Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Ch. 5.36 Sewers, Sewage Disposal—city Sewage System

For the purposes of this chapter, certain words and phrases used herein are defined as follows:

A. "Superintendent" shall mean the Superintendent of the Sewer Construction and Maintenance Division.

B. "Alterations" shall mean any change or addition.

C. "Repairs" shall mean the reconstruction or renewal of any existing part of a sewer structure, or of its fixtures or appurtenances.

D. "Sewer connection" shall mean that part of the horizontal piping beginning two (2′) feet from the exterior wall of any structure or private or public premises, or house sewer thereof, as required and defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code, and extending to its connection with the public sewer.

E. "Public sewer" shall mean any sewer main which is a part of the City's municipal sanitary sewer collecting system.

F. "Lot" shall mean any piece or parcel of land bounded, defined or shown upon a plat or deed recorded in the office of the County Recorder of this County in accordance with the boundaries of such lot as bounded, defined or shown upon such recorded map, plat or deed; provided, however, that in the event any building or structure covers more area than one lot as defined in this subsection, the term "lot" shall be deemed to be and include such pieces or parcels of land upon which said buildings are wholly or partly located. For the purposes of this chapter, a lot shall be any piece or parcel of land as described in this section, but not a parcel of land resubdivided so as to create additional lots requiring sanitary sewer facilities or sewer connections above and beyond those designed to provide for the original lot so recorded at the time said public sewer was constructed.

(§ 1, Ord. 639)

A. Established. There is hereby established a Sewer Construction and Maintenance Division in and of the Street Department of the City to be referred to as "Division" in this chapter. The Division shall be under the immediate jurisdiction and supervision of the Street Superintendent and the Street Superintendent shall be the ex-officio "Superintendent" of the Division. The Division shall be staffed by and from personnel of the Street Department. Any employee of the Street Department shall be subject to assignment to duty in the Division in the discretion of the Superintendent.

B. Duties. The Superintendent of the Division from time to time shall determine and designate the duties and responsibilities of the employees serving the Division. In addition to such duties so assigned, it is hereby made the duty and responsibility of the Division, upon payment of the fees and charges and the making of the deposits hereinafter provided for in this chapter, to install saddles, wyes or tees or other necessary appurtenances or facilities required for sewer connections to the existing and future public sewer mains within the City in those cases where there are no such connections on or to such public mains for the respective properties to be served thereby, and to excavate for, lay and install such sewer connections to a point two (2′) feet back of the official curb line or to the property line, as may be required under the circumstances.

(§ 2, Ord. 639)

A. Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install, place, change, alter, remove or repair or to commence, cause or permit any of the same to be done, any public sewer or public sewer connection in the City without first paying the required fees, making the required deposit and obtaining the necessary written permit from the Building Inspector so to do.

B. Application. Any person desiring any permit required under the provisions of this chapter shall make application therefor in writing on blanks furnished by the City to the Building Inspector, giving such information as is called for in such blanks and as the Building Inspector may require. Upon receipt of such application the Building Inspector, in his discretion, may refer the same to the Superintendent of the Division for report and recommendation with reference thereto. If it appears from the application, to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector, that the work to be performed under the application is to be done in accordance with the rules, regulations and requirements contained in this chapter relating to such work, a permit shall be issued by the Building Inspector upon payment of the fees prescribed by this chapter.

C. Exceptions: Leaks, stoppages. Nothing in this section shall operate or be construed to require an application or a permit for the purpose of removing stoppages or repairing leaks in any sewer connection, except in those cases where it is necessary to replace all or any part of the sewer connection with other or different materials. If an excavation in a public street, avenue, way or place is involved, a permit to excavate should be obtained pursuant to the provisions contained in Chapter 7.16 of this Code.

D. Exceptions: Additional. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

1. Employees of the Division in the performance of their duties as such employees;

2. Any work or installation performed by persons or their employees under direct contract with either the City or the Street Superintendent when making such installations or doing such work; or

3. The officers and employees of the County Sanitation District of this County when the work involved is on the mains or facilities of such District.

