Article 3. Private Disposal System
14.3.1. Interceptors.
Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, 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 Building Inspector, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
14.3.2. Tap to sanitary sewers.
Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of this Chapter, the building sewer may be connected to a private sewage system complying with the provisions of this Article, the City’s plumbing and building codes, and with written approval of the Building Inspector.
14.3.3. Sewer system; cost of installation, code compliance.
The cost and expense of the installation and connection must be borne by the owner. Such installation and connection must comply with all the provisions of this code and all other applicable regulations and laws. The tap fee shall be as set out in the City Fee Resolution.
14.3.4. License required; sewer system installation.
Any installation as provided for by this Article shall be made by persons licensed to perform such work in the City, and the owner shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the sewer tap and connection.
14.3.5. Sewer system, final inspection.
The sewer connection shall not be covered by any material until a final inspection has been made by the Building Inspector, or his or her authorized designee, and written permission has been given to cover such connections to the sewer system.
14.3.6. Permit to construct required.
Before commencement of construction of a private sewage system the owner shall first obtain a written permit to construct a private sewage system within the City. Such permit must be signed by the Building Inspector. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by the City, which the applicant shall supplement with any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary by the Building Inspector. A permit and inspection fee as set out in the City Fee Resolution shall be paid to the City at the time the application is filed.
14.3.7. Inspection; occupancy permit.
An occupancy permit for any structure utilizing a private sewage system shall not become effective until the installation of such private sewage system is completed to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector, or designee, shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Building Inspector when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of notice by the Building Inspector provided that the twenty-four (24) hour notice will allow the inspection to occur during normal working hours.
14.3.8. System; compliance with County Health Department.
The type, capacities, location, layout and lot area for construction of private sewage systems shall comply with all recommendations and requirements of the Sedgwick County Community Health Department and the State Department of Health and Environment. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than 20,000 square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge into any public sewer or natural outlet.
14.3.9. Operate private sewage facilities at own expense.
The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the City.
14.3.10. Pre-treatment.
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 such owner’s expense.
14.3.11. Manhole required.
When required by the Director or Building Inspector, 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 shall be installed by the owner at his or her expense, and shall be maintained by him or her. It is unlawful to cover or conceal manholes.
14.3.12. Tests; analysis.
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 18th 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 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. Sampling shall be carried out by customary 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 grab sample or samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended solids analyses are obtained from twenty-four (24) hour composites of all outfalls whereas PH are determined from periodic grab samples.
14.3.13. Special agreements.
No statement contained in this Article shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the City and any industrial or commercial concern regarding appropriate disposal of an industrial waste of unusual strength or character normally requiring pretreatment before acceptance, subject to payment therefore, by the industrial or commercial concern.
14.3.14. Protection from damage.
No 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 or entity violating this section shall be subject to criminal prosecution therefore and liable for payment of any damages caused by such violations.
14.3.15. Right of entry; inspections.
The Building Inspector 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 article, and such persons shall be authorized to make application to a court of competent jurisdiction ordering that such access be provided should such access be denied. The Director, Building Inspector, or designee, shall have no authority to inquire into any process 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.
14.3.16. Indemnification.
While performing the necessary work on private properties, the Building Inspector, or duly authorized employees of the City, shall observe all safety rules applicable to the premises established by the owners, and the owners shall be held harmless for injury or death to the City employees and the City shall indemnify the owners 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 owners and growing out of the gauging and sampling operation, except as such may be caused by negligence or failure of the owners to maintain safe conditions.
14.3.1. Access to easement.
The Building Inspector, 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 an 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 the easement, and such persons shall be authorized to make application to a court of competent jurisdiction ordering that such access be provided should such access be denied. All costs associated with obtaining access to an easement shall be borne by the individual preventing rightful and lawful access. All entry and subsequent work, if any, on the easement shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved.