Brentwood Municipal Code § 13.04.800 Service connections—Obligation to connect to city sewerage system

A. New Developments or New Subdivisions. When approving a development or subdivision of property, each building permit or subdivision map improvement plan will contain provisions for connection to the sewerage system, unless the user requests and is granted a variance from the director in writing on a form provided by the director.

B. Existing Premises. The requirement to connect to the sewerage system may be waived for existing premises by the director, provided that the owner or occupant of such premises provides written documentation from the Contra Costa County health department that the existing premises' system is functioning properly. If the premises' system is not functioning properly, it shall not be eligible to receive a waiver and will be obligated to connect to the sewerage system.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

The minimum size of a lateral or building sewer shall be six inches in diameter. However, in any building designed or to be used exclusively for residential occupancy of six dwelling units or less, the minimum size shall be four inches in diameter. The director may order or authorize a different size of building sewer consistent with the California Plumbing Code as amended by this chapter. The requirements of this subsection shall not apply retroactively, but any replacement of an existing sewer shall conform to all current city codes, the Uniform Plumbing Code, and the California Plumbing Code.

Cleanouts shall be installed within close proximity of the premises line, when required by the city, and also at the lower end of the building drain as required by plumbing codes, generally within two feet of the building foundation.

All excavations for a lateral sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades or lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Any public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored to a condition that is as good as or better than existed before the work began.

All abandoned septic tanks and cesspools must immediately be filled with solid matter or substance which meets with the approval of the director.

No building, industrial facility nor other structure shall be occupied or used until and unless the owner of the premises has complied with all applicable rules and regulations of this chapter.

The requirements in this chapter are in addition to any applicable requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code and the Standard Plans and Specifications.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

No person shall construct a building sewer or lateral sewer or make any connection with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer in the sewerage system or appurtenances or perform any work on any lateral or building sewer without first obtaining a written permit from the city community development department and paying all fees and connection charges.

A person legally entitled to apply for and receive such a permit shall make application on forms provided by the city for that purpose. The applicant shall give a description of the character of the work to be done, and the location, ownership, occupancy, and use of the premises related to the work. The director may require plans, specifications, or drawings, and such other information as the director may deem necessary in their professional judgment.

If the director determines that the plans, specifications, drawings, description, and information furnished in connection with the application are in compliance with this code and the ordinances, rules, and regulations governing the proposed work and installation, the director shall issue the permit upon payment of the required fees and charges. The director may attach conditions to the permit that are reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter and the ordinances, rules, and regulations governing the proposed work and installation.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

All sewer construction work, building sewers, plumbing and drainage systems shall be inspected by an inspector authorized by the city to insure compliance with all city requirements. No sewer shall be covered until it has been inspected and passed. No sewer shall be connected to the city's sewerage system until the work encompassed within the applicable permit has been completed, inspected and approved by the city inspector. If the test proves satisfactory and the sewer has been cleaned of all debris accumulated from construction operations, the inspector shall issue a certificate of satisfactory completion.

All building sewers and lateral sewers shall be tested in the presence of the city inspector by filling the line with water or air and inspecting for excessive leakage. Fittings, plugs, water, and labor for testing shall be furnished by the person constructing the sewer. If the existing lateral is to remain, it shall be tested as specified above. All lines showing excessive leakage shall be repaired or replaced at the sole expense of the person controlling the work to the satisfaction of the city inspector.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

Each residential premises owner will be required to pay a monthly fee for the maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of their lower lateral as set forth by resolution of the city council. The city will be responsible for the lower lateral so long as the lateral maintenance fee is paid.

The city shall not be responsible for the maintenance of any lateral for any commercial user, industrial user, community, contractor, and/or institutional sewer service.

Any person responsible for a sanitary sewer overflow shall be responsible to remedy the effects of such unauthorized discharge. When deemed necessary by the director, clean-up of the discharge or overflow may be initiated by the city. All costs associated with such clean-up shall be borne by the owner, user or other person responsible for the sanitary sewer overflow.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

Drainage piping or a drainage system serving fixtures which have flood level rims less than twelve inches (304.8 mm) above the elevation of the next upstream manhole and/or flushing inlet cover in the city sewerage system or private sewer system serving such drainage system shall be protected from backflow of sewage by installing an approved type backflow prevention device (BPD) or backwater valve as listed in city Standard Plans and Specifications SS-7 - Sewer Backflow Relief Devices. Fixtures above such elevation shall not discharge through the backwater valve, unless first approved by the director. BPDs are also required on all new building laterals and lateral replacements.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

All BPDs shall fully comply with all city requirements and shall be maintained by the user or premises owner to provide for their continuing function as designed. All BPDs and the box they may be located in shall be accessible at all times and shall be free from any obstructions, including, but not limited to, rocks, soil, vegetation, debris, grass, trees, bushes, plants, landscaping, concrete, asphalt or other ground coverings or any other materials or substances that may impair the proper function of or unobstructed accessibility to the devices. BPDs are subject to inspection by the city.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

All BPDs shall be installed at an elevation that protects the premises upon which it is installed and other property in its vicinity from damage. The premises owner shall either confirm that the BPD is properly installed and placed at the proper elevation, or obtain competent assistance from a duly licensed plumber or contractor to confirm its proper elevation. If any subsequent modification of the premises results in the BPD being at an improper elevation, the premises owner shall adjust the BPD to the proper elevation at the premises owner's expense. The premises owner shall be responsible for any damage to property or injury to person that is sustained as a result of the improper installation or location of a BPD.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

Any premises owner whose property has no BPD as required by this chapter or other law or regulation, or which has a defective or improperly installed BPD, or which has a BPD that does not comply in all respects with the requirements of this chapter or with any standards adopted or utilized by the director shall be responsible for all damage that results from the lack of such a device, or the failure of the defective or improperly installed or non-compliant device to prevent or minimize such damage. The city will not be liable for damage resulting from sanitary sewer overflows when a BPD has not been installed or maintained as required by this chapter.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

It is the responsibility of the premises owner to maintain the private sewer lateral. The operation and condition of private sewer laterals, their cleanouts and any other wastewater facilities required to serve a connector's building, shall be the responsibility of the premises owner, who shall keep them in good operating condition at all times and shall undertake all necessary repairs, including replacement of dilapidated and worn out components, at the premises owner's expense and at no cost to the city. All repairs to and replacements of private sewer laterals shall be performed in accordance with the city municipal code and the city's Standard Plans and Specifications. Premises owners shall maintain private sewer laterals in a manner that prevents overflows. Upon receiving notice from the city, a premises owner(s) will have twenty-four hours to abate any condition that is causing a private sewer lateral overflow. Failure to abate a private sewer lateral overflow is considered to be a violation of city ordinances and regulations, and a public nuisance, and may be subject to abatement or other remedies the city may have.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)

It shall be a condition of continuing use and connection to the city sewerage system that the owner of a private sewer lateral allow the inspection and verification of the condition of the upper lateral or private sewer lateral (from the point of the exterior building drain or cleanout to the city sewerage system connection) and/or monitoring of the constituents of the wastewater discharge entering the sewerage system in the event that the director has a reasonable belief that the manner of connection to the sewerage system, the wastewater flow from the private premises, or the condition of the private sewer lateral is such that the sewerage system will be damaged, rendered inoperable, or caused to spill because of the private property condition or use.

(Ord. 941 § 2, 2015)