El Cajon Municipal Code Ch. 13.32 Sewers and Sewage Disposal—private Disposal Systems General

For the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 13.36, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

"Approved" or "Approval."

The approval of the health officer, or approval means meeting the approval of the health officer as the result of investigation or tests conducted by the health officer or by reason of accepted principles or tests by national authorities, technical or scientific organizations, or a research laboratory of recognized authority.

"Building"

includes all structures.

"Drainage system" or "drainage piping"

means all the piping within public or private premises which conveys sewage or other liquid wastes to a legal point of disposal, but such terms shall not include the mains or laterals of a public sewer system.

"Plumbing"

means all drainage systems, both direct and indirect, and all vent piping, water piping and other piping in any building or within the boundaries of any property through which sewage, water, waste water or any other substance or liquid is conveyed.

(Prior code § 24-34)

The plumbing and drainage system of every building hereafter constructed or reconstructed shall be connected to a public sewer if the property on which such building is located abuts a public sewer.

(Prior code § 24-35)

No person shall maintain a septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface sewage disposal unit or system on any premises adjacent to a public sewer.

(Prior code § 24-36)

When a public sewer is not available for use, the plumbing and drainage system of a building shall be connected to an approved private subsurface sewage disposal system.

(Prior code § 24-37)

Where the health officer determines it is probable that a public sanitary sewer will become available to property within twenty-four months, he may issue a permit to the owner of such property authorizing the construction of a temporary sewage disposal facility; provided, that the permittee executes and records in the office of the county recorder an agreement with the health officer, providing the following:

A. That the permittee will connect the property to the sanitary sewer within thirty days after it becomes available to the property;

B. That if the sanitary sewer does not become available to the property within a period of time specified by the health officer, the permittee will apply for a permit for and construct a septic tank and sewage disposal system in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 13.36;

C. That the permittee will pump and remove all sewage from the temporary sewage disposal facility and fill the facility with soil or other material in a manner approved by the health officer at the time the property is connected to the sanitary sewer or a septic tank and sewage disposal system specified in subsection B;

D. That in the event the property is sold or transferred before the connection of the property to the sanitary sewer is made, the agreement with the health officer shall be made a part of the contract to sell or transfer the property;

E. That the property will not be occupied until a sewage disposal facility has been installed and approved by the health officer;

F. That the agreement with the health officer shall be binding upon the owner, his heirs, administrators, executors, successors and assigns. No person bound by the terms of such agreement shall violate any provision of such agreement.

(Prior code § 24-38)

The type of sewage disposal system required shall be determined on the basis of location, area, soil porosity, the ground water level and the density of population in the area. The system shall be designed to receive and dispose of all sewage and liquid waste from the property served.

(Prior code § 24-39)

Where a public sewer is installed adjacent to premises upon which there is located an existing building served by a septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface disposal unit or system, the health officer may approve the continued use of such subsurface disposal system until such time as he deems that the public health and sanitation require the connection of such building to the public sewer and the discontinuance of the use or maintenance of such subsurface disposal system.

(Prior code § 24-40)

No septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface sewage disposal system or unit shall be installed or constructed on a lot or parcel containing an area of less than six thousand square feet.

(Prior code § 24-41)

For the temporary occupancy of buildings in isolated areas remote from any public highway, the health officer may authorize the construction and use of an approved type sanitary toilet in lieu of connection to a public sewer or to a subsurface disposal unit or system installed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 13.36.

(Prior code § 24-42)

The violation of any of the provisions or conditions of any temporary occupancy permit shall constitute a violation of this chapter and Chapter 13.36.

(Prior code § 24-43)

Where percolation tests have shown that subsurface drainage is not practical, or where the leaching from subsurface disposal systems may drain into a water supply or cause a nuisance, the health officer, with the approval of the board of health of the county, may permit the installation of sewage collection tanks.

(Prior code § 24-44)

Application for a permit to install a sewage collection tank shall be made in writing to the health officer, and shall be accompanied by a sketch showing the location and special design features of the proposed installation. The health officer shall refer the application to the next succeeding meeting of the board of health for approval or disapproval.

(Prior code § 24-45)

Any sewage collection tank for which a permit is issued shall be constructed of watertight concrete, shall have a capacity of not less than one thousand five hundred gallons and may, in the discretion of the health officer, be required to have a greater capacity. It shall be emptied before it is filled to three-fourths of its capacity, or in accordance with a schedule prescribed by the health officer. The drain through which the tank is emptied shall be located at least six inches above the water level of the lowest fixture which it serves.

(Prior code § 24-46)

Any subsurface sewage disposal unit or system or part thereof constructed or installed in the city shall be so situated that it will be a safe distance from any source of water supply as determined by the health officer.

