Section 1502. - Net-zero water projects.
A. Application for approval of a net-zero water project. An applicant seeking approval of a net-zero water project shall submit the following to the Development Services Department:
1. Properly completed application for a building permit together with all construction plans, specifications and other documents as required by the Development Services Department. If a valid building permit has already been issued, a copy of the building permit previously issued and still valid shall be submitted. The application for a building permit shall indicate that the project is proposed to be a net-zero water project.
2. All prerequisite permits and approvals which may be required to obtain a building permit, including, but not limited to, a zoning clearance permit, a water/sewer/drainage-storm-water permit, infrastructure development process approval, floodplain development approval, and Health Department approval.
3. Plans and specifications for the proposed on-site water collection and treatment system to provide potable water, prepared or approved by a registered professional engineer in the State of Oklahoma. The manufacturer's specifications and installation instructions for the water filtration and treatment system shall be provided as well.
4. Plans and specifications for the proposed on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system, prepared or approved by a registered professional engineer in the State of Oklahoma. If one or more composting toilets are to be installed, the applicant shall provide the specific model(s) to be installed together with the manufacturer's specifications and installation instructions. A septic tank system which is planned to be utilized as the wastewater treatment and disposal system must be in compliance with the requirements and regulations of the Health Department, DEQ, and City.
5. Approvals and/or permits for the design and installation of the water collection and treatment system and wastewater treatment and disposal system as may be required by the Health Department and DEQ.
6. Payment of all permit and application fees as required in Title 49 of TRO.
B. Required approvals of the City of Tulsa. Before approval of a net-zero water project by the Development Services Department and the issuance of a building permit, the Director of the Water and Sewer Department, the Engineering Services Department and the Director of the Development Services Department must approve the proposed design and installation of the on-site water collection and treatment system and the on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system, including any composting toilet(s).
C. Approval of net-zero water project and issuance of a building permit. Once the Applicant has fully complied with Subsections A. and B. of this Section 1503, and all required approvals have been obtained, the Development Services Department may approve the net-zero water project and issue a building permit.
D. Miscellaneous requirements, restrictions and provisions. The following requirements, restrictions and provisions are applicable to all net-zero water projects:
1. A net-zero water project is limited to a detached single-family residential dwelling unit or a residential duplex dwelling unit.
2. A net-zero water project shall be assigned a separate street address to distinguish the dwelling unit from any other structure.
3. A net-zero water project shall include the provision of a capped service line for a future connection to a municipal water supply and a sanitary sewer service for a future connection to a public sanitary sewer system, as approved by the Development Services Department.
4. Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the on-site water collection and treatment system shall be tested by a testing method approved by the Health Department, at the expense of the applicant/property owner to evidence that the water treated and produced on-site is potable water. Such test results shall be furnished to the Health Department for review and approval. If the test results indicate that the water produced by the on-site water collection and treatment system is not potable, then a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued until the test results show that the water is potable and such results are approved by the Health Department.
5. Annual testing of water produced by the on-site water collection and treatment system shall be required no more than twenty (20) days prior to July 1 of each year following the completion of the Net-Zero Water Project, at the sole expense of the property owner. The method of testing the water treated and produced must be approved by the Health Department, and the results of such testing shall be immediately provided to the Health Department. If the water tested is shown to be non-potable water, then the City or Health Department may order that the on-site water collection and treatment system cannot be used until the water produced is potable water, as evidenced by further testing by a date certain as set by the Health Department. If such water is not shown to be potable water by the date established by the Health Department, then the property owner shall be required to discontinue the use of the on-site water collection and treatment system, and shall connect to the water supply of the City of Tulsa, or other public water supply if City of Tulsa water is not available to serve the property, at the sole expense of the property owner, within thirty (30) days. If a property owner is required to connect to a public water supply, the provisions of subsection (D)(7) of this section shall apply with respect to the requirement of connection to the public sanitary sewer system of the City of Tulsa.
6. If after completion of a net-zero water project, the property owner begins utilizing a sanitary sewer system to discharge wastewater, the property owner shall be required to connect to the water supply of the City of Tulsa or other public water supply, if available, within sixty (60) days from the date of notification in writing by the City of Tulsa, at the expense of the property owner.
7. If after completion of a net-zero water project, the property owner begins utilizing a source for potable water other than the approved on-site water collection and treatment system, including, but not limited to, the water supply of the City of Tulsa or bulk water, the property owner shall be required to connect to the public sanitary sewer system of the City of Tulsa at the expense of the property owner, if such sanitary sewer service is available and required pursuant to TRO, within sixty (60) days from the date of notification by the City of Tulsa, in accordance with TRO and duly-adopted regulations of the City of Tulsa.
8. Except as authorized by this chapter, a net-zero water project shall comply with the various building and construction codes adopted by the City from time to time and codified in TRO, including, without limitation, the Building Code prescribed by Title 51, the Electrical Code prescribed by Title 52, the Property Maintenance Code prescribed by Title 55, the Plumbing Code prescribed by Title 56, the Mechanical Code prescribed by Title 59, and any applicable Building Codes of the State of Oklahoma which have been adopted by the City of Tulsa.
9. With respect to a net-zero water project, the property owner shall ensure that the on-site water collection and treatment system and the on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system are operating properly, safely, and in accordance with the requirements and provisions of this chapter at all times.
10. The City or Health Department may inspect the on-site water collection and treatment system and the on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system upon reasonable notice to the property owner to ensure that the systems are functioning properly. If the City or Health Department determines at any time that the on-site water collection and treatment system and/or the on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system are not functioning properly and are hazardous to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of the premises, and such systems are not functioning properly within ten (10) days after notice deficiency by the City or Health Department is given, then the City may require that the property owner connect to the water supply of the City of Tulsa or other public water supply and the public sanitary sewer system of the City of Tulsa.
11. With respect to the sale, transfer, rental or lease of real property and any dwelling thereon which utilizes or will utilize a net-zero water project for on-site water collection and treatment and on-site wastewater treatment and disposal, the property owner shall disclose, in writing, the existence and usage of such systems to any purchaser, transferee, renter or lessee prior to entering into any contract for sale, conveyance agreement, rental agreement or lease. The property owner's written disclosure shall be conspicuous, in all capital letters and underlined, in the contract for sale, conveyance agreement, rental agreement or lease, and in the residential property condition disclosure statement.
12. Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the property owner shall record, at the property owner's expense, a notice to the public of the use of a net-zero water project for on-site water collection and treatment and on-site wastewater treatment and disposal. Such notice shall state that the subject property is not connected to a public water supply or public sanitary sewer system and shall recite the legal description and street address of the real property where the net-zero water project was installed. Such notice shall be approved by the Legal Department of the City of Tulsa prior to recording in the office of the County Clerk of the county where the net-zero water project is located.
(Ord. No. 24169, § 1, 7-10-2019)
