Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 20.24 General Provisions

The ordinance codified in Division 2 of this Title 20 shall be known as the "sanitary sewer and industrial waste ordinance," and may be cited as such.

(Ord. 6130 Part 1 § 1001, 1952.)

The provisions of this Division 2 shall apply to the discharge, deposit or disposal of all wastes, including any material which may cause pollution of underground or surface waters, in, upon or affecting the unincorporated territory of the county of Los Angeles; and the design, construction, alteration, use and maintenance of public sewers and house laterals, industrial connection sewers, water pollution control plants, sewage pumping plants, industrial liquid-waste pretreatment plants, dairy screen-chambers, sand and grease interceptors, and appurtenances; the issuance of permits and the collection of fees

therefor, and fees to pay the cost of checking plans, inspecting the construction and making record plans of the facilities permitted hereunder; and providing penalties for violation of any of the provisions of this Division 2.

(Ord. 8690 § 3 (part), 1964; Ord. 7519 § 1 (part), 1959; Ord. 6982 § 1, 1956; Ord. 6130 Part 1 § 1002, 1952.)

The provisions of this Division 2 do not apply to any county sanitation district or to any work performed for a county sanitation district, nor do such provisions apply to any municipal water district or county water district that owns and operates public sanitary sewerage facilities within its boundaries, nor to any work performed for such district.

(Ord. 9119 § 1 (part), 1966; Ord. 8023 § 1, 1961; Ord. 6130 Part 1 § 1003, 1952.)

Whenever reference is made to any portion of the ordinance codified in this Division 2, such reference applies to all amendments and additions thereto now or hereafter made.

(Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3001, 1952.)

Any time limit provided for in the provisions of this Division 2 may be extended by mutual written consent of both the officer or department concerned and the permittee or applicant, or other person affected.

(Ord. 7519 § 3 (part), 1959; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3009, 1952.)

Water pollution control plants and facilities shall be designed so as to produce an effect which will not pollute underground or surface waters, create a nuisance, or menace the public peace, health or safety. The county engineer shall consult with the State Regional Water Quality Control Board, health officers and officials of industrial and public agencies, and from time to time promulgate standards which may vary according to location, topography, physical conditions, and other pertinent factors.

(Ord. 11716 § 7, 1978; Ord. 8690 § 3 (part), 1964; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3005, 1952.)

A.

The requirements contained in Division 2 of this Title 20 covering the maintenance of water pollution control plants, sewage pumping plants, industrial waste pretreatment plants, dairy screen-chambers, waste disposal facility interceptors, or other appurtenances, shall apply to all such facilities now existing or hereafter constructed. All such facilities shall be maintained by the owners thereof in a safe and sanitary condition, and all devices or safeguards which are required by this Division 2 for the operation of such facilities shall be maintained in good working order.

B.

This section shall not be construed as permitting the removal or nonmaintenance of any devices or safeguards on existing facilities unless authorized in writing by the county engineer.

(Ord. 11716 § 9, 1978; Ord. 8690 § 3 (part), 1964; Ord. 7519 § 3 (part), 1959; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3014, 1952.)

All house laterals, industrial connection sewers, septic tank outlet connections to STEP system, and appurtenances thereto existing as of January 23, 1953, or thereafter constructed, shall be maintained by the owner of the property served in a safe and sanitary condition, and all devices or safeguards which are required by this Division 2 for the operation thereof shall be

maintained in good working order. For septic tanks connected to a STEP system, the limits of maintenance responsibility are: a) the septic tank and its outlet pipe up to the point of connection to the STEP pumping unit wet well shall be maintained by the owner of the property served; b) the STEP pumping unit, wet well, pumped discharge piping and mainlines shall be maintained by the public agency established for that purpose; and c) the costs of the electrical power for the STEP pump shall be paid by the owner of the property served.

(Ord. 89-0006 § 5, 1989; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3015, 1952.)

A.

The director may inspect, as often as he deems necessary, every main-line sewer, sewage pumping plant, water pollution control plant, industrial waste pretreatment plant or facility, industrial sewer connection, interceptor, dairy screen-chamber, neutralization basin, waste disposal facility, or other similar appurtenances to ascertain whether such facilities are maintained and operated in accordance with the provisions of this Division 2. All persons shall permit and provide the director with access to all such facilities at reasonable times.

