The following words and terms in this section are in addition to the definitions in Chapter 3 and Chapter 30 of this title (relating to Definitions and Occupational Licenses and Registrations). The words and terms in this section, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings.
  (1) Aerobic digestion--The bacterial decomposition and stabilization of sewage in the presence of free oxygen.
  (2) Alter--To change an on-site sewage facility resulting in:
    (A) an increase in the volume of permitted flow;
    (B) a change in the nature of permitted influent;
    (C) a change from the planning materials approved by the permitting authority;
    (D) a change in construction; or
    (E) an increase, lengthening, or expansion of the treatment or disposal system.
  (3) Anaerobic digestion--The bacterial decomposition and stabilization of sewage in the absence of free oxygen.
  (4) Apprentice--An individual who has been properly registered with the executive director according to Chapter 30 of this title (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registrations), and is undertaking a training program under the direct supervision of a licensed installer.
  (5) Authorization to construct--Written permission from the permitting authority to construct an on-site sewage facility showing the date the permission was granted. The authorization to construct is the first part of the permit.
  (6) Authorized agent--A local governmental entity that has been delegated the authority by the executive director to implement and enforce the rules adopted under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 366.
  (7) Borehole--A drilled hole four feet or greater in depth and one to three feet in diameter.
  (8) Certified professional soil scientist--An individual who has met the certification requirements of the American Society of Agronomy to engage in the practice of soil science.
  (9) Cesspool--A non-watertight, covered receptacle intended for the receipt and partial treatment of sewage. This device is constructed such that its sidewalls and bottom are open-jointed to allow the gradual discharge of liquids while retaining the solids for anaerobic decomposition.
  (10) Cluster system--A sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system designed to serve two or more sewage-generating units on separate legal tracts where the total combined flow from all units does not exceed 5,000 gallons per day.
  (11) Commercial or institutional facility--Any building that is not used as a single-family dwelling or duplex.
  (12) Compensation--A payment to construct, alter, repair, extend, maintain, or install an on-site sewage facility. Payment may be in the form of cash, check, charge, or other form of monetary exchange or exchange of property or services for service rendered.
  (13) Composting toilet--A self-contained treatment and disposal facility constructed to decompose non-waterborne human wastes through bacterial action.
  (14) Condensate drain--A pipe that is used for the disposal of water generated by air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, or other equipment.
  (15) Construct--To engage in any activity related to the installation, alteration, extension, or repair of an on-site sewage facility (OSSF), including all activities from disturbing the soils through connecting the system to the building or property served by the OSSF. Activities relating to a site evaluation are not considered construction.
  (16) Delegate--The executive director's act of assigning authority to implement the on-site sewage facility program under this chapter.
  (17) Designated representative--An individual who holds a valid license issued by the executive director according to Chapter 30 of this title (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registrations), and who is designated by the authorized agent to review permit applications, site evaluations, or planning materials, or conduct inspections on on-site sewage facilities.
  (18) Direct communication--The demonstrated ability of an installer and the apprentice to immediately communicate with each other, and the maintenance provider and the maintenance technician to immediately communicate with each other.
  (19) Direct supervision--The responsibility of an installer to oversee, direct, and approve all actions of an apprentice relating to the construction of an on-site sewage facility, or the responsibility of a maintenance provider to oversee, direct, and approve all actions of a maintenance technician relating to the maintenance of an on-site sewage facility.
  (20) Discharge--To deposit, conduct, drain, emit, throw, run, allow to seep, or otherwise release or dispose of, or to allow, permit, or suffer any of these acts or omissions.
  (21) Edwards Aquifer--That portion of an arcuate belt of porous, waterbearing predominantly carbonate rocks (limestones) known as the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer trending from west to east to northeast in Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Comal, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties; and composed of the Salmon Peak Limestone, McKnight Formation, West Nueces Formation, Devil's River Limestone, Person Formation, Kainer Formation, Edwards Group, and Georgetown Formation, or as amended under Chapter 213 of this title (relating to Edwards Aquifer). The permeable aquifer units generally overlie the less-permeable Glen Rose Formation to the south, overlie the less-permeable Comanche Peak and Walnut formations north of the Colorado River, and underlie the less-permeable Del Rio Clay regionally.
  (22) Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone--That area where the stratigraphic units constituting the Edwards Aquifer crop out, including the outcrops of other geologic formations in proximity to the Edwards Aquifer, where caves, sinkholes, faults, fractures, or other permeable features would create a potential for recharge of surface waters into the Edwards Aquifer. The recharge zone is identified as a geographic area delineated on official maps located in the agency's central office and in the appropriate regional office, or as amended by Chapter 213 of this title (relating to Edwards Aquifer).
  (23) Extend--To alter an on-site sewage facility resulting in an increase in capacity, lengthening, or expansion of the existing treatment or disposal system.
  (24) Floodplain (100-year)--Any area susceptible to inundation by flood waters from any source and subject to the statistical 100-year flood (has a 1% chance of flooding each year).
  (25) Floodway--The channel of a watercourse and the adjacent land areas (within a portion of the 100-year floodplain) that must be reserved in order to discharge the 100-year flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot above the 100-year flood elevation before encroachment into the 100-year floodplain.
  (26) Geotextile filter fabric--A non-woven fabric suitable for wastewater applications.
  (27) Gravel-less drainfield pipe--An eight-inch or ten-inch diameter geotextile fabric-wrapped piping product without gravel or media.
  (28) Grease interceptor--Floatation chambers where grease floats to the water surface and is retained while the clearer water underneath is discharged.
  (29) Groundwater--Subsurface water occurring in soils and geologic formations that are fully saturated either year-round or on a seasonal or intermittent basis.
  (30) Holding tank--A watertight container equipped with a high-level alarm used to receive and store sewage pending its delivery to an approved treatment process.
  (31) Individual--A single living human being.
  (32) Install--To put in place or construct any portion of an on-site sewage facility.
  (33) Installer--An individual who is compensated by another to construct an on-site sewage facility.
  (34) Local governmental entity--A municipality, county, river authority, or special district, including groundwater conservation districts, soil and water conservation districts, and public health districts.
  (35) Maintenance--Required or routine performance checks, examinations, upkeep, cleaning, or mechanical adjustments to an on-site sewage facility, including replacement of pumps, filters, aerator lines, valves, or electrical components. Maintenance does not include alterations.
  (36) Maintenance findings--The results of a required performance check or component examination on a specific on-site sewage facility.
  (37) Maintenance provider--An individual who maintains on-site sewage facilities for compensation. Through August 31, 2009, a maintenance company is a person or business that maintains on-site sewage facilities for compensation.
Cont'd...