West Covina Municipal Code § 23-19 Same—Connection prohibited through adjoining property; exceptions

This article shall be known as the "Sanitary Sewer Ordinance" and may be cited as such.

(Code 1960, § 5201)

The definitions in this section shall govern the construction of this article, unless otherwise apparent from the context:

Boiler blow-off means the condensed steam or hot water from a boiler when "blown off" to remove scale and slime or "blown down" for cleaning and repair.

Cesspool means an excavation in the ground which receives the discharge of a house drain.

Chimney means a vertical section of a house connection sewer extending either from a vertical tee on the main line or from a long radius ¼ bend set vertically at the curb or property line, and in either case suitably reinforced with concrete.

Conductor or roof leader means any piping which carries storm or rainwater from any roof or building, yard or court. The term "downspout" is usually applied to the vertical portion.

Dairy screen chamber means a screening device as shown on the city engineer's Standard Plan No. S-S-15.

Dairy wastes means the waste liquids incident to operation of a dairy, including wash water from the milking barn, milk house, bottle washing equipment, and similar devices; but excluding any storm or rainwater from corrals, roofs, buildings, yards or courts.

Domestic sewage is the water borne wastes associated with human habitations and may be contaminated with human excreta, offal or feculent matter.

Effluent means partially or completely treated sewage flowing out of any sewage treatment device.

Grease interceptor means a device for retaining grease or oil by gravity-differential separation from waste effluent and of a design and capacity approved by the city engineer.

House connection sewer means that part of the horizontal piping beginning twenty-four (24) inches from the exterior wall of the building or structure and extending to its connection with the main line sewer, through which is discharged sewage.

Industrial connection sewer means a house connection sewer through which is discharged industrial liquid waste.

Industrial liquid waste means any waterborne waste except domestic sewage.

Industrial liquid waste pretreatment plant means any works or device for pretreatment of industrial liquid wastes prior to discharge into the public sewer.

Inspector means the authorized inspector, deputy, agent or representative of the city engineer.

Licensed contractor means a sewer contractor having a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 9, Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code of the state, which license includes the activities listed on a permit applied for.

Lot means any piece or parcel of land or airspace bounded, defined or shown upon a plat or deed recorded in the office of the county recorder, which conforms to the boundaries of such lot as 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 include all such pieces or parcels of land upon which such building or structure is wholly or partly located. Each condominium unit and each common area within a condominium development is a lot.

Main line sewer means any sewer in which changes of alignment and grade occur only at manholes that provide access for cleaning and inspection. Such sewers are usually eight (8) inches or more in diameter.

Public sewer means the main line sewer, constructed in a street, highway, alley, place or right-of-way dedicated to public use. "Public sewer" does not include house connection sewer.

Sand interceptor means a device for retaining sand, silt, grit or other mineral material by gravity-differential separation from waste effluent, and of a design and capacity approved by the city engineer.

Septic tank means a structure for treating sewage before disposal in a cesspool, seepage hole, or leaching system.

Sewage means any waterborne wastes transported by the public sewer except storm water, groundwater, roof or yard drainage and includes domestic sewage and industrial liquid waste.

Sewage pumping plant means any works or device used to raise sewage from a lower to a higher level or to overcome friction in a pipeline.

Soil pipe means any pipe receiving the sewage from one (1) or more water closets or clinic sinks, with or without connection to any other plumbing fixture, but does not include house connection sewers as herein defined.

Special waste pipe means any pipe or fitting designed to eliminate direct connection with the sewer by allowing a free fall of liquid wastes into an approved plumbing fixture or receptacle which is directly connected to a soil or waste pipe.

Street property line means a building line, where one has been established by ordinance, otherwise, the street property line itself.

Tee or T means a fitting for a branch, on which the spur joins the barrel of the pipe at an angle of approximately ninety (90) degrees.

Waste pipe means any pipe receiving the discharge of any plumbing fixture, except a water closet and clinic sink but not including house connection sewers as herein defined.

Wye or Y means a fitting for a branch on which the spur joins the barrel of the pipe at an angle of approximately forty-five (45) degrees.

(Code 1960, § 5202; Ord. No. 1605, § 1, 9-12-83)

All plumbing affecting the sanitary condition of any existing building or other structure located within the boundaries of any lot shall be connected with and drained into a public sewer when existing sewage disposal facilities are inadequate, overflowing, or a menace to public health as determined by the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 5226)

(a) No connection from any building or other structure shall hereafter be made to any public sewer if such connection or any portion thereof, is in, under or upon any lot other than the lot on which building or structure is located, except a house court, or an auto trailer court as herein defined.

(b) If a lot or parcel of land requiring a sewer connection is so situated that access to the public sewer is not possible except across some other lot or parcel of land, a sewer connection may be placed in a recorded easement which includes the right to lay and maintain such connection and is appurtenant to the lot or parcel of land to be served by such sewer connection.

(Code 1960, §§ 5226.1, 5226.2)

On every lot for which a house connection sewer permit is obtained, as required by this article, every plumbing fixture requiring drainage shall be connected to the public sewer, and the city engineer shall be given opportunity to ascertain that all such fixtures are connected. If, however, there is inadequate grade or fall to allow any such fixture to drain to the public sewer, then the permittee shall, in lieu of such connection, obtain permission in writing from the city engineer to dispose of such drainage in a sanitary and acceptable manner.

(Code 1960, § 5216)

Every connection with a public sewer shall be made in the manner and with such materials as are prescribed by this article.

(Code 1960, § 5243)

(a) An unauthorized person shall not remove or cause to be removed, or injure or cause to be injured, any portion of any public sewer, or any appurtenances thereto, or pumping plants in connection therewith.

(b) No person shall discharge, deposit or cause to be discharged or deposited surface drainage or storm waters into a public sewer unless specific permission is first obtained from the owners and operators of such public sewer authorized to grant such permission. It shall also be unlawful for any person, including any public official or employee, or any person otherwise authorized by law to enter public sewers carrying sanitary sewage and/or industrial waste, to construct or authorize construction of a connection to a public sewer or to remove a manhole cover, for the purpose of permitting or causing to be discharged into such public sewer, flood, surface or storm waters.

(Code 1960, § 5228; Ord. No. 1487, § 3, 8-25-80)

(a) An unauthorized person shall not open or enter, or cause to be opened or entered, for any purpose whatsoever, any manhole in any public sewer.

(b) No person, including any public official or employee, not otherwise specifically authorized by law, shall remove or cause to be removed a manhole cover from a public sewer carrying domestic sewage or industrial waste for the purpose of entering such sewer.

(Code 1960, § 5228.1)

Where a lot or parcel of land is of sufficient size that the zoning ordinance does not prohibit its division into smaller parcels, each of such possible parcels upon which one (1) or more buildings containing plumbing facilities are located, shall be considered as a separate parcel of land. Separate connections shall be made to the main line sewer from each of such parcels. If the main line sewer does not extend to a point from which such parcels of land can be served, the property owner shall construct a main line sewer so that such parcels may adequately be served.

(Code 1960, § 5204)

Every dairy screen chamber, grease interceptor, sand interceptor, or sand and grease interceptor or other appurtenance constructed and connected to the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of this article therefor, unless otherwise specifically excepted.

(Code 1960, § 5206)

No person shall permit wash water from a milking barn to be discharged into the public sewer unless such barn is equipped with a dairy screen chamber designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(Code 1960, § 5240)

Every dairy screen chamber as required by this article shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Standard Plan No. S-S-15, on file in the office of the city engineer. The outside walls of the chamber shall extend at least six (6) inches above the surface of the ground and no water other than that from inside the milking barn or milk house, or other dairy building shall be permitted to enter the chamber. All pipe in the screen chamber shall be cast iron soil pipe.

(Code 1960, § 5257)

Cross reference— Definitions for Code generally, §§ 1-8—1-26.

No dairy screen chamber required by this article shall be installed until the design and size thereof have been approved by the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 5259)

(a) The requirements contained in this article, covering the maintenance of sewage pumping plants, industrial liquid waste pre-treatment plants, dairy screen chambers, grease interceptors, sand interceptors, sand and grease interceptors, or other appurtenances, shall apply to all such facilities now existing or hereafter constructed. All such facilities shall be maintained by the owners thereof in a safe and sanitary condition, and all devices or safeguards which are required by this article for the operation of such facilities shall be maintained in good working order.

(b) This section shall not be construed as permitting the removal or nonmaintenance of any devices or safeguards on existing facilities unless authorized in writing by the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 5208)

Trunk sewers, under the jurisdiction of a county sanitation district, are exempted from all of the provisions of this article, except when, in the opinion of the city council, the public interest and public welfare and the benefit to the city from any trunk sewer is sufficient, in the opinion of the city council, to justify such action, the city council may transfer or assign to a county sanitation district the right of the city under this article to make and collect the connection charges provided for in section 23-116(a) of this article into, along or in front of any such trunk sewer or portion thereof.

(Code 1960, § 5210)

A person shall not connect or cause to be connected any sewer which has been, or may hereafter be, constructed, in any street, highway, 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 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 city engineer, and in accordance with all provisions of this article.

(Code 1960, § 5225)

In every case where the floor elevation is below the elevation of the top of the upstream manhole an approved type of backwater trap, approved type of backwater sewer valve, or approved type of ejector or eductor shall be installed between the outlet and the public sewer in such a manner as to prevent sewage from flowing back or backing up into the house plumbing. Every such trap or valve shall be installed in the basement, or in a box or manhole of concrete, or cast iron, or other material approved by the city engineer, so that it will be readily accessible at all times. The trap or valve shall be placed only in the drain line serving the fixtures that are located below the elevation of the above mentioned upstream manhole and no drainage from fixtures located above this elevation shall pass through such trap or valve.

(Code 1960, § 5232)

Every industrial waste pre-treatment plant shall be equipped with an adequate fresh water supply easily available for diluting and flushing, and all sewer connections shall be thoroughly flushed after discharge of each batch of industrial liquid wastes.

(Code 1960, § 5239)

Every industrial waste pre-treatment facility shall be adequately maintained. Failure to properly maintain such equipment shall be cause for immediate revocation of the industrial waste disposal permit and the industrial connection sewer permit and disconnection from the public sewer.

(Code 1960, § 5239.1)

No person shall connect or cause to permit to be connected any roof conductor, yard drain or other conduit used for carrying off rain or surface water, with any public sewer or house connection sewer leading thereto. No person shall cause or permit any indirect connection to the public sewer or house connection sewer leading thereto by means of which rain or surface waters are permitted to enter said sewer.

(Code 1960, § 4251)

All pipe shall be clay, cast iron, or plastic. All pipe eight (8) inches or more in diameter shall be first class vitrified clay, either glazed or unglazed, and shall have bell and spigot ends. All clay pipe six (6) inches or less in diameter shall be first class vitrified, ceramic glazed on the inside. All cast iron pipe shall be standard cast iron soil pipe. All plastic pipe shall not exceed six (6) inches in diameter and shall be ABS schedule 40 or PVC-SDR35 and may only be used on private property. All joints in clay pipe shall be made in accordance with section 208-2 Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction. All joints in plastic pipe shall be made in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.

(Code 1960, § 5245; Ord. No. 1562, § 5, 10-5-82; Ord. No. 2034, § 1, 6-1-99)

That portion of the pipe extending from the public sewer to the property line, shall not be less than six (6) inches in internal diameter. That portion extending from the property line to the house or building shall be not less than four (4) inches in internal diameter, for house connection sewers laid on a grade of one-fourth (¼) inch per foot or more, and serving one hundred eighty (180) fixture units or less, as shown in the following table:

Fixture Unit Equivalents

Drinking fountains .....1

Wash basins .....1

Sinks .....2

Bath and shower .....2

Laundry tubs .....2

Wall urinals .....2

Floor drains .....2

Trough urinal .....4

Pedestal urinal .....6

Water closets or clinic sinks .....6

Sand interceptor .....6

and not less than six (6) inches in internal diameter for all portions of house connection sewer serving more than one hundred eighty (180) fixture units, with the following exceptions: For waste lines only, two (2) inch cast iron pipe, not to exceed twenty-five (25) feet in length, may be used to receive the discharge from a vented waste pipe sized two (2) inches or less.

(Code 1960, § 5245)

A six (6) inch by four (4) inch reducer shall be inserted in the sewer just inside the property line when the pipe size is changed from six (6) inch to four (4) inch. A six (6) inch by four (4) inch reducer tee may be used at this location to serve as reducer, test tee and clean-out.

(Code 1960, § 5247)

(a) The service or utilities building of a trailer court shall be connected to the public sewer by a six (6) inch house connection sewer laid on a grade of not less than one-fourth inch per foot if it serves more than one hundred eighty (180) fixture units, as shown in section 23-37. The laterals through the trailer locations may be constructed with four (4) inch pipe, laid on a grade of not less than one-fourth inch rise, per foot.

(b) The upper end of each run shall be provided with a four (4) inch vent stack extended at least ten (10) feet above ground, and distant ten (10) feet from the neighboring property lines.

(c) Each separate lateral to a trailer location shall be vented when directly connected to the house connection sewer extending from the service or utilities building to the public sewer.

(d) The sewer inlets provided for the hose connections from the trailer sinks, shall be set four (4) inches or more above ground level, and shall be provided at the base with two (2) inch, three (3) inch or four (4) inch cast iron "P" trap. All two (2) inch traps shall be vented.

(e) The branches to these inlets may be made with either two (2) inch cast iron soil pipe, laid on one-fourth inch rise per foot, and extending not more than two (2) feet from the vent to the trap, or, three (3) inch cast iron soil pipe, or, four (4) inch vitrified clay pipe or cast iron soil pipe, not to exceed fifteen (15) feet in length, laid on one-fourth inch rise per foot. If laid steeper than one-fourth inch per foot, or longer than above provided, they shall be separately vented.

(f) No rain or surface water shall be permitted to enter the sewer through the inlets.

(g) Vent stacks shall be constructed of cast iron soil pipe, below the surface of the ground. Standard galvanized, wrought-iron, or steel pipe, may be used above the surface of the ground.

(Code 1960, § 5246; Ord. No. 1487, § 4, 8-25-80)

Every person who is to receive reimbursement for sewers to be constructed which will serve properties outside of a subdivision under an agreement with the city council, shall be required to furnish the city engineer with a map showing all properties outside of the subdivision benefiting from the sewers to be constructed. Such map shall show the dimensions of all parcels affected and the location of the proposed sewer. The scale of the map shall be one (1) inch equals one hundred (100) feet and the map shall be drawn with ink on tracing cloth on a sheet or sheets with outside dimensions of eighteen (18) inches in width and twenty-four (24) inches in length.

(Code 1960, § 5260)

With each request for reimbursement, the city engineer shall collect the appropriate fees as set from time to time by resolution of the city council.

(Code 1960, § 5261)

(a) Whenever the city engineer is permitted by this article to grant an exception to any requirement of this article, he shall do so only if he finds that literal compliance with such provision is impossible or impractical because of peculiar conditions in no way the fault of the person requesting such exception, and that the purposes of this article may be accomplished and public safety secured by an alternative construction or procedure, in which case he may permit such alternative construction or procedure.

(b) New main line sewers shall conform to the requirements of this article unless otherwise specifically excepted.

(c) New sewage pumping plants and industrial liquid waste pretreatment plants shall conform to the requirements of this article unless otherwise specifically excepted.

(d) New house connection sewers shall conform to the requirements of this article unless otherwise specifically excepted.

(Code 1960, § 5203)

Whenever it shall come to the attention of the city engineer that sewage is overflowing from any plumbing fixture due to the backing up of sewage in the public sewer, or due to pressure in the public sewer, or due to any cause whatsoever, except a temporary stoppage in any such plumbing fixture, such city engineer may order and require such plumbing fixture to be disconnected and removed and the outlet thereto to be plugged up, or capped, or may require that a backwater trap or backwater sewer valve, required by section 23-32 be installed to prevent such overflow.

(Code 1960, § 5233)

The city engineer shall enforce all the provisions of this article and for such purpose shall have the powers of a peace officer.

(Code 1960, § 5224)

All sewer connection fees, maintenance fees and other sewer related fees and charges shall be set by resolution of the city council. The resolution may also provide that such sewer fees and charges shall be collected as part of the annual County Secured Property Tax Bill.

(Ord. No. 2192, § 2, 6-2-09)