Sutter County Municipal Code Ch. 1740 Wastewater Connections

The purpose of this Chapter is to prescribe and regulate the connection of sanitary sewer wastewater services to the public wastewater system.

This Chapter shall apply to all persons and service areas within the County of Sutter receiving wastewater services from the County. It will also apply to special publicly-owned districts and agencies electing to adopt this code in its entirety. This Chapter refers to wastewater services only.

Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meanings and terms used in this Chapter shall be as stated in Chapter 1701 of this code.

It is unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in an unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the County any human or animal excrement, garbage, or other waste. It is unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the County any sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, or other polluted waters. No person shall discharge any substances directly into a manhole or other opening in a sanitary sewerage system except through an approved connection to the public wastewater system.

Within an area serviced by a public wastewater system, the public wastewater system sanitary sewers will be used to dispose of liquid waste. Premises requiring wastewater service within an existing County wastewater service area shall connect to the public wastewater system.

(a) New premises within an existing County wastewater service area and within 400 feet of an existing public wastewater main shall be connected to that main for all wastewater needs at the expense of the property owner.

(b) Existing premises within an existing County wastewater service area and within 400 feet of an existing County wastewater main not currently connected to the public wastewater system, but being served through a privately-owned septic system, shall be connected to the public wastewater system upon failure of the septic tank or drain field or when the septic system requires substantial repairs. Any septic system repair requiring a permit from the County shall be considered substantial. Additionally, such premises shall be connected to the public wastewater system when substantial private improvements are made to a premise. Private improvements that require public frontage improvements shall be considered substantial. Any septic system servicing the premises shall then be destroyed in accordance with state and County requirements. All costs to connect to the public wastewater system shall be at the expense of the property owner.

(c) The Development Services Department Director may grant exceptions to (a) and (b) above when in his/her determination it is infeasible to connect the premises to the public wastewater system or it is in the best interests of the County to delay or forgo connection.

(d) Main Line Extension. Applicant requesting service requiring main extension shall bear the full cost of the extension installation. A reimbursement agreement may be requested to recover proportional costs, determined at the time of the agreement, for future connections.

(Ord. 1585, Sec. 2, May 28, 2013)

No person shall construct a new privately-owned wastewater disposal system such as a septic tank and/or drain field in an area serviced by a public wastewater system without permission of the Development Services Department Director. Such permission shall only be granted if an exception is granted to connecting to the public wastewater system.

(Ord. 1585, Sec. 2, May 28, 2013)

No person, except a duly authorized employee of the County shall cover, uncover, open, alter, disturb, or make any connection to the public wastewater mains or any appurtenance thereof, except when authorized by a County issued encroachment permit, building permit, or approved public improvement plan issued by the Director. The applicant shall pay all applicable connection fees, the amount of which shall be fixed, from time to time, by resolution of the County Board of Supervisors.

Services shall be constructed in accordance with Sutter County Improvement Standards. Regular wastewater service shall be installed at the location determined by the County. The size of such service appurtenances shall be determined by the County. Service installations may be made only to property abutting on public streets or abutting on such collection mains as may be constructed in alleys or easements, at the convenience of the County. Services installed in new subdivisions prior to the construction of streets or in advance of street improvements shall be utilized by the applicant in the installed location.

Customers making any substantial change in the size, character, or extent of the equipment or operations utilizing wastewater service; or a change in the characterization of the wastewater, shall immediately give the County written notice of the nature of the change and, if necessary, amend their applications.

When a user requires increased service or larger service lateral than that which was previously serving the parcel, the user shall pay all costs of providing the new service and applicable connection fees for the differential size and usage.

The cost of connecting into a public wastewater main within the County shall be collectible at the time the building permit is issued to the applicant. The cost of resurfacing and/or repairing the County streets in connection therewith and in addition thereto the damage done, if any, to the public wastewater system, will be in addition to the connection fee. The connection fees shall be established from time to time by resolution adopted by the County Board of Supervisors.

No person or persons except duly authorized County employees or licensed contractors to whom a permit has been especially granted by the County for the doing of the work shall be permitted to connect any private wastewater line from any building, premises or fixtures, with the public wastewater system in the County. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connection with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public wastewater line, facility, or wastewater system appurtenance thereof.

Any person connecting any private wastewater line with a public wastewater line shall be held responsible for any damages they may cause to the wastewater system or the public street. The cost of repairing the damage, if not paid by the person causing the same within 30 days, may become a lien upon the property owned or occupied by the person causing the damage, and may be foreclosed in the same manner as claims for labor or materials under the lien laws of this state, except that no equity or redemption shall apply. A lien shall be placed on the property in accordance with State law.

Where premises are connected to the County wastewater mains, it is the responsibility of the property owner, at the owner's expense, to maintain the wastewater service lateral from the premises to the County-owned service tank or main. Such maintenance shall include the removal of tree roots, removal of obstructions and blockages, and protection of the County-owned service tanks, boxes, electrical connections and other appurtenances on the premises. The service tanks and/or clean-out boxes and access covers shall be kept free of turf and dirt and be accessible from the street. No fence or other obstruction shall separate the access covers or County-owned appearances from the sidewalk or street. The property owner is also responsible for repairs of the privately-owned lateral line within the property boundaries. The County will repair damaged and deteriorated lateral lines from the service connection point or in the County right-of-way at County expense, unless such damage was caused by the property owner.

No plumber, contractor, or owner shall leave the water turned on at a new building if he has knowledge that the wastewater service is not authorized by the Director; nor shall he reconnect any wastewater service where the wastewater connection to the County lateral is found plugged or disconnected.

The owner or occupants of premises where wastewater is used must keep all privately-owned waste service pipes, valves, and fixtures in good repair. The privately-owned system shall be designed and maintained to prevent inflow and infiltration of groundwater and/or stormwater runoff to the extent practical. The County will not be liable for any damage occasioned by broken pipes, obstructions or other apparatus within the applicant's premises or under his control.

No person shall allow the connection of wastewater drain lines to his own service from any other lot or parcel unless written authorization from the Director is obtained. The Director shall authorize such connection on a temporary basis only to facilitate repairs on the wastewater system or for health and safety reasons.

The County reserves the right to limit the amount of wastewater that any consumer should on occasion discharge, and shall not be liable for any damage caused by temporary discontinuance of service while making repairs or replacements. For planned service interruptions, reasonable notice shall be provided to the customer prior to initiating the interruption.

In addition to the termination provisions as stated in Chapter 1701 of this code, the County may terminate or restrict or cause to be terminated or restricted wastewater service to any premises, which may include termination or restriction of the water service if warranted, if a violation of any provisions of this chapter is found to exist

A wastewater discharge connection shall not be reassigned or transferred to a different premise or sold by the property owner. All sewer connections are the property of the public wastewater system.

(Ord. 1528, Sec. 2, July 13, 1020,)