City of Wichita - Water Quality Development Requirements
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Environmental Services

Environmental Services
1900 E. 9th St. N.
Wichita, KS 67214

Hours:
8 AM-5 PM
Monday-Friday

Phone: (316) 268-8351
Fax: (316) 268-8390

Maurice Terrebonne
Water Quality Supervisor


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Development Requirements

Proposed Land Use (lot splits, plats, and newly created parcels of land) Utilizing On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems and/or Water Wells

This is a summary of the portions of the Sedgwick County Code, Chapter 14, Article V. Sanitary Code which apply to dividing and developing land. Other requirements may also apply; please call (316) 268-8351 if you need additional information.

  1. 20,000 square feet minimum lot size, exclusive of dedicated public right of way, provided that approved public water supply is available and percolation rates are 1 inch in 60 minutes or less for use of subsurface wastewater disposal systems (septic tank/lateral systems).

  2. 40,000 square feet minimum lot size, exclusive of dedicated public right of way, if property has neither approved public water nor sanitary sewer and percolation rates are 1 inch in 60 minutes or less for use of soil absorption wastewater disposal systems (septic tank/lateral systems).

  3. 10,000 square feet minimum area available and reserved for installation of on-site sewage facilities.

  4. 5 acres minimum parcel size if percolation rates are slower than 1 inch in 60 minutes. A waste stabilization pond (lagoon) is required for sewage disposal on these parcels.

  5. Groundwater elevation (depth) from ground surface must be a minimum of 10 feet average.

  6. Sewage facilities must be kept entirely out of any floodway reserves or easements. Any requested encroachment into the 100 year flood plain will require special review and approval by the Sedgwick County Public Services Bureau and property owners will be responsible for providing any required surveys and certifications.

If sanitary sewer and/or public water supply is available to serve a property it must be utilized. Lot size is then dependent on Sedgwick County Zoning and Subdivision regulations.

Percolation tests and/or soil borings are required and must be performed in accordance with Environmental Services Division procedures by an approved soils testing laboratory.

Note: Contact should also be made with the appropriate planning department for other platting, splitting, or lot development requirements. In the Wichita planning area, contact the Metropolitan Area Planning Department, 268-4421, 10th floor, City Hall, 455 N. Main.

Development Procedures For Areas Eligible For Platting Exemptions Using On-Site Disposal

  1. Prepare sketch or plat map outlining tract or area to be developed. Include dimensions.
    Submit to:

  2. Health Department for preliminary review of soil types, groundwater depth, and any information already on file.

    Environmental Services Department
    1900 E. 9th Street
    Wichita, KS 67214
    (316) 268-8351
    Fax: (316) 268-8390

  3. County Code Enforcement and/or Public Services for preliminary review of floodplain/floodway reserves, access to public roads, and necessary easements.

    Sedgwick County Public Services Bureau
    1250 S. Seneca
    Wichita, KS 67213
    (316) 383-7901
    Fax: (316) 263-9241

    Sedgwick County Code Enforcement
    1248 S. Seneca
    Wichita, KS 67213
    (316) 383-7951

  4. Complying with the following, have area surveyed into tracts:

  5. If this is in an area permitting 20-acre tracts under zoning regulations, tracts must be a minimum of twenty (20) acres. Acreage must be calculated exclusive of dedicated public right-of-way.

  6. If soil type indicates probable lagoon soils, tracts should be a minimum of 250 feet wide to allow proper placement of lagoons. Otherwise, tracts shall be a minimum of 200 feet wide.

  7. Adequate land area shall be included outside of floodway/floodplain to allow proper placement of on-site sewage facilities. Refer to attached specification sheets for separation requirements.

  8. Each tract shall have access from a public road. Refer to subdivision regulations, Section 3-105 for details.

  9. Submit the completed survey, legal descriptions of individual tract(s), and copies of filed deeds to Sedgwick County Code Enforcement for issuance of Platting Exemption(s).

  10. Submit the completed survey and legal descriptions of individual tract(s) to the Environmental Services Department for review. Minimum soil testing requirements shall be determined and returned to the applicant.

  11. Have soil testing conducted. A list of approved soil testing companies is attached. Submit results to the Environmental Services Department. The need for further testing shall be determined by the Environmental Services Department.

  12. Sedgwick County Code Enforcement shall forward approved Platting Exemptions to the Health Department.

  13. The Environmental Services Department shall issue an approval memo for use of on-site sewage disposal systems for a development, and set system requirements for each tract.

  14. Individual property owner(s) shall apply to the Environmental Services Department for issuance of a Construction Approval for on-site sewage facility. Application may be made on the attached "E-Z Permit" form; be sure to include the site plan and results of all soil testing.

  15. After the sewage facility Construction Approval has been issued, individual property owner(s) shall apply to the Sedgwick County Code Enforcement department for issuance of a Building Permit.

  16. Obtain all required inspections during construction of the sewage facility and the house.

  17. After construction of the on-site sewage facility, and when all inspections have been completed with satisfactory results, the on-site sewage facility shall be approved for use. Sedgwick County Code Enforcement shall be notified. Only after such approval shall the building "Occupancy Permit" be issued.

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Related to
Water Quality
Development Requirements
Lagoons
Main
On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems
Precautions if Community Impacted by Flood Waters
Sanitary Water Well Seal Suppliers
Septic Systems
Soil-Testing Certified Laboratories
Title Transfer Inspections - Water Well & Onsite Sewage System Inspections
Water Quality Documents & Forms
Related Pages
Prevention of Recreational Water Illness (RWIs)
Water Wells


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