sb463_As_introduced_LC_25_5163

sb463_As_introduced_LC_25_5163_2.html

08 LC 25 5163

Senate Bill 463

By: Senators Pearson of the 51st, Tolleson of the 20th, Murphy of the 27th, Schaefer of the 50th and Rogers of the 21st

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state building, plumbing, and electrical codes, so as to change certain provisions relating to adoption and continuation of state minimum standard codes and enforcement thereof; to provide for enforcement of a gray water recycling systems appendix to the state minimum standard plumbing code; to amend Chapter 3 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county boards of health, so as to provide certain conditions for use of residential gray water systems; to amend Code Section 43-14-2, relating to definitions relative to licensing of electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility contractors, so as to change the definition of plumbing; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state building, plumbing, and electrical codes, is amended by revising Code Section 8-2-21, relating to adoption and continuation of state minimum standard codes and enforcement thereof, as follows:

"8-2-21.

(a) Enforcement Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, enforcement of the state minimum standard codes provided for in divisions (9)(A)(i) and (9)(B)(i) of Code Section 8-2-20 shall not include enforcement of appendices to such codes except when:

(1) Any provision of an appendix is specifically referenced in the code text;

(2) An appendix to a code is specifically included in an administrative ordinance adopted by a municipality or county; or

(3) An appendix to a code is specifically adopted by the department with the approval of the board.

(b) Enforcement of the state minimum standard codes provided for in division (9)(B)(i) of Code Section 8-2-20 shall include enforcement of Appendix C (Gray Water Recycling Systems) of the Standard Plumbing Code (SBCCI International Plumbing Code) 2000 Edition, or such other version of a gray water recycling systems appendix adopted pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section, along with any amendments to the plumbing code which are necessary to allow for utilization of gray water recycling systems in accordance with such appendix. Use of gray water recycling systems for residential irrigation which meet applicable design requirements of such plumbing code and appendix shall be permitted by a municipality or county, subject to the provisions of Code Section 31-3-5.1."

SECTION 2.

Chapter 3 of Title 31 of the official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county boards of health, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"31-3-5.1.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'gray water' means waste water discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers, and laundry trays.

(b) Private residential direct reuse of gray water for a total of less than 400 gallons per day shall be lawful if the following conditions are met:

(1) Gray water originating from the residence shall be used and contained within the property boundary for household gardening, composting, lawn watering, or landscape irrigation;

(2) If a gray water recycling system of plumbing is used, it shall meet or exceed the requirements under subsection (b) of Code Section 8-2-21;

(3) Surface application of gray water shall not be used for irrigation of food plants, except for citrus and nut trees;

(4) The gray water shall not contain hazardous chemicals derived from activities such as cleaning car parts, washing greasy or oily rags, or disposing of waste solutions from home photo labs or similar hobbyist or home occupational activities;

(5) The application of gray water shall be managed to minimize standing water on the surface;

(6) Any gray water recycling system shall be sited outside of a floodway;

(7) Any gray water recycling system of plumbing shall be operated to maintain a minimum vertical separation distance of at least five feet from the point of gray water application to the top of the seasonally high groundwater table;

(8) Gray water applied by surface irrigation shall not contain water used to wash diapers or similarly soiled or infectious garments unless the gray water is disinfected before irrigation; and

(9) Surface irrigation by gray water shall be only by flood or drip irrigation or by hand watering using garden watering cans or similar hand-held containers.

(1) Use of gray water in violation of subsection (a) of this Code section;

(2) Use of gray water for purposes other than irrigation; and

(3) Spray irrigation of gray water.

Any violation of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor.

(d) County boards of health shall adopt the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section by regulation."

SECTION 3.

Code Section 43-14-2, relating to definitions relative to licensing of electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility contractors, is amended by revising paragraph (12) as follows:

"(12) 'Plumbing' means the practice of installing, maintaining, altering, or repairing piping fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities, gray water recycling systems, venting systems, medical gas piping systems, natural gas piping systems on the outlet side of gas meters, or public or private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building, structure, or conveyance; provided, however, that after July 1, 1997, only master plumbers and journeyman plumbers who have been certified by the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers to perform such tasks shall be authorized to install, maintain, alter, or repair medical gas piping systems. The term 'plumbing' also includes the practice of and materials used in installing, maintaining, extending, or altering the natural gas, storm-water, sewerage, gray water recycling, and water supply systems of any premises to their connection with any point of public disposal or other acceptable terminal. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any person who holds a valid master plumbing license or any company which holds a valid utility contractor license shall be qualified to construct, alter, or repair any plumbing system which extends from the property line up to but not within five feet of any building, structure, or conveyance, regardless of the cost or depth of any such plumbing system."

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.