ABANDONED WASTEWATER SYSTEM. Any onsite wastewater system that has been disconnected from the pipes, building or structure it served, and/or is no longer being used to treat sewage.

ABSORPTION BED. A subsurface absorption system consisting of excavations wider than 3 feet each, containing a minimum depth of 12 inches of clean aggregate, together with a system of absorption lines through which effluent may seep or leach into the surrounding soils.

ABSORPTION FIELD. The soil or soils through which wastewater from absorption system percolates.

ABSORPTION LINE. A perforated or open-jointed pipe that is installed in a covered trench or bed for the purpose of distributing wastewater to the surrounding soils through the perforations or the spaces between sections of the pipe.

ABSORPTION SYSTEM. A system that utilizes absorption lines in trenches or beds to distribute wastewater to adjacent soils in an absorption field. This may also include gravelless or chamber systems as approved by the Department.

ABSORPTION TRENCH. A long, narrow excavation made in soil for the placement of an absorption line.

ADEQUATE WASTEWATER TREATMENT. The dispersal of wastewater in a manner that does not cause pollution of ground or surface waters or create a public health problem or odors.

ALTERATION. Any change in the physical configuration of an existing onsite wastewater system, or any of its component parts, including replacement, modification, addition or removal of system components such that there will be a change in the location, design, construction, installation, size, capacity, type or number of one or more components. The term ALTER shall be construed accordingly.

ALTERNATIVE ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. An onsite wastewater treatment system, other than a conventional septic tank and absorption system, designed to provide adequate wastewater treatment.

AQUIFER. A geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that is capable of yielding potentially usable quantities of potable water from wells or springs.

AQUIFER RECHARGE AREA. The area in which water enters the formation by surface infiltration.

BEDROCK. The layer of parent material composed of consolidated or cemented rock particles, or of interlocking mineral crystals, which is either in a weathered or unweathered condition.

BUILDING OR FACILITY SEWER. That part of a drainage system extending from a building or facility, which conveys wastes discharged from the building or facility to a public or individual wastewater treatment system.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE. A document written after a compliance observation, certifying that an onsite wastewater system is in compliance with applicable requirements at the time of the observation.

CESSPOOL. A covered underground receptacle, which receives untreated domestic wastewater and permits the untreated domestic wastewater to seep into the surrounding soils.

CHAMBER SYSTEM. A system of chambers, each of which is a molded, polyolefin plastic, arch-shaped, hollow structure, with an exposed bottom area, a solid top and a louvered sidewall for infiltration of effluent into adjoining bottom and sidewall soil areas. CHAMBER SYSTEMS may be of different sizes and configurations to obtain desired surface areas.

CHEMICAL TOILET. A toilet constructed to accept and discharge human excreta into a deodorizing and liquefying chemical solution contained in a watertight tank, without the use of water as a transport medium.

CISTERN. A watertight underground receptacle of nontoxic material designed for the storage of potable water.

COMPLIANCE OBSERVATION. An evaluation, investigation, observation, or other such process for the purpose of issuing a certificate of compliance or notice of noncompliance.

CONVENTIONAL INDIVIDUAL ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. An individual onsite wastewater system composed of a septic tank followed by an absorption system.

DEPARTMENT. The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DIRECTOR. The Rapid City Public Works Director, or a duly authorized representative.

DISPERSAL SYSTEM. A system for the distribution of effluent by such methods as transpiration, evapotranspiration, or soil absorption.

DISTRIBUTION BOX. A watertight chamber below the outlet level of a septic tank or pretreatment unit from which effluent is distributed evenly to various portions of an absorption system.

DOMESTIC WASTEWATER. Wastewater, not including stormwater, normally discharged from or similar to that discharged from plumbing fixtures, appliances and devices, including but not limited to, sanitary, bath, laundry, dishwashing, garbage disposal and cleaning wastewaters.

DOSING CHAMBER. A tank that stores pretreated wastewater for periodic pressurized discharges to mounds or absorption fields.

DWELLING. Any building or place used or intended to be used by human occupants as a single-family or multi-family residence producing sewage.

EFFLUENT. The partially or completely treated liquid waste discharge from a wastewater treatment system.

EFFLUENT FILTER. An effluent treatment device installed on the outlet of a septic tank that filters solid materials and prevents the passage of suspended matter from sewage tanks before discharge to a soil treatment system.

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION SYSTEM. An imperviously lined dispersal system that uses a process of evaporation and plant transpiration to withdraw water from the soil.

EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMS. A new device or design that needs further testing to provide information before approval.

