Red Bluff Municipal Code Div. 1 Sewers

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE. All of the liquid or water-carried waste flow other than “domestic sewage” usually discharged into sewerage systems from commercial establishments, institutions or industrial establishments.

DOMESTIC SEWAGE. A combination of the liquid or water-carried human wastes or kitchen wastes usually discharged into sewerage systems from residences.

PREMISES. A lot, piece or parcel of land or any building or establishment.

SEWAGE. Liquid or water carried domestic, and commercial or industrial wastewater, exclusive of any solid wastes.

SEWER MAINS. The sewers in the streets and alleys and passing the various lots are called sewer mains.

SEWER SERVICES. The sewers leading from the sewer mains to and serving the property on either side are called sewer services.

WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM. The wastewater collection system of the city consists of mains and pumping stations. The conduits and pumping stations are to carry off all liquid house waste and are known in this chapter as “sanitary sewers.” Sewer services are not included in the collection system and are the responsibility of the property owners.

WASTEWATER RECYCLING PLANT. The wastewater recycling plant of the city consists of the facility and appurtenances for the processing and treatment of commercial, industrial and domestic sewage.

(`61 Code, § 18.1) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960; Am. Ord. 522, passed 11-16-1971; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) The Wastewater Department for managing and operating the municipal wastewater collection system and the wastewater recycling plant of the city is hereby established, which shall be under the control of the City Council.

(B) The City Manager shall, as the Wastewater Department requires, appoint the Director of Public Works and all other employees of the Department, and shall fix their compensation and prescribe their duties. The Director of Public Works shall be held responsible for the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the Wastewater Department and the carrying out of the same under the direction of the City Council.

(`61 Code, § 18.2) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

No person within the corporate limits of the city whose property is located where a city sewer line, available to serve the property, is within 250 feet of the place of origin of sewage on the premises, shall install any septic tank or use any means of disposing of sewage other than through a connection with the city sewer system. Each person shall be required to connect the premises with the city sewer system pursuant to this chapter and to pay in advance all connection charges provided for under this chapter.

(`61 Code, § 18.3) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) The Director of Public Works may require screening at its source of any flow of commercial or industrial or other sewage as is required to protect the usefulness of the sewer system and maintain proper operation of the equipment and treatment plant of the city. In such cases, the screen shall be of a size and type approved by the Director of Public Works.

(B) The Director of Public Works may require pretreatment of industrial waste discharge into the sewer system and reduction to a household equivalent or impose an additional charge for treatment.

(`61 Code, § 18.4) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any hazardous material detrimental to the environment, or cause to be introduced into the city wastewater collection and processing system, any deleterious substances, whether liquid, solid, gas or combination thereof, and including storm or irrigation water drainage of any type.

(B) Discharges of unpolluted or any other extraneous waters into the sewer system are prohibited unless authorized in writing by the Director of Public Works.

(C) Sewer service may be discontinued or may result in other appropriate action for violation of this section.

(`61 Code, § 18.5) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 623, passed 2-20-1979; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

The accounts and records for the Wastewater Department shall be kept on the forms and in the manner that may be designated by the Director of Finance and all money collected by the Wastewater Department shall be deposited with the City Treasurer, as directed by the Director of Finance.

(`61 Code, § 18.6) (Ord. 575, passed 8-24-1976; Am. Ord. 722, passed 10-18-1983; Am. Ord. 832, passed 8-6-1991; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

The City Council may, from time to time, make additional rules and regulations for sewer connections as are, in its judgment, required for the proper operation and maintenance of the city sewer system. The rules and regulations may include provisions requiring the screening or other treatment ahead of discharge to sewer lines including the regulation of the quality and quantity of effluent. All connections of sewer services or plumbing work with the sewer system of the city shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations and under the supervision and direction of the Director of Public Works.

