(b) Where the quantity or quality of the sewage is such that the above system cannot be expected to function satisfactorily; for commercial, agricultural, and industrial plumbing systems; for installations where appreciable amounts of industrial or indigestible wastes are produced; for occupancies producing abnormal quantities of sewage or liquid waste; or when grease interceptors are required by other parts of this Code, the method of sewage treatment and disposal shall be first approved by the Administrative Authority and the health officer. Special sewage disposal systems for minor, limited, or temporary uses shall be first approved by the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer.

(d) Disposal systems shall be located outside of flood hazard areas.

(g) When there is insufficient lot area or improper soil conditions for adequate sewage disposal for the building or land use proposed, and both the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer so find, no building permit shall be issued and no private sewage disposal shall be permitted. Where space or soil conditions are critical, no building permit shall be issued until engineering data and test reports satisfactory to the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer have been submitted and approved.

(h) Nothing contained in this appendix shall be construed to prevent the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer from requiring compliance with higher requirements than those contained herein, where such higher requirements are essential to maintain a safe and sanitary condition.

(i) Alternate systems may be used only by special permission of the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer after being satisfied of their adequacy. This authorization may be based on extensive field and test data from conditions similar to those at the proposed site or may require such additional data as may be necessary to provide assurance that the alternate system will produce continuous and long-range results at the proposed site, at least equivalent to systems which are specifically authorized.
If demonstration systems are to be considered for installation, conditions for installation, maintenance, and monitoring at each such site shall first be established by the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer.
Aerobic Systems. Approved aerobic systems may be substituted for conventional septic tanks provided the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer are satisfied that such systems will produce results at least equivalent to septic tanks, whether their aeration systems are operating or not. (Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007: Ord. 2002-078 § 26, 2002; Ord. 99-0042 § 26, 1999.)

Subsections K3(3) and (4) of Appendix K of Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code are amended to read as follows:

The minimum effective absorption area in disposal fields in square feet (m²), and in seepage pits in square feet (m²) of sidewall, shall be predicated on the required septic tank capacity in gallons (liters) and/or estimated waste/sewage flow rate, whichever is greater, and shall conform to Table K-4 as determined for the type of soil found in the excavation, and shall be as follows:

(3) No excavation for a leach line or leach bed shall extend within ten (10) feet (3048 mm) of ground water nor to a depth where sewage may contaminate the underground water stratum.

Exception: When approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, this distance may be reduced to five (5) feet (1.5 m) from ocean water. The applicant shall supply evidence of ground water depth to the satisfaction of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(4) The minimum effective absorption area in any seepage pit shall be calculated as the excavated side wall area below the inlet exclusive of any hardpan, rock, clay, or other impervious formations. The minimum required area of porous formation shall be provided in one or more seepage pits. No excavation shall extend within ten (10) feet (3048 mm) of ground water nor to a depth where sewage may contaminate underground water stratum.

Exception: When approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, this distance may be reduced to five (5) feet (1.5 m) from ocean water.

The applicant shall supply evidence of groundwater depth to the satisfaction of the Authority Having Jurisdiction. (Ord. 2010-0055 § 7, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007: Ord. 2002-0078 § 27, 2002.)

Section K4 of Appendix K of Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code is amended to read as follows:

(a) Wherever practicable, disposal field and seepage pit sizes shall be computed from Table K-4. Seepage pit sizes shall be computed by percolation tests unless use of Table K-4 is approved by the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer.
(b) In order to determine the absorption qualities of seepage pits and of questionable soils other than those listed in Table K-4, the proposed site shall be subjected to percolation tests acceptable to the Administrative Authority and the Health Officer.
(c) When a percolation test is required, the proposed system shall have the capability to absorb a quantity of clear water in a 24-hour period equal to at least five times the liquid capacity of the proposed septic tank. No private disposal system shall be permitted to serve a building if that test shows the absorption capacity of the soil is less than 0.83 gallons per square foot (33.8 L/m2) or more than 5.12 gallons per square foot (208 L/m2) of leaching area per 24 hours. If the percolation test shows an absorption rate greater than 5.12 gallons per square foot (208 L/m2) per 24 hours, a private disposal system may be permitted if the site does not overlie ground waters protected for drinking water supplies, a minimum thickness of two (2) feet (610 mm) of the native soils below the entire proposed system is replaced by loamy sand, and the system design is based on percolation tests made in the loamy sand. (Ord. 2010-0055 § 8, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007: Ord. 2002-0078 § 28, 2002.)

