Chapter 15.04
SEWER USE
Sections:
15.04.040 User classification.
15.04.060 Private sewage disposal systems.
15.04.080 Regulation and control of wastewater discharges.
15.04.090 Use of public sewers.
15.04.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A. Control the quantity and quality of wastewater that enters the public sewerage system;
B. Comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders of the state of California and of the United States;
C. Assure the efficient operation and protection of maintenance district sewerage facilities;
D. Provide for source monitoring and control of quantity, quality, and rate of flow of sewage and industrial wastes entering the public sewerage system;
E. Establish enforcement procedures and penalties for violations;
F. Define responsibility for sanitary sewer maintenance. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.020 Implementation.
To assure that the purposes of this chapter are carried out, the specific provisions of the chapter will be supplemented by additional requirements established by the engineer and separate ordinances establishing charges for use of district sewerage facilities. The engineer shall promulgate such detailed regulations and standards including drawings, specifications, and other requirements as are necessary to fully implement this chapter. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.030 Definitions.
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this chapter shall be as defined in this section. Terms relating to wastewater quality are further defined in the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,” published by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation.
“BOD,” denoting “biochemical oxygen demand,” means the quantity of dissolved oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20 degrees centigrade.
“Building sewer” means that part of the sanitary sewer system which receives discharge from soil and waste pipes in a building and conveys it to the junction with the service sewer at the lot property line or sewer easement line.
“COD,” denoting “chemical oxygen demand,” means a measure of the oxygen-consuming capacity of inorganic and organic matter present in wastewater.
“Collector sewer” means a sanitary sewer less than 12 inches in internal diameter receiving wastewater directly from other such collector sewers or service sewers.
“Combined sewer” means a sewer which serves the purpose of both a sanitary sewer and a storm sewer.
“Commercial user” means any nonresidential user that the engineer determines does not meet the definition of an industrial user.
“Compatible pollutant” means biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, pH, and fecal coliform bacteria, plus additional pollutants which the treatment works is designed to treat and in fact does remove to a substantial degree.
“Connection charge” means the total of all fees and charges due the district prior to the time of connection to the sewerage system.
“Contamination” means an impairment of the quality of the environment, including waters of the state, by waste to a degree which creates a hazard to public health through the spread of disease or the creation of toxic conditions.
“Dissolved solids” means solids that are completely dissolved in water and are not removable by laboratory filtration.
“Easement” means an acquired legal right to the exclusive or joint use of a defined portion of land for construction or maintenance of sewers.
“Engineer” means the director of public works of Rancho Cordova, or a designated representative, acting ex officio as engineer for the maintenance district.
“Federal Act” means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, PL 92-500, and amendments thereto, as well as regulations and standards promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency, or successor, pursuant to the Act.
“Garbage” means solid wastes from preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food and from handling, storage, and sale of food products.
“Incompatible pollutant” means any pollutant which is not a compatible pollutant as defined in this section.
“Industrial user” means:
1. Any nongovernmental, nonresidential user of a publicly owned treatment works which discharges more than the equivalent of 25,000 gallons per day (gpd) of wastewater, excluding domestic wastewater, and which is identified in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1972, Office of Management and Budget, as amended and supplemented under one of the following divisions:
a. Division A, agriculture, forestry, and fishing;
b. Division B, mining;
c. Division D, manufacturing;
d. Division E, transportation, communications, electric, gas and sanitary services;
e. Division I, services.
After excluding domestic wastewater flows, any discharger in the above divisions that has a volume exceeding 25,000 gpd or the weight of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) or suspended solids (SS) equivalent to that weight found in 25,000 gpd of domestic wastewater shall be considered an industrial user.
2. Any nongovernmental user of a publicly owned treatment works which discharges wastewater to the treatment works which contains toxic pollutants or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to contaminate the sludge of any municipal system, or to injure or to interfere with any sewage treatment process, or which constitutes a hazard to humans or animals, creates a public nuisance, or creates any hazard in or has an adverse effect on the waters receiving any discharge from the treatment works.
“Industrial waste” means the waterborne waste and wastewater from any industrial user.
“Infiltration” means groundwater which enters sewers.
“Inflow” means storm and other surface water which enters sewers.
“Mass emission rate” means the weight of material discharged to the sewer system during a given time interval. Unless otherwise specified, the mass emission rate shall mean pounds per day of a particular constituent or combination of constituents.