FAILURE. A condition existing within an onsite wastewater system, which prohibits the system from functioning in a sanitary manner, and which results in the discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater onto ground surface, into surface water, into ground water, or which results in the failure of building plumbing to discharge properly.

FLOODPLAIN. The area covered by a 100-year flood event along lakes, rivers, and streams as published in technical studies by local, state, and federal agencies, or in the absence of these studies, estimates of the 100-year flood boundaries and elevations as developed pursuant to a local unit of government’s floodplain or related land use regulations.

GEOTEXTILE FABRIC. A woven or spun-bonded sheet material used to impede or prevent the movement of sand, silt and clay through the filter material.

GRAVELLESS SYSTEM. The use of approved perforated 8-inch or 10-inch diameter, filter-wrapped, plastic pipe, in lieu of 4-inch pipe and gravel, in subsurface fields and serial distribution systems.

GRAYWATER. The wastewater generated by water-using fixtures and appliances, which do not discharge garbage or urinary or fecal wastes.

GRAYWATER SYSTEM. A wastewater system designed to recycle or treat wastes from sinks, lavatories, tubs, showers, washers, or other devices, which do not discharge garbage or urinary or fecal wastes.

GREASE INTERCEPTOR. An indoor/outdoor unit similar to a septic tank, used to remove, by flotation, excessive amounts of grease and oils, which may interfere with subsequent treatment of the waste.

GROUND WATER TABLE. The upper surface of a ground water aquifer in the zone of saturation of a geologic formation.

HOLDING TANK. A watertight, covered receptacle, designed to receive and store the discharge of domestic wastewater, and accessible for periodic removal of its contents.

IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY. Situations with the potential to immediately and adversely affect or threaten public health or safety. At a minimum, this includes ground surface or surface water discharges, and sewage backup into a dwelling or other establishment.

INCINERATOR TOILET. A waste disposal system that uses natural gas, propane, or electricity to incinerate wastes.

INDIVIDUAL ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. A system or facility for treating, neutralizing, stabilizing or dispersing wastes from 1 source.

INSTALLATION. To establish or construct an effluent disposal system in an indicated place.

INVERT ELEVATION. The lowest portion of the inside of any horizontal pipe.

LIQUID WASTE HAULER. One who operates a vehicle equipped to pump out liquid waste containers, hold liquid waste in a tank on the vehicle, and transport the waste to a final disposal site.

LOCAL ORDINANCES. All ordinances such as zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, municipal code, and either the city or county onsite wastewater system ordinances.

MAINTENANCE. The regular cleaning of any leaching chamber, septic tank, building sewer, distribution lines or any other component of an onsite wastewater system for the purpose of removing any accumulated liquid, scum and/or sludge. MAINTENANCE shall also be held to include any regularly required servicing or replacement of any related mechanical, electrical or other equipment.

MOBILE HOME PARK. A parcel of land developed for subsequent rental or lease for placement of 2 or more mobile homes.

NO-DAK SYSTEM OR MOUND SYSTEM. A shallow wastewater dispersal system constructed partially aboveground, which uses plant transpiration and soil absorption for final treatment of wastes.

ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. A sewage treatment system, or part thereof, serving a dwelling, or other establishment, or group thereof, and using sewage tanks followed by soil treatment and disposal, or using advanced treatment devices that discharge below final grade. ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS include holding tanks, subsurface sand chambers, “No-dak” systems, and vault privies.

ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION PERMIT. A permit issued by the Director required for any installation, repair, alteration or upgrade of an onsite wastewater system prior to the start of construction.

ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM OBSERVER. A person employed by or approved by the city that is responsible for the observation of existing onsite wastewater systems to establish compliance.

ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM INSTALLER. Any person, certified by the state, who is directly responsible for the supervision of the alteration, repair, construction and installation of an individual or small onsite wastewater system.

ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM OPERATING PERMIT. The permit issued by the Director authorizing the use of, and requiring the proper operation and maintenance of, an onsite wastewater system.

OWNER. A person who is the owner of record of the land on which an individual or small onsite wastewater system is to be, or has been designed, constructed, installed, altered, extended or operated.

PARALLEL DISTRIBUTION. Refers to distribution in a system with more than 1 line, where there are equal amounts of flow in the lines at the same time.

PERCOLATION TEST. A soil test at the depth of a proposed absorption system to determine the water absorption capability of the soil, the results of which are normally expressed as the rate at which 1 inch of water is absorbed over an interval of time.

PIT PRIVY. A structure that allows for disposal of human excreta into a pit in the soil, where a portion of the waste is dispersed by seepage into the surrounding soil.

PLATTED. A parcel of land that has been plotted and filed with a local governmental authority.

