Chapter 13.04 — Sewer Regulations

13.04.010 Purpose--scope.

13.04.020 Rules and regulations--adopted.

13.04.030 Definitions.

13.04.040 Compliance.

13.04.050 Permits and fees--required.

13.04.060 Permit--application--issuance.

13.04.070 Inspection.

13.04.080 Costs and expenses.

13.04.090 Connection requirements.

13.04.100 Drainage restrictions.

13.04.110 Design and construction standards.

13.04.120 Easements or rights-of-way.

13.04.130 Elevation of building sewers.

13.04.140 Excavations and restoration.

13.04.150 Maintenance.

13.04.160 Testing of sewer line.

13.04.170 Prohibited discharges.

13.04.180 Industrial wastewater discharge.

13.04.190 Unlawful acts.

13.04.200 Violation penalty.

13.04.210 Collection of sewer service charges.

The purpose of this chapter is to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency and California State Water Resources Control Board requirements for regulation of sewer use, construction, and industrial wastewater discharges. This chapter complements existing city sewer ordinances and regulations.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

The following rules and regulations are adopted for sewer construction and disposal of sewage, and drainage of buildings and connection to the sewage works of the city.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1978).

For use in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall apply:

A. "BOD" means Biochemical Oxygen Demand, which is the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at twenty degrees Centigrade, expressed in milligrams per liter.

B. "Building" means any structure used for human habitation, a place of business, recreation or other purposes.

C. "Building drain" means that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a building drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer.

D. "Building sewer" means a sewer conveying materials from the premises of a user to a community sewer.

E. "Chemical Oxygen Demand" (C.O.D.) means the measure of the chemically decomposable material in domestic or industrial wastewater as represented by the oxygen utilized as determined by the appropriate procedure described in "Standard Methods."

F. "City" means the City of Gridley.

G. "City plumbing inspector" means the director of public works, or his designated representative.

H. "Combined sewer" means a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.

I. "Community sewer" means a sewer owned and maintained by the city.

J. "Contractor" means any contractor licensed by the State of California to enter into contracts to perform the work of installing, repairing, replacing or relocating sewers under city jurisdiction, or the owner of private property doing his own house sewer work on his private property only.

K. "County" means the County of Butte, California.

L. "Domestic sewage" means sewage from residences, business, buildings and institutions as distinct from industrial waste.

M. "Industrial discharge" or "industrial wastewater discharge means the introduction of pollutants into the POTW from any non-domestic source

regulated under Chapter 13.06 of the Gridley Municipal Code.

(Ord. 681 (part), 1998).

N. "Natural outlet" means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake, or other body of surface water or groundwater.

• O. "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, company, partnership, association, organization, or combination of more than one such entities. P. "pH" means a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, expressed in standard units.

• (Ord. 681 (part), 1998).

R. "Radioactive material" means material containing chemical elements that spontaneously change their atomic structure by emitting any particles, rays, or energy forms.

• S. "Sanitary sewer" means a sewer which carries sewage and to which stormwater, surface water, and ground-water are not intentionally admitted.

• T. "Sewage" means a combination of the water-carried wastes from residence, business, buildings, institutions and industrial establishments.

• U. "Sewage treatment plant" means any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.

• V. "Sewage works" means all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.

• W. "Sewer" means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.

• X. "Shall" is mandatory. "May" is permissive.

Y. "Storm drain," sometimes termed "storm sewer," means a sewer which carries stormwater, surface water, and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.

Z. "Street" means any public highway, road, street, avenue, alley, way, parking place, public easement or right-of-way.

AA. "Suspended solids" means solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtering.

BB. "Wastewater" means the same as sewage.

CC. "Watercourse" means a channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.

(Ord. 539, (part), 1978).

Any person constructing a sewer within a street shall comply with all state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations pertaining to the cutting of pavement, opening, barricading, lighting and protection of trenches, backfilling and repaving thereof and shall obtain all permits and pay all fees required by the agency having jurisdiction prior to the issuance of a permit by the city.

(Ord. 539, (part), 1988).

A. No public sewer, building sewer, or other sewage facility shall be installed, altered, or repaired within the city until a permit for the work has been obtained from the proper city office and all required fees paid in accordance with the rules, regulations and ordinances of the city.

B. No person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the city and paying all fees and connection charges of the city.

