HomeMy WebLinkAbout11818ORDINANCE NO. 11,818
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE USE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SEWERS, PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL, THE INSTALLATION,
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND CONNECTION OF BUILDING
SEWERS; THE DISCHARGE OF WATERS AND WASTES INTO THE
PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIO-
LATION THEREOF; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
THEREWITH; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, ALL PERTAINING TO
THE SEWER LINES AND SYSTEM WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the
meaning of terms used in this Ordinance shall be as follows:
Sec. 1. "BOD" (denoting Biochemical Oxygen Demand) shall
mean the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation
of organic matter under standard laboratory procedures in five (5)
days at 200C expressed in milligrams per liter.
Sec. 2. "Building Drain" shall mean that part of the lowest
horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge
from soil water, and other drainage pipes outside the walls of the
building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five (5)
feet outside the inner face of the building wall.
Sec. 3. "Building Sewer" shall mean the extension from the
building drain to the public or other place of disposal.
Sec. 4. "Garbage" shall mean solid wastes from the domestic
and commercial preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food, and from
the handling, storage, and sale of produce.
Sec. 5. "Industrial Wastes" shall mean the liquid wastes
from industrial manufacturing processes , trade, or business, as
distinct from sanitary sewage.
Sec. 6. "Natural Outlet" shall mean any outlet into a
watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface or ground-
water.
Sec. 7. "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, company,
association, society, corporation, or group.
Sec. 8. "pH" shall mean the logarithm of the reciprocal
of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
Sec. 9. "Properly Shredded Garbage" shall mean the wastes
from the preparation, cooking, dispensing.of food that has been
shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely
under the flow conditions normally pgavailing in public sewers, with
no particle greater than one -half ('k) inch in dimension.
Sec. 10. "Public Sewer" shall mean a sewer in which all owners
of abutting properties have equal rights, and is controlled by public
authority.
Page 2.
Sec. 11. "Sanitary Sewer" shall mean a sewer in which sewage
is carried, and to which storm, surface, and ground waters are not
intentionally admitted.
Sec. 12. "Sewage" shall mean a combination of the water - carried
wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions, and indus-
tries.
Sec. 13. "Sewer System" shall mean the Little Rock Sanitary
Sewer System as operated by the Sewer Committee of the City of
Little Rock, Arkansas.
Sec. 14. "Sewage Treatment Plant" shall mean any arrangement
of devices and structures used for treating sewage.
Sec. 15. "Sewage Works" shall mean all facilities for collecting,
pumping, treating, and disposing of sewage.
Sec. 16. "Sewer" shall mean a pipe or conduit for carrying
sewage.
Sec. 17. "Shall" is mandatory; "May" is permissive.
Sec. 18. "Slug" shall mean any discharge of water, sewage,
or industrial waste which in concentration of any given constituent
or in quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer than
fifteen (15) minutes more than five (5) times the average twenty -four
hour (24) concentration or flows during normal operation.
Sec. 19. "Storm Drain" (sometimes termed "storm sewer ") shall
mean a sewer which carries storm and surface water and drainage, but
excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling
water.
Sec. 20. "Manager" shall mean the (Manager of the Little Rock
Sanitary Sewer System) of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, or his
authorized deputy, agent, or representative.
Sec. 21. "Suspended Solids" shall mean 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.
Sec. 22. "Watercourse" shall mean a channel in which a flow
of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
ARTICLE II.
USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS REQUIRED
Sec. 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit,
or permit to be deposited in any insanitary manner on public or private
property within the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, or in any area
under the jurisdiction of said City, any human or animal excrement,
garbage, or other objectionable wastes.
Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet
within the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, or in any area under the
jurisdiction of said City, any sewage or other polluted waters, except
where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with pro-
visions of this Ordinance.
Sec. 3. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful
to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool,
or other facility intended to be used for the disposal of sewage.
Page 3.
