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Comprehensive Plan Sanitary Sewer. Sub -Element During the wet. season;nwAths-ef June through October;'the season ef ,..,,...:est _ inf '.', the water table in much of the county ffmy his less than 24-10inches below this ktfilt acing su the existing .natural grade. Therefore, fill material is often placed on top of existing soil creating a mound to achieve the required 24 inch separation between the bottom of the drainfield and the wet season water table. This fill material; which provides the depth necessary ,for the proper operation of the septic tank system, erects -sand �#at puri€y the ,iqt :a., dis6hak- g a the 0ai el typically contains slightly limited soils . 'that treat effluent discharged into the drainfield. The DOH. has determined that the average life of a residential septic system . (including drainfield) is 19 years and that of a commercial system is 10 years. Routine maintenance and proper use can extend the life of a septic system. When septic systems are repaired: the DOH allows for a drainfield replacement according .to the rules .in place at .the time of original construction: Most repairs for parcels developed prior to 1983 are permitted with only a 6 inch separation between the bottom of the drainfield and the wet season water table rather than 24 inches. In, low density areas with adequate soils where septic tanks systems are appropriate, there can still. be. problems if septic tanks systems are not maintained. Generally, septic tanks need to be pumped every 3 to 5 years. While there are private septic tank service companies which etpumpseptic tanks and haul away septage, it is the septic tank owner who is responsible for ,initiating maintenance activities,. Improperly maintainedsepticsystems can cause a system failure and a sanitary nuisance often reauirini a repair of:the septic system. Besides soil and groundwater conditions, adverse impacts may arise tke_, a -due to inadequate separation: between septic tank system drainfields and wells or waterbodies. Without adequate separation, the potential of contamination from septic tattEs7systems seeping into wells or waterbodies is greatly increased. The DOH requires a minimum separation of 75 feet between wells and septic aeks systems for parcels recorded or:platted after 1972. Oeuer-al�y, theThe DOHS requires that -new. construction lets -utilizing a well and septic -tank systems to be a minimum of %2 acre (approximately 20,00)--_21 780 square feet). If a lot is served by a public water system, a septic tank] sy tem may be used. even if the lot is as small as '/4 acre, (approximately W,000 10,890 square feet). There are many areas of the county in which existing subdivisions contain lots which do not meet the minimum acreage requirements. Nevertheless,ap rcels recorded or Dlatted .Drior to 1972. that are smaller than 21:780. and 10,890 sauare feet are Grandfathered in and are beina developed and repaired based on lot flow allowances Oesideftfial Community Development Department Indian River County 21 Appendix A