New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › Chapter - APPENDICES › Appendix 75-A › Section 75-A.1 - Introduction

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) This appendix
				applies to on-site wastewater treatment systems serving residential properties
				and receiving sewage without the admixture of industrial wastes or other
				wastes, as defined in Environmental Conservation Law, Section 17-0701, in
				quantities of less than 1,000 gallons per day (GPD).
(b)
Definitions
. As used in
				this appendix, the following words and terms shall have the indicated meaning:
(1)
Absorption Area.
An area
				to which wastewater is distributed for infiltration to the soil.
(2)
Absorption Field.
The
				area to which sewage is distributed for infiltration to the soil by means of a
				network of pipes.
(3)
Absorption Trench.
A long narrow area which includes a pipe
				for the distribution of septic tank effluent.
(4)
Aerobic Treatment Unit.
A system that provides for the biological decomposition of the organic portion
				of the wastewater by mechanical aeration of the wastewater.
(5)
Aggregate.
Washed gravel
				or crushed stone 3/4 - 11/2 inches in diameter.
(6)
Application Rate.
The
				rate at which septic tank effluent is applied to a subsurface absorption area,
				for design purposes, expressed in gallons per day per square foot (gpd/sq.
				ft.).
(7)
Baffle.
A flow deflecting device used in septic tanks and distribution boxes to inhibit
				the discharge of floating solids, reduce the amount of settleable solids that
				exit, and reduce the exit velocity of the wastewater.
(8)
Building Sewer.
That
				part of the drainage system which extends from the end of the building drain
				and conveys wastewater to the sewage system or sewer.
(9)
Cleanout.
An opening
				providing access to part of the sewage system.
(10)
Commissioner.
The State
				Commissioner of Health.
(11)
Curtain Drain.
A subsurface drain designed and constructed to
				control groundwater and surface water intrusion into the area of the sewage
				system.
(12)
Design
				Professional.
A person licensed or registered in the State of New York
				and authorized by the State Education Law to design the systems described in
				the standards.
(13)
Distribution Device.
A device used to uniformly distribute
				sewage to the absorption area.
(14)
Distribution Line.
The perforated pipe used to distribute
				wastewater to the absorption area.
(15)
Drinking Water.
Water
				whose physical, chemical and biological quality is or is intended to be
				satisfactory for human consumption, food preparation or culinary
				purposes.
(16)
Effective
				Grain Size.
A measure of the diameter of soil particles, when compared
				to a theoretical material having an equal transmission constant. It is the
				dimensions of that mesh screen which will permit 10 percent of the sample to
				pass and will retain 90 percent.
(17)
Enhanced Treatment.
The
				biological and physical treatment of wastewater to reduce the amount of
				biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) of wastewater
				effluent prior to distribution to an absorption area.
(18)
Enhanced Treatment Unit
				(ETU).
Pre-manufactured structures that provide enhanced treatment of
				wastewater prior to discharge to a subsurface soil absorption area.
(19)
Gas Baffle.
A device on
				the outlet of a septic tank which deflects gas bubbles away from the outlet and
				reduces the carry over of solid particles from the septic tank.
(20)
Groundwater.
Subsurface
				water occupying the saturation zone from which wells and springs are
				fed.
(21)
Heavy
				Equipment.
All equipment which would result in the compaction of the
				design absorption area at a depth equivalent to the design depth of the
				distribution lines.
(22)
Infiltration.
The flow or movement of water into the
				interstices or pores of a soil through the soil interface.
(23)
Invert.
The floor,
				bottom, or lowest point of the inside cross section of a pipe.
(24)
Local Health
				Department.
A city, county, or part-county department of health or a
				State Department of Health District Office.
(25)
Percolation.
The
				movement of water through the pores of a soil or other porous medium following
				infiltration through the soil interface.
(26)
Permeability.
A measure
				of the rate of movement of liquid through soil.
(27)
Responsible Management Entity
				(RME).
A legal entity with the requisite managerial, financial and
				technical capacity to ensure long-term management of residential wastewater
				treatment systems. RMEs may include: sewer districts, utilities, municipal
				authorities or other entities with the authority to enforce and the capacity to
				finance the long-term operation and maintenance requirements necessary to
				ensure residential wastewater treatment systems are functioning
				properly.
(28)
Scum.
The wastewater material which is less dense than water
				and floats on top of the water.
(29)
Sewage.
The combination
				of human and household waste with water which is discharged to the home
				plumbing system including the waste from a flush toilet, bath, sink, lavatory,
				dishwashing or laundry machine, or the water-carried waste from any other
				fixture, equipment or machine.
(30)
Stabilized Rate of Percolation.
The rate corresponding to two
				consecutive equal or near equal percolation test results.
(31)
Tire Derived Aggregate
				(TDA).
Aggregate manufactured from waste tires to a similar size
				distribution as conventional gravel or stone aggregate and used as alternative
				to gravel or stone aggregate in soil absorption areas.
(32)
Useable Soil.
Unless
				otherwise stated a soil with a percolation rate from one to 60 min/in with a
				compatible soil classification.
(33)
Wastewater.
Any water
				discharged from a house through a plumbing fixture to include, but not limited
				to, sewage and any water or waste from a device (e.g., water softener brine)
				which is produced in the house or property.
(34)
Watercourse.
A visible
				path through which surface water travels on a regular basis. Drainage areas
				which contain water only during and immediately after a rainstorm shall not be
				considered a watercourse.
(35)
Watershed.
An area of drainage for a body of water that serves
				as a source of drinking water and for which watershed rules and regulations
				have been adopted by the Commissioner.
(36)
Well Head Area.
The
				area surrounding a well which includes the cone of influence (where the
				drawdown of groundwater causes groundwater flow).
(37)
Wetland.
An area(s) of
				marshes or swamps which have been designated as such by the State Department of
				Environmental Conservation or other agency having jurisdiction. Marshes or
				swamps that have not been classified by an agency as a wetland shall not be
				treated for design purposes as a wetland.