Sec. 4. The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties
used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes,
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 sewer of the City, is hereby 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 Ordinance, within ninety
(90) days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said
public sewer is within three hundred (300) feet of the property line.
ARTICLE III.
PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Sec. 1. Where a public sanitary sewer is not available,
under the provisions of Article II, Section 4, the building sewer
shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying
with the provisions of this Article.
Sec. 2. Before commencement of constructing of a private
sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written
permit signed by the Health Officer. The application for such
permit shall be made on a form furnished by the City, which the
applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications, and
other information as are deemed necessary by the Health Officer.
A permit and inspection fee of $5.00 shall be paid to the City
at the time the application is filed.
Sec. 3. The type, capacities, locations, and layout of
a private sewage disposal system, shall comply with all recom-
mendations of the State Department of Health of the State of
Arkansas, and the Pollution Control Commission.
Sec. 4. When a public sewer becomes available, the building
sewer shall be connected to said sewer within sixty (60) days, and
the private sewage disposal system shall be cleaned of sludge, and
filled with clean bank -run gravel or dirt.
ARTICLE IV.
BUILDING SEWERS AND CONNECTIONS
Sec. 1. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any
connection with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb, any
public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining
a written permit from the Manager of the Little Rock Sanitary
Sewer System.
Sec. 2. There shall be two (2) classess of building sewer
permits: (a) for residential and commercial service, and (b) for
service to establishments producing industrial wastes. In either
case, the owner or agent shall make application on a special form
furnished by the City. The permit application shall be supplemented
by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent
in the judgment of the Manager. A permit and inspection fee of $5.00
for residential or commercial building sewer permit, and $45.00 for
ai industrial sewer permit shall be paid to the sewer system at the
time the application is filed.
Sec. 3. All costs and expenses incident to the installation
and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner.
The owner shall indemnify the City from any loss or damage that
may directly be occasioned by the installation of the building
sewer.
Page 4.
Sec. 4. A separate and independent building sewer shall
be provided for every building; except where one building stands
at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is
available or can be constructed to the rear building through an
adjoining alley, courtyard, or driveway, the building sewer from
the front building may be extended to the rear building, and the
whole considered as one building sewer.
Sec. 5. Old building sewers may be used in connection with
new buildings only when they are found, uponexamination and test
by the sewer system inspector, to meet all requirements of this
Ordinance.
Sec_ 6. The size, slope, alignment, and materials of con-
struction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating,
placing of pipe, jointing, testing, and backfilling the trench, shall
all conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or
other applicable rules or regulations of the City. In the absence
of code provisions or in amplification thereof, the materials and
procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the A.S.T.M.
and W.P.C.F. Manual of Practice No. 9 shall apply.
Sec. 7. Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought
to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all
buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity
flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building
drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the
building sewer.
Sec. 8. No person shall make connection of roof downspouts,
exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of
surface runnoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building
drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public
sanitary sewer.
Sec. 9. The connection of the building sewer into the public
sewer shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing
code or other applicable rules and regulations of the City, or the
procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the A.S.T.M.
and W.P.C.F. Manual of Practice No. 9. All such connections shall
be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed
procedures and materials must be approved by the Manager of the
Little Rock Sanitary Sewer System before installation.
Sec. 10. The applicant for the building sewer permit shall
notify the Manager of the Little Rock Sanitary Sewer System when
the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the
public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision
of the sewer system's inspector.
Sec. 11. All excavations for building sewer installation shall
be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect
the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other
public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored
in a manner satisfactory to the City.
ARTICLE V.
DISCONNECTING SEWERS
Sec. 1. Before any dwelling or other building being served
by the Little Rock Sanitary Sewer System is moved or demolished,
the sewer line connecting said building with the sanitary sewer
main shall be disconnected at the poperty line. The remaining
portion of said sewer line leading into the sanitary sewer main
shall be sealed at this point with concrete, or other approved
material.
Page 5.