“Natural outlet” means any outlet tributary to a watercourse, ditch, pond, lake, or other body of surface or groundwater.
“Nuisance” means that which is injurious to health, offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as to interfere with comfortable enjoyment of life or property.
“Person” means any individual, firm, company, association, society, partnership, corporation, organization, group, or public agency.
“pH” means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen-ion activity in grams per liter of solution.
“Pollution” means an alteration of the quality of the waters of the state by a waste to a degree which unreasonably affects:
1. Such waters for beneficial uses; or
2. Facilities which serve such beneficial uses.
“Premises” means a parcel of real property, or portion thereof, including any improvement thereon, which is determined by the engineer to be a single unit for purposes of receiving, using, and paying for sewage disposal service. In making this determination, the engineer shall take into consideration such factors as whether the unit could reasonably be subdivided; number and location of service sewers; and whether the unit is being used for a single activity and, if not, what the principal activity is for sewage disposal services; but, in any case, the engineer’s determination shall be final.
“Pretreatment facility” means any works or device for treatment, control, or flow limitation of sewage or industrial waste prior to discharge into a public sewer.
“Public agency” means the United States Government or any department or agency thereof; the state of California or any department or agency thereof; any city, county, town, or any of their departments or agencies; or any other legal district, entity, or entities; or any combination of the foregoing.
“Public sewer” means any sanitary sewer located within an easement or public right-of-way which is maintained by a public agency.
“Residential user” means a user whose premises are used solely for nontransient human habitation.
“Sanitary sewer” means a sewer which carries sewage or industrial wastes and to which inflow and infiltration are not permitted.
“Service sewer” means the extension of the building sewer from the lot property line or sewer easement line to the public sewer.
“Sewage” means the wastewater derived from human habitation and use of buildings for residential, institutional, or commercial purposes, excluding storm waters and industrial waste.
“Sewer” means a pipe or conduit (including pumping facilities and in-line treatment and control facilities appurtenant thereto) which receives and carries wastewater.
“Sewerage system” means all facilities for collecting, pumping, conveying, controlling, treating, storing, and disposing of wastewater.
“Slug” means any discharge of water, sewage, or industrial waste which, in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow for any period of duration longer than 15 minutes, exceeds more than five times the average 24-hour concentration or flow rate during normal operation.
“Storm sewer” means a sewer that carries storm water and surface water, street wash and other wash waters, or drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes.
“Street” means any public highway, road, street, avenue, way, alley, easement, or right-of-way.
“Suspended solids” means solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in, wastewater and which are largely removable by standard laboratory filtration procedures.
“Trade secrets” means information on production rates or a secret method or process which is not patented but is known only to certain individuals using it in compounding some article of trade having a commercial value.
“Trunk sewer” means a sanitary sewer other than an interceptor sewer, 12 inches or larger in internal diameter, receiving wastewater flows directly from one or more collector sewers or another trunk sewer or trunk sewers.
“User” means any person discharging sewage or industrial waste to the district sewerage system. “User” includes commercial user, industrial user, and residential user as defined in this section.
“Waste” includes sewage and any and all other waste substances, liquid, solid, gaseous, or radioactive, associated with human habitation or of human or animal origin or from any commercial, producing, manufacturing, or processing operation of whatever nature.
“Wastewater” means all wastes and waters which enter and are conveyed in the sewerage system, including infiltration, inflow, sanitary sewage, industrial waste, and combinations thereof.
“Water quality requirements” means the requirements for a district’s treatment plant effluent or for receiving waters, established by law or by state or federal regulatory agencies for the protection of receiving water quality. Water quality requirements include effluent limitations and waste discharge standards, requirements, regulations, limitations, or prohibitions which may be established or adopted from time to time by state or federal laws or regulatory agencies. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.040 User classification.
The engineer will classify all users in accordance with the principal activity conducted upon the premises. The purpose of classification is to facilitate regulation of discharge to public sewers on the basis of each user’s waste quality, quantity, and flow, and to provide an effective means of industrial waste source control. As defined in RCMC 15.04.030, these users are:
A. Residential users;
B. Industrial users;
C. Commercial users. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.050 Sewers required.
A. Discharge to Natural Outlet. It is unlawful to discharge any sewage, industrial waste, or other polluted waters to any natural outlet, except when suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this chapter.
