Huron Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Sewer Service System

A. Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meanings of terms used in this chapter shall be as defined in the American Society of Civil Engineers' Manual of Engineering Practice No. 37, and the latest edition of the book Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Sewage, published by the American Public Health Association.

B. The meaning of additional terms as used in this chapter shall be as follows:

"Applicant" means any person or group of persons who applies for sewer service.

"Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)" means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five (5) days at twenty (20) degrees centigrade, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l).

"Business" means all commercial uses, including, but not limited to, offices, merchandising and industrial uses, and residential uses on premises where there are five (5) or more living units or where unrelated persons are housed in the same structure, such as boarding or fraternity houses.

"City" means the City of Huron, authorized representative acting within the scope of his assigned duties.

"City council" means the city council of the City of Huron.

"City sewerage system" means all facilities for collecting, treating and transporting domestic or industrial wastes of any nature, including all such facilities both inside and outside the city limits of Huron owned, operated and controlled by the City.

"Connected" means the physical joinder of any plumbing or drainage system or fixture contained in structure to a public sewer line.

"Completion" means acceptance, in writing, by the city administrator for maintenance of an addition to the City sewerage system.

"Commercial garbage grinder" means a mechanical unit for pulverizing large quantities of waste by a commercial user.

"Customer" means any person, firm, association, corporation or governmental agency served by the City.

"Dwelling" or "dwelling unit" means a room or suite of rooms which is occupied by one family for living and sleeping purposes, including a single-family residence, mobile home unit, apartment, townhouse, flat or condominium.

"Fee schedule" means the fee schedule as adopted from time to time by the city council by resolution.

"Garbage" means solid wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of foods, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.

"Grease," "oil" or "fats" means any material, or like material, that is soluble in petroleum ether.

"Industrial wastes" means the wastes from industrial processes, including but not limited to, water softening regeneration plants.

"Infiltration" means the water entering a sewer system, including sewer service connections, from the ground through such means as, but not limited to, defective pipes, pipe joints, connections or manhole walls. Infiltration does not include and is distinguished from inflow.

"Infiltration/inflow" means the total quantity of water from both infiltration and inflow without distinguishing the source.

"Inflow" means the water discharged into a sewer system, including service connections, from such sources as, but not limited to, roof leaders, cellar, yard and area drains, foundation drains, cooling water discharges, drains from springs and swampy areas, manhole covers, cross-connections from storm sewers and combined sewers, catchbasins, stormwaters, surface runoff, street washwaters or drainage. Inflow does not include and is distinguished from infiltration.

"Major facilities sewer charge" means a fee for the right to use the wastewater treatment facilities, said fee to be utilized to recover the cost of treatment facilities, pump or lift stations.

"Oversize sewer charge" means a fee to be used to pay the additional cost of constructing or reconstructing public sewers larger than eight (8) inches in diameter.

"Person" means any individual, firm, company, association, society, municipality, private corporation, institution, enterprise, governmental agency or other entity.

"Properly shredded garbage" means the wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than one-half (½) inch in any dimension.

"Sewer connection fees" includes the major facilities sewer charge, oversize sewer charge, connection charge which may be applicable to any lot.

"Slugs" means any discharge of water, sewage or industrial waste which, in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow, exceeds for any period of longer duration than fifteen (15) minutes more than five (5) times its average hourly concentration or flow.

"Surcharge" means the assessment in addition to the service charge which is levied on those persons whose wastes are greater in strength than the concentration values listed in Section 13.12.140.

"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 filtration.

"Unpolluted water or liquids" means any water or liquid containing none of the following: free or emulsified grease or oil; acids or alkalis; substances that may impart taste and odor or color characteristics; toxic or poisonous substances in suspension, colloidal state or solution. It shall contain not more than five hundred (500) parts per million of dissolved solids, and not more than twenty-five (25) parts per million each of suspended solids or biochemical oxygen demand, or meet the most recent requirement for secondary treatment defined by State Water Resources. Analytical determinations shall be made in accordance with procedures set forth in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Sewage. Any water having contact with potential pathogen sources is considered to be polluted.