(Ord. 539, (part), 1988).

The application for a permit for public sewer construction shall be accompanied by complete sets of plans, profiles and specifications, complying with all applicable ordinances, rules and regulations of the city, prepared by a registered civil engineer showing all details of the proposed work based on an accurate survey of the ground. The application, together with the plans, profiles and specifications shall be examined by the director of public works, who shall within ten days approve them as filed or require them to be modified as he or she deems necessary for proper installation. When the city is satisfied that the proposed work is proper and the plans, profiles and specifications are sufficient and correct, it will issue a permit predicated upon the payment of all connection charges, fees and deposits as required by the city. The permit shall prescribe such terms and conditions as. the city finds necessary in the public interest.

(Ord 681 (part), 1998; Ord. 539 (part), 1978).

The applicant for a building sewer permit shall notify the director of public works when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the director or his representative. Any damage to the public sewer shall be repaired to the satisfaction of the director of public works at the applicant's expense.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

All costs and expenses incident to the construction, installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The acceptance of any permit shall constitute an agreement by the contractor to comply with all provisions, terms and requirements of this chapter and other ordinances, rules and regulations of the city. The owner and contractor shall indemnify the city from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer including the negligent or unlawful act of any person installing or maintaining the building sewer.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the city. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the city in writing before installation.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

No person shall connect roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, area drains, or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

Minimum standards for the design and construction of sewers within the district shall be in accordance with the Gridley Public Works Construction Standards and the Uniform Plumbing Code heretofore or hereafter adopted by the city, copies of which are on file in City Hall. The city may permit modifications or may require higher standards where unusual conditions are encountered. One complete photographic mylar or duplicate mylar set of asbuilt drawings showing the actual location of all mains, structures, wyes and laterals shall be filed with the city before final acceptance of the work.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988)

In the event that an easement is required for the construction or extension of the public sewer or making connections, the applicant shall procure for and have accepted by the city a proper easement or grant of right-of-way having a minimum width of 12-feet and sufficient to allow the construction and maintenance of such sewer, extension or connection.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

In all buildings in which a building sewer is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building sewer shall be lifted by artificial means approved by the city, and discharged to the public sewer, all at the expense of the owner.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city. (Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

Building sewers shall be maintained by the owner of the property served thereby. The owner or occupant of any premises shall be responsible for any blockage occurring in the building sewer (sewer lateral) serving said premises, from the building fixtures to the sewer main. The City will only be responsible for the structural integrity of that portion of the building sewer (sewer lateral) located within a public street or alley.

(Ord. 548, 1989: Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

Before acceptance of a sewer line by the city, and prior to the admission of sewage into the system, the sewer line shall be tested and shall be complete and in full compliance with all requirements of the Gridley Public Works Construction Standards, and to the satisfaction of the director of public works. (Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described materials, substances, liquids, waters, or wastes into the public sewer system of the city:

A. Stormwater and cooling water. Any rainwater, stormwater, groundwater, street drainage, subsurface drainage, roof drainage, yard drainage, or water from yard fountains;

B. Dilution water. Any water added for the purpose of diluting wastes which would otherwise exceed applicable maximum concentration limitations;

C. Solids or viscous matter. Any solids or viscous substances of such size or in such quantity that they may cause obstruction of the flow in the sewer or be detrimental to proper wastewater treatment plant operations. These objectionable substances include but are not limited to asphalt, dead animals, offal, ashes, sand, rock, cement, mud, straw, industrial process shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastic, wood, whole blood, paunch manure, bones, hair and fleshings, entrails, paper dishes, paper cups, milk containers, or other similar paper products, either whole or ground;

D. Flammable or explosive substances. Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, solvent, fuel oil or any liquid, solid, or gas that would cause or tend to cause flammable or explosive conditions to result in the sewage works;

E. Hot substances. Any liquid, vapor, solid, gas, or thing having or developing a temperature of one hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit or more;

F. Grease, oil and fats. Any liquid or other waste containing floatable and/or dispersible grease, oil or fat of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin in excess of one hundred parts per million by weight;

G. Corrosive substances. Any waters or wastes having pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 8.5, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or injury to structures, equipment, or personnel;

H. Toxic substances. Any wastes including those listed below, containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in such quantities that, alone or in combination with other waste substances, may create a hazard for humans, animals or the local environment, interfere detrimentally with wastewater treatment processes, cause a public nuisance, or. cause any hazardous conditions to occur in the sewage works:

I. Insecticides. Any liquids or wastes containing algicides, fungicides, antibiotics, insecticides, strong oxidizing agents, or strong reducing agents;

J. Suspended and dissolved solids. Any liquids or wastes containing suspended solids or dissolved matter of such character or quality that unusual attention or expense is required to handle, process, or treat such matter at the treatment plant;

K. Sulfides. Any wastes containing over 1.1 milligram/liter of dissolved sulfides;

L. Noxious odors. Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a public nuisance either by itself or by interaction with other substances;

M. Chlorine demand. Any wastes requiring an excessive quantity of chlorine or other chemical compound used for disinfection purposes;

N. Discoloration. Any waste producing excessive discoloration of wastewater or treatment plant effluent;

O. Radioactive wastes. Any radioactive wastes unless a permit has been issued by the city and the county health officer. No such permit shall be issued unless:

1. The person is authorized to use radioactive materials by the State Department of Health or other governmental agency empowered to regulate the use of radioactive materials, and

2. The waste is discharged in strict conformity with current California Radiation Control Regulations (California Administration Code, Title 17) and the Atomic Energy Commission regulations and recommendations for safe disposal, and

3. The person is in compliance with all rules and regulations of all other applicable regulatory agencies;

P. Miscellaneous wastes. Any liquid or wastes containing recognizable portions of the human anatomy;

Q. Untreatable wastes. Any liquid or waste containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or which cause the treatment plant effluent to fail to meet the discharge requirements established by the State Water Quality Control Board, or any other state or regulatory agency;

R. Slugs. Any unusual volume of flow or concentration of waste constituting a slug, where "slug" is defined as any discharge of liquid, water, sewage,. or industrial waste which in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer than fifteen minutes more than five times the average twenty-four-hour concentration or flow during normal operation.

(Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any nondomestic wastewater directly or indirectly to sewerage facilities owned by the city without first obtaining a city permit in accordance with Chapter 13.06 of the Gridley Municipal Code.

(Ord 681 (part), 1998; Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

A. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to connect to, construct, install or provide any other means of sewage disposal from any building in the city except by connection to a public sewer in the manner as provided in this chapter.

B. If an existing private domestic wastewater disposal system fails, and the Director of Public Works determines that the City is unable to provide public sewer service to the property, the property owner may repair and/or replace the existing private system in accordance with Butte County Environmental Health Department regulations and California regional Water Quality Control Board regulations. All new facilities shall be constructed to facilitate future connection to a public sewer.

(Ord 618, 1993).

C. It is unlawful for any person to maliciously or wilfully break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance, or equipment which is a part of the city sewerage works.

(Ord 681 (part), 1998; Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

A. Every person violating any provision of this chapter, including failure to pay any fees, charges or surcharges imposed by this chapter, or any condition or limitation of a permit or plan approval issued pursuant thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable as such.

B. Each day during which any violation continues shall constitute a separate offense punishable as provided above.

C. The city may utilize all legal remedies to recover any amount due the city under the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 681 (part), 1998; Ord. 539 (part), 1988).

Property owners liable for sewer service payments and connection charges to their properties:

A. The property owner, as determined by the real property tax roll of the Butte County Assessor, is liable for payment of sewer service and connection charges, where connections currently exist or where new connections are made, for services by connection with the city system of sewerage whereby sewerage, industrial waste, or both are disposed of by the city, either through the city sewerage treatment and disposal works, or otherwise. The charges shall be in such amount and manner as shall be established and fixed from time to time by resolution of the City Council and shall be for services furnished to the property by the city.

B. The liability of the property owner for these charges exists even if the user of the sewer service is not the owner of the property. An occupant other than the owner may pay the charges on the behalf of the owner.

C. It is the responsibility of the owner of the real property to provide the city Finance Director with the current billing address and to notify the city Finance Director of any changes of address.

D. The fees for the sewer service and connection charges established by this section shall be payable to the city.

E. It shall be the duty of the city Finance Department to collect all charges provided for in this chapter.

F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to sewer service charges incurred at residential property when the owner of such property has not applied for or contractually agreed to pay for sewer service charges supplied to such property.

(Ord. 785-2009, § 3, 2009)