B. Unlawful Systems. It is unlawful to construct, reconstruct, relocate, or alter any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facilities intended or used for the disposal of sewage within the district if a public sewer is available within 200 feet of the property line.
C. Mandatory. The owner of any premises situated within the Courtland district which are used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose and abutting on any street or easement in which there is located an available public sanitary sewer within 200 feet of the property line is required to install, at his expense, a connection with the proper public sewer, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within 90 days after date of notice from the engineer to do so. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.060 Private sewage disposal systems.
A. Private System Required. Where a public sanitary sewer is not available within 200 feet of the property line, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system in accordance with applicable provisions of all city ordinances pertaining to such systems.
B. Permit. Before any work is done on construction, reconstruction, relocation, or alteration of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a permit from the city health officer.
C. Subsequent Connection to Sewer. At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a premises served by a private sewage disposal system, the building sewer shall be connected to said public sewer, as provided in this chapter; and any septic tanks, cesspools, or other private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned as directed by the city health officer.
D. Health Officer Requirements. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit any additional requirements that may be imposed by the city health officer. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.070 Permits.
Public sewers cannot be used without obtaining the permits required by this section.
A. Connection Permit. No connection to a service sewer, collector sewer, or any other district sewer shall be made until a connection permit has been obtained. District connection fees shall be paid prior to issuance of the connection permit.
B. Commercial and Industrial Sewer Use Permits. Commercial users and industrial users shall not discharge to the public sewerage system either directly or indirectly through a private collection system, without first obtaining a sewer use permit, except that users that are connected to a public sewer prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are not required to obtain a sewer use permit unless directed to do so by the engineer. When so directed, an application shall be filed within 60 days of notification by the engineer, unless such time is extended by the engineer.
1. Application for Sewer Use Permit. Commercial and industrial dischargers seeking a sewer use permit shall complete and file with the engineer a district application form. The application may require any information the engineer deems necessary to evaluate the permit application.
The engineer will evaluate data furnished by the applicant and may require additional information. After evaluation and approval of data furnished, the engineer will issue a sewer use permit subject to terms and conditions as provided in this section.
2. Renewal. Commercial and industrial sewer use permits are valid indefinitely. However, a new application shall be filed within 30 days if information supplied on the permit application changes materially or upon demand of the engineer.
3. Conditions. Sewer use permits may include, but are not limited to, the following conditions and requirements:
a. Prohibitions on discharge of certain toxic pollutants as identified by federal, state, or district laws or regulations;
b. Limits on flow rates, concentration of specified constituents, and times of discharge or requirements for flow and loading regulation and equalization;
c. Inspection, sampling, and metering facilities, including access to such facilities by the engineer;
d. Segregation of sewage and industrial wastes upstream of the public sewer;
e. Monitoring, which may include: metering; sampling locations; frequency and method of sampling; number, types, and standards for tests; and a reporting schedule. Monitoring shall be provided in accordance with terms of the sewer use permit;
f. Submission of technical reports or discharge reports;
g. Maintenance of plant records relating to wastewater discharges, as specified by the engineer and affording the engineer access thereto;
h. Other conditions as deemed appropriate by the engineer to ensure compliance with this chapter or the terms and conditions of the permit.
4. Change of Conditions. The engineer may change the conditions of a sewer use permit as circumstances may require. The engineer shall provide notice of the change to the permittee. A discharger will be allowed a reasonable time to comply with such changes.
5. Transfer. A sewer use permit may not be assigned or transferred.
6. Revocation. A sewer use permit may be revoked by the engineer for failure of the permittee to comply with conditions of the permit or failure of the permittee to pay when due any charges.
No permit shall be revoked by the engineer until he has notified the permittee in writing of his intent to do so and has afforded the permittee the opportunity to appear before him within a reasonable period of time to show cause why the permit should not be revoked. The engineer, in his determination, shall consider the significance of the violation in terms of the ability of the system as a whole to meet its requirements.
7. Temporary Suspension or Restrictions. A sewer use permit may be temporarily suspended by the engineer at any time if continued discharge of the permittee’s wastewater into the sewerage system would, whether or not combined with other discharges, jeopardize ability of the treatment system to meet water quality requirements or threaten damage to the sewerage system or cause a nuisance or an unsafe condition to occur. In lieu of temporary suspension of permits, the engineer may impose such temporary restrictions, conditions, or limitations upon quantities, qualities, and rates of discharge made thereunder as is deemed necessary to safely assure that water quality requirements will not be violated, or to alleviate the unsafe condition. The engineer, in his determination, shall consider the significance of the conditions in terms of the ability of the system as a whole to meet its requirements.