Sec. 2. Prior to the disconnection of any such sewer line,
a permit shall be obtained from the Office of the Little Rock
Sanitary Sewer System. The cost of such permit shall be the sum
of $3.00 to defray the cost of any inspection of the disconnection
and seal.
Sec. 3. After the disconnection and seal is made, and before
it is covered, a report shall be made to the Little Rock Sanitary
Sewer System in order'that the inspection may be made. After the
inspection, the acceptance and /or rejection will be reported to the
permit holder.
ARTICLE VI.
USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS
Sec. 1. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged
any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runnoff, subsurface
drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial
process to any sanitary sewer.
Sec. 2. Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be
discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm
sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the City Engineer. Indus-
trial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged
on approval of the City Engineer, to a storm sewer, combined sewer,
or natural outlet.
Sec. 3. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged
any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:
(a) Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable
or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
(b) Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids,
liquids or gases, in sufficient quantity, either singly or by inter-
action with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any sewage
treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create
a public nuisance, or create any hazard in the receiving waters
of the sewage treatment plant, including, but not limited to, cyanides
in excess of two (2) mg /l as CN in the waste as discharged to the
public sewer.
(c) Any water or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or having
any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard
to structures, equipment, and personnel of the sewage works.
(d) Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size
capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other inter-
ference with the proper operation of the sewage works such as, but
not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal,
glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole
blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails, and paper dishes,
cups, milk containers,etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders.
Sec. 4. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged
the following described substances, materials, waters, or wastes
if it appears likely in the opinion of the Manager of the sewer slstem
that such wastes can harm either the sewers, sewage treatment process,
or equipment, have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can
otherwise endanger life, limb, public property, or constitute a nui-
sance. In forming his opinion, as to the acceptablity of these waters,
the Manager will give consideration to such factors as the quantitiZes
of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers,
materials of construction of the sewers, nature of the sewage treat-
ment process, capacity of the sewage treatment plain, degree of
treatability of wastes in the sewage treatment plant, and other
pertinent factors. The substances prohibited are:
Page 6.
(a) Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than
one hundred fifty (150)oF (650C).
(b) Any water or waste, containing fats, wax, grease, oils,
whether emulsified or not, in excess of one hundred (100) mg /l
or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous
at temperatures between thirty -two (32) and one hundred fifty
(150) Fo(0 and 650C). -
(c) Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The
installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with
a motor of three- fourths (3/4) horsepower (0.76 hp metric) or
greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the Manager.
(d) Any water or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling
wastes, or concentrated plating solutions, whether neutralized or
not.
(e) Any water or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper,
zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances; or wastes
exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, to such degree that
any such material received in the composite sewage at the sewage
treatment works exceeds the limits established by the Manager
for such materials.
(f) Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste -
or odor - producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding
the limits which may be established b y the Manager as necessary,
after treatment of the composite Eewage, to meet the requirements
of the State, Federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction
for such discharge, to the receiving waters.
(g) Any radioaction wastes or isotopes of such half -life
of concentration as may exceed limits established by the Manager
in compliance with applicable State or Federal regulations.
(h) Any waters or wastes having a pH excess of 9.5.
Ji) Materials which exert or cause:
(1) Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids
(such as, but not limted to, Fuller earth, lime slurries, and lime
residues), or of dissolved solids (such as, -but not limited to,
sodium chloride and sodium sulfate.)
(2) Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limitedto,,
dye, wastes and vegetable tanning solutions.)
(3) Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine
requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant
load on the sewage treatment works.
(4) Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes
constituting "slugs" as defined herein.
(j) Waters or wastes containing substances which are not
amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processess
employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the
sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of
other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving
waters.
Sec. 5. If any waters or wastes are discharged, or are proposed
to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the sub-
stances or possess the characteristics enumerated in Section 4 of
this Article, and which in the judgment of the Manager may have
a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processess, equipment,
or receiving waters, or which otherwise creates a hazard to life or
constitutes a public nuisance, the Manager may:
(a) reject the wastes,
(b) require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for
discharge to the public sewers,
(c) require control over the quantities and rates of
discharge, and /or
(d) require payment to cover the added cost of handling
and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes
or sewer charges under the provisions of Section 10
of this Article.
