Palmdale Municipal Code Art. II General Provisions

Any time limit provided for in the provisions of this title may be extended by mutual written consent of both the City and the permittee or applicant, or other person affected, except as otherwise provided.

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

The requirements contained in this title covering the maintenance of sanitary sewer collection system pipelines, sewage pumping plants, industrial waste pretreatment plants, or other appurtenances shall apply to all such facilities now existing or hereafter constructed.

(A) Responsibility and Maintenance for House Laterals and Industrial Connection Sewer. Each property owner is responsible for the installation, repair and maintenance of the entire house lateral or industrial connection sewer up to and including the wye or tee in the City's main line. Each owner shall keep his/her house lateral/industrial connection sewer in good working order at his/her own expense and is responsible for damage to any of the City's property which results from the owner's use, repair or maintenance of the house lateral or industrial connection sewer within the control and responsibility of the owner. If repair and maintenance of the house lateral or industrial connection sewer extends into the mainline sewer at the sewer line tap, then the sewer tap repair at the main line becomes the responsibility of the City and no such repairs shall be done without the permission and approval of the City. All house laterals or industrial connection sewer shall be maintained by the owners thereof in a safe and sanitary condition, and all devices or safeguards which are required by this title for the operation of such facilities shall be maintained in good working order.

The City shall have the right to enter onto private property for the purpose of inspection and evaluation of house laterals or industrial connection sewer to assure safe and sanitary conditions.

(B) Responsibility and Maintenance of Mainline Sewers. The City is responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of any mainline public sewer.

(C) Resolution of Disputes over Location of Sewer Malfunctions – Reimbursement to City. If the location of a sewer malfunction and the responsibility for its repair is disputed or cannot be determined from surface observation, the City may expose parts of the sewer line within the public street, public right-of-way, or public sewer as necessary to determine the cause of the malfunction and whether it originates within either the house lateral or industrial connection sewer or within the public sewer. If the malfunction is determined to be within the City public sewer for which the City is responsible, the City shall conduct the repair at no charge to the property owner. If the malfunction is determined to be within the house lateral or industrial connection sewer for which the property owner is responsible, the City may proceed with the repairs to such house lateral or industrial connection sewer upon notice to the property owner of the need for repair. The City may require a written reimbursement agreement executed by the property owner before beginning repair. A malfunctioning house lateral or industrial connection sewer is declared to be a public nuisance. The property owner shall reimburse the City for all costs necessarily incurred by the City in performing the repair work to the house lateral.

(D) This title shall not be construed as permitting the removal or nonmaintenance of any devices or safeguards on existing facilities unless authorized in writing by the City.

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

(A) The City may inspect, as often as City deems necessary, every mainline or public sewer, sewage pumping plant, industrial waste pretreatment plant or facility, industrial sewer connection, interceptor, or other similar appurtenances to ascertain whether such facilities are maintained and operated in accordance with the provisions of this title. All persons shall permit and provide the City with access to all such facilities at reasonable times.

(B) An applicant by accepting a permit issued pursuant to this title does thereby consent and agree to entry upon the premises described in the permit by the City at all reasonable times for the purpose of:

(1) Inspection, sampling, flow measurement or examination of records;

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

(3) Inspecting and copying any records, reports, test results or other information required to carry out the provisions of this title; and

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

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice required to be given by the City under this title 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 City. Where the address is unknown, service may be made as above provided upon the owner of record of the property.

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

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

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

(A) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into a public sewer:

(1) Any water, wastes or other matter which will result in the contamination, pollution or a nuisance; or

(2) Any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage.

(B) In the event of an uncontrolled discharge, the person, discharger or permittee shall within three hours notify the City of the incident by telephone. The notification shall include location of discharge, type of material, concentration and volume, and corrective actions taken.

(C) Within 10 days after the uncontrolled discharge, the discharger or permittee shall submit to the City 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.

(D) Notification of the City does not relieve the person, discharger or permittee from notifying other agencies as required by law within the time frame required by the various agencies.

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009; Ord. 1614 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

(A) In the event of an uncontrolled or slug discharge, the discharger or permittee shall immediately notify the City by telephone. The notification shall include location of the discharge, type of material, duration, concentration and volume, and corrective actions taken.

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

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)

This title is enforceable as set forth in PMC Title 1 and violations of this title are punishable as set forth therein.

(Ord. 1376 § 4 (Exh. A), 2009)