is connected to a public sewer, then the
floor drain shall be connected to an approved gas and oil interceptor meeting
the requirements of Section
890.520
of the Illinois Plumbing Code. If the floor drain is connected to a holding
tank, a gas and oil interceptor is not required. The holding tank shall be
constructed of the same materials required for gas and oil
interceptors.
B) For any
non-residential property on which vehicles or motorized equipment are parked or
stored and repair or maintenance is not performed, floor drains shall discharge
to a public sewer or a private sewage disposal system, provided that floor
drains are used only to receive water from motorized equipment or vehicle
washing or to drain melted snow. When floor drains in such properties are
connected to a private sewage disposal system, the system shall be increased in
size based upon the anticipated daily flow. When a maintenance area is adjacent
to a parking area, physical barriers, such as a raised curb or recessed floor
in the maintenance area, shall be provided to assure that oil and gas are not
discharged to floor drains.
C) For
any residential property with a garage of any size, floor drains may discharge
directly to a private sewage disposal system. No increase in size of the
residential private sewage disposal system is required to handle this liquid
waste.
4) Drains or
fixtures receiving any product other than domestic sewage or wastewater
specified in subsection (b)(2) shall be discharged to an approved treatment or
disposal system that is regulated and approved by the State or to a holding
tank and not to a private sewage disposal system.
5) Water Softener Wastewater. Backwash water
from a water softener or similar device shall be discharged to one of the
following:
A) A separate subsurface seepage
system, provided that the seepage field is designed to accommodate the liquid
capacity of the water softener on a daily basis. A septic tank is not required
in front of a seepage field receiving flow from this device.
B) A separate building drain, in accordance
with the Illinois Plumbing Code, that will discharge to a subsurface seepage
system, provided that the seepage field is designed to accommodate the flow
from this device on a daily basis. A septic tank is not required in front of a
seepage field receiving flow from this device.
c) Individual Service. The use of a private
sewage system to serve more than one property is prohibited except where a
common property is provided, under joint ownership of the users, or where the
system is under public jurisdiction or managed by a district established for
the maintenance of these systems.
d) Water and Sewer Line Separation. The
following criteria shall govern the separation of water supply lines and sewer
lines:
1) Horizontal Separation. Sewers shall
be installed at least 10 feet horizontally from any existing or proposed water
line. When local conditions prevent a lateral separation of 10 feet, a sewer
may be laid closer than 10 feet to a water line provided that the elevation of
the crown of the sewer is at least 18 inches below the invert of the water
line.
2) Crossings. Where sewer
lines must cross water lines, the sewer line shall be laid at an elevation so
that the crown of the sewer line is at least 18 inches below the invert of the
water line. This vertical separation shall be maintained for that portion of
the sewer line located within 10 feet horizontally of any water line it
crosses. When sewer lines must cross above water lines, the sewer lines shall
be Schedule 40 or equivalent material with watertight joints.
e) Sanitary Sewer. New or
renovated private sewage disposal systems shall not be approved where a
sanitary sewer operated and maintained under permit of the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency is available for connection. A sanitary sewer
is available for connection when it is within 300 feet of a residential
property or a non-residential property with a sewage flow less than 1500
gallons per day, or within 1000 feet of a non-residential property with a
sewage flow greater than or equal to 1500 gallons per day, unless a physical
barrier or local ordinance exists that prevents connection to the sewer. If
connection from the property to the sanitary sewer cannot be made with an
individual line (i.e., 4" inch line), then a private sewage disposal system may
be installed.
f) Acceptable Pipe
Materials
1) All piping located more than 5
feet from the building foundation, used to convey wastewater to a private
sewage disposal system, shall be considered a part of the private sewage
disposal system and shall be watertight. This piping shall be ductile iron,
vitrified clay or plastic pipe. Only vitrified clay or plastic pipe shall be
used from the septic tank and after the distribution box (where used).
Perforated pipe or open-jointed tile shall be used only as provided in this
Part.
2) Use of plastic pipe and
fittings shall comply with the uses designated in Appendix A, Illustration
C.
3) Piping used to carry domestic
sewage under areas such as driveways, roads or parking areas shall be Schedule
40 equivalent or greater.
g) Pipe Size and Slope
1) All solid pipes carrying domestic sewage
by gravity flow shall have a nominal diameter of at least 4 inches and a
minimum slope of 12 inches per 100 feet.
2) Solid header lines used for equal
distribution shall be level.
3)
Solid pipes carrying treated effluent by gravity shall have a nominal diameter
of 4 inches and a minimum slope to ensure designed flow within the
system.