Notice of temporary suspension or imposition of temporary restrictions, conditions, or limitations shall be given in writing by the engineer to the permittee at least 48 hours prior to the time such suspension, restrictions, conditions, or limitations are to become effective. In the event that such notice is given after 1:00 p.m. on the last district business day of any week, such effective time shall not be sooner than 10:00 a.m. of the second following district business day. Delivery of said notice shall be made to the manager of the permittee’s place of business within the district; in the event the manager shall be unavailable to receive such notice, then delivery to a person in apparent responsible charge shall constitute adequate notice. If the engineer determines that an emergency exists involving public health or safety or significant impairment of the treatment process, he may dispense with the specified deferral of effective time and may give immediate notice with an immediate effective time of such suspension, restrictions, conditions, or limitations.
If the action of the engineer is precipitated by other than the emergency conditions just described, the engineer shall, before issuing any notice of temporary suspension, restrictions, conditions, or limitations, make a reasonable attempt to communicate with at least the major users of the class of system users affected by the proposed notice. Alternatives to suspension, restriction, or limitation shall be a principal point of consideration during such communication.
8. Compliance. Unless directed otherwise on the notice of revocation or suspension of the sewer use permit, the permittee shall cease discharging into the public sewer at the effective time of said revocation or suspension, or shall conform with temporary restrictions, conditions, or limitations at the effective time of such requirements. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.080 Regulation and control of wastewater discharges.
A. Permissible Discharges. Wastewater may be discharged into public sewers for collection, treatment, and disposal by the city; provided, that such wastewater discharge is in compliance with this chapter and the conditions of any sewer use permit; and provided further, that the user pays all applicable sewer use charges.
B. General Prohibition. No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, into a public sewer wastewater which will result in nuisance, or contamination, or pollution in receiving waters.
C. Prohibited Effects. No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, wastewater into a public sewer if it contains substances or has characteristics which, either alone or by interaction with other wastewaters, cause or threaten to cause:
1. Damage to city facilities;
2. Interference with, or impairment of, operation or maintenance of city facilities, including flow overloading;
3. Obstruction of flow in city facilities;
4. Danger to life or safety of any person;
5. Interference with treatment or disposal processes;
6. Flammable or explosive conditions;
7. Wastewater, or any other byproducts of the treatment process, to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse, or to interfere with any processes for reclamation;
8. Noxious or malodorous gases or odors;
9. Discoloration or any other condition in the quality of the district’s treatment plant effluent such that water quality requirements cannot be met by the district;
10. Conditions which violate any statute or any rule, regulation, or ordinance of any public agency.
D. Prohibited Substances or Characteristics. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to a public sewer the following:
1. Any polluted storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, or subsurface drainage. Storm water and all other waters determined by the engineer to be unpolluted or acceptable for such disposal shall be discharged to such pipelines as are specifically designed as combined sewers or storm sewers or to an approved natural outlet;
2. Any water or waste having a pH lower than five or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, or personnel of the district;
3. Those pesticides and other toxic pollutants in toxic amounts, as determined by the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the Federal Act, such other federal or state act as may be applicable, and as further designated from time to time by the engineer, including the following substances or materials containing these substances:
a. Aldrin, dieldrin;
b. Benzidine;
c. Cadmium;
d. Cyanide;
e. DDD, DDE, DDT;
f. Endrin;
g. Mercury;
h. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);
i. Toxaphene;
4. Any ashes, cinders, sand, silt, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, paunch manure, or any other solid or viscous substance in amounts capable of causing obstruction to flow in sewers or other interference with proper operation or maintenance of the sewerage system;
5. Any discharges of such quantities or such qualities that they are not amenable to adequate treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed;
6. Discharges prohibited by the Environmental Protection Agency regulations promulgated under the Federal Act.
E. Prohibited Discharge Locations. Except for sewer construction and maintenance, when approved by the engineer, no person shall discharge any wastewater directly into a manhole or other opening in the public sewerage system other than through service sewers approved by the engineer; provided, that the engineer may grant permission and establish requirements for such direct charges.
