CODE

CODE
County of
FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA

Sec. 17-8. Mandatory septic tank pump-out.

(a) All on-site sewage treatment syst= ems with a septic tank or drain field that is located within five hundred (500) feet of the seven hundred ninety-five-foot contour of the shores of Smith Mountain Lake shall be pumpe= d out at least once every five (5) years. Furthermore, in lieu of requiring proof= of septic tank pump-out every five (5) years, the county may allow owners of on-site sewage treatment systems to submit to county, documentation every f= ive (5) years, certified by a sewage handler permitted by the Virginia Departme= nt of Health, that the on-site sewage treatment system has been inspected, is functioning properly, and the tank does not need to have the solids pumped = out. The determination that the tank does not need to have the solids pumped out shall be based on an internal measurement of the solids in the tank. If the solids are approaching one-third ( 1/3) of the effluent height as measured = by a VDH certified inspector/pumper, the tank should= be pumped. Such pumping and maintenance shall be performed in a manner approve= d by the county. The owner of a septic system shall immediately upon having the on-site sewage treatment system inspected, and or, pumped certify in docume= ntation certified by a sewage handler permitted by the Virginia Department of Healt= h, that (1) The on-site sewage treatment system has been inspected, the solids found to be less than one-third ( 1/3) of the effluent height, and is functioning properly, and the tank does not need to have the solids pumped = out or (2) That such pumping and maintenance was performed. The pumping and maintenance required by this section must be performed by an individual or entity approved by the county in addition to being certified by the Virginia Department of Health.

(b) Every on-site sewage treatment sy= stems shall be kept in good repair so that the system functions as originally designed.

(c) Within six (6) months of the effe= ctive date of this section, the owner of any septic tank covered by these provisi= ons shall register with the department of planning and community development as= to the location of the tank and the last documented pump out performed on the tank. Said registration shall be accompanied by a registration fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) to be used in the administration of this progr= am.

(d) If the county administrator, or t= he official designated by he/she, determines that the owner of a septic system= has failed to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) or (b) of this sec= tion he shall notify the owner of such determination by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the address listed in the real estate tax record= s. Such notice shall also notify the owner that he/she is required to correct = the violation. If the violation is not corrected within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, the county administrator or his/her designee may correct the violation. The cost of such correction, together with an administrative handling charge of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), shal= l be billed to the owner; and if not paid within thirty (30) days, the cost of correction and any administrative charge shall be added to and collected in= the same manner as the real estate tax on such property. In addition, the county administrator or his/her designee shall certify to the clerk of the circuit court of the county that the cost and charge is unpaid and the clerk shall record such unpaid cost and charge in the judgment lien docket book.

(e) No person shall connect a storm d= rain to an on-site sewage treatment system. No person shall discharge unpolluted storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage= or other unpolluted drainage into an on-site sewage treatment system.

(Res. No. 18-02-2006, 2-21-06, ef= f. 7-1-06)