(§ 3, Ord. 649)

No person required to obtain a permit by the provisions of this chapter, and no person to whom a permit shall have been issued hereunder, shall commence, conduct or operate the business, work or activity requiring any permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or construct, install, place, change, alter, remove or repair, or commence, cause or permit any of the same to be done, any public sewer or any public sewer connection within the City unless such person at the time is the owner and holder of a current and valid business license issued by the City under the provisions of Chapter 6.01 of this Code.

(§ 4, Ord. 639)

A. A good and sufficient surety bond, in form approved by the City Attorney, in favor of the City in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), conditioned that said permittee, as principal under said bond, shall fully, faithfully and properly discharge each and all of his obligations and duties under this chapter and under each and every permit issued to such principal hereunder, and construct in a good and workmanlike manner, and in accordance with City specifications and requirements therefor, all sewer connections and work of every kind covered by any and all such permits issued to or held by him. The bond by its terms shall be made to inure, with right of independent action thereon, to the benefit of and secure any person aggrieved, and for whom any work covered by any such permit is to be or has been performed by such principal, against any and all loss or damage occasioned to or suffered by any such aggrieved person by reason of faulty, improper or deficient workmanship or materials involved in the performance of or arising out of the work covered by any such permit. The bond by its terms shall provide that the City, or any person aggrieved, shall have the right of action thereon for the full period of one year after completion of any work covered by any permit secured by such bond. The bond must also provide that the same shall not be subject to cancellation unless thirty (30) days' notice of the date of such proposed cancellation shall have been first given to the City Attorney in writing, but no such cancellation shall relieve either the principal or the surety of any obligation which may have accrued thereunder on or prior to such date of cancellation. The Building Inspector, when notified that such notice of cancellation has been received, may thereupon immediately cancel and annul any and all outstanding permits issued to such principal pursuant to this chapter unless a new bond is furnished by such principal to take the place of such previous bond. An annual bond may be given under this provision which shall remain in force for one year conditioned as above in the amount specified above and in other respects as specified above, but applicable as to all sewer connections and work of every kind covered by any and all such permits issued to or held by the principal in such bond during the term of one year from said date.

B. Public liability policy, issued by an insurance carrier which is duly qualified to engage in such insurance business under the laws of the State of California, approved by the City Attorney as to form and sufficiency, insuring the City, as co-insured, against any and all liability of any nature whatsoever resulting from the prosecution of the work for which an application for permit has been made, in the following amounts:

Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250.000.00) for death, or bodily injury or loss sustained by any one person in any accident; and

Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500.000.00) for death, or bodily injury or loss sustained by more than one person in any one accident; and

Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250.000.00) for loss occasioned by damage or injury to property in any one accident;

Or such other limits as may be directed by the Street Superintendent.

The procuring of such policy of insurance shall not be construed as a limitation of the applicant's liability or as a full performance on the applicant's part of the indemnification provisions of the permit, applicant's liability being, notwithstanding said policy of insurance, for the full and total amount of any damage, injury or loss caused by or incident to applicant's operations under the permit.

C. Such surety bond and/or policy of insurance may be waived by the Street Superintendent for work to be done between the curb and property line of any street and upon satisfactory evidence that the work can be performed without constituting a hazard to the public.

(§ 5, Ord. 639; as amended by § 1, Ord. 1047, eff. December 1, 1966; and as amended by § 2, Ord. 1127, eff. September 19, 1968)

Fees shall be paid as part of any building permit as established by the Council under separate resolution.

The Building Inspector is hereby designated and authorized as the officer of the City to supervise and make the inspection of the sewer connection from the stub-out or lateral to the building or premises to be served.

(§ 6, Ord. 639, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1425, eff. August 14, 1975; § 14, Ord. 1458, eff. June 17, 1976)

Repealed, § 1, Ord. 1127, eff. September 19, 1968

Repealed, § 1, Ord. 1127, eff. September 19, 1968

Repealed, § 1, Ord. 1127, eff. September 19, 1968

Repealed, § 1, Ord. 1127, eff. September 19, 1968

If the work authorized by permit for a house connection sewer to a stub-out or lateral under this chapter is not started within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance, then such permit shall be thenceforth null and void and the fee paid shall be forfeited. Before such work can be started, a new permit must be applied for and the application fees fixed for the original permit shall be paid therefor.

(§ 11, Ord. 639; as amended by § 3, Ord. 1127, eff. September 19, 1968)

This chapter does not require the payment of any fee where the collection of such fee is prohibited by Section 6103 of the Government Code of the State or by any other statute.