F. Regulated Discharges. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to a public sewer any of the following without first obtaining a sewer use permit that specifically permits and regulates such discharge:
1. Any discharge over a 24-hour period in excess of 2,000 gallons;
2. Any flow or concentration of wastes constituting slugs, as defined in RCMC 15.04.030;
3. Any discharge which, during any eight-hour period, has an average concentration of:
a. BOD in excess of 300 milligrams per liter; or
b. COD in excess of 500 milligrams per liter; or
c. Suspended solids in excess of 500 milligrams per liter;
4. Any discharge which contains more than 300 milligrams per liter of oil and grease of animal or vegetable origin or more than 100 milligrams per liter of oil and grease of petroleum origin;
5. Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than six or higher than nine;
6. Any discharge which contains any of the following substances in excess of limits established by the engineer:
a. Metals, including, but not limited to, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, chromium, and zinc;
b. Metal pickling wastes or plating solutions;
c. Phenols or other taste- or odor-producing substances;
d. Soap or detergent;
7. Any discharge with a temperature exceeding 160 degrees Fahrenheit for a period greater than five consecutive minutes, or exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit average for any eight-hour period;
8. Any storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, cooling water, or industrial process water which the engineer has determined to be polluted or otherwise unacceptable for discharge into storm sewers, combined sewers, or a natural outlet;
9. Garbage, except ground garbage from residential and commercial premises where food is prepared and consumed. Garbage shall be shredded to such degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers with no particle greater than one-fourth inch in any dimension;
10. Any radioactive water. In addition to the sewer use permit, the user must be authorized to use radioactive material by the Nuclear Regulation Commission or other governmental agency empowered to regulate use of radioactive materials; and the wastewater must be discharged in strict conformity with the then-current Nuclear Regulation Commission regulations and recommendations for safe disposal and in compliance with all rules and regulations of state and local regulatory agencies;
11. Pool water or waste, including, but not limited to, overflow, filter backwash, deck drainage, or contents of pools;
12. Materials which exert or cause in sanitary sewers, sewage treatment plants, or receiving waters:
a. Unusual concentrations either of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, soil solids, fuller’s earth, lime slurries, and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate);
b. Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions);
13. Discharges regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency regulations promulgated under the Federal Act.
G. Control Structure. The engineer may require any industrial or commercial user to construct, at his own expense, a sampling facility or control structure together with necessary monitoring and sampling equipment, in accordance with district construction standards and specifications. The sampling facility or control structure shall be constructed on the service sewer of the user and within the public right-of-way at a location approved by the engineer; provided, that the engineer may require installation of such facilities on the premises of the user at a location which will permit access by the engineer to the facility at all times. Construction shall be completed within a reasonable period after written notification from the engineer. The engineer may require the user to install such sampling facilities or control structures on each service sewer.
H. Metering Facility. When required by the engineer, any user discharging sewage or industrial wastes in quantities in excess of 2,000 gallons per day shall install and maintain, at the user’s expense, an approved flow-recording device for continuous measurement of the flow rate and volume of waste discharged to the public sewer. The flow-measuring station and records therefrom shall be accessible at all reasonable times to the engineer, and copies of flow measurements shall be furnished the engineer as required. Calibration procedures and frequencies shall be as specified on the sewer use permit. The engineer may, at his discretion, utilize metering of the user’s water supply instead of, or in addition to, metering the wastewater discharge.
I. Pretreatment Facilities. Where necessary in the opinion of the engineer or where necessary to comply with regulations promulgated under the Federal Act, the user shall provide, at his expense, such pretreatment or controls as may be necessary to eliminate or reduce objectionable characteristics, constituents, or quantities and rates of discharge to conform to maximum limits provided for in this chapter or by conditions of the sewer use permit.
1. Plans, specifications, and any other pertinent information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for approval of the engineer. No construction of such facilities shall commence until approval is obtained in writing, and no use of such facilities shall commence until completed facilities are approved by the engineer in writing.
2. Pretreatment facilities shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the user at his expense, to the satisfaction of the engineer.
3. Pretreatment by grease, oil, or sand intercepting devices shall be provided when, in the opinion of the engineer, it is necessary for proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any sand, flammable materials, or other harmful ingredients, except that such devices shall not be required for residential users. All intercepting devices shall be of a type and capacity approved by the engineer and shall be located so as to be readily and easily accessible for inspection and cleaning. All grease, oil, and sand intercepting devices shall be maintained in continuously efficient operation at all times by the user at his expense. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.090 Use of public sewers.
