Stockton Municipal Code Art. II Regulations and Requirements

A. Lower laterals are maintained by the City of Stockton.

B. The standards for maintenance of upper laterals are as follows:

1. The upper lateral shall be kept free from roots, grease deposits, and other solids which may impede the flow or obstruct the transmission of waste;

2. All joints shall be tight and all upper lateral pipes shall be sound and free of any structural defects such as cracks, breaks, openings, rodent holes, or missing portions, and the grade shall be uniform without sags or offsets;

3. The upper lateral shall have cleanouts in accordance with Section 13.50.060. All cleanouts shall be securely sealed with a proper cap at all times.

4. All nonsanitary sewer connections shall be disconnected and such connections shall be rerouted in accordance with the California Plumbing Code as adopted by the City of Stockton.

C. These standards shall apply to existing upper laterals only pursuant to Sections 13.50.040 or 13.50.070 through 13.50.110, or when a person performs any work on an upper lateral, in which case such work shall comply with the requirements for repairs and maintenance of upper laterals established by the Director and the California Plumbing Code as adopted by the City of Stockton.

(Ord. 2012-05-22-1503 C.S. § 1)

A. An upper lateral constitutes a public nuisance when any condition exists that would cause or contribute to a sanitary sewer overflow. These conditions may include, but are not limited to:

1. The piping and fittings leaks or breaks;

2. Pipes and fittings are subject to exfiltration or leakage of sewage;

3. The piping and fittings provide connections other than those permitted by this chapter and the California Plumbing Code as adopted by the City of Stockton, or are otherwise subject to inflow and infiltration, whether accidentally, negligently, or intentionally. Any condition in the upper lateral that impedes flow.

B. A cleanout constitutes a public nuisance if it causes or contributes to a sanitary sewer overflow, including:

1. Missing or improperly placed cap;

2. Leaks, breaks, or is otherwise subject to exfiltration or leakage of sewage;

3. Has nonsanitary sewer connections, or is otherwise subject to inflow and infiltration, whether accidentally, negligently, or intentionally.

C. Any public nuisance found during regular inspections by City staff, or following a sanitary sewer overflow under this section shall be abated by completing necessary repairs. The Director may issue an order for such repairs.

(Ord. 2012-05-22-1503 C.S. § 1)

Following any sanitary sewer overflow caused by an upper lateral defect, the property owner shall immediately test, inspect, maintain, repair and/or replace the defect as follows:

A. Owners shall obtain all required plumbing and sewer permits prior to making any repairs of upper laterals, and shall retain the inspection card(s), signed and approved by City inspector(s), as proof of completion of work.

B. Should the City, at any time, determine that roots are growing into lower laterals from upper laterals, upon notification the property owner shall, within 45 days, either remove the roots from the upper lateral and make all necessary repairs to the upper lateral to prevent a reoccurrence of root intrusion that reaches the lower lateral, or enter into a compliance time schedule according to Section 13.50.110.

C. All repair or replacement work identified by the inspection, or following a sanitary sewer overflow, must be completed and approved by the Director, as determined by the issuance of a sewer lateral certificate.

D. If nonsewer connections to the upper lateral sewer line are found, the property owner will be required to disconnect them and contain, disperse on-site, or redirect, stormwater run-off within the time requirements approved by the Director.

E. Each sewer lateral shall have a standard cleanout located in the City right-of-way or easement. Each private lateral shall also have a privately maintained cleanout within 30 inches of the building or as specified by the California Plumbing Code as adopted by the City of Stockton. If either cleanout does not exist, the property owner will be required to install the cleanout(s) within the time requirements approved by the Director.

F. Drainage piping serving fixtures which have flood-level rims located below the elevation of the next upstream maintenance-hole cover of the public or private sewer serving such drainage piping shall be protected from backflow of sewage by installing a backwater valve approved by the Director. If a necessary backwater valve does not exist, the property owner will be required to install the backwater valve within the time requirements approved by the Director.

G. Failure to comply with an order issued under this section shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, and the condition of the upper lateral sewer line in such cases shall be deemed, and is hereby declared, a public nuisance.

H. At the reasonable discretion of the Director, or at the request of the property owner, the City may act immediately to abate any public nuisance. Any cost, expense, liability, fine, penalty or other payment made or incurred by the City to clear or repair any upper private lateral shall be borne by the property owner and shall constitute a debt to the City, due and payable upon demand and collectable in any manner provided by law.

(Ord. 2012-05-22-1503 C.S. § 1)

Sewer lateral certificates, as required by this chapter, shall be issued by the Director upon sufficient proof that a property owner has complied with this chapter, and upon payment of any required fee.

A. Sewer lateral certificates shall certify:

1. Acceptance of an inspection performed under this chapter if no repairs were required;

2. Inspection and approval by the City of completed alterations (partial repairs) to a lateral or connections to a lateral;

3. Inspection and approval by the City of completed repairs to a lateral or cleanout ordered by the Director; or

4. Inspection and approval by the City of replacement of the upper lateral.

(Ord. 2012-05-22-1503 C.S. § 1)

The Director may waive inspections and/or repairs under Section 13.50.060, if he or she determines that compliance is unfeasible due to cost, physical limitations, or other appropriate criteria.

(Ord. 2012-05-22-1503 C.S. § 1)