Chapter 13.24 — SEWER CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

For the purposes of this chapter, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, certain terms used herein are defined as follows:

A.

"Approved" means approval by the city engineer, superintendent and chief engineer as the result of investigation and tests conducted by them, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by national authorities, technical or scientific organizations.

B.

"Board" means the board of directors of the city of Pasadena.

C.

"Boiler blow-off" means the condensed steam or hot water from a boiler when "blownoff" to remove scale and slime or "blown-down" from cleaning and repair.

D.

"Cesspool" or "dry well" means an excavation in the ground which receives the discharge of a house sewer and which is constructed as required by Ordinance No. 3881.

E.

"Chief engineer" means the chief engineer of the Los Angeles County sanitation districts or his authorized deputy or representative.

F.

"Chimney" means a vertical section of a house sewer extending from a vertical tee or wye in the main sewer or from a long radius 1/4 bend set vertically in the house sewer at the property line and in either case suitably reinforced with concrete.

G.

"City" means the city of Pasadena.

H.

"City engineer" means the city engineer and superintendent of streets of the city of Pasadena, or his authorized representative or inspector.

I.

"Domestic sewage" means sewage derived solely from residences, business buildings or institutions.

J.

"Effluent" means partially or completely treated sewage flowing out of any sewage treatment device.

K.

"House sewer" means that part of the horizontal piping beginning 24 inches from the exterior wall of the building or structure and extending to its connection with the public sewer or cesspool, or septic tank or sewage treatment plant through which is discharged domestic or industrial liquid waste.

L.

"Industrial liquid waste" means any waterborne waste from a manufacturing process or industry, except domestic sewage and uncontaminated cooling water.

M.

"Industrial liquid waste pretreatment plant" means any works or device for pretreatment of industrial liquid wastes prior to discharge into the public sewer.

N.

"Inspector" means the authorized inspector, deputy, agent or representative of the city engineer, the superintendent or the chief engineer.

O.

"Interceptor" means a device for retaining sand, silt, grit, mineral material, petroleum solvent, grease or oil by gravity- differential separation from waste effluent and of a design and capacity approved by the city engineer.

P.

"Lot" means any piece or parcel of land bounded, defined or shown upon a plot or deed recorded in the office of the county recorder of Los Angeles County which conforms to the boundaries of such lot as shown upon such recorded map, plat or deed; provided, however, that in the event any building or structure covers more area than a lot as herein defined, the term "lot" shall include all such pieces or parcels of land upon which the building or structure is wholly or partly located.

Q.

"Main sewer" means any sewer in which changes of alignment and grade occur only at manholes that provide access for cleaning and inspection. Such sewers are usually 8 inches or more in diameter.

R.

"Ordinance" means an ordinance of the city of Pasadena.

S.

"Person" means any individual, firm, copartnership, joint adventure, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, municipality, district or other political subdivision, or any other group or combination acting as a unit and the plural as well as the singular number.

T.

"Public sewer" means the main sewer or trunk sewer, constructed in a street, highway, alley, place or right-of-way dedicated to public use. "Public sewer" does not include house sewer.

U.

"Reimbursement agreement" means a contract entered into between the city and any other person, firm, corporation, political subdivision, school district or other public or private entity, hereinafter called "contractor," providing for the construction of sanitary sewer facilities by contractor and for the collection by city of a fee or charge for the connection with such sanitary sewer facilities by any other person, firm or corporation and for reimbursement to the contractor out of the proceeds of such charges.

V.

"Running trap" means a depressed section of the house sewer constructed of fittings so as to create a water seal to prevent the passage of gas from the public sewer.

W.

"Section" means a section of this chapter unless some other ordinance or statute is mentioned.

X.

"Septic tank" means a structure for treating sewage before disposal in a cesspool, seepage hole or leaching system, constructed as required by Ordinance No. 3881.

Y.

"Sewage" means the waterborne wastes from dwellings, kitchens, restaurants, institutions, stables, dairies, business buildings and other similar structures, but excluding any storm water, rainwater, surface water, ground water, roof or yard drainage.

Z.

"Sewage pumping plant or ejector" means any works or device used to raise sewage from a lower to a higher level or to overcome friction in a pipe line.

AA.

"Sewage treatment plant" means any works or device for treating sewage except any septic tank, settling tank or cesspool designed to dispose of domestic sewage from 1 lot.

BB.

Shall and May. "Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.

CC.

Short Title. This chapter shall be known as the "sanitary sewer code" and may be cited as such.

DD.

"Specifications No. 31" means specifications for the construction of street improvements including storm drains, sanitary sewers and appurtenances in the city of Pasadena, California, adopted by the board of directors March 30, 1926, and subsequent amendments thereto.

EE.

"Superintendent" means the superintendent of building of the city or his authorized representative or inspector.

FF.

"Tee" or "T" means a fitting for a branch, on which the spur joins the barrel of the pipe at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

GG.

"Trunk sewer" means a sewer under the jurisdiction of a public entity other than the city of Pasadena.

HH.