B.

An applicant, by accepting a permit issued pursuant to this Division 2 does thereby consent and agree to entry upon the premises described in the permit by the director at all reasonable times for the purpose of:

Inspection, sampling, flow measurement or examination of records;

Placing on the premises devices for monitoring, flow measurement or metering;

Inspecting and copying any records, reports, test results or other information required to carry out the provisions of this Division 2; and

Photographing any waste, waste container, vehicle, waste treatment process, discharge location, or violation discovered during an inspection.

(Ord. 89-0101 § 20, 1989; Ord. 11716 § 8, 1978; Ord. 8690 § 3 (part), 1964; Ord. 7519 § 3 (part), 1959; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3011, 1952.)

The county engineer shall enforce all the provisions of this Division 2, and for such purpose shall have the powers of a peace officer. Such powers shall not limit or otherwise affect the powers and duties of the county health officer.

(Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3004, 1952.)

Whenever a power is granted to or a duty is imposed upon the county engineer, the county health officer or other county officer by provisions of this Division 2, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of the officer or a person authorized pursuant to law by the officer, unless this Division 2 expressly provides otherwise.

(Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3002, 1952.)

The county engineer shall provide means of identification of inspectors and sewer maintenance men which shall identify them as such. Inspectors and sewer maintenance men shall identify themselves upon request, when entering upon the work of any contractor or property owner for any inspection or work required by this Division 2.

(Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3010, 1952.)

Unless otherwise provided in this Division 2, any notice required to be given by the county engineer under this division shall be in writing, and served in the manner provided in the Code of Civil Procedure for the service of process, or by registered or certified mail. If served by mail, the notice shall be sent to the last address known to the county engineer. Where the address is unknown, service may be made as above provided upon the owner of record of the property.

(Ord. 7519 § 3 (part), 1959; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3008, 1952.)

No object, whether a permanent structure, or a temporary structure, or any object which is difficult of removal, shall be located on a sewer easement or placed in such a position as to interfere with the ready and easy access to any facility described in Section 20.24.090. Any such obstruction, upon request of the county engineer, shall be immediately removed by the violator at no expense to the county, and shall not be replaced.

(Ord. 9119 § 1 (part), 1966; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3012, 1952.)

No person in the unincorporated area of the county shall, during reasonable hours, refuse, resist or attempt to resist the entrance of the county engineer into any building, factory, plant, yard, field or other place or portions thereof in the performance of his duty within the power conferred upon him by law or by Division 2 of this Title 20.

(Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3013, 1952.)

Every person violating any provision of this Division 2 or any condition or limitation of permit issued pursuant thereto is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction is punishable by fine not exceeding $1,000.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 89-0101 § 21, 1989; Ord. 7519 § 3 (part), 1959; Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3006, 1952.)

Each day during which any violation described in this Division 2 as wilful continues shall constitute a separate offense punishable as provided by this division.

(Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3007, 1952.)

The director may seek injunctive relief for noncompliance with any provision of this Division 2 or the conditions and limitations of any permit issued pursuant to this Division 2.

(Ord. 89-0101 § 22, 1989.)

If any provision of the ordinance codified in this Division 2, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

(Ord. 6130 Part 3 § 3003, 1952.)

No person shall make or allow any discharge of any material to a STEP sewer system for which he or she does not have a valid discharge permit pursuant to this Division 2 and to Section 20.36.040.

(Ord. 89-0006 § 6, 1989.)

A.

In the event of an uncontrolled discharge, the discharger or permittee shall immediately notify the director of the incident by telephone. The notification shall include location of discharge, type of material, concentration and volume, and corrective actions taken.

B.

Within 10 days after the uncontrolled discharge, the discharger or permittee shall submit to the director a detailed written report describing the cause of the discharge, corrective action taken and measures to be taken to prevent future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the discharger or permittee of liability or fines incurred as a result of the uncontrolled discharge.

(Ord. 89-0101 § 22, 1989.)

Information and data concerning an industrial user obtained from reports, questionnaires, permit applications, permits, monitoring programs and inspections shall be available to the public or other governmental agency without restriction unless the user specifically requests and is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director that the release of such information would divulge information, processes or methods of production entitled to protection as trade secrets of the user. Wastewater constituents and characteristics will not be recognized as confidential information.

(Ord. 89-0101 § 24, 1989.)