NAC445A.9602. General requirements for system.

     1. A permit must not be issued for the construction or operation of an on-site sewage disposal system that is likely to pollute any waters of the State or create a public health hazard. If, in the judgment of the Division or other administrative authority, the minimum standards set forth in NAC 445A.950 to 445A.9706, inclusive, will not adequately protect the waters of the State or the public health due to circumstances unique to the site or the intended use of the system, the Division or other administrative authority shall require an on-site sewage disposal system to meet additional requirements that will provide adequate protection. Such additional requirements may include, without limitation, increased setback, increased drain field size, additional treatment or use of an alternative system. The Division or other administrative authority shall deny the construction or operation of an on-site sewage disposal system if it is determined that the construction or operation of the system will impact the waters of the State or is in an area where a moratorium on such systems has been established. The Division or other administrative authority shall provide an applicant with a written statement of the specific reasons for more stringent requirements or why a permit was denied under this subsection.

     2. The minimum land area required for an on-site sewage disposal system is 43.5 square feet per gallon of projected daily sewage flow per day, which is the equivalent of 1,000 gallons of flow per acre per day, and must include a backup area equal to the size of the effluent absorption area which must be set aside for future use. The use of an advanced wastewater treatment unit may allow for a reduction that is not more than 25 percent in land area, if the design engineer can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Division or other administrative authority that the on-site sewage disposal system will not adversely impact the local groundwater or surface water.

     3. An on-site sewage disposal system with projected daily sewage flow greater than:

     (a) Fifteen thousand gallons per day, or which receives flows other than domestic sewage, must obtain an individual permit from the Division or other administrative authority.

     (b) Five thousand gallons per day may be required by the Division or other administrative authority to obtain a groundwater mounding analysis. If required by the Division or other administrative authority, the design engineer shall submit sufficient site-specific data which predicts both the height of the water-table mound that will develop beneath the field and the rate of lateral and vertical flow away from the absorption area. The site will be deemed unsuitable if the data predicts that the water-table mound that will develop beneath the site cannot be maintained 4 feet or more below the bottom of the absorption area or if it is determined that effluent is likely to become exposed onto the ground surface.

     4. All sewage within an on-site sewage disposal system must be treated and dispersed in a manner approved in accordance with NAC 445A.950 to 445A.9706, inclusive, and cesspools are prohibited.

     5. A person shall not discharge untreated or partially treated wastewater or septic tank effluent directly or indirectly onto the ground surface or into a deep pit, mine shaft, abandoned well or other waters of the State. Such discharge constitutes a public health hazard and is prohibited.

     6. A person shall not discharge into any on-site sewage disposal system cooling water, air-conditioning water, water softener brine, swimming pool or hot tub water, groundwater, oil, hazardous materials, roof drainage or other aqueous or nonaqueous substances that are detrimental to the performance of the system or to groundwater. Commercial kitchens must provide a grease interceptor, approved by the appropriate local health authority, before discharge to the septic tank or other treatment unit. Laundromats must provide a lint interceptor before discharge into a septic tank or other treatment unit.

     7. A person shall not connect a commercial facility to an on-site sewage disposal system if the additional flow would result in a greater projected daily sewage flow than that allowed under the permit for the system, unless expressly allowed by the Division or other administrative authority.

     8. Each on-site sewage disposal system must have adequate capacity to properly treat and disperse the maximum projected daily sewage flow. The projected daily sewage flow must be determined from the table set forth in NAC 445A.9656 or from another source specified by the Division or other administrative authority.

     9. The owner of an on-site sewage disposal system shall operate and maintain the system in compliance with all permit conditions and applicable requirements set forth in NAC 445A.950 to 445A.9706, inclusive, and shall not create a public health or safety hazard or pollute the waters of the State.

     10. Any aspect of design, construction, operation or maintenance of an on-site sewage disposal system not addressed in NAC 445A.950 to 445A.9706, inclusive, must meet the most restrictive requirements in the current publication of the Uniform Plumbing Code, adopted by reference in NAC 445A.9592, and any guidelines established by the Division.

     11. All plumbing fixtures in commercial facilities and other structures from which sewage is or may be discharged must be connected to and discharge into an approved area-wide sewerage system or a permitted on-site sewage disposal system that is not a failing system.

     (Added to NAC by Environmental Comm’n by R194-07, eff. 8-26-2008)