4) An alternative design
for pipe sizing and slope may be proposed by an Illinois licensed Professional
Engineer.
h) Prohibited
Discharges. There shall be no discharge of raw or improperly treated domestic
sewage to the surface of the ground or to farm tiles, streams, rivers, ponds,
lakes or other collectors of water. Improperly treated domestic sewage is
sewage that does not meet the effluent requirements of Section
905.110(d)
or sewage that comes directly from a septic tank or building sewer. Domestic
sewage or effluent from any private sewage disposal system or component shall
not be discharged into any well, cistern or basement or into any underground
mine, cave, sinkhole or tunnel.
i)
Pipe Length. Building sewers in excess of 50 feet in length that carry
wastewater from the buildings served to the septic tank, distribution box or
aeration treatment plant shall be provided with at least one clean-out every 50
feet that terminates at grade.
j)
Private Sewage Disposal System Development. The following factors shall govern
the development of a private sewage disposal system:
1) Drainage. A private sewage disposal system
shall not be located in areas where surface water will accumulate. The flow of
surface water over the private sewage system shall be minimized, for example,
by the use of dikes, embankments, ditches or flow diverters.
2) Distances. The location of the various
components of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with Appendix A,
Illustration D.
3) Area Reserved
for Sewage Disposal. The area to be used for a private sewage disposal system
shall be selected and maintained so that it is free from encroachment by
driveways, accessory buildings, swimming pools, parking areas, buried lawn
sprinkling systems and underground utility services, patios, slabs, additions
to the original structure, or any other structure that limits free access to
the system for maintenance, servicing or proper operation. The property owner
and private sewage disposal system installation contractor shall ensure that
the designated area for the subsurface seepage system shall be secured prior to
construction or modifications to the site and shall be protected throughout the
site development or construction process. The property owner and private sewage
disposal system installation contractor shall secure this area to deter any
traffic, compaction of the soil, removal or addition of soil, or encroachment
on the area of the proposed subsurface seepage system. Temporary fencing, posts
and roping or a similar restrictive barrier may be used to restrict access. The
area of the proposed private sewage disposal system shall be protected
throughout the site development or construction process.
4) Creviced Limestone Formations. A
subsurface seepage system shall not be constructed in an area where there is
less than 4 feet of soil between the lowest point in a subsurface seepage
system and the top of a creviced limestone formation. In areas where creviced
limestone is known to occur, a soil boring to a depth of at least 4 feet below
the bottom of the subsurface seepage system shall be made to verify that
creviced limestone is not present.
k) Electrical Devices. All electrical devices
shall be wired in accordance with the National Electrical Code or a municipal,
county or local electrical code, whichever is more stringent.
1) Any component of a private sewage disposal
system that is electrically activated shall be provided with a visible and
audible warning device.
2) Alarms
installed after January 1, 2014 shall be located outside of the building
served. The power supply for the alarm shall be on a dedicated circuit. The
design of the alarm shall meet the requirements specified in Section 5.8 of NSF
International/ANSI Standard 40. The alarm shall be housed in a weatherproof
box.
3) Electrical devices
installed after January 1, 2014 shall be provided with an electrical disconnect
that is located within sight of, and not more than 50 feet away from, the
device.
l) Variances. If
conditions exist at a proposed installation that make compliance with the
requirements of this Part impractical or impossible, a variance may be
requested by submitting to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division
of Environmental Health, or appropriate local authority a written proposal that
is to be used in lieu of compliance with this Part. The written request shall
include pertinent data to support the proposal, such as soil conditions, water
table elevations, drainage patterns and distances to water supplies. The
capability of the system to comply with the intent of this Part will be the
basis for approval or denial of the variances. The Department or local
authority will notify the applicant in writing of its decision to either grant
or deny the variance. Construction shall not begin before a variance is
requested and approved.
m)
Experimental Use Permits. If a private sewage disposal system or component is
of a new or innovative type and does not comply with the requirements of this
Part, the homeowner or private sewage contractor or manufacturer may request an
experimental use permit. A request shall be submitted in writing to the
Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health, and
construction or installation shall not begin before a permit is requested and
approved. The request shall meet the following requirements:
1) The request shall specify the type of
proposed system or component to be used and shall be accompanied by plans,
specifications and engineering data to support the system's compliance with the
general requirements under Section
905.20 and
with the effluent criteria under Section
905.110 for
surface discharges, if applicable.
2) Information (such as topographical or plat
maps) regarding the location of each installation shall be provided to the
Department.
3) The homeowner,
private sewage disposal system installation contractor or manufacturer shall
provide the Department with proof that sufficient area is available for
installation of an approved system if the experimental system fails.
4) The homeowner, private sewage disposal
system installation contractor or manufacturer shall guarantee in writing that
the experimental system will be replaced with an approved system if the
experimental system fails to perform in accordance with any of the Sections of
this Part, or with criteria established as a condition of approval of the
system.
5) The private sewage
disposal system installation contractor or the manufacturer shall notify the
homeowner, or the person obtaining the experimental use permit, of the
guarantee required by subsection (m)(4), and of the minimum standards of this
Part that shall be met, as determined through the process described in
subsections (n)(3) and (4) for developing criteria to be used in the evaluation
of the experimental system.
6) Upon
receipt of the information required by this subsection (m), the Department will
review the experimental system to determine whether the proposed system is
equal to or more stringent than applicable Sections in this Part, and will
notify the applicant, in writing, of its decision to approve or deny the
request for an experimental use permit. If the request is approved, the
Department will issue an Experimental Use Permit for each installation, up to
30 installations in the State.
n) Experimental Use Evaluation
1) A minimum of 10 experimental installations
shall be evaluated before an unconditional approval will be granted.
2) The experimental permit shall be valid for
a period of up to 2 years, during which time the Department will evaluate the
performance of the experimental system. At the end of the 2 year evaluation
period, the Department will determine whether the system will be
approved.
3) The Department, in
consultation with the experimental use permit applicant, will develop a test
method for the experimental system, which will include the following
information:
A) purpose of the
test;
B) length of the
test;
C) analytical methods to be
used;
D) wastewater
characteristics;
E) loading
requirements; and
F) test criteria,
including installation procedures, operating procedures, site evaluation
criteria, control system criteria, start-up procedures, sampling procedures,
and observation procedures.
4) The Department, in consultation with the
permit applicant, will develop performance requirements that will detail the
criteria to be used to evaluate the product to determine its ability to become
an approved private sewage disposal system. The performance requirements shall
include, but are not limited to, ponding in subsurface systems indicating that
failure of the system is imminent.
5) The experimental system will be deemed
unacceptable:
A) when sewage erupts from the
ground;
B) when effluent from the
system does not meet the criteria of Section
905.110(d);
or
C) when the experimental system
does not comply with the requirements of subsections (n)(3) and (4).
6) If the experimental system is
acceptable, it shall become an approved private sewage system. If the
experimental system is unacceptable, it shall not be approved for use as a
private sewage disposal system and shall be replaced with an approved private
sewage disposal system. The Department shall notify the applicant, in writing,
of its determination.
7) A
homeowner, private sewage contractor or manufacturer whose experimental system
has been denied approval for use as a private sewage disposal system may
request a hearing to appeal the Department's determination. The request shall
be submitted in writing within 10 days after receipt of the Department's
determination. The Department's Practice and Procedure in Administrative
Hearings rules shall apply to all proceedings conducted under this
Section.
8) When the Department has
designated an experimental system as an approved private sewage disposal
system, the Department will amend this Part to include design, construction,
operation and maintenance criteria for the newly approved system and will add
the system to its list of approved systems.
o) Garbage Grinders. When garbage grinders
are used in residential property, solids shall be retained by one of the
following methods:
1) A solids retention tank
constructed in accordance with Section
905.40 shall be
placed between the wastewater source and the septic tank to intercept solids
from the garbage grinder. This tank shall receive waste from the garbage
grinders or the kitchen wastes only. No other fixtures shall discharge into
this tank. The solids retention tank shall be at least 50% in liquid volume of
the septic tank sized for the waste from the rest of the property; however, the
minimum size tank to be used shall be 500 gallons.
2) A septic tank receiving all flows from the
property sized in accordance with Appendix A, Illustration F.
p) Whenever an existing private
sewage disposal system is repaired or replaced, that portion of the system
being repaired or replaced shall comply with all of the requirements of this
Part.
q) Maintenance of Private
Sewage Disposal Systems
1) After January 1,
2014, as a condition of applying for an installation approval required by
Section
905.190,
the signature by the property owners on the installation approval
submission/construction permit for any private sewage disposal system being
installed, repaired or renovated serves as written acknowledgement that the
property owners are aware of and accept the responsibility to service and
maintain the private sewage disposal system in accordance with the Act and this
Part.
2) The property owner or the
private sewage disposal system owner shall maintain all maintenance records on
forms provided or approved by the Department and make records available upon
request by the Department or Local Authority. These records shall be
transferred from owner to owner. Records shall be kept for the life of the
system.
