Chapter 15 · Utilities

Article 4. Sewer Regulations

Sections 15-401 to 15-419 · 19 sections

15-401 County sanitary code and licensing and regulation of sanitary service adopted.

The city adopts by reference, as though fully set forth herein, Article V of Chapter 14 (Sanitary Code) and Article VI of Chapter 23 (Licensing and Regulation of Sanitary Service) of the Sedgwick County, Kansas, Code of Ordinances. Not less than three copies of the adopted articles shall be on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Ord. 1026; Ord. 1027; Code 2018, 36-124)

15-402 Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

BOD, biochemical oxygen demand, means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20 degrees Centigrade, expressed in parts per million by weight.

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 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.

Combined sewer means a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.

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

Industrial wastes means the liquid wastes from industrial processes as distinct from sanitary sewage.

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

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 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 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 which carries sewage and to which stormwaters, surface waters, and groundwaters are not intentionally admitted.

Sewage means a combination of the water carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments.

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.

Storm sewer or storm drain means a sewer which carries stormwaters and surface waters and drainage but excludes sewage and polluted industrial wastes.

Superintendent means the superintendent of sewage 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.

(Code 1974, §§ 13.16.010—13.16.220; Ord. 246, art. I(part), art. I, §§ 101—121, 1951; Code 2018, 36-125)

15-403 Insanitary deposits on public or private property.

It is unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in an insanitary manner upon 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.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.230; Ord. 246, art. II, § 201, 1951; Code 2018, 36-126)

15-404 Discharging sewage or industrial wastes.

It is unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any sanitary sewage, industrial waste or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this article.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.240; Ord. 246, art. II, § 202, 1951; Code 2018, 36-127)

15-405 Septic tanks, cesspools or privy vaults.

Except as provided in this article, 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.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.250; Ord. 246, art. II, § 203, 1951; Code 2018, 36-128)

15-406 Connection with sewer system required.

The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purpose, 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 article, within 90 days after day of official notice to do so, provided that the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.260; Ord. 246, art. II, § 204, 1951; Code 2018, 36-129)

15-407 Private disposal system.

(a)When allowed. Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this section.

(b)Permit; inspection. 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 48 hours of the receipt of notice by the superintendent.

(c)Connection to public sewer. When public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this article, and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with suitable material.

(d)Operation and maintenance. The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the city.

(e)Effect of provisions. No statement contained in this section shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the health officer.

(Code 1974, §§ 13.16.270—13.16.320; Ord. 246, art. III, §§ 301, 303, 305—307, 1951; Code 2018, 36-130)

15-408 Inspection authority.

The superintendent and other duly authorized employees of the city bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter upon all properties for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing, in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.560; Ord. 246, art. VII, § 701, 1951; Code 2018, 36-131)

15-409 Tampering with sewage works; arrest.

No unauthorized 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 municipal sewage works. Any person violating this section shall be subject to immediate arrest under charge of disorderly conduct.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.550; Ord. 246, art. VI, § 601, 1951; Code 2018, 36-132)

15-410 Violations and penalties.

(a)Any person found to be violating any provision of this article, except section 36-132, 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 is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not exceeding $200.00 for each violation. Each day in which any such violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

(c)In addition to all other applicable penalties, any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall become liable to the city for any expense, loss, or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation.

(Code 1974, §§ 13.16.570—13.16.590; Ord. 246, art. VIII, §§ 801—803, 1951; Code 2018, 36-133)

15-411 Discharging limitations.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.450; Ord. 246, art. V, § 501, 1951; Code 2018, 36-165)

15-412 Unpolluted drainage discharge.

Stormwater 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, upon approval of the superintendent to a storm sewer, combined sewer or natural outlet.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.460; Ord. 246, art. V, § 502, 1951; Code 2018, 36-166)

15-413 Prohibited waters and wastes.

Except as provided in this article, no person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewer:

(a)Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit;

(b)Any waters or wastes which may contain more than 100 parts per million, by weight, of fat, oil, or grease;

(c)Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas;

(d)Any garbage that has not been properly shredded;

(e)Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, paunch manure or any other solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works;

(f)Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than nine, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewage works;

(g)Any waters or wastes containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant;

(h)Any waters or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the sewage treatment plant;

(i)Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a public nuisance.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.470; Ord. 246, art. V, § 503, 1951; Code 2018, 36-167)

15-414 Grease, oil, and sand interceptors; use and specifications.

(a)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, and other harmful ingredients; except that such interceptor 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.

(b)Grease and oil interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature. They shall be of substantial construction, watertight, and equipped with easily removed covers which when bolted in place shall be gastight and watertight.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.480; Ord. 246, art. V, § 504, 1951; Code 2018, 36-168)

15-415 Same; maintenance.

Where installed, all grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be maintained by the owner, at his expense, in continuously efficient operation at all times.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.490; Ord. 246, art. V, § 505, 1951; Code 2018, 36-169)

15-416 Admission and treatment of waters.

The admission into the public sewers of any waters or wastes having a five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than 300 parts per million by weight; or containing more than 350 parts per million by weight by suspended solids; or containing any quantity of substances having the characteristics described in section 13-513; or having an average daily flow greater than two percent of the average daily sewage flow of the city, shall be subject to the review and approval of the superintendent. Where necessary in the opinion of the superintendent, the owner shall provide at his expense such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to reduce the biochemical oxygen demand to 300 parts per million and the suspended solids to 350 parts per million by weight; or reduce objectionable characteristics or constituents to within the maximum limits provided for in section 13-513; or control the quantities and rates of discharge of such waters or wastes. Plans, specifications, and any other pertinent information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the superintendent and of the state water pollution control commission and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until approvals are obtained in writing.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.500; Ord. 246, art. V, § 506, 1951; Code 2018, 36-170)

15-417 Treatment facility maintenance.

Where preliminary treatment facilities are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.510; Ord. 246, art. V, § 507, 1951; Code 2018, 36-171)

15-418 Manholes.

(a)Constructions; approval. When required by the superintendent, the owner of any property served by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole 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.

(b)Measurements and tests. All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in section 13-513 and subsection (a) of this section shall be determined in accordance with Standard Method Code for the Examination of Water and Sewage, and shall be determined at the control manhole provided for in subsection (a) of this section, or upon suitable samples taken at the 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.

(Code 1974, §§ 13.16.520, 13.16.530; Ord. 246, art. V, §§ 508, 509, 1951; Code 2018, 36-172)

15-419 Effect of provisions.

No statement contained in this article 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.

(Code 1974, § 13.16.540; Ord. 246, art. V, § 510, 1951; Code 2018, 36-173)