Athens City Code

1. (1) Availability.
   1. (a) Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of ACC 18-4(4), the building sewer shall be connected, until the public sewer is available, to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of the applicable local and state regulations.
   2. (b) The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the city. When it becomes necessary to clean septic tanks, the sludge may be disposed of only according to applicable federal and state regulations.
   3. (c) Where a public sewer becomes available, sewer use charges may be billed by the Athens Utilities Board and the building sewer shall be connected to the sewer within 60 days after date of official notice from the city to do so.
2. (2) Requirements.
   1. (a) The type, capacity, location and layout of a private sewerage disposal system shall comply with all local or state regulations. Before commencement of construction of a private sewerage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written approval from the county health department. The application for such approval shall be made on a form furnished by the county health department, which the applicant shall supplement with any plans or specifications that the department has requested.
   2. (b) Approval for a private sewerage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the local and state authorities, who shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction.
   3. (c) The type, capacity, location, and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the state department of environment and conservation and the county health department. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to waters of the state.
   4. (d) No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with any additional or future requirements that may be imposed by the city and the county health department.

(Code 1972, § 13-105; Code 1995, § 18-105; Ord. No. 972, 11-18-2008)