3) After January 1, 2014,
private sewage disposal systems installed and permitted under Section
905.190 are
required to be maintained and serviced to ensure proper operation in accordance
with the following:
A) Septic tank to a
subsurface seepage system or septic tank followed by a sand filter discharging
to a subsurface seepage system.
i) Private
sewage disposal system septic tanks serving residential properties shall be
evaluated prior to or within 3 years after the date of installation of the
system. The system may be evaluated by the homeowner, a Private Sewage Disposal
System Installation Contractor, a licensed Environmental Health Practitioner,
an Illinois licensed Professional Engineer, a representative of the Department,
or an agent of the Department or local health department. The evaluation shall
determine whether the tanks and all of the compartments of the private sewage
disposal system have layers of scum and settled solids greater than 33% of the
liquid capacity of the tank. If the layers of scum and settled solids are
greater than 33%, the tanks and compartments shall be pumped out and
maintenance shall be performed. After the first evaluation, the system shall be
evaluated a minimum of once every 5 years. Depending on the system's use, the
tanks and compartments may need to be evaluated and pumped more
frequently.
ii) Private sewage
disposal system septic tanks serving non-residential property shall be
evaluated within 3 years after the date of installation of the system. The
system may be evaluated by a Private Sewage Disposal System Installation
Contractor, a licensed Environmental Health Practitioner, an Illinois licensed
Professional Engineer, a representative of the Department, or an agent of the
Department or local health department. The evaluation shall determine whether
the tanks and all of the compartments of the private sewage disposal system
have layers of scum and settled solids greater than 33% of the liquid capacity
of the tank. If the layers of scum and settled solids are greater than 33%, the
tanks and compartments shall be pumped out and maintenance shall be performed.
After the first evaluation, the system shall be evaluated at minimum once every
3 years. Depending on the system's use, the tanks and compartments may need to
be evaluated and pumped more frequently.
B) An aerobic treatment unit (ATU) requires
evaluation and maintenance at least once every 6 months. The system may be
evaluated by a Private Sewage Disposal System Installation Contractor, a
licensed Environmental Health Practitioner, an Illinois licensed Professional
Engineer, a representative of the Department, or an agent of the Department or
local health department. The homeowner of an ATU may conduct the inspection and
maintenance as defined within the Act, but the inspection and maintenance shall
be performed per the manufacturer's requirements to assure proper operation. If
the required inspections and maintenance are not performed, the system is in
violation of the Act and this Part.
C) Sand filters and waste stabilization ponds
with surface discharges require an evaluation to determine whether the tanks
and all of the compartments of the private sewage disposal system have layers
of scum and settled solids greater than 33% of the liquid capacity of the tank.
If the layers of scum and settled solids are greater than 33%, the tanks and
compartments shall be pumped out and maintenance shall be performed. The system
shall be evaluated a minimum of once every year. The system may be evaluated by
a Private Sewage Disposal System Installation Contractor, a licensed
Environmental Health Practitioner, an Illinois licensed Professional Engineer,
a representative of the Department, or an agent of the Department or local
health department. Depending on the system's use, the tanks and compartments
may need to be evaluated and pumped more frequently. The homeowner of a sand
filter or waste stabilization pond may conduct the inspection and maintenance
as defined within the Act, but the inspection and maintenance shall be
performed per the requirements of this Part to assure proper
operation.
D) All other private
sewage disposal systems that are not listed in subsection (q)(3)(A) through (C)
shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications or
based on a maintenance interval approved by the Department.
E) The owner of a private sewage disposal
system may submit an alternative maintenance interval to the Department for
approval. The Department will evaluate the alternative interval on a
case-by-case basis. The approval is not transferable from owner to owner.
Change in ownership or use of the private sewage disposal system will void the
approval.
4) A failure
to properly operate, maintain and have routine service conducted on a private
sewage disposal system is a violation of the Act and this Part.
r) Installation Contractor On
Site. A licensed Private Sewage Disposal System Installation Contractor shall
be present at the site during construction, installation, repair, modification
or maintenance of a private sewage disposal system. Cleaning, pumping,
disposing and hauling of waste from a private sewage disposal system shall be
done by a licensed Private Sewage Disposal System Pumping Contractor. A person
who owns and occupies a single family dwelling and who constructs, installs,
maintains, services or cleans the private sewage disposal system which serves
his/her single family residence shall not be required to be licensed under this
Section; however, such person shall comply with all other provisions of the Act
and this Part. (Section 4 of the Act)
s) Construction and Excavation. Any
construction or excavation performed by any individual other than the person
who owns and occupies a single family dwelling shall be performed by a licensed
Private Sewage Disposal System Installation Contractor or an individual under
the direct supervision of a licensed Private Sewage Disposal Installation
Contractor.
t) Alternative
Technology. The Department may issue approval for a private sewage disposal
system or a system component that has been approved by another governmental
body or an approved certification agency, based upon, but not limited to, the
review of the following information: submittals to other governmental bodies;
analysis from third party testing; testing results from other governmental
bodies; and historical use within the jurisdiction of other governmental
bodies.