Ceres Municipal Code Ch. 17 Unauthorized Use of Sewers

A. Unauthorized use of the sewer service shall be defined as follows:

1. Dumping of solid or liquid material into the sewer system by way of a house or industrial connection, manhole, or other opening into said system without first obtaining a permit from the City to do so;

2. Discharging or causing to be discharged any rainwater, stormwater, groundwater, street drainage, subsurface drainage, yard drainage, water from yard fountains, ponds, swimming pools, recreational vehicles or lawn sprays or any other contaminated water into any sewage facility which directly or indirectly discharges to the sewer system owned by the City.

3. It is a violation of this chapter to discharge sewage into any facility or appurtenance not approved for the acceptance of sewage by the City.

B. In emergency situations, the Director of Public Works or his designee has the authority to grant temporary variances for the discharge of liquid other than wastewater to the sewer system.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 2, 12-9-2019)

The penalties for unauthorized use of the sewer system are as follows:

A. Any unauthorized use as defined under section 13.17.010 may, in the discretion of the City Attorney, be charged as either an infraction or misdemeanor and shall be punishable as provided in chapter 1.16.

B. If the unauthorized use consists of an illegal connection to the City sewer, the following shall also apply:

1. If the connection is from a source that can connect to the sewer system, the person causing the illegal connection, or receiving the benefit therefrom, shall pay the appropriate current sewer connection and facility fees, building permit fees, and a penalty equivalent to two years' worth of sewer service charges calculated at the current rate.

2. If the connection is from a source that cannot connect to the sewer system, the connection shall be immediately severed, and the point of connection sealed as directed by the Director of Public Works or his appointed representative. The person causing the illegal connection or receiving the benefit therefrom shall pay all costs for performing and inspecting the work, and a penalty equivalent to two years' worth of sewer service charges calculated at the current rate.

C. If the unauthorized use is the dumping of solid or liquid material into the sewer system, all costs of inspection, treatment, removal, or monitoring the discharge shall be paid.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 2, 12-9-2019)