Sacramento Municipal Code Art. III General Requirements

All FSEs shall comply with such best management practices (BMPs) requirements as may be established from time to time by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

The director may require businesses other than FSEs to install fat, oil or grease and/or sand interceptors when, in the opinion of the director, an interceptor or interceptors are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing fat, oil or grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients. Such interceptor(s) shall be installed, operated and maintained at no costs to the city, shall be of a type and capacity approved by the director, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

The director may in his or her sole discretion approve a request to discharge groundwater into the city sewer system, upon execution by the person proposing the discharge of a written agreement signed by the director and approved as to form by the city attorney, specifying the terms and conditions that apply to the discharger and the discharge, and subject to the payment of any applicable charges and such other requirements as may be imposed by the director or any other public agency. Any person violating any provision of the agreement shall be subject to administrative penalties pursuant to Section 1.28.010 of this code, in addition to any other penalty or remedy provided by the agreement, this code or any other provision of any applicable statute, regulation or ordinance. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Pretreatment of industrial wastes shall be required if, and to the extent, required by the Sacramento regional county sanitation district sewer use ordinance. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Sanitary sewer pipes shall not be connected to the storm drain system. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Private sewer lines serving two or more buildings or structures located on the same lot or parcel and private storm drain lines, and all appurtenances thereto, that are not maintained by a public utility, shall be constructed to meet the standards of construction of public sewer lines and public storm drain lines set forth in the standard specifications, unless different standards are approved by the director. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

A. When property that contributes drainage to the storm drain system or combined sewer system is improved or developed, all stormwater and surface runoff drainage impacts resulting from the improvement or development shall be fully mitigated to ensure that the improvement or development does not affect the function of the storm drain system or combined sewer system, and that there is no increase in flooding or in water surface elevation that adversely affects individuals, streets, structures, infrastructure, or property.

B. The director shall develop and maintain a design and procedures manual setting forth standards, criteria, and requirements for the planning, design, and construction of water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, and water quality facilities, to assure that these facilities are properly planned, designed, and constructed, and to comply with the mitigation requirement set forth in subsection A of this section. The director shall have the authority to change, update, or revise this manual.

C. The improvement or development of property that receives city water service, contributes sewage to the separate sewer system or combined sewer system, or contributes drainage to the storm drain system or combined sewer system, shall comply with applicable provisions of the design and procedures manual as a condition of receiving any permit or approval required for the improvement or development. (Ord. 2013-0014 § 24)

A. The customer shall maintain in good condition, and shall be responsible, regardless of the cause, for all required repairs to the customer's private sewer line and all other sewer pipe(s) and appurtenances on customer's premises, including the "Y" cleanout and its connections. Customer shall comply with all requirements under this code prior to excavating anywhere within the pubic right-of-way for the purpose of maintaining and/or repairing the customer's private sewer line.

B. If the customer's private sewer line is equipped with a "Y" cleanout that is visible and accessible to department personnel, and the department is notified of a blocked or faulty sewer line serving the customer's premises, department personnel may, but shall not be required to: (1) inspect the portion of customer's private sewer line between the sewer point of service and the city sewer main, and (2) unblock and/or repair this portion of customer's private sewer line, if it is blocked or in disrepair. The department's action or failure to act pursuant to this subsection B shall not reduce or otherwise affect in any way the customer's obligations and responsibility under subsection A of this section.

C. The customer shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless city, its officers and employees from and against any and all claims, actions, costs (including attorney fees), damages or other liability arising from the condition, operation, maintenance or repair of any sewer line, pipe or appurtenance that the customer is required to maintain and repair hereunder, except for liabilities resulting solely from the department's negligent repair of the customer's private sewer line. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

A. If any private sewer line is found to have a leak or defect that could result in infiltration of ground water or storm runoff, or a result in a wastewater leak or overflow, and the director determines that the leak or defect should be repaired to protect the public health, welfare or safety, or any regulatory agency requires the leak or defect to be repaired, the director may notify the owner of the property where the private sewer line is located that the owner must repair the line, and the owner of the line shall promptly upon notification repair the line to the satisfaction of the director.

B. If the owner of the property where the private sewer line is located fails to do so, the condition resulting from the leak or defect in the private sewer line shall be deemed to constitute a public nuisance, and the director shall be authorized to commence and carry out proceedings for abatement of the condition and repair of the leak or defect in accordance with the provisions of Article V and Article VI of Chapter 8.04 of this code, commencing with Section 8.04.110 of this code. When, in the opinion of the director, the leak or defect causes or threatens to cause a condition that presents an imminent danger to the public health, safety, or welfare, or the environment, or a violation of a NPDES permit, the director may summarily abate the condition and repair the leak or defect in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of Chapter 8.04 of this code, commencing with Section 8.04.330 of this code. The owner shall be liable for the costs incurred by the city for any abatement and repair, including any related inspection and testing costs, arising from the leak or defect, and the cost therefor shall be invoiced to the owner. If the invoice is not paid within sixty (60) days, the director may commence proceedings for recovery of these costs in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of Chapter 8.04 of this code, commencing with Section 8.04.370 of this code. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

