(1) Approval of the design, construction or installation of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system by the department is required, except as otherwise provided in Section 41-67-6(7). Upon completion of installation of the system, the department shall approve the design, construction or installation of that system, as requested, if the system is designed, constructed and installed, as the case may be, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the board. Whenever a person requests approval of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system and has met the requirements in subsection (3) of this section, the department must approve or disapprove the request within five (5) working days. If the department disapproves the request, the department shall state in writing the reasons for the disapproval. If the department does not respond to the request within ten (10) calendar days, the request for approval of the individual on-site wastewater disposal system shall be deemed approved.

(2) Individual on-site wastewater disposal systems shall be considered acceptable, provided the following requirements are met:

(a) Centralized wastewater treatment systems are not available or feasible;

(b) The existing disposal systems in the area are functioning satisfactorily;

(c) Soil types, soil texture, seasonal water tables and other limiting factors are satisfactory for underground absorption;

(d) Any private water supply is located at a higher elevation or it must be properly protected, and at least fifty (50) feet from the individual on-site wastewater disposal system and at least one hundred (100) feet from the disposal field of the system; and

(e) The systems meet applicable water quality requirements of Section 41-67-10.

(3) After construction or installation of the individual on-site wastewater disposal system, the property owner or his agent shall provide a final approval request containing the following to the department:

(a) A signed affidavit from the installer that the system was installed in compliance with all requirements, regulations and permit conditions applicable to the system installed; and

(b) For any advanced treatment system, an affidavit from the property owner agreeing to a continuing maintenance agreement on the installed system at the end of the required manufacturer’s maintenance agreement.

(4) If any person or certified installer fails to obtain final approval or submit an affidavit of proper installation to the department in the installation of the system, the board, after due notice and hearing, may levy an administrative fine not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). Each wastewater system installed not in compliance with this chapter or applicable rules and regulations of the board may be considered a separate offense.

(5) The property owner, if not a qualified homeowner maintenance provider, shall keep a continuing maintenance agreement with a certified installer on all advanced treatment systems in perpetuity. Any person violating this subsection shall be subject to the penalties and damages as provided in Section 41-67-28(5).