Compton Municipal Code § 23-2 Sewer Regulations

[Ord. #856, § 7500]

As used in this section:

BUILDING

Shall mean a structure entirely separated from any other structure by space or by walls in which there are no communicating doors or windows or similar openings.

CESSPOOL

Shall mean an excavation in the ground made for receiving crude sewage and so constructed that the solid matter of the sewage is retained while the liquid portion is permitted to seep through the walls.

CONNECTING SEWER

Shall mean that portion of the sewer system that extends from the "Y" or "T" branch of a lateral sewer to the curb or property line.

FIXTURE

Shall mean any plumbing or sewer outlet requiring a trap or vent.

HABITATION

Shall mean a room, or combination of rooms, used or designed to be used for the occupancy of human beings.

HOUSE COURT

Shall mean the group of buildings of a housecourt which is hereby defined to be a parcel or area of land upon which are grouped three or more habitations used or designed to be used for occupancy by families, and upon which parcel or area the vacant or unoccupied portion thereof surrounding or abutting upon said habitations, is used or intended to be used in common by the inhabitants thereof.

HOUSE SEWER

Shall mean that part of a horizontal piping beginning at a point two feet from the outer wall of a building and extending to its connection with the connecting sewer at curb or property line or to a cesspool.

LATERAL SEWER

Shall mean a branch of the main sewer system provided with "Y" and "T" branches for connecting sewers.

LOT

Shall mean any piece or parcel of land as bounded, defined or shown upon the latest map, plat or deed recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County.

OUTFALL SEWER

Shall mean a main trunk line sewer of the City, provided to collect the sewage from the lateral sewers and conduct same to the outlet or disposal plant.

PRIVATE SEWER

Shall mean a sewer laid by private parties to serve one or more buildings that are not situated adjacent to a lateral sewer, and may be constructed on either private or public property.

PUBLIC SEWER

Shall mean an outfall or a lateral sewer.

[Ord. #856, § 7501]

a. No person shall engage in the business of constructing sewers or cesspools, or install, alter or repair any sewer in the City unless such person shall have first registered at the office of the Sewer Inspector of the Department of Building and obtained a certificate of registration as hereinafter provided.

b. The owner of the premises for which a cesspool is being constructed need not be registered as provided for in Paragraph a hereof, provided such owner actually performs the work himself, but sewer connection to cesspools shall be governed by Paragraph a hereof.

c. Applications for registration shall be made to the Sewer Inspector and shall state the name and business address of the applicant and such application shall be accompanied by a Surety Bond executed to the City. In form the bond must be "joint" and "several" in the sum of $1,000, and the bond must be conditioned that the whole or any part thereof shall be paid to the City or any person who has suffered damage by reason of the violation of any of the provisions of this section. The bond shall not be void upon the first recovery but may be used and recovered from time to time by any person who has suffered damages as herein referred to in his own name until the whole penalty is exhausted. The sufficiency of the surety on any such bond shall be approved by the City Council and every such bond shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney.

[Ord. #856, § 7502]

Every person before being entitled to be registered or to obtain a Certificate of Registration shall pay to the City Council at the office of the Department of Buildings, a registration fee of $50. The Sewer Inspector shall briefly examine the applicant and if after such examination it appears that the applicant has had sufficient experience and is familiar with the provisions of this section, the Sewer Inspector shall upon payment of the registration fee and approval of the bond as hereinbefore provided, issue to such applicant a Certificate of Registration for a period of one year from date of issue.

[Ord. #856, § 7503]

Every such Certificate of Registration is valid only for the person named therein and is not transferable except upon the sale of the complete business of the holder thereof. Every such Certificate shall be null and void upon the second conviction of the person named therein for violating any of the provisions of this article.

[Ord. #856, § 7504]

No person shall do any sewer or cesspool work in connection with any building or structure, or disconnect any building or structure from any sanitary sewer within the City, without first obtaining from the Department of Buildings a written permit to do so. Such permit shall state the location by street and number of the building or structure where such work is to be done and shall be valid only for the location so stated.

[Ord. #856, § 7505]

If any person shall do any sewer or cesspool work or shall make any alterations or changes in or additions to any sewer or cesspool work without first having obtained a permit as required by this section, no permit shall be subsequently issued for same and no inspection of same shall be made until double the amount of fee otherwise provided by this section is paid for such permit and inspection.

[Ord. #856, § 7506]

If any work authorized by any permit issued as hereinbefore provided is not commenced within 60 days from date thereof, such permit shall thereupon become void and a new permit must be obtained before work is commenced.

