Simi Valley Municipal Code Ch. 8 Separation of Water and Sewer Facilities

In order to minimize the hazards to public health which may occur due to the accidental contamination of water supply facilities by sewage, the facilities in close proximity to one another shall be regulated. The regulations set forth in this chapter are sufficient to provide reasonable protection to the public health under ordinary conditions. If, in the opinion of the Health Officer, the Public Services Director, or the civil engineer designing and/or supervising the construction of the facilities, the provisions of this chapter are insufficient to provide reasonable protection to the public health due to unusual circumstances, including, but not limited to, extremely permeable soil, water lines which operate at or below atmospheric pressure, and severe exposure to forces which may rupture lines, the Health Officer, Public Services Director, or civil engineer shall prescribe more effective separation and/or protection of the lines.

The provisions of this chapter are intended to govern the separation of water supply facilities and sewerage facilities not regulated by the Uniform Plumbing Code. The provisions of this chapter shall not be interpreted to change the regulations of separation between building sewers or drainage pipes and water pipes provided by the Uniform Plumbing Code. The provisions of this chapter are intended to govern the separation of water supply facilities and sewerage facilities located in areas including, but not limited to, public roads, rights-of-way, and utility easements.

(§§ 8600 and 8600-1, S.V.M.C.)

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

(a) "Cesspool" shall mean any device for the treatment of sewage, which device discharges treated or untreated sewage into the surrounding ground.

(b) "Facility" shall mean any conduit, structure, or feature used in the supply of water or for the collection and disposal of sewerage.

(c) "Horizontal separation" shall mean the least horizontal distance between the center lines of pipelines laid approximately parallel to one another at their closest point of approach and the least horizontal distance between the center lines of pipelines and the nearest edge of facilities set forth in Section 6-8.04 of this chapter.

(d) "Seepage pit" shall mean any pit used for the leaching of treated or untreated sewage into the surrounding ground.

(e) "Septic tank" shall mean any device for the treatment of sewage, which device does not directly discharge sewage into the surrounding ground.

(f) "Sewage disposal field" shall mean any system of pipelines, which system provides for the leaching of treated sewage into the surrounding ground.

(g) "Sewer line" shall mean any conduit carrying sewage or industrial waste as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5410 of the Health and Safety Code of the State; any conduit carrying the effluent of treated sewage or industrial waste; or any conduit carrying any agricultural waste or effluent of any treated agricultural waste, including, but not limited to, interceptors, outfalls, and force mains.

(h) "Vertical separation" shall mean the difference in elevation between the outside bottom of the higher pipe and the outside top of the lower pipe.

(i) "Water line" shall mean any conduit carrying water which is planned to be used for human consumption or sanitation, including, but not limited to, water mains.

(j) "Water well" shall mean any hole or excavation used to obtain water from under the surface of the ground and any other such hole or excavation providing communication for contamination from a sewerage facility to the underground water, but not including oil wells properly sealed through water-bearing stratum and water wells properly sealed and abandoned.

(§ 8604, S.V.M.C.)

Except as otherwise provided in Section 6-8.05 of this chapter, water lines and sewer lines shall be located as follows:

(a) The horizontal separation between a water line and a sewer line laid approximately parallel to one another shall not be less than ten (10′) feet.

(b) When a water line and a sewer line cross, the water line shall be higher than the sewer line, and the vertical separation shall not be less than three (3′) feet.

(§ 8601, S.V.M.C.)

Except as otherwise provided in the standards of construction approved by the Public Services Director, the following minimum horizontal separations shall be provided between water supply facilities and sewerage facilities:

(a) A water well and a sewer line, fifty (50′) feet;

(b) A water well and a septic tank, fifty (50′) feet;

(c) A water well and a sewage disposal field, fifty (50′) feet;

(d) A water well and a seepage pit or cesspool, 100 feet;

(e) A water line and a septic tank, ten (10′) feet;

(f) A water line and a disposal field, ten (10′) feet; and

(g) A water line and a seepage pit or cesspool, ten (10′) feet.

(§ 8602, S.V.M.C.)

If, in any case, it is impractical to locate sewerage facilities and water supply facilities with the separations required by the provisions of Section 6-8.03 and 6-8.04 of this chapter, such facilities may be located closer to one another provided:

(a) The joints of the lines in the reaches of each line where the required separations are not maintained shall possess the necessary strength and durability to prevent the escape of the contents of the lines under such adverse conditions as corrosion, strains due to temperature changes, settlement, and superimposed loads; and

(b) The designs of the facilities, where required separation is not maintained, shall be approved by the Public Services Director. The Public Services Director shall issue standards for the design of the facilities, which standards are acceptable within the required separation area. Facilities meeting such standards may be located within the required separation area without the specific approval required by the provisions of this subsection.

(§ 8603, S.V.M.C.)

Any person constructing or maintaining water lines or sewer lines in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

(§ 8605, S.V.M.C.)