§ 4.84.110. Prohibition of holding tanks; portable toilets; exemptions.

a.

The installation of holding tanks is prohibited in San Mateo County. Exemption to this prohibition may be granted by Environmental Health if it is necessary to use a holding tank to abate a nuisance or health hazard caused by an OWTS failure, while that OWTS is properly repaired. Such exemption shall only be granted for a limited time as determined by Environmental Health. This prohibition does not apply to holding tanks installed within the boundaries of a sanitary district that has jurisdiction and responsibility for the maintenance and repair of said holding tanks.

b.

Where exemptions are granted and holding tank(s) are approved, an operating permit issued by Environmental Health consistent with section 4.84.155 of this chapter may be required, and such permit will provide for approval of the tank pumper, maintenance schedule, tank/sewage level monitoring, reporting requirements, and other conditions as may be deemed necessary by Environmental Health.

c.

Portable toilets are intended to serve non-residential, limited use activities, such as field labor operations, special events, and temporary construction sites where connection to a sanitary sewer system or installation of an OWTS is not practicable. Except as otherwise permitted by law or as described below for publicly-owned non-residential facilities, the use of portable toilets at a particular location or event shall not exceed seven (7) consecutive days duration unless otherwise exempted by Environmental Health. Such exemption, where approved, may require the issuance of an operating permit in accordance with this chapter and the Onsite Systems Manual, which will specify the terms and conditions for extended use of the portable toilet(s).

d.

The use of vault toilets or semi-permanent portable toilets at a publicly-owned, non-residential facility (i.e., state beach, County or city park) may be allowed by Environmental Health where the vault toilet or semi-permanent portable toilet is necessary for the public health, safety or welfare, where installation of an OWTS is not feasible and a vault toilet or semi-permanent portable toilet is determined by Environmental Health to provide the safest and most acceptable method of sewage disposal. Such installations by public entities may be exempted from an operating permit or from operating permit fees by Environmental Health.