CHAPTER 444 - SANITATION

NAC 444.760 “Dosing tank” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Dosing tank” means a watertight receptacle located between a septic tank and a disposal area equipped with an automatic siphon device or pumps designed to discharge sewage intermittently in the distribution lines in amoun…

NAC 444.7603 “Drainage channel” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Drainage channel” means a natural or artificially created ditch that experiences intermittent water flow from storms or runoff from melting snow. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R100-07, eff. 10-31-2007)

NAC 444.7606 “Effluent” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Effluent” means partially or completely treated sewage that flows out of a septic tank or an alternative treatment system. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, eff. 3-25-99)

NAC 444.7608 “Elevated mound system” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Elevated mound system” means a soil absorption system that is elevated above the natural soil surface with a suitable fill material. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, eff. 3-25-99)

NAC 444.761 “Engineer” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Engineer” means a person who is licensed by the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to practice professional engineering. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, eff. 3-25-99)

NAC 444.7616 “Graywater” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Graywater” means untreated household wastewater that has not come into contact with toilet waste. The term includes, without limitation, used water from bathtubs, showers and bathroom washbasins, and water from machines fo…

NAC 444.762 “Health authority” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Health authority” means the officers and agents of the Division or of the local boards of health. [Bd. of Health, Indiv. Sewage Disposal Systems Reg. § 1.5, eff. 11-23-72]

NAC 444.7624 “Holding tank” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Holding tank” means a watertight, covered receptacle that is designed and constructed to: 1. Receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer; and 2. Store that sewage until the sewage is removed by a septic tank p…

NAC 444.763 “Impervious soil” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Impervious soil” means a layer of earth that demonstrates a percolation rate which is greater than 120 minutes per inch. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, eff. 3-25-99)

NAC 444.764 “Individual sewage disposal system” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Individual sewage disposal system” means a single system of sewage treatment tanks and effluent disposal facilities serving: 1. A single-family dwelling; or 2. In the case of a commercial system, one…

NAC 444.7642 “Irrigation ditch” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Irrigation ditch” means a channel that is used to supply water to land used for ranching or farming. The term does not include a channel that contributes to a watercourse. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, …

NAC 444.7644 “Kitchen unit” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Kitchen unit” means an area of a structure which includes a cooking stove, a refrigerator and a sink. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R100-07, eff. 10-31-2007)

NAC 444.7646 “Lot” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Lot” means a single or individual parcel of land that is legally recorded and upon which a disposal system or other project subject to the provisions of NAC 444.750 to 444.8396, inclusive, is located. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Hea…

NAC 444.765 “Multiple-dwelling structure” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Multiple-dwelling structure” means one or more structures located on one lot which have separate units that are used as living quarters. The term includes, without limitation, a duplex, a triplex, a condom…

NAC 444.7652 “Nitrogen removal wastewater treatment unit” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Nitrogen removal wastewater treatment unit” means a system that receives sewage and, through biological denitrification, chemical reduction or ion exchange, reduces the nitrogen level of th…

NAC 444.7654 “Nonsewered toilet” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Nonsewered toilet” means a toilet that is not connected to a sewage disposal system. The term includes, without limitation, a freestanding portable toilet and a recreational vehicle and trailer equipped with holdin…

NAC 444.7656 “Percolation rate” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Percolation rate” means the relatively constant rate, calculated in minutes per inch, at which clear water maintained at a constant depth will seep out of a standard-size test hole that has been previously saturated…

NAC 444.7658 “Percolation test” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Percolation test” means a procedure to measure the percolation rate. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, eff. 3-25-99)

NAC 444.766 “Person” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Person” includes governmental agencies. [Bd. of Health, Indiv. Sewage Disposal Systems Reg. § 1.7, eff. 11-23-72]

NAC 444.7664 “Potable water” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Potable water” means water that is satisfactory for drinking, culinary and other domestic purposes and which meets the applicable requirements of the health authority relating to potable water. (Added to NAC by Bd. of …

NAC 444.7666 “Pressure distribution system” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Pressure distribution system” means a system of pipes that uses a pump, or a siphon if sufficient elevation head is available, to distribute effluent equally to a disposal field where the volume of efflu…

NAC 444.7668 “Primary treatment unit” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. “Primary treatment unit” means a system or receptacle that is designed and constructed to: (a) Receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer; (b) Partially or completely treat the sewage; and (c) Dis…

NAC 444.767 “Residential system” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Residential system” means an individual sewage disposal system that serves a single-family dwelling. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, eff. 3-25-99)

NAC 444.768 “Septic tank” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Septic tank” means a watertight, covered receptacle designed and constructed to receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer, to separate solids from the liquid, to digest organic matter and to store digested sol…

NAC 444.770 “Septic tank pumping contractor” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Septic tank pumping contractor” means any person engaged in the operation of removing and disposing of the solid and liquid contents of septic tanks, holding tanks, grease traps, grease interceptors, no…

NAC 444.772 “Sewage” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Sewage” means a combination of the liquid or water-carried wastes carried by pipes from: 1. Residences, including human excreta and liquid waste from kitchens and water closets; 2. Business buildings; 3. Institutions; and 4. I…

NAC 444.775 “Single-family dwelling” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. “Single-family dwelling” means one or more buildings that: (a) Are designed and used as a home by the occupants of the buildings; (b) Include a bathroom unit and a kitchen unit; and (c) Are served by an indiv…

NAC 444.776 “Soil absorption system” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Soil absorption system” means any system that utilizes the soil for subsequent absorption and treatment of the septic tank effluent. [Bd. of Health, Indiv. Sewage Disposal Systems Reg. § 1.11 eff. 11-23-72]

NAC 444.7764 “Special event” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Special event” means a public gathering that is temporary and held for a specific purpose, and which: 1. Includes, as part of the event, the preparation and serving of food by a food establishment or a temporary food e…

NAC 444.777 “Watercourse” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Watercourse” means the bed or channel of a waterway. The term includes, without limitation, a river, creek, stream, pond or lake, but does not include an irrigation ditch or drainage channel. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Healt…

NAC 444.7772 “Water table” defined. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) “Water table” means the level in saturated soil at which the hydraulic pressure is zero. (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R129-98, eff. 3-25-99)

NAC 444.778 Purpose. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. The purpose of NAC 444.750 to 444.8396, inclusive, is to protect the health of the individual family and the community and to prevent the occurrence of nuisances by safely disposing of all human and domestic wastes. 2. To accomplish …

NAC 444.780 Interpretation. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) If more than one interpretation exists for a provision of NAC 444.750 to 444.8396, inclusive, the more restrictive interpretation must be followed. [Bd. of Health, Indiv. Sewage Disposal Systems Reg. § 2.2, eff. 11-23-72]—(NAC A …

NAC 444.782 Severability. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) If any of the provisions of NAC 444.750 to 444.8396, inclusive, or any application thereof to any person, thing or circumstance is held invalid, it is intended that such invalidity not affect the remaining provisions, or their appl…

NAC 444.7825 Adoption by reference of certain publications; revision of certain publications after adoption. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. The following provisions and publications are hereby adopted by reference: (a) Standards 40, 41 and 46 of NSF International, in the form most rec…

NAC 444.783 Approval of alternate methods of compliance. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) The health authority may grant an owner of an individual sewage disposal system approval for an alternate method of compliance with any provision of this chapter if the alternate method of compliance:…

NAC 444.784 Permits: Approval for new construction required; request for approval; nature and duration. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. Approval must be obtained from the administrative authority to construct, alter or extend an individual sewage disposal system. This approval for new …

NAC 444.786 Permits: Denials; procedure for review of actions taken by health authority; appeals; validity and extension. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an application for a permit for an individual sewage disposal system submitted to t…

NAC 444.788 Inspections. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. Inspections may be required of the system materials and the trench before the trench is filled with aggregate or rock. Inspections by the administrative authority may be required before the sewer line, septic tank and soil absorp…

NAC 444.790 Lot size. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. A minimum area of 1 acre (43,560 square feet), including public streets and alleys or other public rights-of-way, lands or any portion thereof abutting on, running through or within a building site, is required for the installation …

NAC 444.792 Location. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, an individual sewage disposal system must be located on the same lot as the building or structure that the system serves. The administrative authority may approve the use of a part of an…

NAC 444.794 Slope requirements. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. For lots with slopes in excess of 20 percent, soil absorption trenches must, at the level of the distribution pipe, be a minimum of 20 feet horizontally from the face of the slope or ground surface as shown in subsection 4…

NAC 444.796 Performance of percolation test by property owner; verification of certain data by engineer. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) 1. Data from percolation tests from a minimum of two test holes in the area of the proposed soil absorption system is required. The property owner shall…

NAC 444.7962 Determination of appropriate percolation test procedure. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) In conducting a percolation test, the following flow chart must be used to determine which test procedure to follow: 1) Fill the percolation hole with water to a depth of at least 12 inch…

NAC 444.7964 Fast percolation test procedure. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) The following flow chart illustrates the fast percolation test procedure: 1) Fill the percolation hole with water to a level that is no more than 6 inches over the aggregate. 2) From a fixed reference point, det…

NAC 444.7966 Presoaking procedure for slow percolation test. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) The following flow chart illustrates the presoaking procedure for a slow percolation test: 1) Fill the percolation hole with clear water to a minimum depth of 12 inches over the aggregate. 2) Main…

NAC 444.7968 Slow percolation test procedure. (NRS 439.200, 444.650) The following flow chart illustrates the slow percolation test procedure: 1) Fill the percolation hole with water to a maximum depth of 6 inches over the aggregate. 2) From a fixed reference point, measure the d…