A. Damaging Facilities. It is unlawful for any person to willfully break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper with any sewer, structure, appurtenance, or equipment which is a part of the sewerage system of the district. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to immediate arrest under a charge of disorderly conduct.
B. Unlawful Connections. It is unlawful for any person to make or cause to be made a connection with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer, service sewer, or appurtenance thereof except as hereinafter provided.
C. Design and Construction Standards. The design of all public sewers shall be in conformance with the then-current improvement standards and shall be constructed in conformance with the then-current standard construction specifications and standard drawings, as adopted by Rancho Cordova.
D. Backwater Valve. An approved type backwater valve shall be installed in the building sewer of every building in which the lowest room containing a plumbing fixture has a floor elevation below that of the cover of the nearest up-sewer manhole or flushing branch located on the public sewer serving said building. The backwater valve shall be installed and maintained by the owner at his expense.
E. Service Sewer. The service sewers from the public sewer to the property line shall be installed at the time the sewer is constructed whenever practicable. The connection of service sewers to trunk sewers shall be prohibited, except when specifically approved by the engineer.
F. Service Policy. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to clear all stoppages from the building to main collector sewer. At the engineer’s discretion, the city will only make pipe repairs in the city easement or the right-of-way and only after the owner has located or exposed the service sewer at the point at which it enters the city easement or the right-of-way. A sanitary sewer service policy will be published by the engineer.
G. Cleanout to Grade. A cleanout to grade must be installed at the sewer easement or lot property line on all newly constructed service sewers. The cleanout must conform to Standard Drawing No. S-3 of the department of public works except with respect to cleanout material and, if not constructed with the subdivision or frontage improvements, shall be installed at the time connection is made to the building sewer. The cleanout must be of the same size as that portion of the service sewer within an easement or right-of-way; the material of construction is subject to Uniform Plumbing Code requirements. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.100 Administration.
A. Engineer’s Responsibility. The city wastewater control program shall be administered and enforced by the engineer. He may, at reasonable times, enter upon the premises of any person discharging, or applying for permission to discharge, sewage or industrial wastes into the public sewerage system for the purpose of inspecting or maintaining the facilities for conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. Unusual Conditions. The city and any person may enter into an agreement where unusual conditions compel special terms and conditions and charges for treatment and disposal of wastewater by the city.
C. Measurement Techniques. All measurements, tests and analyses of characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall, unless otherwise indicated or required, be determined in accordance with the then-current edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater” or such other standards as are established by the engineer or by law and shall be determined at the control structure or upon suitable samples taken at said control structure. In the event no special structure has been required, the control structure shall be considered to be the nearest access determined as suitable by the engineer.
D. Discharge Reports from User. The engineer may require discharge reports, including, but not limited to, questionnaires, technical reports, sampling reports, test analyses, and periodic reports of wastewater discharge.
The discharge report may include, but is not necessarily limited to, nature of the process, volume and rates of wastewater flow, elements, constituents, and characteristics of the wastewater, together with any information required in an application for a sewer use permit. The report shall be certified by the owner or his authorized representative.
When a report filed by a user pursuant to this section is not adequate in the judgment of the engineer, he may require such user to supply such additional information as the engineer deems necessary.
E. Confidentiality of Information. When requested by the person furnishing any information or report pursuant to this chapter, the portions of such information or report or other document which might disclose proprietary information or trade secrets shall be retained by the district as confidential and shall not be made available for inspection by the public; provided, however, that such portions of a report or other document shall be available for use by the district or any state or federal agency in judicial review or enforcement proceedings involving the person furnishing the report; provided further, that before releasing such material pursuant to this provision, the city shall advise the person furnishing the information of the request to release the information and provide such person with an opportunity to resist the release of said information.
F. Notices. Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, any notice required to be given by the engineer shall be deemed given if personally delivered or sent by first class, registered or certified mail to the address specified on the sewer use permit in the case of a permit holder, or to the address of the premises served in the case of all other users, or to such other address as may be designated in writing to the engineer by the user.
Any notice required pursuant to the provisions of RCMC 15.04.070(B)(4), (6) or (7), and any notice of sewer permit violation upon which the engineer will base such action if such action is to be taken immediately following the notice of sewer permit violation, shall be served by the engineer by personal service or by certified or registered mail.
G. New Sewer Connections. All new service connections must meet all applicable sections of Rancho Cordova design or construction standards, including tests for leakage (SS-87). [Revised during 2008 codification; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].
