Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Art. 1 General Provisions

The Public Works Department shall administer the wastewater properties, facilities and services of the City and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The area in which service is or will be furnished is as shown on the maps available for inspection at the Public Works Department.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The City shall exercise reasonable diligence and care to:

(a) Endeavor to accept, transfer, treat and dispose of authorized wastewater flow generated within the City's service area;

(b) Construct, maintain and operate the City's system of collection and transmission pipelines and wastewater treatment facilities;

(c) Endeavor to meet waste discharge requirements as set forth by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The City shall not be liable for:

(a) Damages to building plumbing or premises as a result of the customer's failure to maintain those pipes and protection devices on the customer's service lateral or within the building;

(b) Interruption of service on a temporary basis wherein such interruption is a result of repairs and/or maintenance necessary to operate the public system;

(c) Damages resulting from negligence or unlawful acts of others in not complying with provisions of the Municipal Code.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

All wastewater collection and transmission pipelines and related facilities shall be designed and constructed in complete conformity with the Wastewater Design and Construction Standards and approved plans and specifications (as appropriate). These standards are adopted by Council action and cover such topics as: design criteria, materials, plan preparation, administrative requirements, construction and testing. All engineers designing wastewater facilities and contractors constructing such facilities shall have obtained the Wastewater Design and Construction Standards prior to their activities.

Wastewater facilities not covered by the Wastewater Design and Construction Standards shall be designed and constructed in conformity with all applicable requirements and standards of governmental agencies having jurisdiction within the City's service area.

The Wastewater Design and Construction Standards may be revised with such revisions being adopted by the City Council via Council Action. Copies of the standards are available for inspection and/or purchase at the Public Works Department.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

Most administration requirements are set by the Wastewater Design and Construction Standards with fees set by Council Action. Other administrative requirements shall be established by the Director of the Public Works Department.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner upon public or private property any human or animal excrement, garbage or other objectionable waste. It shall be unlawful to discharge to the ground or to a natural watercourse any wastewater (sewage) including, but not limited to, any industrial wastewater or other polluted water, in a manner that would create a hazard or nuisance or that would impair the usefulness of ground or surface water.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

(a) Each parcel of property and each house, building or dwelling unit of separate ownership shall be provided with its own service lateral. More than one lateral may be permitted to a building where judged necessary such as a commercial building housing various users. The requirement for each separate ownership unit to have its own separate lateral shall also pertain to residential condominium conversion projects, unless otherwise approved by the Public Works Department. Where the provision is waived, the wastewater system must be private and must be maintained by a condominium or property owners association.

(b) When property provided with a service connection is partitioned, split or otherwise divided, the existing service connection shall be assigned to the lot or parcel nearest the lateral unless the City determines that an alternate assignment or location is appropriate. Additional lateral(s) shall be installed to the other parcel(s) or building(s).

(c) All new subdivisions or developments requiring wastewater service shall, unless expressly exempted by the City Council, be annexed to the City prior to final connections to the City's wastewater system.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The provisions of this Title shall apply to all persons utilizing any of the facilities or services of the wastewater system of the City; provided, however, nothing contained in this Title shall be construed to prevent the City from entering into special agreements for the disposal of wastes through the City's wastewater facilities.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

(a) Where a connection to the public wastewater system is not required under the provisions of this title, an owner, with written permission from the Public Works Director, may construct private wastewater disposal facilities conforming to the requirements of the Municipal Code and the City's Community Development Department. The owner shall enter into an agreement with the City to participate in the costs of future wastewater facilities that will serve the property and to connect to the public main when it becomes available. Said agreement shall be recorded against the property as notice to future owners.

(b) A private wastewater disposal facility shall be under the same ownership as the property served. Neither the disposal facility nor the property served shall be separately sold.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

Any ambiguities concerning the application, meaning or intent of the provisions of this title shall be resolved by written decision of the Public Works Director with a copy to the City Clerk's office unless subsequent Code revision is made or other administrative interpretation made.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The provisions of this title shall be used in conjunction with the Wastewater Design and Construction Standards, pertinent City Council ordinances or resolutions, other sections of the Municipal Code, as well as the codes and policies of other public agencies having jurisdiction on a particular subject matter. In case of conflict, the Public Works Director shall review the matter and render a decision based upon an interpretation which is most consistent with this Title.

(Ord. 1515-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)