Subsection K6 (e) and (h) of Appendix K of Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code is amended to read as follows:

. . .
(e) Where two (2) or more drain lines are installed, an approved distribution box of sufficient size to receive lateral lines shall be installed at the head of each disposal field. The inverts of all outlets shall be level, and the invert of the inlet shall be at least one (1) inch (25.4 mm) above the outlets. Distribution boxes shall be designed to ensure equal flow and shall be installed on a level concrete slab in natural or compacted soil.
Distribution boxes shall be coated on the inside with a bituminous coating or other approved method acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
. . .
(h) Automatic syphon or dosing tanks shall be installed when required or as permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
. . .

(Ord. 2010-0055 § 9, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 29, 2002.)

Subsection K7(b) of Appendix K of Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code is amended to read as follows:

. . .
(b) Multiple seepage pit installations shall be served through an approved distribution box or be connected in series. When connected in series, the effluent shall leave each pit through an approved vented leg fitting extending at least twelve (12) inches (305 mm) downward into such existing pit and having its outlet flow line at least six (6) inches below the inlet. All pipe between pits shall be laid with approved watertight joints. (Ord. 2010-0055 § 10, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 30, 2002.)

(a) Inspection.
(1) Applicable provisions of Section 104.0 of this Code and this appendix shall be complied with. Plans may be required per Section 102.1 of this Code.
. . .

(5) Disposal fields and seepage pits shall not be installed in uncompacted fill.
(B) Testing.
(Ord. 2010-0055 § 11, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 32, 2002.)

Subsection K11(f) of Appendix K of Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code is amended to read as follows:

. . .


(f) No excavation for an abandoned sewer or sewage facility shall be left unattended at any time unless the permittee shall have first provided a suitable and adequate barricade to assure public safety. (Ord. 2010-0055 § 12, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 33, 2002.)

Note:

When disposal fields and/or seepage pits are installed in sloping ground, the minimum horizontal distance between any part of the leaching system and ground surface shall be fifteen (15) feet (4,572 mm).

1. Including porches and steps, whether covered or uncovered, breezeways, roofed porte-cocheres, roofed patios, carports, covered walks, covered driveways and similar structures or appurtenances.

2. See also Section 313.3 of the Uniform Plumbing Code.

3. All drainage piping shall clear domestic water supply wells by at least fifty (50) feet (15240 mm). This distance may be reduced to not less than twenty-five (25) feet (7620 mm) when the drainage piping is constructed of materials approved for use within a building.

4. Plus two (2) feet (610 mm) for each additional (1) foot (305 mm) of depth in excess of one (1) foot (305 mm) below the bottom of the drain line. (See also Section K 6.)

5. See Section 720.0 Uniform Plumbing Code.

6. For parallel construction--For crossings, approval by the Health Department shall be required.

7. These minimum clear horizontal distances shall also apply between disposal field, seepage pits, and the ocean mean higher high tide line.

8. Where special hazards are involved, the distance required shall be increased as may be directed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 34, 2002.)

Extra bedroom, 150 gallons (568 liters) each.
Extra dwelling units over 10,250 gallons (946 liters) each.
Extra fixture units over 100, 25 gallons (95 liters) per fixture unit.

Note:

* Septic tank sizes in this table include sludge storage capacity and the connection of domestic food waste disposal units without further volume increase.

** Applies to mobile homes not installed in a mobile home park.

(Ord. 2010-0055 § 13, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 35, 2002.)

Because of the many variables encountered, it is not possible to set absolute values for waste/sewage flow rates for all situations. The designer should evaluate each situation and, if figures in this table need modification, they should be made with the concurrence of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2010-0055 § 14, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 36, 2002.)

(Ord. 2010-0055 § 15, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 37, 2002.)

(Ord. 2010-0055 § 16, 2010; Ord. 2007-0110 § 6 (part), 2007; Ord. 2002-0078 § 38, 2002.)


Appendix M is added to Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code to read as follows: