Torrance Municipal Code Art. 2 Construction, Use, Etc. of Public and House-Connection Sewers Generally

For the purpose of this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings accorded to them by this Section, unless it is apparent from the context that they are used with a different meaning:

a) Alterations shall mean any change or addition.

b) Chief Engineer shall mean the Chief Engineer of the County Sanitation Districts, or his authorized deputy, agent, representative or inspector.

c) House connection sewer shall mean that part of the horizontal piping beginning twelve (12) inches from the exterior wall of the building and extending to its connection with the public sewer.

d) Lot shall mean any piece or parcel of land bounded, defined or shown upon a plat or deed recorded in the office of the County Recorder, and in accordance with the boundaries of such lot as bounded, defined or shown upon such recorded map, plat or deed; provided, however, that in the event any building or structure covers more area than a lot as herein defined, the term lot shall be deemed to be and include all such pieces or parcels of land upon which such buildings are wholly or partly located.

e) Public sewer shall mean any sewer other than a house connection sewer, which has been accepted by the street superintendent or the Chief Engineer of the County Sanitation District.

f) Repairs shall mean the reconstruction or renewal of any existing part of a structure, or of its fixtures or appurtenances.

g) Street superintendent shall mean the Street Superintendent of the City, or his authorized deputy, agent, representative or inspector.

Nothing in this Article shall be deemed or construed to require the application for, or the issuance of, a permit for the purpose of removing stoppages or repairing leaks in any public or house connection sewer, except when it is necessary to replace any part or all of such sewer with other or different materials.

The provisions of this Article requiring permits shall not be construed to apply to contractors constructing sewers and appurtenances under contracts awarded and entered into under proceedings had or taken pursuant to any of the special procedure statutes of the State providing for the construction of sewers and the assessing of the expenses thereof against the lands benefited thereby.

It shall be unlawful for any person, other than the Chief Engineer of the County Sanitation Districts, to commence, or do, or cause to be done, or to construct, or cause to be constructed, or to use, or cause to be used, or to alter, or cause to be altered, any public or house connection sewer in the City, without first obtaining a permit from the Street Superintendent to do so; provided, however, that in the case of any sanitary sewer which is used by the County Sanitation Districts this provision shall not apply.

Any person desiring a permit, for any of the purposes enumerated in this Section, shall make application in writing to the Street Superintendent, giving such information as he may require, on blanks to be furnished for that purpose, and if it appears therefrom that the work to be performed is to be done according to the regulations contained in this Article, governing the construction of such work, a permit shall be issued upon payment of the fees as fixed by Section 72.2.4.

(Amended by O-3267)

The City Engineer shall, before granting any permit upon an application filed in accordance within the provisions of the preceding Section, require payment of a fee in an amount which shall be set by resolution of the City Council from time to time.

If the work authorized by a permit is not commenced within sixty (60) days from the date of its issuance, or if the work authorized by such permit and commenced thereunder shall be suspended or abandoned for a period of sixty (60) days, then such permit shall thenceforth be null and void; and before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be taken out, and the same fees as fixed for the original permit shall be paid therefor.

The Street Superintendent shall keep in proper books, an accurate account of all fees received under this Article giving the names and residences of the persons upon whose accounts the same were paid, and the date and the amount thereof, which books shall be open for public inspection. The Street Superintendent shall pay all fees received by him into the City Treasury the following business day.

All work done under the provisions of this Article shall be subject to inspection. Notice must be given in writing to the Street Superintendent by the person doing such work, or causing the same to be done, immediately after the work is ready for inspection. Up to the time of the inspection, all work must be uncovered and convenient for the inspector’s examination and every facility must be given the inspector to make a thorough examination, If any pipes are enclosed or covered in any way whatsoever, so as to tend to obstruct a thorough inspection of the drainage system, such obstruction must be removed, upon notice to do so from the Street Superintendent, before an inspector shall be required to inspect the work. When, upon examination by the inspector, it appears that any such work is defective, either in its construction or material, the same shall be removed or repaired to conform to the requirements set forth in this Article.

When it appears to the satisfaction of the Street Superintendent that any work mentioned in this Article has been constructed according to, and meets the requirements of all provisions of this Article, and that all the fees for the inspection thereof have been paid, the Street Superintendent shall cause to be issued to the person constructing such work, a certificate of final inspection, which certificate shall recite that such work as is covered by the permit has been constructed according to the provisions of this Code or any other ordinances of the City and that such work is in a sanitary condition. The Street Superintendent shall not issue such certificate of inspection unless the requirements of this Article have been adhered to.

The material used shall be equal in quality to, and the manner of construction shall meet all the requirements prescribed by the specifications for public sewers in the City, which may be adopted from time to time as standard specifications for the construction of sanitary sewers and appurtenances thereto by the City Council, and all such work must be constructed or installed in accordance therewith before a certificate of final inspection will be granted by the Street Superintendent.

It shall be unlawful for any person to make or to maintain, or to cause to be made or maintained, any connection with any public sewer of the City, until a permit therefor shall have first been obtained from the Street Superintendent, or to make, or cause to be made, any such connection pursuant to any such permit at any place other than that designated therein.

Every connection made with any public sewer of the City shall be made in the following manner, and with such materials as are hereinafter set forth:

All pipe shall be first class, vitrified, salt glazed, socket pipe or standard cast-iron soil pipe, not less than six (6) inches in internal diameter for that portion extending from the street sewer to the property line, and not less than four (4) inches in internal diameter for that portion extending from the property line to the house or building for house connection sewers serving twenty (20) persons or less, and not less than six (6) inches in internal diameter for all portions of house connection sewers serving more than twenty (20) persons.

A cleanout shall be placed in every house connection sewer at the junction of the soil pipe at the building and at all changes in alignment and grade. The cleanout shall be made by inserting a Y branch in the line with a cap of the same material as the house connection sewer pipe tightly cemented in the bell end of the portion of the "Y" branch which will be used to gain access to the connection.

All vitrified clay pipe shall be laid upgrade on an unyielding foundation and with the socket ends of the pipe upgrade. A narrow gasket of oakum or hemp shall be caulked into each joint, after which the mortar shall be introduced therein. The entire annular space in all pipejoints between the exterior of the spigot and the interior of the socket shall be completely and carefully filled with cement mortar, which shall be composed of one (1) part cement and two (2) parts sand. The connection shall be watertight when completed.

When the condition of the trench is such that it is impossible to secure a watertight cement mortar joint, a sewer joint compound which shall meet the requirements of the standard specifications for public sewers referred to shall be used.

All joints of standard cast iron soil pipe shall be made with pig lead and oakum and shall be thoroughly caulked.

The grade shall be straight from the property line to the public sewer and shall have a wall of not less than one (1) foot in fifty (50) feet towards the public sewer, except where otherwise permitted by special permit in writing from the Street Superintendent.

Vitrified clay piping shall not be placed closer than twelve (12) inches to the exterior wall of any building or closer than twelve (12) inches to the surface of the ground at any point of its course.

Where laid within the limits of a public street, no connection shall be laid less than three (3) feet below the established grade of the same or below the surface, where no grade is established, except by a special permit in writing from the Street Superintendent.

No sewer connection shall be covered or concealed in any way until it has been inspected and approved by the Street Superintendent.

All house connection sewers outside of any buildings shall be tested for leaks or defects in that portion extending from the property line to the upper terminus by a standing test, which shall consist of filling the line with water, the level of which shall be at least four (4) inches above the top of the upper terminal end of such house connection sewer. No test shall be made until at least twenty-four (24) hours after the joints in such pipe have been made, where such joints are cemented joints. Where by reason of excessive fall in such house connection sewers, the static pressure will exceed four (4) pounds per square inch, the line may be tested in sections, such that no section will be subjected to a greater pressure than four (4) pounds.

No house connection sewer shall be approved if any portion thereof, including any fitting, material, work or construction fails to withstand such test without leaking at any point.

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect or cause to be connected, any sewer which has been, or may hereafter be constructed in any street, alley, right-of-way or other public place prior to the dedication and acceptance of such street, alley, right-of-way or other public place by the City Council on behalf of the public, with any public sewer of the City, unless such sewer first mentioned shall have been laid under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Street Superintendent, or of the Chief Engineer of the County Sanitation Districts and in accordance with the standard specifications above mentioned, and in accordance with plans and profiles approved by the City Engineer or the Chief Engineer.

Whenever it becomes necessary to connect a house connection sewer to a public sewer at a point where no special Y or T branch has been installed in the public sewer, the connection must be made in the presence of an inspector and in the following manner.

In all public sewers of twelve (12) inches or less in internal diameter, and of ten (10) feet or less in depth, the connection must be made by removing a section of the existing sanitary sewer and inserting a "Y" branch.

In public sewers of from eight (8) inches to twelve (12) inches inclusive, in internal diameter, and more than ten (10) feet in depth, or of fourteen (14) inches or more in internal diameter at any depth, it will be permissible to cut the existing pipe and insert a standard saddle.

The saddle must be fitted snugly against the exterior wall of the public sewer pipe and fastened in place by heavy galvanized asphalt paint coated wire which shall be bound around the main line pipe.

A foundation of cement concrete shall then be placed under and around the saddle, as may be directed by the inspector.

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, throw or deposit, or cause or permit to be placed, thrown or deposited in any public or house connection sewer, any dead animal, offal or garbage, or to place, throw or deposit or discharge, or cause or permit to be placed, thrown, deposited or discharged in any such sewer, any fish, fruit or vegetable waste, or other solid matters, or materials or obstructions of any kind whatsoever of such nature as shall clog, obstruct or fill such sewer, or which shall interfere with or prevent the effective use or operation thereof. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to cause or permit to be deposited or discharged into any such sewer, any water or sewage, or liquid waste of any kind containing chemicals, greases, oil, tar or other matters in solution, which may, by reason of precipitation, clog, obstruct or fill the same, or which may in any way interfere with or prevent the effective use thereof, or which may necessitate or require frequent repair, cleaning out or flushing such sewer to render the same operative.

In no case shall acids or corrosive liquids liable to destroy or injure a public or house connection sewer be discharged into such sewer without being fully diluted and neutralized by passing through a properly constructed dilution and neutralizing sink or tank. Such sink or tank shall be automatically provided with a sufficient intake of water or neutralizing medium or substance so as to make its contents noninjurious before being discharged.

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect any roof conductor, yard drain or other conduit used for carrying off rain or surface water with any sanitary sewer of the City or house connection sewer leading thereto.

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect any swimming pool or tank to any public sewer of the City or house connection sewer leading thereto, except by special permit from the Street Superintendent.

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or operating a private or public automobile or carriage wash rack to permit any water or effluent therefrom to flow into any public or house connection sewer, unless such structure shall be trapped by a sand trap constructed of concrete.

The walls and bottom of the trap shall be not less than four (4) inches thick. The inside dimension of the trap shall be not less than five (5) feet long, three (3) feet wide and three (3) feet deep below the bottom of the outlet pipe. The inlet pipe shall be at one end and the outlet pipe at the opposite end of the trap. The pipes shall be not less than four (4) inches in diameter and their tops shall be not less than six (6) inches below the top of the trap.

The outlet pipe shall extend into the outlet compartment of the sand trap as described below and shall be equipped with a four (4) inch T branch set vertically downward. A section of four (1) inch pipe shall extend downward from the T branch to a point not less than twelve (12) inches below the bottom of the outlet pipe. The straight end of the outlet pipe in the sand trap shall be fitted with a stopper or plug.

A baffle wall of concrete or wood, extending entirely across such trap shall be constructed parallel to and twelve (12) inches from the inside of the end wall at the inlet end. The bottom of this baffle wall shall be parallel to and six (6) inches above the bottom of the trap, the top being flush with the top of the trap.

Another baffle wall of concrete or wood extending entirely across the trap shall be constructed parallel to and twelve (12) inches from the inside of the wall at the outlet end of the trap. The top of this baffle wall shall be parallel to and twelve (12) inches below the top of the trap and the wall shall extend down to the bottom of the trap.

The compartment formed by the outlet wall and the baffle wall twelve (12) inches therefrom shall be covered with a solid removable cover.

The remainder of the sand trap shall be covered with a removable grating which may be in sections of any convenient size to facilitate removal for inspection and cleaning of the sand trap.

Such sand traps shall be inspected daily when in use and cleaned as often as necessary for their efficient operation.

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect any cellar drain and shower in basements or in yards, directly with the soil or waste pipe, but such cellar drain or shower shall be trapped by a sand trap of not less than twelve by twelve inches (12" x 12") and constructed of concrete. The walls and floor of every such trap shall be not less than three (3) inches thick, and each trap shall have a cast iron frame and grate cover. The water seal of such trap shall be constructed by inverting its waste pipe. A water seal of less than four (4) inches is prohibited and the minimum size of the waste pipe shall be four (4) inches where trap is not vented Such sand traps shall be cleaned as often as necessary for their efficient operation.

It shall be unlawful for any person operating an establishment serving one hundred (100) or more meals per day, or any person owning or operating a private or public automobile or carriage wash rack to permit the wastes from the kitchen sinks or wash racks to flow directly into any public sewer of the City or house connection sewer leading thereto, without first passing the same through grease traps approved by the Street Superintendent.

Grease traps with a guaranteed capacity of twenty (20) pounds of pure grease shall be installed with each kitchen sink or outlet wasting into any public sewer of the City for establishments serving from one hundred (100) to three hundred (300) meals per day. Grease traps with a guaranteed capacity of sixty (60) pounds of pure grease shall be installed for any establishment where more than three hundred (300) meals are served per day, and for the operation of any private or public wash rack as above mentioned.

It shall he unlawful for any person to connect any safe waste pipe from any establishment directly to any public sewer of the City or house connection sewer leading thereto, but such safe waste pipe shall discharge into a water supplied sink or discharge outside of the building.

It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, suffer, allow or permit the exhaust from any engine, or the blowoff from any boiler to be connected directly to any public sewer of the City or house connection sewer leading thereto, but such exhaust or blowoff shall first connect with a watertight sump which may in turn be connected to the public sewer.

Upon the renewal or alteration of any public or house connection sewer, or upon the making of any repairs or additions thereto, if any new material is placed in such sewer, either in the original or in the altered repaired or added part thereof, every such new part must be properly connected with and attached to the original part of such sewer, and if any materials are to be reset either in the old or new part of such public or house connection sewer, then both such original and such new additional parts, and any altered part whatsoever, must be made to conform in all respects to the rules and regulations prescribed in this Article.

It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or cause to be removed, or to injure or cause to be injured, any portion of any public sewer, flush tank, flushing manhole or manhole, or to open or enter, or cause to be opened or entered, any public sewer, flush tanks, flushing manhole or manhole, or to use or cause to be used, or to take or cause to be taken, any water from any flushing apparatus for any use whatsoever, without first obtaining a permit from the Street Superintendent to do so.

No connection from any building or structure shall be made to any public sewer, which connection, or any portion thereof, shall be in under or upon any lot, other than the lot on which such building or structure is located, unless a public right-of-way for such sewer line is granted across such lot or parcel of land not actually occupied by the building in question.

For the purpose of this Section, the term "structure" shall include the group of buildings of a "house court," which is hereby defined to be a parcel or area of land upon which are grouped three (3) or more habitations used, or designed to be used, for occupancy by families, and upon which parcel or area the vacant or unoccupied portion thereof surrounding or abutting upon such habitations is used, or intended to be used, in common by the inhabitants thereof. A habitation is defined to be a room or combination of rooms used, or designed to be used for the occupancy of human beings.

All buildings constituting a house court, as above defined, may be connected to the public sewer by means of one (1) private sewer located upon the lot or parcel of land upon which such house court is situated.