Chapter 13.08 SEWAGE DISPOSAL

“BOD” (denoting biochemical oxygen demand) means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at twenty degrees centigrade, expressed in milligrams per liter.

“Building drain” means that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five feet (1.5 meters) outside the inner face of the building wall.

“Building sewer” means the extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal.

“Combine sewer” means a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.

“Garbage” means solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.

“Industrial wastes” means the liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes, trade or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.

“Natural outlet” means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface water or ground water.

“pH” means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.

“Properly shredded garbage” means the wastes, from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food, that have been shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than one-half inch (1.27 centimeters) in any dimension.

“Public sewer” means a sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights, and is controlled by public authority.

“Sanitary sewer” means a sewer in which carries sewage and to which storm, surface, and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.

“Sewage” means a combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments, together with such ground waters, surface waters and storm waters as may be present.

“Sewage treatment plant” means any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.

“Sewage works” means all facilities for collecting pumping, treating, and disposing of sewage.

“Sewer” means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.

“Slug” means any discharge of water, sewage, or industrial waste which, in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow, exceeds for any period of duration longer than fifteen minutes more than five times the average twenty-four-hour concentration or flows during normal operation.

“Storm drain” (sometimes termed “storm sewer”) means a sewer which carries storm waters and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes other than unpolluted cooling water.

“Superintendent” means the director of public works of the city, or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.

“Suspended solids” means solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, sewage or other liquids, and which are removable by laboratory filtering.

“Watercourse” means a channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently. (Ord. 589 Article 1, 1977).

13.08.020 Private system – Required when.

Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of PMC 13.08.310, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of PMC 13.08.030 through 13.08.090. (Ord. 589 Article 3 §1, 1977).

13.08.030 Private system – Permit – Application requirements.

Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the superintendent. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary by the superintendent. A permit and inspection fee as set by resolution of the city shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed. (Ord. 886 §8, 2016; Ord. 589 Article 3 §2, 1977).

13.08.040 Private system – Permit – Investigation.

A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent. He shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within forty-eight hours of the receipt of notice by the superintendent. (Ord. 589 Article 3 §3, 1977).

13.08.050 Private system – Health requirements generally.

A. The type, capacities, location, and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all the recommendations of the State Department of Public Health, particularly Chapter 248-96 WAC.

B. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than seven thousand two hundred square feet (six hundred forty-eight square meters).

C. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet. (Ord. 589 Article 3 §4, 1977).

13.08.060 Private system – Public connection – Required, when.

At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage system, as provided in PMC 13.08.050, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this chapter, and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with suitable material. (Ord. 589 Article 3 §5, 1977).

13.08.070 Private system – Public connection – Cleaning requirements.

When a public sewer becomes available, the building sewer shall be connected to said sewer within sixty days and the private sewage disposal system shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean bank-run gravel or dirt. (Ord. 589 Article 3 §8, 1977).

13.08.080 Private system – Sanitary maintenance.

The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at not expense to the city. (Ord. 589 Article 3 §6, 1977).

13.08.090 Private system – Health officer’s authority.

No statement contained in PMC 13.08.020 through 13.08.080 shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the county health officer. (Ord. 589 Article 3 §7, 1977).

13.08.100 Public system – Acts requiring a permit.

No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the superintendent. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §1, 1977).

13.08.110 Building sewer – Permit – Classes – Application requirements.

There shall be two classes of building sewer permits: For residential and commercial service, and for service to establishments producing industrial waste. In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the city. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the superintendent. A permit and inspection fee of $16.00 for the year 2000 for a residential or commercial building sewer permit and $40.00 for the year 2000 for an industrial building sewer permit shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed; providing however, that any fees established by the State or State adoption of plumbing and building codes shall supersede these fees.

For the year 2000 and each year thereafter, the permit and inspection fees shall increase by the most recent National Average Consumer Price Index – Urban increase for the previous year grounded to the nearest one cent. (Ord. 768, 1999; 589 Article 4 §2, 1977).

13.08.120 Building sewer – Connection expense – Owner liability – City adoption.

A. All costs and expense incidental to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the city from any loss of damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer. Following installation, the owner shall bear all cost of maintaining and repairing a lateral sewer line. Upon approval of the application by the city, the director of public works will compute the cost of connection to the city sewer collection system which shall include materials, labor, and machine costs, and notify applicant of such cost. Such cost and a connection fee of $526.82 for the year 2000 shall be paid in advance of the connection being made. For the year 2001 and each year thereafter, the rate shall increase by the most recent National Average Consumer Price Index–Urban increase for the previous year rounded to the nearest one cent. Upon payment of the cost and fee, the city shall make the final connection of the lateral to the city sewer collection system.

B. When the connection of a building sewer line involves extending a sewer line on city right-of-way beyond the existing public sewer main, the owner may present the cost of materials for such extension to the city council, which shall determine, in its discretion, whether the extension serves the future development of the city or is otherwise recognized as being in the best interest of the city, and, if so, the council may determine whether to share in the cost of the materials.

C. In addition to possible cost sharing, the city council may adopt an extension as a public sewer line if the council determines:

1. That the line has been installed according to the Uniform Plumbing Code;

2. The line has been inspected by the building inspector and/or director of public works; and

3. Whether the best interest of the city is served by obtaining said line.

D. After applying the same standards, the city may also adopt an existing private sewer line as a public sewer if said line is lying in the city right-of-way, and the line replaced and brought up to the Uniform Plumbing Code standards. (Ord. 768, 1999; Ord. 750 §2, 1997; Ord. 667, 1989; Ord. 589 Article 4 §3, 1977).

13.08.130 Building sewer – Separate and independent Exception.

A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building; except where on building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard, or driveway, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §4, 1977).

13.08.140 Building sewer – Usability when old.

Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the superintendent, to meet all requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §5, 1977).

13.08.150 Building sewer – Construction materials and methods – Standards.

The size, slope, alignment and materials of construction of a building sewer, and the methods of the used in excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, testing and backfilling the trench, shall all conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations of the city. In the absence of code provisions or in absence of amplification thereof, the materials and procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the A.S.T.M. and W.P.C.F. Manual of Practice No. 9 shall apply. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §6, 1977).

13.08.160 Building sewer – Elevation.

Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §7, 1977).

13.08.170 Building sewer – Prohibited connections.

No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of surface runoff or ground water to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §8, 1977).

13.08.180 Building sewer – Public connection – Standards.

The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations of the city, or the procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the A.S.T.M. and the W.P.C.F. Manual of Practice No. 9. All such connections shall be gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the superintendent before installation. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §9, 1977).

13.08.190 Building sewer – Public connection – Inspection.

The applicant for building sewer permit shall notify the superintendent when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the superintendent or his representative. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §10, 1977).

13.08.200 Building sewer – Excavation – Safeguards – Restoration.

All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city. (Ord. 589 Article 4 §11, 1977).

13.08.210 Prohibited discharges into sanitary sewers.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters into any sanitary sewer. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §1, 1977).

13.08.220 Permissible discharges.

Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as combined sewers or storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the superintendent. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged, on approval of the superintendent, to a storm sewer, combined sewer or natural outlet. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §2, 1977).

13.08.230 Waters and wastes – Prohibited discharges.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes into any public sewers:

A. Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas;

B. Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant, including but not limited to cyanides in excess of two milligrams per liter as CN in the wastes as discharged to the public sewer;

C. Any waters or wastes having a pH lower that 5.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, and personnel of the sewage works;

D. Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails and paper dishes, cups, milk containers, and similar substances, either whole or ground by garbage grinders. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §3, 1977).

13.08.240 Discharges subject to superintendent’s discretion.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged the following described substances, materials, waters or wastes if it appears likely in the opinion of the superintendent that such wastes can harm either the sewers, sewage treatment process or equipment, have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger life, limb, public property or constitute a nuisance. In forming his opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, the superintendent will give consideration to such factors as to quantities of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction in the sewers, nature of the sewage treatment process, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the sewage treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The substances prohibited are as follows:

A. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than one hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit (sixty-five degrees centigrade);

B. Any waste or waste containing fats, wax, grease or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of one hundred milligrams or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between thirty-two and one hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit (zero and sixty-five degrees centigrade);

C. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three-fourths horsepower (0.76 horsepower metric) or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the superintendent;

D. Any waters or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions whether neutralized or not;

E. Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances; or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement to such degree that any such material received in the composite sewage at the sewage treatment works exceeds the limits established by the superintendent for such materials;

F. Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste-producing or odor-producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding limits which may be established by the superintendent as necessary, after treatment of the composite, sewage, to meet the requirements of the state, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge to the receiving waters;

G. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the superintendent in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;

H. Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.5;

I. Materials which exert or cause the following:

1. Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids such as, but not limited to, Fullers earth, lime slurries, and lime residues; or of dissolved solids such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate;

2. Excessive discoloration such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions;

3. Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment works;

4. Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting slugs as defined in PMC 13.08.010;

J. Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge into the receiving waters. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §4, 1977).

