A major factor influencing the health of individuals is the proper treatment and disposal of human wastes and other sewage, including industrial and processing waste.
Many diseases, such as dysentery, infectious hepatitis, typhoid and paratyphoid, and various types of gastrointestinal problems are transmitted from one person to another through the fecal contamination of food and water. This is largely due to the improper disposal of human wastes. Chemical contaminants affecting individuals through individual drinking water supplies have been attributed to groundwater pollution caused by improper subsurface disposal of on-site sewage. Because of such problems, every effort shall be made to prevent the existence of these and other potential health hazards.
Safe disposal of all wastes, human, domestic and industrial, is necessary to protect the health of the individual family and the community and to prevent the occurrence of nuisances.
Basically, to accomplish satisfactory results, all such wastes must be disposed of in such a manner that:
- They will not contaminate any approved drinking water supply.
- They will not give rise to a public health hazard by being accessible to insects, rodents, or other possible carriers of disease, which may come into contact with food or drinking water.
- They will not give rise to a public health hazard by being accessible to children.
- They will not violate laws or regulations governing water pollution or sewage disposal.
- They will not pollute or contaminate the waters of any bathing beach, shellfish breeding ground, stream or lake used for public or domesticate water supply, or for recreational purposes.
- They will not give rise to a nuisance due to odors or unsightly appearance.
Where public or community sewage disposal systems are not accessible, these criteria can be met by the discharge of sewage to an adequate on-site sewage management system. Such a system, properly designed and maintained, and properly installed where soil and site conditions are favorable, can be expected to function satisfactorily.
Experience through the years has shown that adequate supervision, inspection and maintenance are required to insure compliance in this respect.
For more information, please see Rules and Regulations 511-3-1.
Land Disposal of Domestic Septage
For information regarding land disposal of domestic septage, please contact the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD).