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Wastewater Management The Health Department’s Environmental Health Wastewater Section is responsible for authorizing construction of new wastewater systems, repairs and/ or additions to existing wastewater systems and final approval of the wastewater system after it has been installed. Inspections and complaint investigations are performed on an as-needed basis. Procedures and forms for each approval can be downloaded below. Environmental Health is governed by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). DENR sets laws and rules concerning protection of the environment and the environment’s impact on the public’s health. Locally, Environmental Health enforces DENR’s regulations by making sure human waste is disposed of through approved wastewater systems. All residences, places of business or places of public assembly must have approved wastewater systems. The systems must be approved and meet state standards of septic collection, treatment, and disposal to render the septic matter ecologically safe to protect public health. Procedures New Construction The owner of the lot must fill out an application and prepare their property for evaluation. (Applications and Instructions for preparing the property are available at the health department. Please contact the environmental health services section of the Wilkes County Health Department for application packets.) When the application and the site preparation are complete, an Environmental Health Specialist will go to the site and perform a “site evaluation” to determine the suitability of a proposed wastewater system. Factors involved are size and location of the proposed building, (the number of bedrooms in a dwelling, the number of employees in a business, and the number of seats in a restaurant or a church), the size and location of any adjacent structures and future development, the location of any wells or existing septic systems, and the physical features of the land, such as: Shape and slope of the lot (ex. hill or depression) Soil composition: texture-causing mixtures of sand, silt, and clay and the sizes of the particles Soil structure: arrangement of the soil particles Soil wetness conditions: location of the seasonal high water table or perched water table, and as determined by observation of colors of chroma 2 or less using the Munsell Color Chart. Soil depth: amount of suitable soil before an unsuitable factor such as rock or saprolite Restrictive factors: soil that is capable of perching ground water or sewage effluent, also called “hard pans” Available space: amount of suitable soil that can be used for the septic system and repair area Following the site visit, the owner will be notified to let him/ her know if the lot will support the wastewater system. For businesses or commercial sites: if the daily design flow is greater than 3000 gallons per day, the septic system plans must be sent to the State agency for review and approval first. Changes (Planned or Unplanned) to Existing Systems Frequently this office is called to inspect possible violations of sewage disposal. These may range from kitchen or washing machine waste being piped to an open ditch, to a direct pipe from the septic tank or toilet to a ditch or yard. After making an inspection, and determining the validity of the complaint the appropriate action is taken. If the violations are not corrected in the specified amount of time, criminal warrants may be issued. If repairs or changes need to be made to an existing system an application must be filed with the Health Department. An Environmental Health Specialist will go to the site to determine what repairs or additions need to be done. Final Wastewater System Approval Following new construction or improvements, an Environmental Health Specialist will do a final inspection. The Specialist will be checking for an approved and properly installed septic tank and wastewater system, ensuring the construction meets the requirements on the permit. Download Forms All application types require the Fact Sheet and Letter of Intent if application is for a Church or Business: Fact Sheet for a Church or Business http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Fact_Sheet_for_a_Church_or_Business.pdf (47kb) Letter of Intent http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Letter_of_Intent.pdf (46kb) An application for a New Septic System or Expansion of an Existing Septic System requires the following forms: Instructions for New and Expansion http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Instructions_for_New_and_Expansion.pdf (110kb) Different Types of Wastewater Systems http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Different_Types_ of_Wastewater_Systems.pdf (70kb) Application for New and Expansion http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Application_for_Improvement_Permit_or_Authorization_to_Construct.pdf (89kb) Site Plan Example http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Site_Plan_Example.pdf (66kb) Authorization to Act as Agent http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Authorization_to_Act_as_Agent.pdf (92kb) Checklist for New and Expansion http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Checklist_for_New_and_Expansion.pdf (85kb) An application for Inspection of an Existing Septic System requires the following forms: Instructions for Inspection http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Instructions_for_Inspection.pdf (111kb) Septic Tee Inspection and Repair Procedures http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Septic_Tee_Inspection_and_Repair_Procedures.pdf (60kb) Application for Inspection of Existing System http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Application_for_Inspection_of_Existing_System.pdf (84kb) Authorization to Act as Agent http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Authorization_to_Act_as_Agent.pdf (92kb) Checklist for Inspection http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Checklist_for_Inspection.pdf (78kb) An application for Repair of an Existing Septic System requires the following forms: Instructions for Repair http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Instructions_for_Repair.pdf (103kb) Don't Sink It!!! Don't Flush It!!! http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Dont_Sink_It_Dont_Flush_It.pdf (70kb) Preventing NPS Pollution from Septic Tank Systems http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Preventing_NPS_Pollution_from_Septic_Tank_Systems.pdf (61kb) Application for Repair http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Application_for_Repair_Permit_and_Authorization_to_Construct.pdf (84kb) Homeowner's Questionairre http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Homeowners_Questionnaire_for_Repair_of_Septic_Tank_Systems.pdf (78kb) Authorization to Act as Agent http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Authorization_to_Act_as_Agent.pdf (92kb) Checklist for Repair http://www.wilkeshealth.com/prevention/forms/Checklist_for_Repair.pdf (96kb)

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