"Unit" means a facility as defined herein;

a. "Living unit" shall mean a home, residence, apartment, condominium or other living area.

b. "Other units" shall be as defined herein;

i. Office: the number of units shall be determined by dividing the gross floor area by one thousand five hundred (1,500).

ii. Commercial: the number of units shall be determined by dividing the gross floor area by three thousand (3,000).

iii. Industrial: the number of units shall be determined by dividing the gross floor area by ten thousand (10,000).

iv. Institutional: the number of units shall be determined by dividing the gross floor area by ten thousand (10,000).

v. Where an industrial lot or portion of such lot is used for a warehouse, loft building, storage area or similar facility, the city administrator may fix a lower number of units for such lot or portion thereof based upon the estimated burden such use will impose on the City sewer system, in which event a unit shall consist of each multiple of ten fixture units (as defined in the latest edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code of the City) or fraction thereof, or one-quarter acre or fraction thereof of net land area, whichever is greater.

vi. Where a development is for open recreation and sport use, the city administrator may fix a lower number of units for such development, in which event a unit shall consist of one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet of gross floor area of a building, and one-quarter acre or fraction thereof of net land area of improvements, or one-quarter or fraction thereof of net land area of the development, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 178 (part), 1981)

A. From and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person or business to construct, maintain, use or allow to exist within the City of Huron any privy or any cesspool.

B. From and after the effective date of said ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person or business to construct, maintain, use or allow to exist within the City of Huron any septic tank. Provided, however, that current septic tank systems must be connected to the City's system upon the occurrence of the earliest of the following:

1. Five years from the effective date of said ordinance;

2. Sale of the property;

3. Any substantial construction requiring the issuance of a building permit.

C. Domestic plumbing systems that incorporate non-potable water reuse systems, such as graywater reuse systems, shall be exempt from this section provided that they are installed and constructed in accordance with the current provisions of the 2016 California Plumbing Code, Chapter 15 - Alternate Water Sources For Nonpotable Applications governing the construction, alteration, discharge, use, and repair of graywater systems.

(Ord. 269 §§ 2, 3, 1991)

( Ord. No. 374 , § 2, 6-20-2018)

A. The City shall have the exclusive right to make connections with the public sewer of the City and for laying laterals therefrom. The infiltration/inflow limit for all connections to the public sewer of the City shall be a maximum of two hundred (200) gallons per inch diameter per mile.

B. Applicant shall perform tests as required by the City to guarantee that inflow/filtration does not exceed two hundred (200) gallons per inch diameter per mile.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

No connection shall be made with any public sewer of the City until a permit therefor has been obtained from the city administrator or the administrator's designee.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

Application for permits required by this chapter shall be made to the city administrator or the city administrator's designee by the owner of the premises sought to be drained or his duly authorized agent. The applicant shall state the location of the premises by lot and block or other accurate description, the character of the building with which the connection is desired, and the place where the public sewer is laid with which he desires to make such connection.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

A. No permit shall be issued by the City unless the following charges, when applicable, have been paid:

1. Oversize Sewer Charge. An oversize sewer charge shall be required for all lots sought to be connected to the City sewer system. The charge shall be either the minimum charge per lot, or the applicable rate per gross or net acre designated by resolution, whichever is greater. Area calculations shall be based upon the following:

a. Gross acreage shall be calculated to include the street right-of-way, and shall include one-half of the right-of-way on boundary streets. Areas dedicated or condemned for public street and alley purposes shall be excluded in calculating net acreage.

b. Property which has wholly or proportionately paid the cost of sewer mains, when such fact has been or can be established to the satisfaction of the City, need pay only the oversize sewer charge applicable to the portion of the property for which the charge has not been paid.

c. When only a portion of a lot is developed, and the remaining is to continue undeveloped or is to be used solely for the growing of agricultural crops, or for public recreation uses not enclosed in a building, the city administrator may require the payment of the oversize sewer charge applicable only to that portion of the lot developed or to be provided that the parcel for which such fees are charged shall have an area of not less than twelve thousand five hundred (12,500) square feet or one-fourth (¼) of the lot, whichever is greater. When the balance of the lot is developed, the oversize sewer charge shall be paid regardless of whether or not additional sewer service is required. The city administrator shall fix the portion of the lot which is to be considered as developed.

2. Connection Charge.

a. For each connection to the City sewer system there shall be a charge as set forth by resolution.

b. Where connection is to an existing building sewer for which a connection charge has been previously paid, a credit equal to the previous connection classification be made in determining the applicable connection charge. Industrial classifications will be reviewed by the city engineer to determine what credit, if any, is applicable. All such credits will be on a current rate basis.

B. When land is subdivided or lots are split, the owner, prior to the time the final map or parcel map is approved, shall pay or cause to be paid all applicable sewer connection fees.

C. Payment of charges and issuance of permits pursuant to this section does not authorize the permittee to perform or cause to be performed work specified in this chapter to be performed by the City.