POTABLE WATER. Water that does not contain objectionable pollution, contamination, minerals, or infective agents, and is considered satisfactory for domestic consumption.

PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM. A water supply system that provides water for human consumption to fewer than 15 service connections, that regularly serves fewer than 25 individuals, or that serves 25 or more individuals for no more than 60 days per year.

PUBLIC WASTEWATER SYSTEM. A facility for the treatment of wastewater owned by the state or any of its political subdivisions.

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM. A water supply system that provides water for human consumption to 15 or more service connections, or that serves an average of 25 or more individuals for 60 or more days per year.

RECEPTACLE. A tank, basin, cistern, grease interceptor, or reservoir for the containment of water or wastes or both.

REPAIR. To fix, refurbish or replace 1 or more components of an individual subsurface sewage disposal system in a manner that will restore, preserve and not change the original location, design, construction and installation, size, capacity, type, or number of the components of the system.

REPLACEMENT. The substitution of a properly working component for a component that is no longer in proper working condition.

RESERVE AREA. An area of land with demonstrated capacity for subsurface sewage disposal upon which no permanent structure shall be constructed, and which is intended for replacement of the principal system should it fail.

SAND. A soil texture composed by weight of at least 25% of very coarse, coarse, and medium sand varying in size from 2.0 to 0.25 millimeters, less than 50% of fine or very fine sand varying in size from 0.25 to 0.05 millimeters, and no more than 10% of particles smaller than 0.05 millimeters.

SEASONAL HIGH GROUND WATER TABLE. The highest elevation or level to which a soil is saturated for a week or more, as observed as a free water surface in an unlined hole, or to which it has been previously saturated as indicated by mottling, whichever is higher.

SECRETARY. The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the Secretary’s authorized representative.

SEDIMENTATION TANK. A watertight basin or tank in which liquid waste containing settleable solids and suspended matter are retained for removal by gravity.

SEEPAGE PIT. A subsurface absorption device, which consists of a covered excavation no deeper than 4 feet, with open-jointed walls through which effluent, after primary treatment, may seep or leach into the surrounding soil.

SENSITIVE REGIONAL AREAS. Local areas where 1 or more of the following features exist:

SEPTAGE. The liquid and solid material pumped from a septic tank, cesspool, or similar domestic sewage treatment system, or a holding tank when the system is cleaned or maintained.

SEPTIC TANK. A watertight, accessible, covered receptacle that receives domestic wastewater from a building or facility sewer, allows solids to settle from the liquid, provides digestion for organic solids, stores digested solids through a period of retention, and allows clarified liquid to discharge to additional treatment works for final treatment and dispersal.

SERIAL DISTRIBUTION. An arrangement of absorption trenches or beds, which retains effluent in each component so as to utilize the total effective absorption area of each component before allowing the effluent to flow into a succeeding component.

SEWAGE. The waste produced by toilets, bathing, laundry, or culinary operations, or the floor drains associated with these sources. Household cleaners in sewage are restricted to amounts normally used for domestic purposes.

SMALL ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. A system or device for the collection, storage, treatment, neutralization, stabilization, and dispersal of wastewater from dwellings or other facilities that serve 30 or fewer individuals or produce 7,500 gallons or less of wastewater per day.

SOIL OBSERVATION PIT. An excavation of an open pit of sufficient size and depth made for the purpose of exposing a soil profile, which is to be described.

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AREA. The area delineated by the state for a public water supply, whether the source is ground water or surface water or both, as part of the state Source Water Assessment Program approved by the Environmental Protection Agency under § 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

STATE. The State of South Dakota.

SUITABLE SOIL. A soil that acts as an effective filter in the removal of organisms and suspended solids before the effluent reaches bedrock or ground water.

UNCONVENTIONAL SYSTEM. A system or device, such as a compost unit, vault privy, or chemical toilet, which receives and treats human excreta without the use of water as a transport medium.

UNDERGROUND DISPERSAL. A subsurface infiltration system for the absorption of wastewater by adjacent soils and vegetation.

UPGRADE. The modification of 1 or more components of an onsite wastewater system, or the design and construction of a new onsite wastewater system, which is intended to bring a nonconforming system into conformance with all local ordinances to the maximum feasible extent. An emergency repair is not an upgrade.

VAULT PRIVY. A structure that allows for disposal of human excreta into a watertight vault, provides privacy and shelter, and prevents access to the excreta by flies, rodents and other animals.

WATER-CARRIAGE WASTEWATER SYSTEM. A system that transports wastes from buildings or other facilities hydraulically by the use of water in a piping system.