13.08.250 Discretionary discharges – Action alternatives of superintendent.

A. If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in PMC 13.08.240 and which in the judgment of the superintendent may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the superintendent may do the following:

1. Reject the wastes;

2. Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public waters;

3. Require control over the quantities and rates or discharge; and/or

4. Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of PMC 13.08.340.

B. If the superintendent permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the superintendent, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances, and laws. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §5, 1977).

13.08.260 Interceptors.

Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients; except, that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the superintendent, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §6, 1977).

13.08.270 Preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities.

Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §7, 1977).

13.08.280 Control manhole – Requirements generally.

When required by the superintendent, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the superintendent. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense, and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §8, 1977).

13.08.290 Property investigation – Superintendent’s authority.

The superintendent and other duly authorized employees of the city bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The superintendent or his representatives shall have no authority to inquire into any processes including metallurgical, chemical, oil, refining, ceramic, paper or other industries beyond that point having a direct bearing on the kind and source of discharge to the sewers or waterways or facilities for waste treatment. (Ord. 589 Article 7 §1, 1977).

13.08.300 Property investigation – Injury or death liability.

While performing the necessary work on private properties referred to in PMC 13.08.290, the superintendent or duly authorized employees of the city shall observe all safety rules applicable to the premises established by the company. The company shall be held harmless for injury or death to the city employees and the city shall indemnify the company against loss or damage to its property by city employees and against liability claims and demands for personal injury or property damage asserted against the company and growing out of the gauging and sampling operation, except as such may be caused by negligence or failure of the company to maintain safe conditions as required in PMC 13.08.280. (Ord. 589 Article 7 §2, 1977).

13.08.310 Property investigation – Easements.

The superintendent and other duly authorized employees of the city bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all private properties through which the city holds a duly negotiated easement for the purposes of, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair, and maintenance of any portion of the sewage works lying within said easement. All entry and subsequent work, if any, on said easement, shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved. (Ord. 589 Article 7 §3, 1977).

13.08.320 Toilet facilities – Required – Public sewer connection.

The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way, in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary or combined sewer of the city, is required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within ninety days after the date of official notice to do so; provided that said public sewer is within two hundred feet (sixty-one meters) of the property line. (Ord. 589 Article 2 §4, 1977).

13.08.330 Waters and waste tests – Reference text – Sampling methods.

A. All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,” published by the American Public Health Association, and shall be determined at the control manhole provided or upon suitable samples taken at said control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected.

B. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the sewage works and to determine the existence of hazards to life, limb, and property. The particular analyses involved will determine whether a twenty-four-hour composite of all outfalls of a premise is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended solids analyses are obtained from twenty-four-hour composites of all outfalls, whereas pH’s are determined from periodic grab samples. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §9, 1977).

13.08.340 Special agreements.

No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for treatment, subject to payment therefor by the industrial concern. (Ord. 589 Article 5 §10, 1977).

13.08.350 Unlawful deposits.

It is unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner on public or private property within the city or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any human or animal excrement, garbage, or other objectionable waste. (Ord. 589 Article 2 §1, 1977).

13.08.360 Unlawful discharges.

It is unlawful to discharge into any natural outlet within the city or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any sewage or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with this chapter. (Ord. 589 Article 2 §2, 1977).

13.08.370 Unlawful facilities.

Except as provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage. (Ord. 589 Article 2 §3, 1977).

13.08.380 Destructive acts – Violation – Penalty.

No authorized person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the sewage works. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to immediate arrest under charges of disorderly conduct. (Ord. 589 Article 6 §1, 1977).

13.08.390 Violations – Penalties.

A. Any person found to be violating any provision of this chapter, except PMC 13.08.380, shall be served by the city with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.

B. Any person who continues any violation beyond the time limit provided for in subsection (A) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in the amount not exceeding $250.00 for each violation. Each day in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.

C. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall become liable to the city for any expense, loss or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation. (Ord. 589 Article 7, 1977).