Sec. 21-359. - Inspection records and reports.

(a)

The WWMD shall develop standard OWTS inspection forms for the first maintenance (baseline) inspection and subsequent maintenance inspections, and the wastewater management office shall keep the completed inspection forms on file or each OWTS inspected. Completed forms shall be made available, upon request, to RIDEM and the property owner. The owner of the real property shall provide the WWMD manager, and, if applicable, the private town-approved OWTS inspector with any pertinent information that the owner has regarding the use, age, location, maintenance history, design, plat and lot number, RIDEM and/or CRMC permit number, engineering plans, etc. of the OWTS. The completed inspection form shall be sent to the owner and the WWMD office within ten (10) days of inspection.

(b)

The completed inspection forms shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:

(1)

Owner's name(s);

(2)

Street address and/or utility pole number;

(3)

Plat and lot;

(4)

Owner's phone number;

(5)

Occupancy (seasonal or year round);

(6)

Number of occupants;

(7)

Owner's agent contact number (if applicable);

(8)

Person(s) (and title) conducting the inspection;

(9)

Date when each OWTS, RIDEM approved system, or cesspool has been inspected and pumped;

(10)

Results of the inspection;

(11)

Date when OWTS, RIDEM approved system, or cesspool is due to be inspected or pumped again;

(12)

Maintenance requirements for the OWTS, RIDEM approved system, or cesspool;

(13)

Physical condition of inlet and outlet baffles, filters and risers;

(14)

Presence of garbage disposal device;

(15)

Septic tank levels;

(16)

Surface breakout onto the ground surface;

(17)

Lush plant growth over and near the septic tank or leach field;

(18)

Odor;

(19)

Presence of trees or shrubs within ten (10) feet of the leach field;

(20)

Presence of impervious areas over the leach field or septic tank;

(21)

Discharge of septage onto the surface of the ground or into any surface water;

(22)

Site conditions such as new construction, new living un its, in-law apartment and encroachments onto the leach field area;

(23)

Any recommendations of the inspector to bring the [OWTS], RIDEM approved system, or cesspool into compliance with the RIDEM OWTS rules and this article, or to help extend the useful life of the system.

And as part of the first maintenance (baseline) inspection: (24)

Type of [OWTS], RIDEM approved system, or cesspool and disposal system;

(25)

Approximate size of the septic tank;

(26)

Approximate size and location of the disposal system (leach field, etc);

(27)

Recommendation for timing of pumpouts, next routine inspection and any special inspections.

(c)

The WWMD manager will send a copy of the completed inspection form to the owner on record for the property in the tax assessor's office.

(d)

Inspection reports. A written report detailing the results of the inspection shall be kept on file with the WWMD and sent to the homeowner. The report is sent to the homeowner for his/her review and to allow for data collected during inspection to be updated/revised, based on submittal of convincing evidence. If the inspection reveals a malfunctioning OWTS, RIDEM approved system, or cesspool, the owner shall be given a written notice of the WWMD manager's findings. A copy of said report shall also be sent to the [RIDEM], Division of Groundwater and OWTS. The owner shall be given sixty (60) days to contact the [RIDEM] and apply for a permit to repair or replace the system, if necessary. A time limit to complete any needed repairs or alterations shall be established on a case-by-case basis.

(e)

If an inspection reveals that an OWTS needs immediate pumping to avert a potential endangerment to the environment and/or the public health, the WWMD shall send the owner or the owner's agent a written notice and a copy of the inspection report allowing the owner, or the owner's agent, five (5) days to pump the system and to present evidence of such pumping to the WWMD manager in the form of a receipt from a licensed/permitted septage hauler.

(f)

If an inspection reveals that an OWTS presents an imminent endangerment to the environment, and/or the public's heath, the WWMD manager shall attempt to contact the owner or the owner's agent to have the system pumped within twelve (12) hours, or if deemed necessary by the WWMD or his/her designee, and to present evidence of such pumping to the WWMD manager in the form of a receipt from a licensed/permitted septage transporter. If there is no satisfactory response or action by the property owner, the WMMD is hereby authorized to enter private property without the consent of the property owner, and to effectuate a pumpout and/or immediate repairs to the system, at the owner's expense.

(Ord. of 3-8-2011, § 9)