La Habra Municipal Code Ch. 13.10 Sewer Maintenance, Repair, Design and Restrictions of Deposit into Sewers

To define responsibility for maintenance, repair and upkeep of main sewer, house sewer and connecting sewer; parameters for sewer design; and establish restrictions of deposit to sewer.

(Ord. 1642 § 1, 2004)

The terms in this chapter are defined in Section 13.04.010 of this code.

(Ord. 1642 § 1, 2004)

A. Main, House and Connecting Sewer Maintenance, Repair, and Upkeep.

1. The property owner or agent is responsible for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of the connecting sewer and house sewer from the property owner's structure up to and including the point of connection (e.g. wyes, tees, saddles, manhole structures, etc.) to the main sewer line. The property owner or agent is responsible for all routine and emergency cleaning of the connecting sewer and house sewer lines.

2. The city is responsible for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of the main sewer. It shall be the responsibility of the city to keep the main sewer free and clear for the even flow of sewage.

3. Should repairs to or replacement of the house sewer or connecting sewer be needed which will require excavation in the public right-of-way, the property owner or agent must first obtain an encroachment permit from the city of La Habra before the work can begin. The permit must require each of the following:

a. That all work be performed by a contractor authorized pursuant to Sections 13.04.070 and 13.04.080 of this title, and who holds a C-36 Plumbing Contractor's License or Class A Contractor's License from the state of California.

b. All new connections, repairs or modifications shall be tested for infiltration per the standards set forth in the latest edition of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Contracts (Green Book).

c. That the property owner/agent is solely responsible for retaining said contractor and verifying his or her qualifications.

d. When the work on the house or connecting sewer has been completed, but prior to backfilling, an inspector from the city must inspect the installation in accordance with the requirements of Section 13.04.160 of this title.

e. After the inspection, the licensed contractor shall restore the encroachment area to the satisfaction of the city of La Habra.

f. In general, all work shall be performed in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 13.04 of this title.

(Ord. 1642 § 1, 2004)

All main, house and connecting sewers, manholes and other appurtenances shall be designed, constructed, tested and inspected in accordance with the city of La Habra standard drawings; the latest edition of Standard Specifications for Public Works Contracts (Green Book) or as approved by the city engineer.

(Ord. 1642 § 1, 2004)

No person shall throw or deposit any material or liquid into any vessel or receptacle directly or indirectly connected to a public sewer that is not in conformance with current Orange County Sanitation District regulations. This shall include, but not be limited to, storm drain discharge, ground water discharge, toxic or malodorous gases or materials. In addition, the city shall enforce the general and specific prohibitions of the national pretreatment program under Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 403.5, as they pertain to the city's status as a collector system for the Orange County Sanitation District. No person shall therefore introduce any of the following into the city's sewer system:

1. Pollutants which create a fire or explosion hazard in the sewer collection system or the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), including, but not limited to, wastestreams with a closed cup flashpoint of less than one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit, or sixty degrees Centigrade, using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21

2. Pollutants which cause corrosive structural damage to the sewer collection pipes and structures, but in no case discharges with a pH lower than five, unless the works are specifically designed to accommodate such discharges.

3. Solid or viscous pollutants in amounts which will cause obstruction to the flow in the sewer collection system or the POTW, resulting in interference.

4. Any pollutant, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.) released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which will cause interference with the POTW.

5. Heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the POTW resulting in interference, but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the POTW Treatment Plant exceeds one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit (forty degrees Centigrade), unless the approval authority, upon request of the POTW, approves alternate temperature limits.

6. Petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oil or products of mineral oil in amounts that will cause interference or pass through.

7. Pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gasses, vapors or fumes within the sewer collection system or the POTW in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems.

8. Any trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the POTW.

(Ord. 1642 § 1, 2004)