15.04.110 Enforcement.
A. Rules for Enforcement. The engineer may adopt procedures and rules for implementation and administration of this chapter, including, but not limited to:
1. Requiring User to Submit Schedule of Remedial or Preventive Measures. When the engineer finds that a discharge of wastewater is taking place or threatening to take place in violation of prohibitions or limits prescribed by this chapter, other wastewater source control requirements, or provisions of a sewer use permit, the engineer may require the user to submit for approval of the engineer, with such modifications as he deems necessary, a detailed time schedule of specific actions the user shall take in order to correct or prevent said violation of requirements.
2. Order to Cease and Desist. When the engineer finds that a discharge of wastewater is taking place or threatening to take place in violation of prohibitions or limits prescribed by this chapter, or other wastewater source control requirements, or provisions of a sewer use permit, the engineer may issue an order to cease and desist, and direct that those persons not complying with such prohibitions, limits, requirements, or provisions: (a) comply forthwith; (b) comply in accordance with a time schedule set by the engineer; or (c) in the event of a threatened violation, take appropriate remedial or preventive action.
3. Damage to Facilities. When discharge of wastewater causes an obstruction, damage, or other impairment to public sewerage facilities, the engineer may assess a charge against the user for work required to clean or repair the facility and add such charge to the user’s charges for use of public sewerage facilities.
4. Termination of Service. The city may terminate, or cause to be terminated, service to any user if a violation of any provision of this chapter pertaining to control of wastewater is found to exist or if a discharge of wastewater causes or threatens to cause a condition of contamination, pollution, or nuisance, as defined in this chapter. This provision is in addition to other statutes, rules, or regulations authorizing termination of service for delinquency in payment or for any other reason; provided, however, that action by the engineer pursuant to this subsection shall not be taken unless previous action pursuant to RCMC 15.04.070(B)(6) or (B)(7), if appropriate, has been taken.
Whenever a premises has been disconnected from the public sewerage system for a violation of this chapter, such premises shall not be reconnected until all delinquent charges have been paid, together with all expenses incurred by the city in causing such disconnection and the estimated expenses that will be incurred by the city in making such reconnection.
B. Request for Ruling. If any user or applicant for a permit disputes the interpretation or application of this chapter, he shall set forth his contentions in writing to the engineer. The engineer shall, within 10 days, respond in writing to the contentions so made and set forth his determinations thereof. Any action of the engineer with respect to RCMC 15.04.070(B)(6) or (B)(7) and subsections (A)(2) or (A)(4) of this section may be appealed directly to the city council without complying with this section, in accordance with subsection (C) of this section.
C. Appeal. If the user or applicant for a permit is dissatisfied with the determinations so made by the engineer, he may, within 30 days after mailing of said ruling by the engineer to said user or applicant for a permit, appeal said ruling by giving written notice of the basis of his appeal to the city council. Such written notice of appeal shall be filed with the clerk of the city council. The matter shall be placed upon the next agenda of the city council and the city council shall, within 30 days after receipt of said written notice of appeal, make a final determination on the issues presented.
If a ruling under RCMC 15.04.070(B)(7) is appealed, the mayor, or the clerk if the mayor is unavailable, shall call a special meeting of the city council to be convened at the earliest feasible time for the purpose of considering the appeal. The city council shall make every reasonable attempt to dispose of the appeal prior to the effective time of the temporary suspension, restriction, conditions, or limitations.
In the event of any appeal from the notice of temporary suspension, restriction, conditions, or limitations, the effective time of which is less than 48 hours after service of such notice, the determination of the engineer shall be final; and any appeal may be made directly to a court of competent jurisdiction.
D. Violations. Any person intentionally violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. Each person is guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued, or permitted by such person and is punishable accordingly.
E. Civil Liability. Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any requirement adopted or ordered by the district through the district board or the engineer requiring:
1. Pretreatment of industrial waste which would otherwise be detrimental to the treatment works or its proper and efficient operation and maintenance; or
2. The prevention of the entry of such waste into the collection system and treatment works;
may be civilly liable to the city in a sum of not to exceed $6,000 for each day and each event in which such violation occurs.
The city may petition the superior court to impose, assess, and recover such sums pursuant to this chapter and Section 54740 of the California Government Code. [Revised during 2008 codification; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 411 § 1 (part), 1980].