If any property in the city containing any building or structure is used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or similar human use abuts a city street, alley or utility easement in which there is located a city sewer main within two hundred (200) feet of the building or structure, but the building or structure is not connected to the city sewer system, the director may require that the building or structure be connected to the city sewer system, if the director determines that the connection would alleviate a potential health hazard or otherwise promote the public health, welfare or safety. If required by the director, the owner shall install, at the owner's expense, a connection to the city sewer system, including an extension of the main if necessary to do so, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

The customer shall install a "Y" cleanout on the customer's private sewer line, that conforms to the standard specifications, prior to receiving a new service connection, or, for existing service connections, when any repairs are made to the customer's private sewer line. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Each lot or parcel shall have a separate sewer service connection, except for service connections serving more than one lot or parcel that are authorized by the director.

To be eligible for sewer service, the property to which service is to be provided must abut a city street, alley or public utility easement in which a city sewer main is constructed at a point immediately adjacent to the property, unless the director authorizes the extension of a sewer main as provided in Article IV of this chapter, or the director authorizes sewer service for a parcel that does not abut a street, alley or public utility easement.

The director may authorize a parcel that does not abut a street, alley or public utility easement to receive sewer service through a private sewer line crossing other lot(s) or parcel(s), provided that the customer obtains a recorded private easement from the owners of the other lot(s) or parcel(s) as necessary to connect to a sewer main in a city street, alley or public utility easement, and all other applicable legal requirements are fulfilled. Sewer lines constructed in private easements or on private property are private sewer lines, and the city shall have no responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the lines. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

If a customer installs or performs any repairs on a private storm drain line connecting to the combined sewer system or storm drain system, the customer shall install a manhole above the line on customer's property as close to the public right-of-way as feasible, that conforms to the standard specifications. If the manhole is visible and accessible to department personnel, the public right-of-way line shall constitute the storm drain point of service. If no such manhole is constructed, or if the manhole is not visible and accessible to department personnel, the storm drain point of service shall be at the city storm drain main or combined sewer main serving the premises. Unless otherwise approved by the director, a customer's multiple private storm drain lines shall be connected together so that a single private storm drain line connects to the combined sewer system or storm drain system. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

A. The customer shall maintain in good condition, and shall be responsible, regardless of the cause, for all required repairs to the customer's private storm drain line and all other storm drain pipe(s) and appurtenances on customer's premises, including the manhole on customer's property. Customer shall comply with all requirements under this code prior to excavating anywhere within the public right-of-way for the purpose of maintaining and/or repairing the customer's private storm drain line.

B. If the customer's private storm drain line is equipped with a manhole that is visible and accessible to department personnel, and the department is notified of a blocked or faulty storm drain line serving the customer's premises, department personnel may, but shall not be required to: (1) inspect the portion of customer's private storm drain line between the storm drain point of service and the city storm drain main; and (2) unblock and/or repair this portion of customer's private storm drain line, if it is blocked or in disrepair. The department's action or failure to act pursuant to this subsection B shall not reduce or otherwise affect in any way the customer's obligations and responsibility under subsection A of this section.

C. The customer shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless city, its officers and employees from and against any and all claims, actions, costs (including attorney fees), damages or other liability arising from the condition, operation, maintenance or repair of any storm drain line, pipe or appurtenance that the customer is required to maintain and repair hereunder, except for liabilities resulting solely from the department's negligent repair of the customer's private storm drain line. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Customers with on-site private storm drain lines connecting to the combined sewer system shall construct separate private lines for storm drainage and for sanitary sewage. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

The customer shall construct, maintain and repair a manhole at the sewer point of service for all sanitary sewage service connections of eight-inches and larger in the combined sewer system. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

No permanent structure (including without limitation garages, patios, concrete slabs, tool sheds and similar structures) shall be constructed on top of public water, sewer or drainage pipelines or anywhere within any associated utility easements, unless approved by the director upon execution of a hold harmless agreement approved by the city attorney. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Any person damaging or removing any portion of the city sewer system or storm drain system shall reimburse the city's costs of investigating and repairing the damage and/or replacing any removed or damaged item(s), and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless city, its officers and employees from and against any claims, actions, costs (including attorney fees), damages or other liability resulting from the damage or removal. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

The city does not guarantee, and shall not be liable for any blockage or other failure in, continuity of sewer or storm drain service caused by the condition of any private sewer line or private storm drain line or appurtenance or arising from any other cause beyond the control of the city. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

In addition to any other applicable penalties, any unauthorized connection to or use of the public sewer system or storm drain system, any addition of a prohibited substance or discharge in violation of the provisions of Article II of this chapter, any alteration or damage to the public sewer system or storm drain system, any failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or any other activities that are prohibited by this code or that result in conditions that are detrimental to the public sewer system or storm drain system, shall be cause for the disconnection of sewer or storm drain service to any person or premises responsible for any such activities or conditions until the activities are terminated and/or the conditions are abated.

If the premises to which sewer or storm drain service is disconnected receive city water service pursuant to Chapter 13.04 of this code, the city also may disconnect the water service until the prohibited activities are terminated and/or the detrimental conditions are abated. Prior to disconnection of the water service the owner of the premises to which the service is rendered shall be served with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof.

When sewer or storm drain service has been disconnected as provided in this section, the director may require that the person requesting that the service be reestablished furnish a bond or deposit equal to five times the city's cost to make the disconnection, rectify any problems caused by the prohibited discharge, and complete the reconnection, before the director approves the reestablishment of service. The person making application for the reestablishment of service also shall pay all expenses incurred by the city to make disconnection, rectify any problems caused by the prohibited discharge, and complete the reconnection, before service may be established. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

No person other than department personnel or a contractor authorized by the city shall make a new, altered or repaired service connection. All service connections shall be made in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and the standard specifications. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

A. Whenever it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter or conduct inspections and tests of private sewer or storm drain facilities, or whenever the enforcement official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises any condition that constitutes a violation of this chapter, the enforcement official may enter the building or premises at all reasonable times with the consent of the property owner or occupant. A request for entry shall state that the property owner or occupant has the right to refuse entry, and that, if entry is refused, inspection may be made upon issuance of a court order. If the owner or occupant refuses entry after this request has been made, the enforcement official is empowered to seek authorization from any court of competent jurisdiction in obtaining entry. Inspection may be made upon issuance of a court order.

B. During any inspection, the enforcement official may take samples as necessary in order to implement and enforce the provisions of this chapter. This authority may include the installation of sampling and metering devices on private property, or requiring the person owning or occupying the premises to supply samples.

C. During any inspection, the enforcement official may require the person owning or occupying the premises to provide, and may review and copy, any and all records relating to any condition that constitutes a violation of this chapter. If the owner or occupant refuses to provide the records, the enforcement official is empowered to seek assistance from any court of competent jurisdiction to compel the owner or occupant to provide the records.

D. The enforcement official may require monitoring, analysis and reporting of discharges from any premises to the public sewer system. Upon service of written notice by the enforcement official, the burden and/or cost of these activities, analyses and reports shall, to the extent permitted by law, be borne by the owner or occupant of the premises. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Swimming or wading pools or fish ponds, and air conditioning and refrigeration devices, shall comply with the provisions of Article VI of Chapter 13.04 of this code, commencing with Section 13.04.450. No permanent connection shall be made to the public sewer system for any swimming or wading pool or fish pond constructed after the effective date of the ordinance adopting this section. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

When required by the director, any customer discharging industrial wastes to the public sewer system shall install a control manhole, together with such meters and other appurtenances as may be required by the director to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the industrial wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be located on the customer's property in a location approved by the city, shall be installed by the customer at the customer's expense, and shall be maintained by the customer so as to be safe at all times. In addition, the manhole shall be made readily accessible to the officers, employees and agents of the city and any other regulatory agency during regular business hours. The customer shall perform such tests as may be required by the city or any other regulatory agency, and shall provide the results of the tests to the city or any other regulatory agency upon request. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

A backwater valve approved by the department shall be installed in any building discharging to the public sewer system if the building's lowest room containing a plumbing fixture has a floor elevation below that of the cover of the nearest manhole upstream of the service connection on the public sewer main serving the building. The backwater valve shall be installed and maintained by the building owner at no cost to the city. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

A service connection may be relocated by the department at a customer's request provided that the relocation, in the judgment of the director, is not detrimental to the city sewer system or city storm drain system. Such relocation shall include any modifications necessary to comply with the current connection standards or requirements, and all costs of the relocation shall be borne by the customer. The customer shall pay the cost of the relocation, as determined by the director, prior to connecting the customer's private sewer line or private storm drain line to the relocated service connection. If a service connection is relocated by the city on its own initiative for the convenience or protection of the city sewer system or city storm drain system, the relocation shall be performed at the expense of the city. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

Except for violations declared to be punishable as a misdemeanor, the violation of any provision of this chapter is an infraction, in addition to any other penalty or remedy provided under any applicable law or regulation, including without limitation the administrative penalty provisions set forth in Section 1.28.010 of this code and the nuisance abatement provisions set forth in Articles V, VI, VII and VIII of Chapter 8.04 of this code, commencing with Section 8.04.110. Causing, permitting, aiding, abetting or concealing a violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a violation of this chapter. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)

In the event of any conflict between this chapter and any federal or state law, regulation, order or permit, the requirement that establishes the higher standard for public health or safety shall govern. To the extent permitted by law, nothing in this chapter shall preclude enforcement of any other applicable law, regulation, order or permit. (Ord. 2005-020 § 2)