Every person engaged in constructing house or sewer connections, which require excavating in streets in the City, shall upon obtaining a sewer permit obtain an excavation permit as provided by § 20-3, Street Excavations.

[Ord. #856, § 7507]

Every person making application for a sewer or cesspool permit shall, at the time such application is made, deposit with the Sewer Inspector the amount of the fees hereinafter provided. Upon completion of the work, the person doing such work shall make application for inspection of same. Such inspection will be given within 24 hours from the time of filing request for same.

For a permit to construct any connecting or house sewer or to connect to any connecting sewer, house sewer or private sewer, any building or other structure: $2.

Provided, that where the plumbing from a garage, outhouse or other accessory building on the same lot containing not more than three fixtures is to be connected to an existing house sewer, the fee shall be $1.

For a permit to construct a private sewer and connect same to an outfall sewer the fee shall be $5.

For a permit to excavate for or construct a cesspool or septic tank: $1.

For a permit to connect a house sewer to a cesspool or septic tank: $1.

For a permit to disconnect a building from a house sewer: $1.

The above fees shall include the fee for one inspection of the work, for which a permit was issued. For any additional inspection required, a fee of $1 for every such additional inspection shall be charged.

[Ord. #856, § 7508]

No person shall backfill any trench or excavation made for the purpose of laying sewer of any kind, or constructing a cesspool or septic tank, until the pipe laid therein shall be inspected by the Sewer Inspector and a certificate of acceptance given. The entire length of the sewer and all connections from and including the "Y" at the main sewer or entrance to cesspool or septic tank, to the joint at which cast iron soil pipe begins shall be fully exposed for inspection.

If any section of the pipe or any portion of the work is not according to the specifications which are a part of this section or does not conform to the requirements of this section, the sewer builder or the cesspool or septic tank builder shall make such changes or additions as are necessary to conform to the provisions herein contained, and shall, after such changes or additions are made, leave the pipe and work exposed and do no backfilling until inspection has been made and acceptance given as above provided.

[Ord. #856, § 7509]

a. All buildings or other structures which contain any plumbing fixtures must be connected with a public sewer when such sewer is constructed and ready for use on any street, right-of-way or other public place upon which the premises abut.

Where there is no public sewer as aforesaid, such building or buildings must be connected to a sanitary cesspool or septic tank as in this Article provided.

b. No person shall use or occupy any house or building in the City in which or for which any sewer has been constructed unless said sewer connection has been inspected and passed by the Sewer Inspector and the final certificate of acceptance issued.

[Ord. #856, § 7510]

Every wash rack in a livery stable or garage must be connected with a public sewer and shall be provided with a sand trap. The sand trap shall be constructed of concrete and shall be not less than 12 inches by 12 inches with a depth of not less than 18 inches and shall be constructed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Plumbing Inspector.

[Ord. #856, § 7511]

Whenever any sewer or drain is obstructed by roots or is found to be frozen or defective so that sewage or drainage escapes therefrom, the Sewer Inspector shall order such sewer or drain to be repaired or replaced. If such sewer or drain be of terra cotta or other clay product, the Sewer Inspector may direct its replacement with cast iron, if by so doing the recurrence of the objectionable condition may be prevented.

Whenever a pipe, joint, fitting or appurtenance is found to be broken, defective or inoperative, its repair and replacement shall be ordered by the Sewer Inspector.

[Ord. #856, § 7512]

No roof drain or surface water drain shall be connected to any sanitary sewer. No person, except a properly authorized official or employee of the City, shall remove any covering from any manhole or flush tank connecting with a sewer in the City.

[Ord. #856, § 7513]

a. No connection from any building or structure in the City shall hereafter be made to any public sewer, which connection or any portion thereof shall be in, under or upon any lot other than the lot or lots on which such building or structure is located.

b. Every building or structure in or for which any plumbing affecting the sanitary condition of such building or structure has been installed, shall be separately or independently connected with an accepted City sewer, if such sewer is constructed and available for use on any public street, right-of-way, or other public place abutting upon the lot upon which such building or structure is situated, or if no such sewer has been constructed and ready for use as aforesaid, said building shall be connected with a septic tank or cesspool situated on said lot as hereinafter provided for, providing, however, that when a building or buildings are in the rear of other building, which other building is connected with an accepted City sewer or in case said building or buildings so in the rear do not front upon a street in which there is an accepted City sewer, the plumbing work of the building or buildings in the rear may be connected with the plumbing work of the building in front by permission of the Sewer Inspector.

