13.22.060 Maintenance and Operations of Private Sewer Disposal Systems and Private Laterals.
It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain the private lateral up to and including its connection at the property line.
The operation and condition of private laterals, their cleanouts and any other wastewater facilities required, to serve a connector's building, shall be the responsibility of the property owner, who shall keep them in good operating condition at all times and shall undertake all necessary repairs, including replacement of dilapidated and worn out components, at the property owner's expense and at no cost to the city. All repairs to and replacements of private laterals or other private sewer disposal systems shall be performed in accordance with the City's Standard Specifications.
Property owners shall maintain a private lateral in a manner that prevents sanitary sewer overflows and sewer spills. Failure of a property owner(s) to abate any condition that is causing sanitary sewer overflow within thirty business days of receiving a notice from the city is hereby declared to be a violation of the City Ordinances and Regulations and may be subject to abatement or other remedies per California Government Code Section 38773.1.
A. Passing on RWQCB penalties. Property owners responsible for the cause of a sanitary sewer overflow shall reimburse the city for any civil penalty imposed on the city by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) as the result of such overflow. To secure such payment the city shall have a nuisance abatement lien pursuant to the California Government Code Section 38773.1. Prior to recordation of the lien the city shall provide written notice to the owner of record of the subject property, based on the last equalized assessment roll or supplemental roll, whichever is more current.
B. Agency right of entry. It shall be a condition of continuing use and connection to the public sewer that the owner of a private lateral allow the inspection and verification of the condition of the private lateral or check for illegal connections, down spouts, etc. (from the point of the exterior building drain or cleanout to the public sewer connection) and/or monitoring the constituents of the wastewater discharge entering the public sewer in the event that the city has a reasonable belief that the manner of connection to the public sewer, the wastewater flow from the private property, or the condition of the private lateral is such that the public sewer will be damaged, rendered inoperable, or caused to spill because of the private property condition or use.
C. Passing back repair costs done to abate nuisance. The owner shall promptly reimburse the city for its costs incurred in undertaking such work and to secure such payment the city shall have a nuisance abatement lien pursuant to Section 38773.1 of the California Government Code. Prior to recordation of the lien the city shall provide written notice to the owner of record of the subject property, based on the last equalized assessment roll or supplemental roll, whichever is more current.
D. Owner is responsible for costs. In the event that the private lateral or any portion thereof to the property line and including the point of connection to the public sewer of the city has become damaged or deteriorated such that its proper operation requires replacement or repair, then the same shall be conducted at the cost and expense of the property owner(s). (Ord. 13-03, 2013)