(§ 12, Ord. 639)

It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, maintain or use, or to permit or cause to be installed or maintained or used, any cesspool, septic tank or other means of disposal of sewage on any premises in the City if a public sewer exists and is ready for use in any street, place or alley on which the property abuts. Whenever a public sewer is constructed in any public street, place or alley and adjacent property thereto is improved with dwellings or other buildings and any method of disposal of sewage therefrom, other than by a connection to such public sewer system, is used, such as cesspools, septic tanks or other means of disposal, it shall be the duty of the Building Department to give written notice to the occupant or owner of such property requiring such premises to be connected with such public sewer system within thirty (30) days from the service of such notice, and to discontinue the use of such cesspool, septic tank or other means of sewage disposal within said thirty (30) day period.

(§ 13, Ord. 639, as amended by § 1, Ord. 789)

All work performed under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to inspection by the Building Inspector. Notice must be given in writing to the Building Inspector by the person doing the work or causing the same to be done immediately after said work is ready for inspection. Up to the time of the inspection, all work must be uncovered and convenient for the Inspector's examination, and every facility must be given the Inspector to make a thorough examination. If any pipes are enclosed or covered in any way whatsoever so as to tend to obstruct a thorough inspection of the drainage system, the obstruction must be removed upon notice so to do from the Building Inspector before he shall be required to inspect the work. When, upon examination by the Building Inspector, it appears that any such work is defective, either in its construction or material, the same shall be removed or repaired to conform to the applicable requirements set forth in this chapter or in the Uniform Plumbing Code, as the case may be.

(§ 14, Ord. 639)

When it appears to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector that any work required by this chapter has been constructed according to, and meets the requirements of, all provisions of this chapter and the Uniform Plumbing Code, and that all fees for the inspection thereof have been paid, the Building Inspector shall cause to be issued to the person constructing such work a certificate of final inspection. Said certificate shall recite that such work as is covered by the permit has been constructed according to the laws and the Uniform Plumbing Code and that the work is in a satisfactory condition. The Building Inspector shall not issue such certificate of inspection unless the requirements of this chapter and the Uniform Plumbing Code have been adhered to.

(§ 15, Ord. 639, as amended by § 4, Ord. 1127, eff. September 19, 1968)

The material used shall be equal in quality to and the manner of construction shall meet the requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code and the requirements prescribed by the applicable specifications for public sewers in the City adopted by the Council. All such work must be constructed or installed in accordance therewith before a certificate of final inspection will be issued by the Building Inspector.

(§ 16, Ord. 639)

It shall be unlawful for any person to make, or cause to be made, any sewer connection referred to or designated in this chapter pursuant to any such permit at any place other than that designated therein.

Every connection made with any public sewer of the City shall be made in accordance with the Sewer Connection Special Plans and Specifications approved by the Council designated and numbered as ST-5 on file in the office of the City Clerk and hereby referred to and by this reference incorporated herein and made a part hereof, and only with materials as are therein specified.

(§ 17, Ord. 639, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1245, eff. July 1, 1971)

All work performed pursuant to this chapter shall conform to requirements under tests as set forth in the Uniform Plumbing Code as follows:

A. House sewers shall be subjected to a water test, except the pressure need not exceed that imposed by a five (5′) foot head of water.

B. Under any test, the water shall remain constant for not less than fifteen (15) minutes without any further addition of water or showing of leaks.

(§ 18, Ord. 639)

No house connection shall be approved if any portion thereof, including any fitting, material, work or construction fails to withstand the tests herein provided for by leaking at any point.

(§ 19, Ord. 639)

Whenever it becomes necessary to connect a house connection sewer to a public sewer at a point where no wye or tee branch has been installed in the public sewer, the connection shall be made in accordance with this chapter by the Division, except in special instances where, in the opinion of the City Engineer, a contractor qualified to make sewer connections under the provisions of this chapter may be permitted to install a saddle or make such other connection in the presence of and under the supervision of a City Inspector.

(§ 20, Ord. 639)

The saddle must be fitted snugly against the exterior wall of the public sewer pipe and fastened in place in accordance with said Special Plans and Specifications No. ST-5 referred to in Section 5.36.170.