(`61 Code, § 18.8) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960; Am. Ord. 832, passed 8-6-1991; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) Connection charges to the city wastewater system and charges for sewer service or discharging sewage into the city sewer system within or without the corporate limits of the city, and all other charges related to sewer service, shall be as set forth in an applicable resolution of the City Council. Rates applicable to commercial users of sewer services shall be subject to the following:

(1) Users that discharge most of their water used into the city sewer system, as measured by a water meter installed at the subject property, shall be assessed a sewer fee based on water use as set forth in the applicable resolution of the City Council.

(2) Sewer fees for commercial users that discharge only a portion of the volume of water used, as measured by a water meter installed at the subject property, into the city sewer system shall be evaluated at the discretion of the Public Works Director (or designee) or at the request of the user, and an equitable charge shall be assessed. Such users may include those that use a significant volume of water for irrigation or evaporative cooling, or that use a significant volume of water in product processing, manufacturing or storage that is not discharged into the city sewer system. The following factors may be considered:

(a) The minimum monthly charge shall be that established for commercial users as set forth in the applicable resolution of the City Council.

(b) A yearly constant charge, based on the average volume of water used during each of certain months, may be appropriate. For example, sewer charges based on an average of water used during the months of December, January and February (i.e., months with normally little landscape watering).

(c) Commercial users may, at their option and cost, install separate water meters for water discharged into the city sewer system and water that is not discharged into the city sewer system (e.g., water used solely for landscape irrigation). In this circumstance, sewer charges shall apply only to the water metered for discharge into the city sewer system.

(d) Such other charge that is equitably based on the volume of water that is reasonably expected to be discharged into the city sewer system.

(3) The determination of the Public Works Director (or designee) may be appealed to the City Council. Such an appeal must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the Public Works Director’s determination regarding the equitable sewer fee applicable to a particular parcel, property or use.

(B) (1) The amount payable to the city for any domestic sewer connection or commercial and industrial sewer connection shall be as follows:

(2) For bakeries and laundries, the cost will be actual flows, using the following equations:

(a) Bakeries: Single-family cost x 3Q, gpd x 2.63

300

(b) Laundry: Single-family cost x Q, gpd x 2.21

300

(3) For all other connections, flows will be equated to the equivalent of single-family usage using the following formula for sanitary sewer loading:

Q, gpd x BOD5 mg/l x suspended solids mg/l x SFU Fee

300 80 mg/l 200 mg/l

(C) In no event shall the city be required to furnish any meters at any point between its sewer lines and the place of origin of sewage or processing wastes, but the city shall have the power to require a water or processing waste flow meter.

(D) Each fee imposed herein shall be adjusted automatically on July 1 of each fiscal year by a percentage equal to the percentage of increase in the U.S. Consumer Price Index: U.S. Cities Average plus an amount equal to 3% of the immediate previous year’s total fee.

(`61 Code, § 18.9) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 722, passed 10-18-1983; Am. Ord. 832, passed 8-6-1991; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994; Am. Ord. 1038, passed 10-20-2015)

Any person desiring sewer service shall make application in writing on the prescribed form and shall sign the same and state the location and the purpose for the service requested and pay all applicable fees and charges.

(`61 Code, § 18.10) (Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) It shall be unlawful for anyone to tamper with or damage Wastewater Department property or interfere with or damage any sewer manhole, pipe line and appurtenances, pumping stations or other property of the Wastewater Department.

(B) It shall be unlawful for any person other than authorized personnel of the Wastewater Department to make any connection to any structure or property.

(`61 Code, § 18.12) (Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) Traps and interceptors shall be installed at locations as required in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) Chapter 11 and Appendix H, Sections 708, 710, 711, 712 and 713.

(B) All traps and interceptors shall be properly maintained, inspected, cleaned and repaired regularly, as needed, by the owner at their expense.

(C) Routine inspections by the city or an authorized representative will be conducted to assure proper maintenance of traps and interceptors.

(D) Inspections to investigate the existence of suspected or reported violations of this section which constitute an imminent and substantial danger to human life or an imminent and substantial hazard to public safety or health, will also be conducted.

