(1) A+4. Refers to the “A” soil horizon which is a layer of mineral soil or soil material approximately parallel to the land surface and typically at ground surface and four (4) inches of soil below the “A” horizon that is free of any redoximorphic soil features that would be indicative of soil saturation and consist of soil diagnostic characteristics indicative of “B”, “C” or “E” horizons. For purposes of this ordinance this is the soil criteria used for all lands being subdivided.

(2) ATU. An abbreviation for “aerobic treatment unit”.

(3) Aerobic Treatment Unit. A general category of treatment components that utilizes the principle of oxidation of biological decomposition for wastewater treatment. (Same as an aerobic treatment component).

(4) Anaerobic Treatment Tank. Refers to a general category of treatment components that conduct anaerobic decomposition of sewage in a tank or vessel. Septic tanks, grease traps, trash tanks are all types of these tanks.

(5) At-Surface System. Refers to a general category of POWTS that have the dispersal cells constructed on the soil surface (ie; mound and at-grade systems).

(6) Bedroom. A room used to sleep in, containing a closet for storage of clothing and a doorway with a door for privacy.

(7) Board. Refers to the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors.

(8) Cluster System. General category for a POWTS that serves several buildings on a common private sewage system. The system will have in-common system components and possibly individual system components. Kenosha County requires systems of this type to be owned and operated by a municipality or a municipal sanitary district. Also referred to as a community system.

(9) Contaminant Load. Means concentrations of substances in the wastewater stream which are affected by the sources of the waste and wastewater.

(10) Contingency Plan. Means the portion of an approved POWTS plan often included in the individual management plan for the owner informing them of their potential options and responsibilities in the event the POWTS fails. The plan is drafted by the designer of the POWTS.

(11) Conventional Private Sewage System. A general term referring to a POWTS that has an in-ground soil dispersal cell.

(12) County. Refers to the Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development, Division of County Development.

(13) Daily Calculated Wastewater Flow. A wastewater flow calculation determined by using specified tables found in Comm. 83, Wisconsin Administrative Code and choosing the appropriate units and estimated wastewater flow. The summation of these values will be a calculated flow for a single days use in a POWTS.

(14) Department. Refers to the State of Wisconsin, Department of Commerce.

(15) Domestic Sewage. Same as domestic wastewater. Wastewater discharged from plumbing fixtures, appliances and devices including but not limited to sanitary, bath, laundry, dishwashing, garbage disposal and cleaning wastewaters. Typically containing waste from human activities.

(16) Effluent. Any untreated or partially treated domestic wastewater which includes the discharge from any treatment tank or soil dispersal component.

(17) Failing Non-Plumbing Sanitation System. A non-plumbing sanitation system which is causing or resulting in the discharges of human waste or excrement; into surface water or groundwater including zones of soil saturation, zones of bedrock, surface of the ground or causing a human health hazard.

(18) Failing Private Sewage Systems or POWTS. As specified and defined in subsection 145.245(4) Wisconsin Statutes. It also includes a holding tank discharging sewage to the ground surface or subsurface, including intentional discharges and discharges caused by neglect.

(19) Human Habitation. The act of occupying a structure such as a dwelling or sleeping place, whether intermittently or as a principal residence. This can also mean the act of using any structure by a human as a place of business, employment or for recreational purposes.

(20) Human Health Hazard. Means a substance, activity or condition that is known to have the potential to cause acute chronic illness or death if exposure to the substance, activity or condition is not abated.

(21) Hydric Soil. Means a soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper horizons. The concept of hydric soils includes soils developed under sufficiently wet conditions to support the growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation. Soils that are sufficiently wet because of artificial measures are included in the concept of hydric soils. Also, soils in which the hydrology has been artificially modified are hydric if the soil, in an unaltered state, was hydric. For purposes of this ordinance, soils that meet at least an A+4 criteria during a soil and site evaluation procedure shall not be considered hydric soils. *Note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Services, Section II Technical Guide - Hydric Soil Interpretations list of hydric soils as a guideline listing soil types that may meet hydric soil conditions.

(22) In-Common System. A POWTS that serves more than one structure typically on the same parcel of land. Some or all system components may be shared.

(23) In-Situ Soil. Soil that is naturally formed or deposited in its present location or position and includes soil material that has been plowed using normal tillage implements and depositional material resulting from erosion or flooding. Also referred to as “native soil”.

(24) Issuing Agent. The Kenosha County Sanitarians employed with the Department of Planning and Development shall act as the Sanitary Permit issuing agent for the State of Wisconsin, Department of Commerce and is hereby assigned the duties of administrating the private on-site wastewater treatment system program for the County.

(25) Limiting Factor. Refers to the determined depth to seasonal high groundwater using redoximorphic soil features or to bedrock or to visible groundwater.

(26) Management Plan. A written document prepared by the licensed system designer or plumber for a particular POWTS to be included in all designs of all systems. The intent is to provide critical information for the system owner regarding the operations, performance, maintenance, monitoring, servicing, shutdown and abandonment of a particular POWTS.

(27) Mechanical Aerobic Treatment Unit. A general category of POWTS treatment component that utilizes a pump or aerator powered by electricity that utilizes the principle of oxidation of biological decomposition for wastewater treatment.

