Virginia Law

A. After a satisfactory site for a discharging system has been found and a General Permit has been obtained from the Department of Environmental Quality, the applicant shall submit an application, the appropriate fee, construction plans, specifications, design criteria and calculations, and documentation that coverage under the General Permit has been obtained. The documentation shall include the cover letter and copy of the General Permit issued by the Department of Environmental Quality. If the discharge is to a wetland, the construction submittal must include documentation that a Virginia Water Protection Permit from the Department of Environmental Quality or a permit under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been obtained as needed. The purpose of the construction submittal is to demonstrate how the effluent limitations established by the SWCB and the construction, location, and performance requirements of this chapter can be met.

B. All plans for alternative discharging systems shall bear a suitable title showing the name of the owner and shall show the scale in feet, a graphical scale, the north point, date, revision dates (when applicable), and the name of the licensed professional engineer by or under whom prepared. The cover sheet and each plan sheet shall bear the same general title identifying the overall sewage disposal project and each shall be numbered. Appropriate subtitles shall be included on the individual sheets.

The plans shall be clear and legible. Plans shall be drawn to a scale that permits all necessary information to be plainly shown. The size of the plans shall be no larger than 30 inches by 48 inches. Data used should be indicated. The precise location of the proposed system shall be shown on the plans. Detailed plans shall consist of plan views, elevations, sections, and supplementary views that together with the specifications and general layouts provide the working information for the contract and construction of the work, including dimensions and relative elevations of structures, the location and outline form of equipment and components to be installed, the location and size of piping, water levels, ground elevations, and erosion control abatement facilities.

C. Complete technical specifications for the construction of the alternative discharging system and all appurtenances shall accompany the plans. The specifications accompanying construction drawings shall include, but not be limited to, all construction information not shown on the drawings, necessary to provide the installer with all detail of the design requirements as to the quality of material workmanship and fabrication of the project; type, size, strength, operating characteristics, and rating of equipment; allowable infiltration, machinery, valves, piping, and jointing of pipe; electrical apparatus, wiring, and meters; operating tools and construction materials; special filter materials such as stone, sand, gravel, or slag; miscellaneous appurtenances; chemicals when used; instructions for testing materials and equipment deemed necessary to meet design standards; and operational testing for the complete works and component units.

D. At a minimum, the construction submittal must show the following:

1. Information gathered in the site review evaluation;

2. For each system component, the plan shall note the type of component and, where applicable, the manufacturer, model number, approval, status in accordance with 12VAC5-640-432, hydraulic capacity, and treatment capacity;

3. The specific location of the property including the county tax map number (where available), a copy of the United States Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic map showing the discharge point and downstream for one mile, and directions to the property;

4. The elevation of the house sewer line where it exits the house and the elevation of the inlet and outlet ports or tees on all treatment units. Where discharges are to dry ditches or intermittent streams the site plan shall show the elevation of the discharge point, the point 500' downgrade from the discharge point and points every 50 feet between the discharge point and 500' downstream. This requirement may be met by drawing a flow diagram showing all elements listed in this section;

5. The distance between all elevation points required by 12VAC5-640-240 D 4 so that the grade and setback distances can be established;

6. If a pump is proposed, specifications must be provided that include the manufacturer, model number, and a pump curve with a system curve overlain on the pump curve;

7. The location of the 100-year flood plain. All portions of a discharging system, except for the discharge pipe and step type post aeration, if required, shall be located above the 100-year flood plain;

8. Compliance with 12VAC5-640-430 through 12VAC5-640-470; and

9. Other information as deemed appropriate by the department to verify the design.