Chapter 14.04 DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this title, the following words or phrases have the meaning set forth herein, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.020 BOD.

“BOD” means biological oxygen demand, which is 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 parts per million by weight. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.030 Building drain.

“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. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.040 Building sewer or side sewer.

“Building sewer or side sewer” means the extension from the building drain beginning two feet from the foundation wall of the building or structure, extending to the public sewer, and including the connection to the public sewer. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.050 City.

“City” means the city of Shelton. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.060 City manager.

“City manager” means the city manager of the city of Shelton. (Ord. 1921-0518 (part), 2018; Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.070 Combined sewer.

“Combined sewer” means a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.075 Commercial structure.

“Commercial structure” is defined as any building or structure required to be connected to sewer that is or will be used for a commercial or industrial purpose, as defined in Chapters 20.26, 20.28, and 20.30, or for the provision of any service, such as hotels, motels, and hospitals. Commercial structures include multifamily complexes larger than a duplex, even if the individual dwelling units are under separate ownership. (Ord. 1729-0608 § 2, 2008)

14.04.080 Council.

“Council” means the city council of the city of Shelton. (Ord. 1921-0518 (part), 2018; Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004)

14.04.090 Connection charges.

“Connection charges” means the charges imposed by the city to recover the actual costs of installing a sewer connection from the main to the customer’s property line or otherwise designated point. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.100 Customer.

“Customer” means any person who obtains sewer service from the city. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.110 Department.

“Department” means the department of public works of the city of Shelton. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.120 Director.

“Director” means the director of the department of public works of the city or his/her designee. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.130 Equivalent residential unit or ERU.

“Equivalent residential unit” or “ERU” means a unit of wastewater which incurs the same costs for operation and maintenance as the average volume of domestic wastes discharged from a single-family residence. In the city of Shelton, one ERU shall be equivalent to two hundred twenty-five gallons of wastewater per day. The volume attributed to an ERU where a user discharges wastes of strength significantly different from average domestic waste strength shall be adjusted appropriately to account for the higher costs of treating such wastes in accordance with the rate schedule contained in this title. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.135 Failure.

“Failure” means a condition of an on-site sewage system that threatens the public health by inadequately treating sewage or by creating a potential for direct or indirect contact between sewage and the public. Examples of failure include but are not limited to:

A. Sewage on the surface of the ground;

B. Sewage backing up into a structure caused by slow soil absorption of septic tank effluent;

C. Sewage leaking from a septic tank, pump chamber, holding tank, or collection system;

D. Cesspools or seepage pits where evidence of groundwater or surface water quality degradation exists;

E. Inadequately treated effluent contaminating groundwater or surface water; or

F. Noncompliance with standards stipulated on the permit. (Ord. 1691-0107 § 1, 2007)

14.04.140 Garbage.

“Garbage” means solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.150 Health officer.

“Health officer” means the duly appointed health officer of Mason County, Washington. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.160 Natural outlet.

“Natural outlet” means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface or groundwater. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.170 Permit fee.

“Permit fee” means the fee required to cover costs of permit administration and review. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.180 Person.

“Person” includes any individual, firm, company, association, organization, society, corporation, or group. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.190 pH.

“pH” means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.200 Premises.

“Premises” is defined as a residential dwelling unit, including a single-family home, manufactured home, mobile home, or one of two dwelling units found in a duplex. (Ord. 1729-0608 § 1, 2008: Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.210 Properly shredded garbage.

“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. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.220 Public sewer.

“Public sewer” means any portion of the sewer of the city owned and accepted for maintenance by the city which collects and transmits sewage from more than one separate building connection to the sewage treatment plant, including lateral sewers, trunk sewers, and force mains, and excluding sewer connections from buildings thereto. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.230 Sanitary sewer.

“Sanitary sewer” means a sewer which carries sewage and to which storm, surface and groundwater are not intentionally admitted. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.240 Sewage.

“Sewage” means water-carried human wastes or a combination of water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments together with such ground, surface, storm or other waters. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.250 Sewage treatment plant.

“Sewage treatment plant” means any arrangement of devices and structures used by the city for treating and disposing of sewage. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.260 Sewage works.

“Sewage works” means all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.270 Sewer.

“Sewer” means any pipe, conduit, ditch or other device used to collect and transport sewage or stormwater from the generating source. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.280 Sewer connection permit.

“Sewer connection permit” means the permit issued by the city to allow the connection of any building sewer to the public sewer. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.290 Sewer service area.

“Sewer service area” means that area consisting of the corporate limits of the city and those areas that have been or may be designated for sewer service by the city council. (Ord. 1921-0518 (part), 2018; Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.300 Storm drain or storm sewer.

“Storm drain” or “storm sewer” means a pipe that carries storm and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.310 Suspended solids.

“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. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.320 User.

“User” means any person who obtains sewer service from the city. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.330 User charge.

“User charge” means the periodic charges levied on all users of the public treatment works, and shall, at a minimum, cover each user’s proportionate share of the cost of operations and maintenance of the sewer system. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)

14.04.340 Watercourse.

“Watercourse” means a channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 1 (part), 2003)