[Adopted 1-22-1975 by L.L. No. 2-1975]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The extension from the building down to the public sewer
or other place of disposal.
The liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes,
trade or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.
Any individual, firm, company, association, surety, corporation
or group.
A sewer on which all owners of abutting property have equal
rights and which is controlled by public authority.
A sewer which carries sewage and to which storm-, surface
and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
A combination of the water-carried wastes from residences,
business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments, together
with such ground-, surface and storm waters as may be present.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
Any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating
sewage.
A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
All facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing
of sewage.
A sewer which carries storm- and surface waters and drainage
but excludes sewage and industrial wastes.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge to
any natural outlet within the Town of Ramapo, or in any area under
the jurisdiction of said Town of Ramapo, any sewage or other polluted
waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided.
B.
Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful
to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool
or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.
C.
The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used
for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes situated
within the Town of Ramapo, abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way
on which there is now, or may be in the future, a public sanitary
sewer located within 100 feet of the property is hereby required,
at his expense, to install suitable toilet facilities therein and
to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer within
the required state, county and Town regulations, after 30 days of
official notice to do so.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
D.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged
any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface
drainage, uncontaminated cooling water or unpolluted industrial process
waters to any sanitary sewer.
E.
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 Director of Public Works
or his assistants. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process
water may be discharged, on approval of the Director of Public Works
or his assistants, to a storm sewer or natural outlet.
F.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged
to any public sewers any of the following described waters or wastes:
(1)
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other
flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
(2)
Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous
solids, liquids or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or
by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any
sewage treatment process, create a public nuisance or create any hazard
in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant.
(3)
Any water or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or
higher than 9.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of
causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of
the sewerage works.
[Amended 6-11-1975 by L.L. No. 6-1975]
(4)
Solids or viscous substances in quantities or of a
size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other
interference with the proper operation of the sewerage works, such
as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings,
metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastic, wood, etc., either whole
or ground by a garbage grinder.
G.
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 Director of Public Works,
that such wastes can harm the sewers, sewage treatment process or
equipment; have an adverse effect on the receiving stream or otherwise
endanger life, limb or public property; or constitute a nuisance.
In forming his opinion as to acceptability of these wastes, the Director
of Public Works will give consideration to such factors as the quantities
of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers,
materials of construction of the sewers, nature of the sewage treatment
process, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability
of wastes in the sewage treatment plant and other pertinent factors.
The substances prohibited are:
[Amended 6-11-1975 by L.L. No. 6-1975]
(1)
Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such concentration
as may exceed limits established by federal, state or Town regulations.
(2)
Any garbage, which shall include but not be limited
to the wastes from the preparation, crushing, handling, cooking or
disposal of food, that has not been properly shredded after it has
passed through an approved garbage grinder approved by the Director
of the Department of Public Works.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
(3)
Waters or wastes containing substances which are not
amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes
employed.
(4)
Materials which exert or cause:
(a)
Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids,
such as but not limited to fuller's earth, lime slimes and lime residues
or of dissolved solids, such as but not limited to sodium chloride
and sodium sulfate.
(b)
Excessive discoloration due to inks or dyes
or other substances or processes or combination thereof.
(c)
Any waters 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 Director of Public Works
for such materials.
(d)
Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand or chlorine
requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load
on the sewage treatment works.
(e)
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher
than 150° F. (65° C.).
(f)
Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease
or oil, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 milligrams per
liter or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous
at temperatures between 32° and 110° F. (0° and 65°
C.).
H.
If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed
to be discharged to the public sewers, which water or wastes, in the
judgment of the Director of Public Works, may have a deleterious effect
upon the sewerage works, processes, equipment or receiving waters
or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public
nuisance, the Director of Public Works may:
(1)
Reject the wastes.
(2)
Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for
discharge to the public sewers.
(3)
Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge.
(4)
Require payment to cover the added cost of handling
and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges.
I.
Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided
when, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works, 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 Director of Public Works or his assistants
and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning
and inspection.