"Wye" or "Y" means a fitting for a branch, on which the spur joins the barrel or the pipe at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

(Ord. 4845 § 1, 1967; Ord. 4170 § 1.01, 1950)

Whenever the use of a house sewer is discontinued by reason of connection to another house sewer or by reason of moving, wrecking or burning of a building or for any other reason, such house sewer shall be sealed at the property line or easement line or at the public sewer. Whenever the city engineer finds that a house sewer has not been sealed as required herein, he shall serve notice and post the property and otherwise follow the provisions of Ordinance No. 3665, codified at Chapter 12.04, in lieu of Section 13.24.170.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.01, 1950)

The city engineer may disconnect from the public sewer any industrial house sewer connection which is constructed or connected without permit or which is used contrary to the provisions of this chapter governing industrial liquid waste. The

city engineer shall make every reasonable effort to notify the owner or occupant of the premises affected by any proposed disconnection and may grant a reasonable time for elimination of the violation.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.02, 1950)

Whenever a house sewer has been disconnected from the public sewer by the city engineer as provided in Section 13.24.030 for failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter, reconnection shall be made only upon issuance of a permit in writing therefor by the city engineer. Before such permit is issued, the applicant shall reimburse the city for the cost of the disconnection made, and the city engineer may require the installation of a manhole for the purpose of measuring the flow, or for making periodic tests of the wastes from such connection.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.03, 1950)

Whenever a house sewer connection permittee or any other person by reason of violation of this chapter causes obstruction, damage or destruction of a public sewer, he shall reimburse the city for the cost of flushing, cleaning, repairing and reconnection of such sewer made necessary by such violation within 30 days after the city engineer shall render an invoice for same.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.04, 1950)

The city engineer shall make a charge of $7.50 for permission to connect a house sewer to a public sewer at a point where no special Y or T has been previously installed.

(Ord. 5368 § 24, 1978; Ord. 4170 § 4.05, 1950)

Whenever a contractor has been required by city to install off-site sanitary sewer facilities as a condition precedent to the issuance of a building permit, or as a condition precedent to the approval of a tentative or final subdivision or parcel map, and such contractor has at his own expense constructed such facilities in accordance with the requirements of city, and it is found by the city board of directors that such facilities will be for the benefit of or usable by other persons or properties in the city, the city board of directors may enter into a reimbursement agreement with such contractor whereby the city will collect from any other person using or connecting with such facilities within a period of 10 years from the dedication of such facilities to city for public use, a charge for making such connection. The amount of the charge made shall be the amount set forth in the reimbursement agreement. No such contract may be entered into unless the other contracting party agrees thereby to dedicate the said sanitary sewer facilities to the city for public use.

(Ord. 4845 § 2 (part), 1967: Ord. 4170 § 4.055(a), 1950)

Upon the execution of such a contract, there shall be established a reimbursement district consisting of those properties that the city board of directors finds will be benefitted by the facilities. Charges shall be levied only upon those persons desiring to connect to said sewer facilities whose property lies in whole or in part within the district. A map of the district shall be maintained in the office of the city clerk for examination by the public. There shall be indicated thereon the amounts or charges necessary to make connection with said sewer facilities and a reference to the contract establishing such charge.

(Ord. 4845 § 2 (part), 1967: Ord. 4170 § 4.055(b), 1950)

After the execution of a reimbursement agreement and the filing of the necessary reimbursement district map, no other person, firm or corporation shall connect to the sewer facilities indicated thereon without payment of the charges provided for in such agreement. No sewer connection permit shall be issued by any city or county department, officer or employee until the city clerk has certified that the payment has been made as required; provided, however, that no charge may be made unless and until said facilities have been dedicated to the city for public use; and provided further that no such charge shall be made after 10 years from the dedication of such facilities to city for public use have elapsed.

(Ord. 4845 § 2 (part), 1967: Ord. 4170 § 4.055(c), 1950)

There is created a sewer reimbursement fund in the city treasury and all charges made and received in accordance with reimbursement agreements shall be deposited in the fund to be transferred semi-annually to contractors, together with a description of properties for which the payments have been made.

(Ord. 4845 § 2 (part), 1967: Ord. 4170 § 4.055(d), 1950)

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring city to enter into any such reimbursement agreement even though it may have required the installation of off-site sanitary facilities, nor shall the city be liable for reimbursement of the cost of such facilities except from the proceeds of such charges.

(Ord. 4845 § 2 (part), 1967: Ord. 4170 § 4.055(e), 1950)

If any of the costs and expenses of the construction of a public sewer is in excess of that portion which the city may have paid under the requirements of Section 3 of Article 9 of the Charter of the city either from its general funds or from moneys derived from a general bond issue, and is in excess of any amount which may have been paid by assessment of the property to pay such costs and expenses the city engineer shall, before issuing a permit to connect to said sewer, receive payment of an amount equal to $2.00 per front foot of the lot or parcel sought to be connected if the lot or parcel is rectangular and has an average depth of 100 feet or more. If the shape of the lot or parcel is other than the usual rectangular shape or unusual in area and the strict adherence to the above-mentioned provision would require a property owner to pay an amount not commensurate with the benefits to be received, the provisions of this section as to the amount to be charged may be modified as determined by the city engineer.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.06, 1950)

The city engineer shall administer the provisions of this chapter unless otherwise specified herein, and for such purpose shall have the powers of a peace officer.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.07, 1950)

Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon the city engineer, or any other public officer, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of said officer or a person authorized by said officer.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.08, 1950)

The city engineer may grant an exception to any requirement of this chapter if he finds that literal compliance with such provision is impossible or impractical because of peculiar conditions in no way the fault of the person requesting such

exception, and that the purposes of this chapter will be accomplished and public safety secured by an alternative construction or procedure.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.09, 1950)

Sewage treatment plants, and sewage pump plants under the jurisdiction of a county sanitation district are exempted from all the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.10, 1950)

Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $500.00 or by imprisonment in the city jail for a period of not more than 6 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.13, 1950)

Each day during which any violation of the provisions of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense punishable as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 4170 § 4.14, 1950)