Chapter 13.04
SEWERS
Sections:
13.04.010 Discharge to sanitary sewer.
13.04.020 Sewer system availability.
13.04.030 Variance from connection requirement.
13.04.050 Connection required.
13.04.010 Discharge to sanitary sewer.
Cesspools, septic tanks, drainfields and such other means of sewage disposal in the city where there is a public sewage system available, are public nuisances and are prohibited, except as provided in this chapter and in Chapter 16A of the California Plumbing Code, as adopted by reference in Section 15.04.010 of this code. (Ord. 961 § 1, 2011; Ord. 182 § 1, 1962)
13.04.020 Sewer system availability.
A sewerage system is deemed available as to a particular parcel of real property where such property is located in a sanitation or other district offering sewerage facilities, and abuts a street, alley or easement in which a public sewer line has been installed. (Ord. 182 § 1, 1962)
13.04.030 Variance from connection requirement.
In case of unusual or special circumstances which, in the opinion of the property owner, make connection to the public sewer unfeasible, the owner may appeal to the building official who shall make a determination on the basis of cost of connection to other properties in the vicinity, the capacity of existing private sewerage facilities to assimilate the sewage properly and the opinion of the health officer as to the effects which may be expected if connection to an available sewerage system is not made. The property owner shall be informed of the determination thus made. (Ord. 182 § 3, 1962)
13.04.040 Appeal.
A determination by the building official with respect to feasibility of connection to an available sewerage system may be appealed by written application to the city council to determine such feasibility. (Ord. 182 § 4, 1962)
13.04.050 Connection required.
It is required that all buildings intended for human habitation or used by human beings shall be connected to an available public sewerage system in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code, as revised, heretofore adopted and hereafter to be adopted by the city council.
A. All buildings intended for human habitation or use for which building permits are issued after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be connected to an available public sewerage system prior to the issuance of the final approval of the building official.
B. All existing buildings intended for human habitation or use shall be connected to an available public sewerage system not later than twelve months from and after the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter or twelve months from and after the installation of any future new lines or extensions of existing lines. (Ord. 182 § 5, 1962)
13.04.060 Greywater systems.
A. A plumbing permit shall be obtained from the community development department for all simple and complex greywater systems, as defined in Chapter 16A of the California Plumbing Code, as adopted by reference in Section 15.04.010 of this code. Prior to issuance of said plumbing permit, an environmental health clearance shall be obtained from the county environmental health services. Following construction, a field inspection of the irrigation portion of the greywater system shall be conducted by the county environmental health services.
B. A plumbing permit, environmental health clearance, and field inspection shall not be required for a clothes washer system provided it is constructed and operated in compliance with Chapter 16A of the California Plumbing Code, as adopted by reference in Chapter 15.04.010 of this code, and the owner signs, submits, and complies with the “Installation and Maintenance Agreement for Clothes Washer Greywater System” as published by the community development department.
C. The county environmental health services, in providing any services or conducting any inspection to confirm that permitted greywater systems comply with county environmental health services standards, is authorized to assess fees to the property owner for said services and inspections in accordance with the fee schedule updated by the Santa Cruz County board of supervisors for the provision of similar services and inspections in the unincorporated area of the county.
D. All greywater systems shall be designed to allow the user to direct the flow to the irrigation or disposal field or to the building sewer. The means of changing the direction of the greywater shall be clearly labeled and readily accessible to the user.
E. All greywater shall be directed to the building sewer during the winter wet season to prevent ponding or runoff. (Ord. 961 § 2, 2011)