J.
If the Director of the Department of Public Works
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 Director and subject to the requirements
of all applicable codes, ordinances and laws.
[Added 6-11-1975 by L.L. No. 6-1975]
K.
Where preliminary treatment or flow equalization facilities
are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously
in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner, at his expense.
[Added 6-11-1975 by L.L. No. 6-1975]
L.
When required by the Director of Public Works or his
assistants, 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 in accordance with plans approved
by the Director of Public Works or his assistant. 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.
M.
No blowoff or drip or steam exhaust from any boiler
or pipe system connected thereto shall be directly connected with
the house drain or the house sewer. Such connections may be permitted
with the written approval of the Director of Public Works if provision
is made for the discharge of steam or hot water into a suitable storage
tank or steam condenser provided with proper mechanism for gradually
releasing the hot water into the house sewer.
[Added 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
N.
Cellar drains in or below the cellar floor to remove
groundwater, drains from areaways, courts and the like, roof leaders
or the discharge pipe from any pump or other similar mechanical device
arranged to care for such ground- or surface water or clear unpolluted
water for cooling purposes for refrigeration equipment shall not be
connected directly or indirectly with the house sewer. When inspections
indicate that water from such sources is being discharged into the
house sewer, either directly or indirectly through leaks in the house
sewer or in any other manner, such discharge shall constitute a violation
of this article and shall be cause for recovery and revocation of
any permit previously granted to connect with the sewer under the
terms of this article, unless the necessary corrections are made within
30 days from the date of written notice given to the owner of the
premises or his agent. Such notice shall be deemed sufficient if sent
to the owner by mail, addressed to him at the address shown on the
latest completed assessment rolls of the Town, or if mailed to the
agent of said owner.
[Added 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
O.
No industrial or trade wastes containing more organic
matter or having a strength greater than domestic sanitary sewage;
chemicals, acids or corrosive agents; animal, vegetable or mineral
oils; grease or petroleum products, including, among others, gasoline,
naphtha or any volatile or explosive material; or any foreign material,
liquid or solid, either in concentrated form or diluted with water,
which trade wastes or other materials may detrimentally affect the
sewer or the operation of the sewage treatment plant, shall be discharged
directly or indirectly into the house drain, the house sewer or the
sewer.
[Added 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
P.
Wherever the Director of Public Works finds that the
materials specified in the previous subsection are about to or are
finding their way into the sewer system, whether damage has been caused
or not, he shall require the owner of the premises in question to
submit application for a special permit for transmittal with his comments
to the Board for whatever action said Board deems wise. Said application
shall be supplemented by a written report giving complete and specific
information as to any treatment facilities to be installed on the
premises and the provisions to be made to prevent entrance of any
materials not capable of removal by treatment processes. This report
shall show the time to be allowed for such installation and the penalties
to be imposed in case of failure to comply therewith. Said application
shall be accompanied by a fee in advance to cover the costs of the
necessary inspection; if treatment facilities are proposed, said fee
is to be based on the annual period or fractional portion thereof.
[Added 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
A.
Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of § 218-13C, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this section and all other applicable state, county and Town laws.
B.
Before commencement of construction of a private sewage
disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed
by the Department of Health, Rockland County. A permit and inspection
fee of $40 shall be paid to the Town of Ramapo at the time the application
is filed with the County Health Department.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
C.
The installation of a private sewage disposal system
shall be completed to the satisfaction of the Rockland County Health
Department. Said Department shall be allowed to inspect the work at
any stage of construction, and, in any event, the applicant for the
permit shall notify the Department of Health when the work is ready
for final inspection and before any underground portions are covered.
Application for inspection shall be made in writing to the Department
of Health, and such inspection shall be made as soon as practical
thereafter.
D.
The type, capacities, location and layout of a private
sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the
Department of Health of the State of New York.
E.