c. Two houses or buildings may be connected with a public sewer through one connection when, in the opinion of the Sewer Inspector, such double connection is practical. Such double connection shall be made at the curb line by the use of a "Y." Where more than two buildings are to be connected to one house sewer and there are more than three fixtures in each building, the house sewer from the joint where the two sewer lines connect to the connecting sewer, shall be six inches internal diameter.

d. All buildings constituting a house court, as defined by this Article, may be connected to the public sewer by means of one private sewer located upon the lot or parcel of land upon which such house court is located, such private sewer to be not less than six inches internal diameter.

e. Where a sewer line is run under any building or where a building is subsequently erected over an existing sewer line, that part of the sewer line under the building, and for a distance of two feet outside the outer walls of same shall be of cast iron pipe as required for the drain lines within buildings and shall be laid with leaded joints by a registered plumber. The internal diameter of any sewer pipes shall be the same as those of the cast iron pipes leading out of the building, to which pipes they connect, and of which they form a continuation; provided, that in no case shall their diameter be less than four inches from the leading-out pipe to the property line; and not less than six inches in diameter from the property line to the main sewer line when combination curb and sidewalk is installed or from curb lines to main sewer line when there is a parking space 2 1/2 feet or more between curb and sidewalk. All connections of schools and public buildings shall be not less than six inches in diameter from the leading-out pipe to the main sewer.

f. All outside drains shall be laid with a fall of not less than 1/4 of an inch per foot toward the sewer or cesspool; provided, that if such rate of fall is impracticable, and the City Sewer Inspector shall determine that sanitary drainage can be obtained with a less rate of fall, then upon the City Sewer Inspector's written authorization, a lesser gradient than 1/4 inch of an inch to the foot may be used, but in no case shall the rate of fall be less than 1/8 inch per foot.

g. The joint of each section of vitrified piping shall be completely and uniformly filled with cement composed of one part of Portland cement of standard quality and one part of sand and shall be watertight. Every such joint shall be thoroughly cleaned on the inside so as to permit a smooth surface and not form any obstruction to flow. The sections shall be laid true to line and grade. When pipe is laid in water, every joint shall be thoroughly calked with oakum and cemented. Patent asphalt joints will be permitted to be used.

All changes in direction in outside drains shall be made with curves or "Y" branches and provided with cleanouts, and all connections shall be made with "Y" branches and 1/8 bends. In all cases the line of pipe shall be straight from the property line to the "Y" in the sewer. Where a "Y" cannot be found, one length of pipe may be removed, and a new "Y" joint of proper dimension shall be inserted and carefully cemented in place by means of oakum and cement. Connections may also be made with the main sewer by the use of a properly constructed saddle. Such saddle shall be thoroughly cemented inside and outside to the main pipe so as to make a smooth watertight connection.

[Ord. #856, § 7514]

No person shall allow any oil, grease, refuse, or any other material to enter the sewer lines, which materials will tend to clog up the sewers or have a chemical or mechanical tendency to counteract the treatment of the sewage in the disposal plant.

No person shall allow or permit any sewer laterals or house connections to remain open while being laid or being connected with the main sewer line.

[Ord. #856, § 7517]

No person shall construct any septic tank until a plan and specifications for such septic tank shall have been submitted to and approved by the Sewer Inspector and a permit issued therefor. Such plans shall clearly show the proposed location of such septic tank with reference to the property lines of all buildings on the lots which such septic tank is to serve.

[Ord. #856, § 7518]

Whenever property already served with a public sewer is resubdivided so as to make it necessary or convenient that a private sewer or house connection be constructed in a different location than that anticipated when the public sewer was constructed, the private sewer or house connection necessary or convenient to serve such resubdivision lots as are not adjacent to the public sewer already constructed shall be constructed along the rear line of such lots, or in the street or parking area along the front thereof, or at some other location designated by the Sewer Inspector. Such private sewer or house connection shall be constructed under the supervision of the Sewer Inspector, and the City hereby reserves the right to make extensions of, or connections to, such private sewer or house connection at any time.

[Ord. #856, § 7519]

One or more property owners desiring to have public sewer facilities constructed to serve their property and not wishing to have such sewer facilities constructed under an assessment district and bond issue, may deposit with the City Treasurer an amount which in the estimation of the City Engineer will be sufficient to cover the entire cost of such construction, including preparation of plans and specifications. Such moneys so deposited shall not draw interest.

