Oceanside Municipal Code Div. 4 Construction and Design Standards

The minimum standards for septic tanks, distribution boxes, tile lines and cesspools, as set forth in this division, are the minimum standards for subsurface sewage disposal system or unit serving a one-family or two-family residence or small institution or industry having sanitary facilities used by not more than ten (10) persons.

(Ord. Code, § 8458)

No septic tank, settling tank, cesspool or other subsurface sewage disposal system or unit shall be installed or constructed on a lot or parcel containing an area of less than six thousand (6,000) square feet.

(Ord. Code, § 8437)

Any subsurface sewage disposal unit or system or part thereof hereafter constructed or installed in the city shall be so situated that it will be a "safe distance" from any source of water supply as determined by the director.

(Ord. Code, § 8451)

In determining what is a "safe distance" the director shall consider:

Source of pollution. The source of possible pollution.

Soil type. The type of soil, surface and subsurface.

Water supply. The type and source of water supply.

Geology, drainage, flow. The geological formation of the ground, the direction of surface drainage and the depth and direction of groundwater flow.

(Ord. Code, §§ 8451.1 to 8451.14)

Under no circumstances shall any part of a subsurface sewage disposal unit or system, except the house sewer line, be located closer than fifty (50) feet from any water supply.

(Ord. Code, § 8451.2)

No part of a subsurface sewage disposal unit or system, except the house sewer line, shall be located less than five (5) feet from every building or structure or less than five (5) feet from every property line.

(Ord. Code, § 8451.3)

Any house sewer line or part thereof hereafter constructed or installed in the city shall be constructed of bell and spigot cast iron pipe with leaded joints when located less than fifty (50) feet from any well used as a domestic water supply.

(Ord. Code, § 8451.4)

Any subsurface sewage disposal unit or system hereafter constructed or installed in the city shall consist of a septic tank with effluent discharging into a distribution box connected to a subsurface tile system consisting of at least two (2) lateral absorption lines each of which lines shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five (125) feet in length or, with the approval of the director, such distribution box may be connected to a cesspool or cesspools each having at least three (3) feet inside diameter.

(Ord. Code, § 8452)

Any septic tank hereafter constructed or installed in the city shall meet the following minimum specifications:

Depth. Such tank shall have an inside depth of at least five (5) feet with a liquid depth of at least four (4) feet.

Length, capacity. The length of the tank shall not exceed three (3) times the width of such tank and it shall have a liquid capacity of not less than nine hundred and sixty (960) gallons.

Compartments, manholes. Each tank shall have at least two (2) compartments and a manhole of adequate size shall be installed in each compartment.

Tee's. The inlet and outlet of such tank shall have a vertical four-inch tee extending two (2) feet below and six (6) inches above the liquid level of the tank.

Tightness of tank, material. Such tank shall be watertight and shall be constructed of concrete, concrete block, brick or tile.

Top of tank. The top of such tank shall be constructed of reinforced concrete at least four (4) inches thick.

Side of concrete tanks. When such tank is constructed of concrete the walls and bottom of the tank shall be at least six (6) inches thick and shall be adequately reinforced with steel or other approved material.

Concrete mix. The concrete used for such tanks shall contain one part cement, two (2) parts sharp sand and four (4) parts crushed rock or gravel.

Plaster. Where brick, concrete block or tile is used in the construction of such tank, the inside shall be plastered with Portland cement mortar composed of one part cement and three (3) parts sand.

Reinforcement of walls. The side walls of such tank shall be adequately reinforced with steel or other approved material so as to withstand any inside or outside pressure.

Line from tank to distribution box. The line from such septic tank to the distribution box shall be constructed of watertight bell and spigot pipe.

(Ord. Code, §§ 8453 to 8453.4)

Any distribution box hereafter constructed or installed in the city shall meet the following minimum specifications:

Tightness, material. Such distribution box shall be watertight and shall be constructed of the same materials authorized for the construction of a septic tank.

Elevation of outlets. The outlets from such distribution box shall have exactly the same elevation.

Elevation of inlet. The inlet to such distribution box shall be one inch above the elevation of the outlets.

Tile system. Each distribution box shall be connected to a subsurface tile system consisting of at least two (2) lateral absorption lines.

Cesspool for absorption line. One or more cesspools may be substituted for or used in conjunction with lateral absorption lines when approved by the director.

Joints in lines. All lines leading from the distribution box to the lateral absorption lines or to cesspools shall be constructed with watertight joints.

(Ord. Code, §§ 8454 to 8454.4)

Any subsurface tile system hereafter constructed or installed in the city for the purpose of disposing of the effluent from a septic tank shall meet the following minimum specifications:

Number, length of lines. Such tile system shall consist of at least two (2) lateral absorption lines totaling at least two hundred (200) feet in length.

Maximum length. Provided, however, each line shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five (125) feet in length.

Standard length of lines. Where it is practical, each line shall be one hundred twenty-five (125) feet in length.

Open joints. Lateral absorption lines shall be constructed of tile pipe spaced one-quarter (¼) inch apart so as to provide open joints.

Tar paper or screen. The upper one-half (½) of each open joint shall be covered with tar paper or copper screen.

Trench, gravel. Each lateral absorption line shall be placed in a trench at least eighteen (18) inches wide, which trench shall contain at least thirteen (13) inches of rock or gravel grading not less than one inch, with at least four (4) inches of such rock or gravel beneath the bottom of the line and four (4) inches of such rock or gravel over the top of the line.

Grade. Lateral absorption lines shall have a grade of two (2) inches per one hundred (100) feet with not more than fifty (50) percent variation either way.

Depth. Lateral absorption lines shall not be more than thirty (30) inches below the surface of the ground.

Distance between lines. Every lateral absorption line shall be at least ten (10) feet from every other lateral absorption line.

Ells and wyes. Where it is necessary to use ells or wyes on any lateral absorption line, at least ten (10) feet of closed-joint tile shall be inserted at each such fitting so as to space the absorption lines at least ten (10) feet apart.

(Ord. Code, §§ 8455 to 8455.61)

Any cesspool hereafter constructed or installed in the city shall meet the following minimum specifications:

Diameter, depth. Such cesspool shall be not less than three (3) feet inside diameter and shall be constructed to a depth where the side wall area of the cesspool will have sufficient porosity to provide adequate drainage as determined by the director.

Shape. Such cesspool shall be either rectangular or round.

(a) In the case of a rectangular shape, such cesspool shall be constructed of brick, concrete block, and two-inch redwood plank securely braced with four-inch by four-inch redwood timber.

(b) In the case of a round shape, such cesspool shall be constructed of brick, concrete block, and one inch redwood boards of full thickness with supporting two-inch by three-inch redwood timbers placed every five (5) feet so as to form a securely braced octagon shape.

Top of cesspool. The top of such cesspool shall be covered with a concrete slab or cover constructed of concrete reinforced with steel or other approved material, which slab or cover shall extend not less than eighteen (18) inches beyond the outside of the side walls of the cesspool.

(Ord. Code, § 8457.3)

A cesspool or series of cesspools may be substituted for or used in conjunction with a subsurface tile system, when such substitution or use or approved by the director.

(Ord. Code, § 8456)

No cesspool shall be permitted where the director determines that its use might contaminate or pollute an underground water supply.

(Ord. Code, § 8456.1)

Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to prevent the director from requiring compliance with higher or more stringent requirements or specifications than those contained in this division where compliance with such higher or more stringent requirements or specifications is necessary to maintain a sanitary condition.

(Ord. Code, § 8459.2)