At such time as a public sewer becomes available to
a property served by a private sewage disposal system, a direct connection
shall be made by the owner of said property to the public sewer within
30 days, and any septic tanks, cesspools and similar private sewage
disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled by the property
owner with suitable material such as gravel or dirt at no expense
to the Town of Ramapo.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
F.
The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage
disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times at no expense
to the Town of Ramapo.
G.
One permit shall be issued to cover the excavation
and construction of the house sewer and/or to disconnect the existing
house drain or sewer pipe from the cesspool or septic tank and then
to connect it to the newly laid house sewer discharging into the street
sewer, the fee for which shall be determined by the Town of Ramapo.
A.
No unauthorized person shall make any connection with
or opening into any public sewer or appurtenances thereof without
first obtaining a written permit from the Director of Public Works
or his assistants. A set of plans and profiles for the proposed sewer
installation shall be submitted to the Department of Public Works
for approval when main lines are being proposed or where otherwise
indicated.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
B.
There shall be one class of building sewer permit,
for residential and commercial service. The owner or his agent shall
make application on a special form furnished by the Town of Ramapo.
The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications
or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Director
of Public Works or his assistants. All permit and inspection fees
shall be paid to the Town of Ramapo at the time the application is
filed.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
C.
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 Town of Ramapo from any loss or damage
that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation
of the building sewer and shall furnish such financial indemnification
as the Town of Ramapo may require.
D.
A separate and independent building sewer shall be
provided for every building or as otherwise approved by the Director
of Public Works or his assistants. In the case of duplex buildings
(one structure separated by a party wall), a separate and independent
sewer line shall be required for each dwelling unit side by side and
at such a location as not to encroach or be within 10 feet of a property
line.
E.
No person shall make connection of roof downspouts,
exterior foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of surface
runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which
in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.
F.
The connection of the building sewer into the public
sewer shall conform to the requirements of the New York State Uniform
Fire Prevention and Building Code and the Town of Ramapo.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
G.
The applicant for the building sewer permit shall
notify the Director of Public Works or his assistants a minimum of
24 hours in advance of when the building sewer is ready for inspection
and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under
the supervision of the Director of Public Works or his assistants.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
H.
No change of line and grade of proposed sanitary sewer,
as shown on approved plans and profiles, shall be made without approval
of the Director of Public Works.
[Added 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
I.
No property owner shall cause or permit a sewer line
owned and operated by the Town of Ramapo and located in an easement
on private property to be adversely impacted. The installation of
any structure, permanent or temporary, such as sheds, pools, decks,
fencing and/or other landscape grading and planting within a sanitary
sewer easement without receiving written permission from the Director
of Public Works is prohibited.
[Added 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
A.
The Director of Public Works of the Town of Ramapo
or his assistant, bearing proper credentials and identification, shall
be permitted to enter all properties and/or dwellings for the purposes
of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling and testing. The
Director of Public Works or his representative shall have authority
to inquire into any processes, including metallurgical, chemical,
oil refining, ceramic, paper or other industries, having a direct
bearing on the kind and source of discharge to the sewers or waterways
or facilities for waste treatment.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
B.
The Director of Public Works or his assistants and
other duly authorized employees of the Town of Ramapo, bearing proper
credentials and identification, shall be permitted to enter all private
properties through which the Town of Ramapo holds a duly negotiated
easement for the purposes of, but not limited to, inspection, observation,
measurement, sampling, repair and maintenance of any portion of the
sewerage works lying within said easement. All entry and subsequent
work, if any, on said easement, shall be done in full accordance with
the items of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private
property involved.
A.
Any person found to be violating any provision of
this article shall be served by the Town of Ramapo 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 shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided in Subsection A shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not exceeding $1,000 or imprisoned for a period of not more than one year, or both, for each violation. Each day in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
C.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this
article shall become liable to the Town of Ramapo for any expense,
loss or damage the Town of Ramapo suffers by reason of such violation.
This article shall be read together with all
local laws and ordinances of the Town of Ramapo relating to sewer
system licensing and use, sewer rents, sewage disposal regulations
and zoning regulations hereof.