[Ord. #856, § 7520]

If in the opinion of the City Engineer the sewer facilities are necessary and the construction thereof feasible, he shall prepare plans and specifications for the construction thereof.

[Ord. #856, § 7521]

Immediately after the plans and specifications are prepared the City Engineer shall call for bids and submit the same to the City Council for acceptance or rejection.

[Ord. #856, § 7522]

If the amount estimated by the City Engineer is not sufficient to cover the entire cost of such sewer construction, including the preparation of plans and specifications, either at a bid price or by force account, the City Engineer shall notify the property owner, or owners, involved of the additional amount necessary to do such work, and within 10 days thereafter such property owner, or owners, shall deposit such additional amount with the City Treasurer. Should the property owner or owners fail to deposit such additional amount, the City Engineer shall present a statement to the City Treasurer showing all expenditures on behalf of the proposed sewer construction. The City Treasurer shall thereafter refund to the property owner or owners all the money deposited by them, except that amount shown by the City Engineer's statement to have been expended on behalf of the proposed construction.

[Ord. #856, § 7523]

When the full amount necessary to cover the entire cost of such construction has been so deposited with the City Treasurer, it shall be placed in a guaranteed deposit account against which only charges for the sewer construction shall be drawn.

[Ord. #856, § 7524]

Immediately after the completion of the sewer construction, the City Engineer shall prorate the entire cost thereof against all lots or property that may ultimately be benefited by direct connection to the sewer in proportion to the frontage thereof, or if the lots be irregular in shape, then in such manner as may, in the opinion of the City Engineer, provide an equitable distribution of costs.

[Ord. #856, § 7525]

After all proper charges for the entire cost of such sewer construction have been paid, the excess, if any, remaining on deposit with the City Treasurer shall be refunded to the property owner, or owners in proportion to the amount contributed by him or them.

[Ord. #856, § 7526]

In no event shall any owner of property benefited by the sewer be permitted to connect thereto without first paying the prorated charge placed against said property by the City Engineer.

[Ord. #856, § 7527]

Immediately upon the completion of such sewer construction the property owner, or owners, who have contributed thereto shall enter into a contract with the City as hereinafter provided.

a. The City Engineer is hereby authorized on behalf of the City to enter into a written contract with said property owner, or owners, depositing said funds as aforesaid, which said contract shall contain among other things the following conditions:

1. No property owner shall be permitted to connect to the sewer unless he has first paid the charge placed against the property as provided in this section.

2. That the City shall endeavor to collect the charges and cause the sum so collected to be refunded as provided in Paragraph (c) hereof, but shall not be liable for any failure to make such collection or refund.

3. That all sums so paid by any property owner shall be refunded to the property owner, or owners, who deposited the amount necessary to complete said sewer in the proportion that the amount contributed bears to the entire cost, until the property owner, or owners, have received the entire amount deposited by them less that portion prorated against their own property.

4. If the entire amount has not been refunded as in Paragraph 3 above provided within a period of 15 years from the date of said contract, the same shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.

5. No charge made or payment collected shall bear interest.

[Ord. #856, § 7528]

Any person entitled to any refund under the provisions of this section shall keep on file with the City Treasurer his correct mailing address. In the event the City Treasurer is unable to locate any person entitled to receive a refund hereunder, he shall send a written notice to the person by registered mail, to the last address filed by such person with him. Such written notice shall contain a statement of the amount of such refund and shall also advise such person that if the refund is not called for within one year from the date of such notice, all rights of such person to that particular refund will be forfeited. After the period of one year, the City Treasurer shall pay said amount total to all other persons entitled to refunds in their proper proportion as in this section provided. If there be no other persons entitled to refunds hereinunder, the same shall be paid into the general fund of the City.

[Ord. #856, § 7529]

No person shall connect any property with the public sewer without first obtaining the permit and paying the connection charge required by this section.

[Ord. #2183, § 2]

The following rates and charges are hereby fixed and established as the rates and charges to be made and collected for the capital improvement program for the sewer system:

a. Capital improvement program charges for all sewer services furnished in the City shall be billed monthly at the following rates in the following fiscal years for each 100 cubic feet of water used as determined by the Water Department:

b. The rates and charges established pursuant to Paragraph (a) this section are in addition to, and shall have no effect on, any other rates and charges the City may currently levy or hereafter establish in connection with the operation and maintenance of the sewer system.