Pleasanton Municipal Code Ch. 15.32 Sewer Construction and Maintenance

All new sewerage systems shall conform to the master plan of the sewerage system as established by the director. The director shall cause to be prepared, and is authorized to prepare, a master plan for the sewerage system and all necessary design and construction standards for construction of sewers within the city.

A. Conformity to Plans. All sewers, whether trunklines, service laterals or side sewers, shall conform to the city master plan and the city's design and construction standards, whether installed by the city, developer, or any other person. City approval of plans for such construction shall be required notwithstanding the ultimate ownership of the sewer lines.

B. Ownership of Sewers. Trunk sewers and service laterals shall be owned by the city unless the city council approves the construction and retention of private trunk sewers and service laterals. Except for city council approved private sewers, the city shall not provide sewerage service by means of any trunk sewer or service lateral to which it does not have full and complete title at the time of rendering such service.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.01; Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

Application for permission to construct, install, alter or repair a side sewer, service lateral or trunk sewer shall be made to the city. The applicant's proposed sewerage system shall conform to the city's sewerage system master plan for the general area and all city design and construction standards as established by the director. No construction shall commence until city approval of the application and issuance of a permit for the construction has been obtained.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.02(a); Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person who is not a contractor or master plumber licensed under the state Contractor's License Law (Section 7000 et seq., of the Business and Professions Code of the state of California) to install or construct any sewer.

A. Contractor's Bonds and Insurance. In any instance where a contractor or master plumber is required to do work pursuant to this section, prior to commencement of any work by such contractor or master plumber, the same shall file a certificate of insurance with the city showing public liability and property damage insurance and workers' compensation insurance in amounts specified, from time to time, by the city attorney to insure the protection of the city, its citizens,, officers and employees.

B. Exception to Contractor Requirement. A registered contractor or master plumber is not necessary for work done solely on private property, but such work shall be subject to inspection by city representatives to insure an acceptable quality of workmanship and compliance with this chapter and all design and construction standards promulgated under this chapter.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.02(b); Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

An applicant for a permit for the construction, installation, alteration or repair of a city sewer shall furnish to the city a good and sufficient surety bond in an amount as required by the city on a form furnished by the city or other forms satisfactory to the city attorney. Such bond shall guarantee the repair of physical damage to facilities suffered by the city and private parties and cover additional expense in case of poor or improper workmanship and materials. Such guarantee shall be for a period of one year after the work is completed and accepted by the city.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.02(c); Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

No excavation shall be made in any state highway, county road, city street, easement, or other public right-of-way within the city limits, unless and until an encroachment permit has been issued therefor. Application for encroachment permits shall be made with the city and shall be accompanied by a cash deposit or bond as prescribed in this chapter.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.02(d); Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

The installer shall maintain such barriers, lights and signs as are necessary to give warning to the public at all times during construction of any dangerous condition to be encountered in consequence thereof. The installer shall protect the public, particularly in the use of walkways, against any hazardous condition arising in connection with the construction of any sewer.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.02(e); Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

All sewer construction work in the city shall be inspected by the director or his or her designated agents.

A. Trenches. All trenches shall be left open and the pipes therein shall be left uncovered until after inspection thereof by the director shall have been made and the pipe laying shall have been approved by the director. After inspection by the director, such trenches shall be backfilled without delay and any street opened shall be restored to its original or better condition.

B. Advance Notice. In all instances where an inspection is required, not less than 24 hours' advance notice shall be given to the office of the director stating the time when the work will be sufficiently advanced for inspection.

C. Substandard Construction. In case any sewer work has been inspected and any portion thereof has been found substandard by the director, prior to approval of the work by the city, a written notice to that effect shall be given informing the owner of the premises, the agent of such owner, the developer, or other person requesting the inspection to make the repairs necessary to place the sewer in satisfactory condition.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.02(f); Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

All persons performing or permitted to perform work under this chapter shall be held strictly responsible for any and all acts of their agents or employees in connection with the work. Upon being notified in writing by the city of any defect in any sewer work or of any violation of the provisions of this chapter or design and construction standards promulgated hereunder, the person or persons responsible for the work shall take immediate steps to correct such defect or violation.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.02(g); Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

Connection to the sewer lines owned and operated by the city shall be made only in the manner approved by the director. No connection shall be approved which is not deemed safe by the director or which fails to conform with any provision of this chapter or any design or construction standard promulgated thereunder. Connection of a side sewer, or any portion thereof, to a city sewer shall be made by the owner or the owner's designated representative, at the owner's expense, after the appropriate applications have been filed and approved. After such connection is made, the same shall be left exposed until it has been inspected and approved by the director. Thereafter, the installer may commence use of the sewer connection.

A. Separation of Sewer Connections. All premises, except those for which private sewerage systems are permitted as provided in this chapter, shall have independent connections with the city sewer; provided, that multiple premises located on a single parcel of land which cannot be subdivided and which premises are all under one ownership may, upon approval of the director, be connected to the same service lateral.

B. Sewer Plans for Groups of Buildings. No group of buildings shall be connected in a city sewer without first having the plan of the private sewerage system serving such buildings approved by the director.

C. Service Point. Sewage shall be delivered to the service point selected by the city at the elevation selected by the city.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.03; Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)

The city shall maintain all trunk sewers. Maintenance of side sewers and service laterals shall be the responsibility of the property owner served by such sewers. Any private sewer system, including private trunk sewers, shall be maintained by the owner of the private system.

(Prior code § 2-15.20.04; Ord. 1082 § 2, 1983)