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A. General

Proposed additions to public systems shall be coordinated with the existing systems and shall satisfy the design and construction standards and specifications of the utility providing the services. Where not otherwise prohibited by local ordinance, community systems, or systems designed to serve more than one user independent of public systems, shall satisfy the standards of the applicable agency responsible for approval.

B. Public

Installation of improvements which are extensions to existing public systems shall be approved by the public utility providing the services. Sanitary sewer systems may be extended into the Rural Tier in the following instances:

1. In the County jurisdiction, and within the City jurisdiction where no State approval has been issued, approval of a major special use permit pursuant to Sec. 3.9, Special Use Permit, provided that:

a. Pump stations are equipped with battery-backed alarm systems connected by an automatic dialer to a 24-hour maintenance service; and

b. Provision is made for connection to a portable generator.

2. To serve an existing use or structure for which a health hazard has been documented by the County health department or the State of North Carolina.

The additional requirements of paragraph 8.7.2, General Requirements shall apply in watershed protection overlays.

C. Community

1. In the County jurisdiction, community systems designed to serve more than one user independent of public systems may be approved through the issuance of a major special use permit pursuant to Sec. 3.9, provided that:

a. The system will serve a development that is approved as a conservation subdivision pursuant to paragraph 6.2.4, Conservation Subdivision, or that satisfies the design requirements for such subdivisions;

b. The facilities are licensed or permitted by the State of North Carolina, and the system operator is licensed by the State of North Carolina. The licensed operator shall inspect the plant daily with the exception of weekends and holidays to determine that the plant is operating adequately. All monthly reports that are sent to the State of North Carolina shall be copied to the Durham Environmental Health Director;

c. The facilities shall be nondischarge, meet North Carolina reuse standards, including, but not limited to, separating liquids and solids, and have permanent standby power sufficient to ensure normal operation in the event of a power failure;

d. The developer of the system (if a private system) provides a performance bond equal to at least 50% of the cost of the replacement of the system or $100,000, whichever is greater, in the event that the operator of the system ceases to provide service or maintenance;

e. The developer (or his/her successor) shall provide and maintain catastrophic property insurance to cover 100% of the replacement cost of the system; and

f. The approving authority makes a finding that the wastewater system proposed by the developer provides improved treatment over what would be provided through the use of an on-site ground absorption or spray irrigation wastewater treatment system.

g. To assist the approving authority in making this finding, the applicant shall provide the approving authority with certifications from the State regarding the performance of the proposed facility relative to on-site systems. If such certification is not available or cannot be provided in a timely fashion, the applicant shall pay for a third-party expert technical review of the proposed system to ensure that it will meet this standard.

2. Within the City jurisdiction, community systems as described in paragraph 1, above, shall be allowed if approved by the State of North Carolina.