Page 7.
If the Manager permits the pretreatment or equalization
of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and$
equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the
Manager, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes,
ordinances, and laws.
Sec. 6. Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided
when, in the opinion of the Manager, 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 Little Rock Sanitary Sewer
System, and shall be located as to by readily and easily accessible
for cleaning and inspection.
Sec. 7. 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 his expense.
Sec. B. When required by the Manager, 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,
when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be
constructed to be in accordance with plans approved by the Manager.
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.
Sec. 9. All measurements, tests, and analyses of the char-
acteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this
Ordinance shall be determined in accordance with the latest 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 said 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 customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of con-
stituents upon the sewage works, and to determine the existence
of hazards to life, limb and property. (The particular analyses
involved will determine whether a twenty -four hour composite of all
outfalls of a premise is appropriate or whether a grab sample or
samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended
solids analyses are obtained from 24 -hour composites of all outfalls
whereas the pH's are determined from grab samples taken periodically.)
Sec. 10. 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.
ARTICLE VII.
PROTECTION FROM DAMAGE
Sec. 1. 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 sewage works. Any person violating this provision shall be
subject to immediate arrest under charge of disorderly conduct.
4
.
Page 8.
ARTICLE VIII.
POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF INSPECTORS
Sec. 1. The Manager 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 Ordinance. The Manager or his representative
shall have no authority to inquire into any processess 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.
Sec. 2. While performing the necessary work on a private
property referred to in Article VIII, Section 1 above, the Manager
or duly authorized employees of the sewer system shall observe all
safety rules applicable to the premises established by the company,
and the sewer system shall indemnify the company against loss or
damage to its property by sewer system employees growing out of
the gauging and sampling operation, except as such may be caused
by negligence or failure of the company to maintain safe conditions
as required by Article V, Section 8.
Sec. 3. The Manager or other duly authorized employee
of the Little Rock Sanitary Sewer System bearing proper credentials
and identification shall be permitted to enter all private properties
through which the City holds a duly negotiated easement for the
purposes, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement,
sampling, repair, and maintenance of any portion of the sewage works
lying within said easement. All entry and subsequent work, if any,
on said Easement, shall be done in full accordance with the terms
of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property
involved.
Sec. 4. In addition to the provisions of this Ordinance,
the Little Rock Sanitary Sewer Committee is specifically authorized
to make such other reasonable rules and regulations in regard to
the use and /or operation of sanitary sewers to be connected, or
connecting into, the mains of the Little Rock Sanitary Sewer System.
Such rules and regulations so made, shall be effective upon the
filing of a correct copy for permanent record with the City Clerk
of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and one publication in a daily
newspaper published in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas.
ARTICLE IX.
PENALTIES
Sec. 1. Any person, or firm, found to be violating any
provision of this Ordinance or regulations, except Article VII,
shall be served by the Manager 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.
Sec. 2. Any person who shall continue any violation beyond
the time limit provided for in Article IX, Section 1, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be fined
in an amount not less than $10.00 or more than $300.00 for each
violation. Each day in which any such violation continues shall be
deemed a separate offense.
Page 9.
Sec. 3. Any person violating any of the provisions of
this Ordinance shall become liable to the sewer system for any
expense, loss or damage occasioned the sewer system by reason
of such violation.
ARTICLE X.
VALIDITY
Sec. 1. All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict
herewith are hereby repealed.
Sec. 2. The invalidity of any section, clause, or provision
of this Ordinance shall not effect the validity of any other part
of this Ordinance which can be given effect without such invalid
part or parts.
ARTICLE XI.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Sec. 1. This Ordinance shallbe in full force and effect
from and after its passage, approval, and publication as provided
by law.
PASSED: November 21, 1966
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
am- •
CITY CLERK