(E) The expense for the inspections for all improperly installed or used traps or interceptors designated in divisions (C) and (D) above are established by City Council resolution and will be borne by the owner.

(`61 Code, § 18.13) (Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

Billings for sewer service shall be payable at City Hall with the Utility Clerk. Sewer bills shall be paid within 20 days of mailing of the bill for services. Anyone not paying within the time shall not be considered a regular paid up consumer.

(`61 Code, § 18.14) (Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

The owner and occupant of any premises having sewer service shall be responsible for payment for service from the time of service commencement until the Director of Public Works is notified in writing by the owner that the premises are not occupied and to discontinue the service.

(`61 Code, § 18.15) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

Sewer billings shall be mailed to owner or occupant on a monthly basis. Sewer charges shall be billed upon the same bill as water charges and the two amounts shall be collected as one item.

(`61 Code, § 18.16) (Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994; Am. Ord. 895, passed 3-3-1998)

Any charge or rental levied by the city by or pursuant to this chapter on any premises within or without the corporate limits of the city having a connection to the city sewer system is hereby made a lien upon the premises. The Director of Public Works is hereby authorized, and it shall be his or her duty, to disconnect any sewer connection on premises located either within the corporate limits of the city, or outside the corporate limits of the city, upon failure of the person to whom the rental is charged or billed to pay the charge or rental prior to delinquency and following the notice requirements set forth in § 18.20.

(`61 Code, § 18.17) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

When service has been disconnected, as provided in § 18.17, the Director of Public Works may require that the person who requests that the service be re-established, furnish a bond in the sum of not to exceed $500 payable to the city and conditioned upon compliance with the provisions of this chapter, before granting permission to make the connection. Before the service will be re-established, the person making application for the re-establishment of service shall pay all expenses incurred by the city in causing the disconnection and in re-establishing the connection.

(`61 Code, § 18.18) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) The Director of Public Works shall be charged with the administration of the sewer system and with the enforcement of all of the provisions of this chapter. The Director of Public Safety and all police officers of the city shall be deputies of the Director of Public Works for such purposes.

(B) In the event of a violation of any terms of this chapter, the Director of Public Works, in writing, shall notify the person causing, allowing or committing the violation, specifying the violation and the time after which, upon the failure of the person to prevent or rectify the violation, the Director of Public Works will disconnect the property served by the city sewer system; provided, that the time shall not be less than 15 days after the deposit of the notice in the U.S. Post Office in the city, addressed to the person to whom notice is given. In the event the violation results in an immediate public hazard or menace, then the Director of Public Works may enter upon the premises without notice and do the things and expend the sums as may be necessary to abate the hazard and the reasonable value of things done and the amounts expended in so doing shall be a charge upon the owner in violation. All charges due and payable by the owner to the city, pursuant hereto, and unpaid when due shall become a lien and placed upon the secured tax roles of the county for the parcel being served.

(`61 Code, § 18.20) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

(A) Any person who shall be dissatisfied with any determination made hereunder by the Director of Public Works may, at any time within 30 days after any notice of the determination by the Director of Public Works, appeal to the City Council by giving written notice to the Director of Public Works and to the City Clerk setting forth the determination with which the person is dissatisfied. In the event of any appeal, the Director of Public Works shall transmit to the City Council a report upon the matter appealed.

(B) The City Council shall cause written notice to be mailed to the appealing party at least ten days prior to the time fixed for the hearing stating the time and place fixed by the City Council for hearing the appeal. Notice of decision shall be given in writing within 30 days following the hearing.

(`61 Code, § 18.21) (Ord. 258, passed 12-4-1950; Am. Ord. 858, passed 9-20-1994)

Any tree or shrub on private property whose roots are injurious to the operation of the sewer system within public rights-of-way may be declared a nuisance and upon written notice by the Public Works Department to the owner of the nuisance, the owner will be required to remove the same at his or her own expense.

(`61 Code, § 18.22) (Ord. 379, passed 5-17-1960)