In determining what is a safe distance, the health officer shall consider the following factors:

A. The source of possible pollution;

B. The type of soil, surface and subsurface;

C. The type and source of water supply;

D. The geological formation of the ground, the direction of surface drainage and the depth and direction of groundwater flow.

(Prior code § 24-47)

Under no circumstances shall any part of a subsurface sewage disposal unit or system, except the house sewer line, be located closer than fifty feet from any water supply.

(Prior code § 24-48)

No part of any subsurface sewage disposal unit or system, except the house sewer line, shall be located less than five feet from every building or structure, or less than five feet from every property line.

(Prior code § 24-49)

Any house sewer line, or part thereof, constructed or installed in the city shall be constructed of bell and spigot cast iron pipe with leaded joints, when located less than fifty feet from any well used as a domestic water supply.

(Prior code § 24-50)

Any subsurface sewage disposal unit or system constructed or installed in the city shall consist of a septic tank, with effluent discharging into a distribution box connected to a subsurface tile system consisting of at least two lateral absorption lines, each of which lines shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five feet in length; or, with the approval of the health officer, such distribution box may be connected to a cesspool or cesspools each having at least a three-foot inside diameter.

(Prior code § 24-51)

Any septic tank constructed or installed in the city shall meet the following minimum specifications:

A. The tank shall have an inside depth of at least five feet, with a liquid depth of at least four feet.

B. The length of the tank shall not exceed three times the width, and shall have a liquid capacity of not less than nine hundred sixty gallons.

C. The tank shall have at least two compartments, and a manhole of adequate size shall be installed in each compartment.

D. The inlet and outlet of the tank shall have a vertical four-inch tee extending two feet below and six inches above the liquid level of the tank.

E. The tank shall be watertight, and shall be constructed of concrete, concrete block, brick or tile.

F. The top of the tank shall be constructed of reinforced concrete, at least four inches thick.

G. When the tank is constructed of concrete, the walls and bottom shall be at least six inches thick and shall be adequately reinforced with steel or other approved material.

H. The concrete used for the tanks shall contain one part cement, two parts sharp sand and four parts crushed rock or gravel.

I. Where brick, concrete block or tile is used in the construction of the tank, the inside shall be plastered with Portland cement mortar, composed of one part cement and three parts sand.

J. The side walls of the tank shall be adequately reinforced with steel or other approved material so as to withstand any inside or outside pressure.

(Prior code § 24-52)

The line from a septic tank to a distribution box shall be constructed of watertight bell and spigot pipe.

(Prior code § 24-53)

Any distribution box constructed or installed in the city shall meet the following minimum specifications:

A. The distribution box shall be watertight and shall be constructed of the same materials authorized for the construction of a septic tank.

B. All outlets from a distribution box shall have exactly the same elevation.

C. The inlet to the distribution box shall be one inch above the elevation of the outlets.

D. The distribution box shall be connected to a subsurface tile system consisting of at least two lateral absorption lines.

(Prior code § 24-54)

One or more cesspools may be substituted for or used in conjunction with lateral absorption lines when approved by the health officer.

(Prior code § 24-55)

All lines leading from the distribution box to the lateral absorption lines or to cesspools shall be constructed with watertight joints.

(Prior code § 24-56)

Any subsurface tile system constructed or installed in the city for the purpose of disposing of the effluent from a septic tank shall meet the following minimum specifications:

A. The tile system shall consist of at least two lateral absorption lines, totaling at least two hundred feet in length. No such line shall exceed one hundred twenty-five feet in length. Where it is practical, each such line shall be one hundred twenty-five feet in length.

B. Lateral absorption lines shall be constructed of tile pipe spaced one-quarter inch apart so as to provide open joints. The upper one-half of each such open joint shall be covered with tar paper or copper screen.

C. Each lateral absorption line shall be placed in a trench at least eighteen inches wide, which trench shall contain at least thirteen inches of rock or gravel grading not less than one inch, with at least four inches of such rock or gravel beneath the bottom of the line and four inches of such rock or gravel over the top of the line.

D. Lateral absorption lines shall have a grade of two inches per one hundred feet, with not more than fifty percent variation either way.

E. Lateral absorption lines shall not be more than thirty inches below the surface of the ground.

F. Every absorption line shall be at least ten feet from every other lateral absorption line.

(Prior code § 24-57)

A cesspool or series of cesspools may be substituted for or used in conjunction with a subsurface tile system, when such substitution or use is approved by the health officer.

No cesspool shall be permitted where the health officer determines that its use might contaminate or pollute an underground water supply.

(Prior code § 24-58)

Any cesspool constructed or installed in the city shall meet the following minimum specifications:

A. The cesspool shall be not less than three feet in inside diameter and shall be constructed to a depth where the side wall area will have sufficient porosity to provide adequate drainage, as determined by the health officer.