(Ord. 325 § 5, 1999; Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

The fee for making connections to the City sewer system and laying laterals therefrom to the property line shall be as set forth by resolution by the city council.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

A. The amount of any sewer connection charges prescribed under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a debt owing to the City which, until paid, shall be a continuing obligation of the owner of the property for the connection of which the charge was incurred. Any person who makes a connection to the city sewer system without having paid such charges in full shall be liable in an action in the name of the City in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of such charge. The conviction or punishment of any person for connecting to the City sewer system without obtaining a permit shall not relieve such person from paying the charge due and unpaid at the time of such conviction.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

All delinquent charges and penalties that accrue for the system, plant, works, facilities or undertaking for the collection, treatment or disposal of sewage or the obtaining, conserving, treating and supplying of water pursuant to this title may, at the election of the City, constitute a lien upon the real property served (except that no such lien shall be created against any publicly owned property) and such lien, properly recorded pursuant to California Government Code Section 54340 et seq. shall continue until the charge and all penalties thereon are fully paid or the property is sold therefore.

(Ord. 283 § 2, 1993)

When a sewer main installed by a person is required to be constructed to a size larger than required solely for such persons application or when sewer mains are installed that benefit property other than the property making contributions to the construction; the persons constructing such sewer mains or oversized sewer mains may request an agreement for reimbursement over a period not to exceed ten years from fees generated by connection of the noncontributing property but in no event shall the total refund exceed one hundred (100) percent of the cost of oversizing or of constructing mains which do not front on contributing property. The City may cause such agreement to be prepaid. The persons requesting such agreement shall provide to the City the cost information required to prepare such an agreement and deposit the amount established by the city council to cover the cost of preparing said agreement.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

Connections made to the public sewers of the City and laterals therefrom shall be made in accordance with those standard specifications of the City as may be adopted from time to time by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

A. Any person desiring to make an addition to the City sewer system to serve property shall make a request in writing to the City for preliminary investigation into the feasibility of such addition. If the addition as requested is found to be feasible by the City, such addition may be made to the City sewer system in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The City shall cause the installation to be inspected, and shall allow the final connection to such system only if it is found that such additions conform in all respects with the standard specifications for sewer facilities of the City, with applicable health laws, and with the lines and grades designated by the City.

B. If a right-of-way is needed for an addition to the City sewer system, the person constructing the addition shall obtain such right-of-way for the City, or pay the cost to the City of acquiring such right-of-way. If the City determines that a pump station is necessary to serve the property of the person installing the sewer, such person shall install a pump station meeting specifications approved by the City and shall pay the full cost of such installation.

C. When new, enlarged or additional sewer service is required to serve a property, mains shall be installed across the full frontages of the property unless the City determines that mains are not required at that time across the full frontage to serve other properties or because an undeveloped portion of the subject property does not require sewer service. Where a property has more than one (1) frontage on which main installation would be required by this subsection, the city council may require payment of frontage charges in lieu of main installation along such additional frontages. Frontage charges collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed as reimbursable pursuant to Section 13.12.100.

D. Specifications and plans for the installation of additions to the City sewer system shall be prepared by a registered civil engineer and shall be approved by the city engineer before a permit for doing the work may be issued.

E. When a sewer main has been installed in public streets or easements pursuant to the regulations of the City and has been accepted by the City, then the sewer shall become the property of the City and a part of the City sewer system. House branch sewer, including their connection to sewer mains, shall not be considered as city property or become a part of the City sewer system, and their maintenance and repair shall not be provided by the City.

F. Although it is the intent of this chapter that arrangements necessary to install sewer mains required to serve property will be the responsibility of the person desiring such service, an exception is necessary to facilitate minor additions to the system. The City may, upon written request of the applicant, take all steps necessary to complete the total installation subject to the following conditions:

1. Total of front footage for which lateral sewer charges would be payable of mains existing plus off-site main required is three hundred (300) feet or less;

2. Applicant pays the oversize sewer charge, the major facilities sewer charge for his property, and the connection charge for his property as though sewer mains already existed on the property frontage;

3. Applicant pays to the City for each foot of main installed to cover the cost of design, surveying, inspection and testing.