(28) Modification in Wastewater Flow or Contaminant Load. A modification in wastewater flow or contaminant load in wastewater shall be considered to occur when:

(29) New Development/New Construction. A property without an existing habitable dwelling.

(30) Non-Plumbing Sanitation System. Sanitation systems with no water carriage devices that are within the general scope of Comm. 91 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. These devices may be alternatives to water carried waste plumbing fixtures and drain systems and are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Planning and Development, Division of County Development. These devices include but are not limited to: incinerating and composting toilets, privies and portable restrooms.

(31) Off-Site or Off-Lot System. A general category of a POWTS that has some or all of the components of a system serving a particular structure located on an abutting property that is owned by another property owner. The system is located via sanitary easements that have been recorded with the Register of Deeds to insure proper use access and maintenance of the system.

(32) On-Site Renovation/Treatment. Chemical, biological or physical remediation or treatment done on an existing POWTS to restore normal performance of a private sewage system. Typically conducted to reverse the aging process of a dispersal cell by reduction of the organic clogging mat, thus improving soil permeability. May also be a process that attempts to improve soil voids thus improving permeability.

(33) Outlet Baffle Filter. A device approved by the Department, placed on the outlet of an anaerobic treatment tank used to filter effluent and trap suspended solids larger than one-eighth (1/8) of an inch in size. Must be maintained and cleaned at periodic intervals by the homeowner.

(34) Pit Privy. An enclosed non-portable toilet into which non-water carried human wastes are deposited to a subsurface storage chamber that is not watertight.

(35) Plumber. A general term referring to a person licensed by the State of Wisconsin to perform work on plumbing systems. Some plumbers may be restricted to work on only particular plumbing systems.

(36) Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Or POWTS. A sewage treatment and disposal system serving a single structure with a septic tank and soil absorption field located on the same parcel as the structure. This term also means an alternative sewage system approved by the Department including a substitute for the anaerobic treatment tank or dispersal cell, a holding tank, a system serving more than one (1) structure or a system located on a different parcel than the structure. A POWTS may be owned by the property owner or by a special purpose district.

(37) Private Sewage System. A general term for a private on-site wastewater treatment system (POWTS).

(38) Public Buildings. Any structure, including exterior parts of such building such as a porch, exterior platform or steps providing means of ingress or egress, used in whole or in part as a place or resort, assemblage, lodging, trade, traffic, occupancy or use by the public or by three (3) or more tenants.

(39) Redoximorphic Feature. A feature found in the soil matrix by the processes of reduction, translocation and oxidation of iron and manganese compounds in seasonally saturated soil.

(40) Sanitarian. The Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development, Environmental Sanitarian and the Assistant Environmental Sanitarian operating under the jurisdiction of the County and duly licensed by the State of Wisconsin and responsible for enforcement of this chapter.

(41) Sanitary Permit. A permit issued by the Department of Planning and Development, Division of County Development as issuing agent or the State of Wisconsin, Department of Commerce for the installation of a POWTS. For purposes of the ordinance this term could mean a County Sanitary Permit, a State Sanitary Permit or both.

(42) Servicing. The cleaning, removing, hauling and disposing of the scum, liquid, sludge or other wastes from any anaerobic or aerobic treatment tank, seepage pit, grease trap, holding tank, vault privy, portable restroom or any other non-plumbing system.

(43) Soil Dispersal Area. A dimensional area on the landscape, defined by a soil and site evaluation for the purpose of locating a POWTS. Same as a “suitable soil area”.

(44) Soil Mapping Unit. A particular soil type with an abbreviated identification nomenclature that identifies soil series, general land slope and erosion class delineated on soil survey maps prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service.

(45) Soil and Site Evaluation. The procedure specified in Comm. 85 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code conducted by a person properly licensed by the Department of Commerce. The field data collected is recorded on a report form provided by the Department for the purpose of determining type, design and installation of a POWTS to serve a structure.

(46) Soil Tester. A general term for a person licensed by the State of Wisconsin, Department of Commerce to conduct a soil and site evaluation and file a report to determine suitability for a private on-site wastewater treatment system.

(47) State. For purposes of this ordinance, a general reference to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

(48) Structure. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires a location in or on the premises or any other attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground which includes but is not limited to objects such as; buildings, factories, sheds, cabins, mobile homes, gas and liquid storage tanks, bridges, culverts, decks, satellite dishes, cell towers and swimming pools. Also included are objects of personal property that may have been designed as transportable or as a vehicle, but stand in a seasonal or permanent location for storage or intermittent human habitation.

Such incidental structures may include but are not limited to: truck campers, travel trailers, park or model units, busses, motor homes or construction trailers.

(49) Suitable Soil Area. An area on the landscape, bracketed by a minimum of three (3) soil and site evaluation test borings that identify an area that meets the minimum criteria for a particular private sewage system type or types.

(50) System. A general term used in this ordinance to refer to a private on-site wastewater treatment system or a non-plumbing sanitation system.

(51) Vault Privy. An enclosed non-portable toilet into which non-water carried human wastes are deposited to a subsurface storage chamber that is watertight. [Code § 15.01-10.]