Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-1-.23
Holding Tank Requirements
Effective Feb 13, 2023New Rule: Filed August 25, 2003; effective September 29, 2003; operative October 1, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed October 20, 2005; effective November 24, 2005; operative March 19, 2006. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 19, 2017; effective March 5, 2017. Repealed and New Rule: Published December 30, 2022; effective February 13, 2023.Alabama Department of Public Health
- (1) Applications that propose using holding tanks as a temporary substitute for an OSS shall be submitted by an engineer and shall be permitted in the same manner as an OSS.
(2) The permanent use of a holding tank for a dwelling as part of a permanent OSS is prohibited.
- (a) Use of a holding tank for a system serving a dwelling or establishments on a temporary basis may be permitted by the LHD when there is an emergency situation caused by a system failure that cannot be repaired in a timely manner or when it is the LHD's determination that a holding tank is the only practical solution. The permit period shall not exceed one year.
(3) Permitting conditions shall include the following:
- (a) A visual or audible alarm.
- (b) A contract with a licensed sewage tank pumper to include submission of pumping records to the LHD.
- (4) All pre-made holding tanks shall be permitted by the LHD according to 420-3-1-.19 Pre-made Septic-Tank, Grease Trap, and Holding Tank Permits or if a proposed tank is not a permitted tank series, it shall be inspected and certified in writing by the engineer to be structurally sound and suitable for the intended purpose.
- (5) Holding tank capacity shall be calculated using the sewage flows provided by 420-3-1-.52 Design Flow and Wastewater Concentrations. The tank shall be sized to provide a capacity 25 percent larger than the projected sewage flow accumulation between scheduled pumping and as a buffer in case of weather conditions, temporary unavailability of a sewage tank pumper, or other adverse conditions.
- (6) A holding tank shall be properly abandoned in compliance with 420-3-1-.24 Abandonment of a Sewage Tank, when its permitted use expires.
Author: Thad Pittman, Matthew Conner, Ken Stephens, Bob Bright
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§22-2-2(4); 22-2-2(6); 22-10-1, et seq.; 22-26-1, et seq.
Editor’s Note: Previous Rule .32 was renumbered .23 per certification published December 30, 2022; effective February 13, 2023.
History: New Rule: Filed August 25, 2003; effective September 29, 2003; operative October 1, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed October 20, 2005; effective November 24, 2005; operative March 19, 2006. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 19, 2017; effective March 5, 2017. Repealed and New Rule: Published December 30, 2022; effective February 13, 2023.