I. Connections to mains in other than dedicated and surfaced streets or alleys shall not be permitted where service can be rendered from dedicated and surfaced streets or alleys by extension or otherwise.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

No person shall discharge, deposit or throw, or cause, allow or permit to be discharged into any public sewer or plumbing fixture connected to the sewer, any of the following described materials:

A. Any solids, liquids or gases which, by themselves or by interaction with other substances, may cause fire or explosion hazards or in any other way be injurious to persons, property or the operation of the wastewater works;

B. Any noxious or malodorous solids, liquids or gases which, either singly or by interaction with other substances, are capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard to life or preventing entry into sewers for their maintenance and repair;

C. Any solids, greases, slurries or viscous material of such character or in such quantity that, in the opinion of the city engineer, may cause an obstruction to the flow in the sewer or otherwise interfere with the proper functioning of the wastewater works;

D. Any toxic substances, chemical elements or compounds in quantities sufficient to impair the operation or efficiency of the wastewater works, or that will pass through the wastewater plant and cause the effluent thereof to exceed Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements for the receiving farm land;

E. Any garbage, except properly ground with a mechanical garbage grinder;

F. Any sand, earth, cement, broken glass, cinders, feathers, straw, metal, rags; tar, wood or meat-processing plant wastes such as animal skins, intestines, fleshings and paunch materials retained on a screen having eight (8) meshes per inch each way, or any other solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstructions to the flow in sewers or other interference with proper operation or maintenance of the sewage system;

G. Any septic tank or cesspool waste;

H. Any radioactive wastes. In the event of an accidental spill of radioactive material into any public sewer, the person responsible shall:

1. Immediately notify the wastewater plant superintendent, and

2. Render such technical or other assistance to the City within his power, to prevent the wastewater works from becoming contaminated with radioactivity;

I. Any slug discharges.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

The admission into the public sanitary sewers of any waters or wastes having pollutant characteristics in excess of the "effluent limitation guidelines" published pursuant to Sections 301(b) and 304(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, or any of the limits set forth in Sections 13.12.140 through 13.12.180 shall be subject to the review and approval of the City and, where necessary in the opinion of the City, the owner shall provide, at his own expense, such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to reduce the strength below the most restrictive limits before admission to the public sewers. Plans and specifications for pretreatment works shall be prepared by a registered engineer and must be submitted to the City for approval.

BOD (Biochemical oxygen demand) of 250 mg/l;

Chlorides, 125 mg/l;

Copper concentration, 0.7 mg/l;

Cyanide concentration, 1.0 mg/l;

Elemental boron, 2.9 mg/l;

Grease content of 3;

Hexavalent chromium concentration, 1.0 mg/l;

Hydrogen ion concentration or pH rating less than 5.0 or more than 9.0;

Iron concentration, 3.0 mg/l;

Nickel concentration, 1.0 mg/l;

Phenols or cresols concentration, 1.0 mg/l;

Suspended solids content of 300/mg/l;

Temperature — maximum 150° Fahrenheit;

Total dissolved solids (TDS), 1000 mg/l;

Zinc concentration, 5.0 mg/l.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided by the user when, in the opinion of the City, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes, sand and/or other harmful ingredients. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the City, and shall be so located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Whenever the City finds that the user fails to adequately maintain such interceptor in a manner sufficient to conform to discharge requirements, the City may require the installation of a holding tank to accommodate overflow.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

No person shall cause the discharge of slugs of water or wastes. Each person producing discharge of a slug into the public sewers shall construct and maintain at his own expense a suitable storage and flow-control facility to insure equalization of discharge over a twenty-four (24) hour period. This facility shall have a capacity of at least eighty (80) percent of the total normal volume of a twenty-four (24) hour production period, and the outlet to the sewer shall be equipped with a rate discharge controller or other approved device, the regulation of which shall be directed by the City.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

It is unlawful to discharge into the City sewer system any water defined as inflow, and to do so will be grounds for discontinuance of service. Swimming pool water shall not be drained or pumped into the sanitary sewer system except with prior approval, and acceptance of conditions imposed by the City.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting any special agreement or arrangement between the City and any person whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be admitted to the wastewater treatment works, either before or after pretreatment; provided, that there is no impairment of the functioning of the wastewater treatment plant by reason of the admission of such wastes, and no extra costs are incurred by the City without recompense by the person.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

There shall be levied a monthly charge for each sewer service connection in the City, which shall be chargeable to the person actually using such sewer connection for the use thereof, which charge is for the purpose of defraying the costs of all phases of the City sewer system, including modification, repair, operation and maintenance of the sewer system.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

The monthly sewer service charge under this chapter shall be for actual use of the sewer system. When a building is occupied by more than one (1) tenant using a common sewer service, the charge shall be made to the owner of the building or to such person who makes application for the service. Monthly sewer service charges under this article are fixed by resolution by the city council.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