B. The cesspool shall be either rectangular or round.

C. In the case of a rectangular shape, such cesspool shall be constructed of brick, concrete block or two-inch redwood plank, securely braced, with four-inch by four-inch redwood timber.

D. In the case of a round shape, the cesspool shall be constructed of brick, concrete block, or one-inch redwood boards of full thickness, with supporting two-inch by three-inch redwood timbers, placed every five feet, so as to form a securely braced octagonal shape.

E. The top of each cesspool shall be covered with a concrete slab or cover constructed of concrete reinforced with steel or other approved material. Such slab or cover shall extend not less than eighteen inches beyond the outside of the side walls of the cesspool.

(Prior code § 24-59)

The minimum standards for septic tanks, distribution boxes, tile lines and cesspools, as set forth in this chapter and Chapter 13.36, are the minimum standards for a subsurface sewage disposal system or unit serving a one family or two family residence or small institution or industry having sanitary facilities used by not more than ten persons.

(Prior code § 24-60)

Every applicant for a permit to install or construct a subsurface sewage disposal system or unit to serve residences, institutions or industries, other than a one family or two family residence or a small institution or industry having sanitary facilities used by more than ten persons shall submit to the health officer for approval the detailed plans and specifications of the proposed subsurface sewage disposal system.

Upon the filing of the required application accompanied by such detailed plans and specifications, the payment of the application fee therefor prescribed and the approval of such plans and specifications by the health officer, the health officer shall issue a permit for the construction of such subsurface sewage disposal system.

(Prior code § 24-61)

Nothing contained in this chapter and Chapter 13.36 shall be construed to prevent the health officer from requiring compliance with higher or more stringent requirements or specifications than those contained herein where compliance with such higher or more stringent requirements or specifications is necessary to maintain a sanitary condition.

(Prior code § 24-62)

Anything contained in this chapter and Chapter 13.36 to the contrary notwithstanding, the health officer may relax the literal requirements and specifications herein where subsurface sewage disposal systems may be maintained in a sanitary condition with safety to the public health.

(Prior code § 24-63)

When any building or premises has been inspected or caused to be inspected by the health officer, and the plumbing or sewage disposal unit or system of such building or premises is found to be defective or insanitary, notice to that effect shall be served upon the tenant occupying the premises, if there be a tenant, or the owner or his agent. Such notice shall specify the character of repairs and alterations to be made in order to eliminate the defective or insanitary condition.

(Prior code § 24-64)

If repairs and alterations, as specified in the notice provided in Section 13.32.310 are not commenced in good faith within five days from the date of the service of such notice, and completed within the time specified therein, the health officer may condemn the building or premises as being insanitary and unfit for human habitation, and its occupancy thereafter is prohibited.

(Prior code § 24-65)

When any building or premises have been condemned by the health officer for defective conditions, the occupants shall immediately vacate the premises until such time as all repairs and alterations required by the health officer shall have been made.

(Prior code § 24-66)

When a building or premises has been condemned for any cause under this chapter and Chapter 13.36, the health officer shall place or cause to be placed thereon a placard reading as follows:

(Prior code § 24-67)

No person shall install or permit to be installed an interconnection between a drinking water supply and any equipment or connection of any kind, class or description which may contain water or any liquid or substance unfit for human or domestic consumption.

The health officer shall make or cause to be made inspections to determine if such conditions exist. If such interconnections are discovered, the health officer shall require the purveyor of water to discontinue water service unless the condition is abated within a reasonable period of time fixed by the health officer.

(Prior code § 24-68)

No device shall be sold in the city which provides an interconnection between a drinking water supply and any equipment or connection which may contain substances unfit for human consumption as a means of operation unless the water supply is adequately protected.

(Prior code § 24-69)

No opening shall be provided in any drainage system or in any septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface disposal unit or system for the purpose of receiving the surface drainage from any yard or building.

(Prior code § 24-70)

No person shall cover or cause to be covered any septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface disposal system prior to its approval by the health officer as provided in this chapter and Chapter 13.36.

(Prior code § 24-71)

No person shall connect any house sewer line or other plumbing to a septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface sewage disposal unit or system installed, constructed or reconstructed, unless such septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface sewage disposal unit or system has been approved by the health officer as provided in this chapter and Chapter 13.36.

(Prior code § 24-72)

The provisions of this chapter and Chapter 13.36 requiring connection to a public sewer or to a subsurface disposal unit or system shall not be applied to a trailer, temporary building or an accessory building for which a temporary occupancy permit has been issued.

(Prior code § 24-73)

It shall be the duty of the city health officer to see that there is compliance with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 13.36.

(Prior code § 24-74)

The violation of any provision of this chapter is deemed to be a public nuisance and may be abated in accordance with Chapter 1.16 of this code.

(Ord. 4318 § 5, 1991)