Chapter 13.20 SEWER SERVICE SYSTEM GENERALLY

“Alteration” means any change or addition. “Habitation” means a room or combination of rooms used or designed to be used for the occupancy of human beings.

“House connection sewer” means that part of the horizontal piping beginning twelve (12) inches from the exterior of the building and extending to the boundary line of the lot whereon the building is situated.

“House court” means a parcel or area of land upon which are grouped three 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.

“Lot” means 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. In the event any building or structure covers more area than a “lot” as defined by this section, the term shall be deemed to be and include all such pieces or parcels of land upon which such building is wholly or partly located.

“Public sewer” means any sewer other than a house connection sewer, which has been accepted by the city.

“Repairs” means the reconstruction or renewal of any existing part of a structure, its fixtures or appurtenances.

“Structure” includes the group of buildings of a house court. (Prior code § 13.36.010)

13.20.020 Private disposal systems—Permit required.

No person shall install, replace or repair or cause to be installed, replaced or repaired any septic tank, cesspool or leach line in the city on property adjacent to or within two hundred (200) feet of an adequate existing sewer line without having first secured a permit from the superintendent authorizing such replacement, repair or installation. A permit shall be issued only in the event that denial thereof would create undue hardship. For purposes of this section, the mere act of pumping out of the contents of any septic tank or cesspool shall not be [sic] itself constitute an act of installation, replacement or repair. (Ord. 1069 § 25, 1999: prior code § 13.40.010)

13.20.030 Permits—Appeal.

Any person denied the issuance of a permit required by Section 13.20.020 of this chapter, shall have the right to appeal the decision of the superintendent to the city council. The city clerk, upon application for hearing, shall cause the same to be set for hearing at the city council’s next regular or adjourned meeting and the determination of the city council thereon shall be final. (Ord. 1069 § 26, 1999: prior code § 13.40.020)

13.20.040 Permit for construction or alteration—Required.

No person shall commence, do or cause to be done, construct or cause to be constructed, use or cause to be used or alter or cause to be altered any public or house connection sewer in the city without first obtaining a permit from the superintendent of the city to do so. (Ord. 1069 § 27, 1999: prior code § 13.40.030)

13.20.050 Permits for construction or alteration—Application.

Any person desiring a permit for any of the purposes enumerated in Section 13.20.040 of this chapter, shall make application in writing to the superintendent giving such information as the superintendent may require, on forms to be furnished for that purpose. (Ord. 1069 § 28, 1999: prior code § 13.40.040)

13.20.060 Permit for construction or alteration—Fees.

The superintendent before granting any permit upon an application filed in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.20.050 of this chapter, shall require the payment by the applicant of an inspection and connection fee as set by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 1082 § 4, 2000: Ord. 1069 § 29, 1999: prior code § 13.40.050)

13.20.070 Permit for construction or alteration—Issuance.

If it appears from the application required by Section 13.20.050 that the work to be performed is to be done according to the regulations contained in this chapter, governing the construction of such work, a permit shall be issued upon payment of the fee as fixed by Section 13.20.060. (Prior code § 13.40.060)

13.20.080 Permit for construction or alteration—Expiration.

If the work authorized by a permit issued under Section 13.20.040 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 be null and void. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be taken out, and the same fees shall be paid as fixed in Section 13.20.060 for the original permit. (Prior code § 13.40.070)

13.20.090 Permit for construction or alteration—Exemption.

Nothing contained in Section 13.20.040 or 13.20.070 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 such sewer with other or different material. Furthermore, the provisions of Section 13.20.040 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. (Prior code § 13.40.080)

13.20.100 Certain acts prohibited without permit.

No person shall remove or cause to be removed or injure or cause to be injured any portion of any sewer, pumping plant, disposal plant, flush tank, flushing manhole or manhole or open or enter or cause to be opened or entered, any public sewer, pumping plant, disposal plant, flush tanks, flushing manhole or manhole or use or cause to be used or to take or cause to be taken any water from any flushing apparatus for any use whatever or trespass upon any sewage disposal site without first obtaining a permit from the superintendent. (Ord. 1069 § 30, 1999: prior code § 13.40.090)

13.20.110 Inspections—Generally.

All work done under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to inspection by the superintendent. (Ord. 1069 § 31, 1999: prior code § 13.40.100)

13.20.120 Inspections—Notice to superintendent.

Notice shall be given in writing to the superintendent by the person doing any work under this chapter, or causing the same to be done, immediately after such work is ready for inspection. (Ord. 1069 § 32, 1999: prior code § 13.40.110)

13.20.130 Inspections—Accessibility.

Up to the date of the inspection provided for in Section 13.20.110, all work shall be uncovered and convenient for the inspector’s examination and every facility shall 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 sewer system, such obstruction shall be removed, upon notice to do so from the superintendent before the inspector shall be required to inspect the work. (Ord. 1069 § 33, 1999: prior code § 13.40.120)