Each industrial user whose monthly sewer use charges are determined in accordance with the formula set forth by resolution shall, at his cost and expense, cause to be installed a sampler and a flow meter. Such equipment shall be installed in order that proper charges shall be assessed against the industrial discharger. The type, design and location of such equipment shall be approved by the City prior to installation.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

The city administrator or authorized representative shall enforce all ordinances of the City and all statutes of the State pertaining or relating to sewage and other tasks related to sewage control. The city administrator or authorized representatives are hereby authorized to make arrests for violations thereof in the manner provided by California Penal Code Section 836.5.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

A. The city administrator is charged with the duty of enforcing this chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to any building, structure or property connected to the City sewer system, whether the same is owned, operated or controlled by a private party or by a public or quasi-public agency, corporation or association, other than the City.

B. In addition to such other penalties as may be prescribed for a violation of this chapter, whenever the city administrator finds that a discharge of sewage has been taking place in violation of any prohibitions or limitations prescribed herein or any effluent limitations or pretreatment standards promulgated in accordance herewith, he may require the user to submit for his approval a detailed time schedule of specific actions which the user shall take in order to prevent or correct such violation. Any failure to comply with such on approved time schedule shall likewise be deemed a violation of this chapter.

C. Any person aggrieved by any decision or determination, made by the city administrator, interpreting or implementing the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to charges required to be paid, may file with the city administrator, a written request for reconsideration within ten (10) days of such decision, action or determination, setting forth in detail the facts supporting the request for reconsideration. If the ruling made by the city administrator on such request for reconsideration is not satisfactory to the person requesting the same, he may, within ten (10) days after written notification of the city administrator's ruling, appeal same to the council by filing a written notice of appeal with the city clerk. The appeal shall be heard by the council within thirty (30) days from the date of filing. After hearing the appeal of such person and giving due consideration thereto, council shall make its determination and notify the aggrieved party of such determination within ten (10) days of the hearing. The appeal shall be based on the appellants' written request to the city administrator and the city administrator's ruling thereon. The ruling by the city council shall be final. The city administrator's decision, action or determination shall remain in full force and effect during such periods of reconsideration and/or appeal.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

The officers, employees and inspectors of the city engineer, the public works department and building and inspection shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any person at reasonable hours to inspect and to determine whether this chapter is being violated.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

Any person found to be violating any provision of this chapter shall be served by the City or authorized representative with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The time limit shall not be less than two (2) nor more than seven (7) working days. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations. All persons shall be held strictly responsible for any and all acts of agents or employees done under the provisions of this chapter. Upon being notified by the City of any defect arising in any sewer or of any violation of this chapter, the person or persons having charge of said work shall immediately correct the same.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

As an alternative method of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the City shall have the power to disconnect the user of subdivision sewerage system from the sewer mains of the City. Upon disconnection, the City shall estimate the cost of disconnection from and reconnection to the system, and such user shall deposit the cost, as estimated, of disconnection and reconnection before such user is reconnected to the system. The City shall refund any part of the deposit remaining after payment of all costs of disconnection and reconnection.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

Continued habitation of any building or continued operation of any industrial facility in violation of this chapter, is hereby declared to be a public nuisance. The City may cause proceedings to be brought for the abatement of the occupancy of the building or industrial facility during the period of such violation.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

During the period of such disconnection, habitation of such premises by human beings shall constitute a public nuisance, whereupon the City shall cause proceedings to be brought for the abatement for the occupancy of said premises by human beings during the period of such disconnection. In such event, and as a condition of reconnection, there is to be paid to the City a reasonable attorney's fee and cost of suit arising in said action.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

The City declares that the foregoing procedures set forth in Sections 13.12.250 through 13.12.280 are established as a means of enforcement of the terms and conditions of this chapter and not as a penalty.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall become liable to the City for any expense, loss or damage occasioned by the City by reason of such violation.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

No unauthorized person shall maliciously, wilfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the City sewerage works. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to the penalties provided by law.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)

A. Violation of discharge requirements by any user shall result in monetary fine assessments equivalent to the actual cost for labor, material and supplies necessary to correct the discharge violation.

B. Service charges specified in this chapter and set by resolution by the city council are due and payable upon receipt of appropriate billings, and if not paid within thirty (30) days after the first day of the ensuing month after such debt was incurred, a penalty fee of ten (10) percent shall be assessed for each month of such delinquency.

(Ord. 179 (part), 1981)