(§ 21, Ord. 639, as amended by § 2, Ord. 1245, eff. July 1, 1971)

After the saddle is in place, an imbedment of cement shall be placed under and around the main line sewer pipe and saddle as required for a standard chimney pipe in accordance with said Special Plans and Specifications No. ST-5 referred to in Section 5.36.170. The inside of the joint between pipe and saddle shall be pointed with 1:2 cement mortar.

(§ 22, Ord. 639, as amended by § 3, Ord. 1245, eff. July 1, 1971)

Installation work in any public street, avenue, way or place shall include backfilling and resurfacing, whether performed by a licensed contractor or by the Division, and shall be performed in full accordance with Special Plans and Specifications No. ST-5 referred to in Section 5.36.170.

(§ 23, Ord. 639, as amended by § 4, Ord. 1245, eff. July 1, 1971)

All house connection sewers, industrial connection sewers and appurtenances thereto 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 chapter or any other law of the City for the operation thereof shall be maintained in good working order.

(§ 24, Ord. 639)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, throw or deposit, or cause or permit to be placed, thrown or deposited, in any public sewer or sewer connection any dead animal, offal, or garbage, or to place, throw or deposit or discharge, or cause or permit to be placed, thrown, deposited or discharged, in any such sewer any fish, fruit or vegetable waste or other solid matters or materials or obstructions of any kind whatever of such nature as shall clog, obstruct or fill such sewer, or which shall interfere with or prevent the effective use or operation thereof. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit to be deposited or discharged into any such sewer any water, sewage or liquid waste of any kind containing chemicals, greases, oil, tar or other matters in solution which may by reason of precipitation clog, obstruct or fill the same, or which may in any way interfere with or prevent the effective use thereof, or which may necessitate or require frequent repair, cleaning out or flushing of such sewer to render the same operative.

(§ 25, Ord. 639)

In no case shall acids or corrosive liquids liable to destroy or damage a public or house connection sewer be discharged into such sewer without being fully diluted and neutralized by passing through a properly constructed dilution and neutralizing sink or tank. Such sink or tank shall be automatically provided with a sufficient intake of water or neutralizing medium or substance so as to make its contents non-injurious before being discharged.

(§ 26, Ord. 639)

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect any roof conductor, yard drain or other conduit used for carrying off rain or surface water with any sanitary sewer of the City or house connection sewer leading thereto.

(§ 27, Ord. 639)

Any cellar drain or any shower in a basement or roofed shower in a yard shall be protected to prevent the admission of sand, detritus and storm or surface water into the sewer. When necessary in the opinion of the Division Superintendent, a person shall trap such appurtenances by a sand interceptor constructed in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code.

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect any swimming pool or tank to any public sewer in the City or house connection leading thereto, except in those instances where the topography, gradients, capacities and/or other features of the public sewer permit such overquantitative discharge, or control outlined by the Engineering Department.

(§ 29, Ord. 639)

Application must be made to the Public Works Department for permission to discharge water from swimming pools or other large quantities of water. A permit fee will be charged as established by the Council under separate resolution.

(§ 30, Ord. 639, as amended by § 18, Ord. 1458, eff. June 17, 1976)

All renewals or alterations of any public or house connection sewer, or any repairs or additions thereto, must conform to the requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code and/or the Special Plans and Specifications No. ST-5 referred to in Section 5.36.170.

(§ 31, Ord. 639, as amended by § 5, Ord. 1245. eff. July 1, 1971)

It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or cause to be removed or to damage or cause to be damaged any portion of any public sewer, flush tank, flushing manhole or manhole, or to open or enter or cause to be opened or entered, any public sewer, flush tank, flushing manhole or manhole, or to use or cause to be used any water from any flushing apparatus for any use whatever without first obtaining a permit from the Building Inspector to do so.

(§ 32, Ord. 639)

A. No person shall connect or cause to be connected any cesspool or septic tank to any public sewer or house sewer connection leading thereto.

B. No effluent from cesspools or septic tanks may be discharged or pumped into any house sewer connection or public sewer or manhole.

(§ 33, Ord. 639)

Abandoned septic tanks and cesspools shall be dealt with in accordance with existing requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code.

(§ 34, Ord. 639)