13.20.140 Inspections—Defective work.

When, upon examination by an inspector, it appears that any work done under this chapter is defective, either in its construction or material, the same shall be removed or repaired to conform to the requirements set forth in this chapter. (Prior code § 13.40.130)

13.20.150 Inspections—Certificates of final inspection.

When it appears to the satisfaction of the superintendent any work mentioned in this chapter has been constructed according to and meets the requirements of all provisions of this chapter, and that all fees for the inspection thereof have been paid, the superintendent shall cause to be issued to the person constructing such work a certificate of final inspection. Such certificate shall recite that such work as is covered by the permit has been constructed according to the ordinances of the city and that such work is in a sanitary condition. The superintendent shall not issue such certificate of final inspection unless the requirements of this chapter have been adhered to. (Ord. 1069 § 35, 1999: prior code § 13.40.140)

13.20.160 Construction of sewer mains.

All sewer mains constructed in the city shall be constructed in public streets, alleys or easements and upon completion shall become the property of the city. (Prior code § 13.40.150)

13.20.170 Deposit of acids and corrosives prohibited.

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. (Prior code § 13.48.010)

13.20.180 Other prohibited deposits.

No person shall place, throw, deposit or discharge, or cause or permit to be placed, thrown, deposited or discharged in any public or house connection sewer any of the following substances:

A. Any dead animal, offal or garbage;

B. Any fish, fruit or vegetable waste;

C. Any other solid matters, materials or obstructions of any kind whatever of such nature as shall clog, obstruct or fill such sewer, or which shall interfere with or prevent the effective use or operation thereof;

D. Any water, sewage or liquid waste of any kind containing chemicals, grease, 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 of such sewer to render the same operative. (Prior code § 13.48.020)

13.20.190 Sand traps—Required when.

No person shall connect any cellar drain and shower in basements or in yards, directly with the soil or waste pipe. Such cellar drain or shower shall be trapped by a sand trap. (Prior code § 13.48.030)

13.20.200 Sand traps—Specifications.

The sand trap required by Section 13.20.190 shall be of a size not less than twelve (12) by twelve (12) inches and constructed of concrete. The walls and floor of every such trap shall be not less than three 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 inches is prohibited and the minimum size of the waste pipe shall be four inches where the trap is not vented. (Prior code § 13.48.040)

13.20.210 Sand traps—Cleaning.

Sand traps required by Section 13.20.190 of this chapter shall be cleaned as often as necessary for their efficient operation. (Prior code § 13.48.050)

13.20.220 Carwash sand traps—Required—Construction.

A. No person owning or operating a private or public automobile wash rack shall permit any water or effluent therefrom to flow into any public or house connection sewer unless such structure is trapped by a sand trap constructed of concrete.

B. The walls and bottom of the sand trap required by subsection A of this section shall not be less than four inches thick. The inside dimension of the trap shall not be less than five feet long, three feet wide, and three 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 not be less than four inches in diameter and their tops shall not be less than six inches below the top of the trap.

C. The outlet pipe shall extend into the outlet compartment of the sand trap as described in this section and shall be equipped with a four-inch “T” branch set vertically downward. A section of four-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.

D. A 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 end wall at the inlet end. The bottom of this baffle wall shall be parallel to and six inches above the bottom of the trap, the top of the baffle being flush with the top of the trap.

E. 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.

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

G. 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. (Prior code § 13.48.060)

13.20.230 Carwash sand traps—Inspection—Cleaning.

Sand traps for automobile wash racks shall be inspected daily when in use and cleaned as often as necessary for their efficient operation. (Prior code § 13.48.070)

13.20.240 Grease traps—Required when.

No person operating an establishment serving thirty (30) and not more than fifty (50) meals per day or owning or operating a private or public automobile wash rack shall permit the wastes from the kitchen sinks or wash rack 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 superintendent. (Ord. 1069 § 43, 1999: prior code § 13.48.080)

13.20.250 Grease traps—Capacity.

Grease traps with a guaranteed capacity of twenty (20) pounds of pure grease shall be installed with each kitchen sink 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. (Prior code § 13.48.090)

13.20.260 Maintenance of building sewer laterals.

The city council hereby establishes that the maintenance, service, cleaning, repair, and replacement of sewer laterals shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner whose building or improvement is served by such laterals, and not the city. Each such property owner shall be responsible for maintaining, servicing, cleaning, repairing, and replacement of their respective sewer laterals, leading from the building or improvement that it serves to the connection at the public sewer in the public right-of-way. These obligations apply to the portion of the lateral on private property as well as any and all portions of such sewer laterals that lie within any public right-of-way. (Ord. 10-08 § 2)