[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of East Syracuse 3-24-2003 by L.L. No. 1-2003 as Part 54 of the 2003 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
The quantity of oxygen used in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20° C., expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l).
BUILDING DRAIN
The lowest horizontal part of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste or other drainage pipes inside a building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five feet (1.5 meters) outside the inner face of the building wall.
BUILDING SEWER
The line from the building drain to the public sewer or other discharge.
COMBINED SEWER
A sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.
CONTRACTOR
Anyone, except the property owner, constructing sewers outside the building.
DEVELOPER
Anyone who develops open land not presently subdivided.
GARBAGE
Solid waste from food processing or storage.
HEARING BOARD
The Village Board, unless another board is appointed to hear appeals.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing or businesses, as distinct from sanitary sewage.
NATURAL OUTLET
Any outlet to any body of surface water or groundwater.
pH
The logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in solution in grams per liter (g/l).
PRETREATMENT
The reduction of harmful pollutants in wastewater prior to, or in lieu of introduction into, a public sewer, regardless of the means of reduction, except as prohibited by 40 CFR 403.6 of the General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution.
PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE
Food waste shredded sufficiently to be carried freely in public sewers, with no particle greater than 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) in any dimension.
PUBLIC SEWER
One controlled by a public authority and in which all abutting property owners have equal rights.
SANITARY SEWERS
One which carries sewage and to which surface water and groundwater are not intentionally admitted.
SEWAGE
The water-carried wastes from residences and businesses, together with such groundwater and surface water as may be present.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
Any devices and structures used for treating sewage.
SEWAGE WORKS
All facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
SEWER
A pipe or conduit carrying sewage.
SLUG
Any water, sewage or industrial waste discharge which, for more than 15 minutes, has more than five times the normal twenty-four-hour concentration or quantity of any constituent.
STORM DRAIN or STORM SEWER
One which carries surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
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
A channel in which water flows continuously or intermittently.
A. 
Discharge to natural watercourses. No one shall discharge any sewage or other polluted waters to any natural outlet, except where suitable treatment has been provided.
B. 
Septic systems. Except as herein permitted, no one shall use any private sewage disposal facility.
C. 
Dumping. No one shall deposit or permit the deposition of any excrement, garbage, dirt or other objectionable waste in any unsanitary manner.
D. 
Toilet facilities required. The owners of all structures used for human occupancy, employment or recreation on lots within 100 feet of any Village sanitary sewer must install suitable toilet facilities at their expense within 180 days of notice to do so.
A. 
Where required. Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of § 277-2D, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this section.
B. 
Application. Before commencing construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall obtain a written permit from the Public Works Superintendent. Applicants shall attach project specifications and other information deemed necessary by the Public Works Superintendent to the form furnished by the Village, along with a permit and inspection fee of $10.
C. 
Inspection by Public Works Superintendent. Permits for a private sewage disposal systems shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the Public Works Superintendent, who may inspect the work at any stage of construction. The applicant shall notify the Public Works Superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection and before any underground portions are covered, and inspection shall be made within 48 hours of the receipt of such notice.
D. 
Compliance with New York State requirements. The type, capacities, location and layout of private sewage disposal systems shall comply with all recommendations of the State Department of Health. No permit shall be issued for any system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities on a lot of less than 10,000 square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall discharge to any natural outlet.
E. 
Connect to available public sewers. If a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in § 277-2D, a direct connection from the building sewer to the public sewer shall be made within 60 days. The private system shall be cleaned of sludge and material within 10 days of connection.
F. 
Owner bears operating expense. The owners of all private sewage disposal facilities shall maintain them in a sanitary manner.
A. 
Permit required for connection. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connection with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance without obtaining a written permit from the Public Works Superintendent.
B. 
Sewer permits.
(1) 
Applications for sewer permits. Sewer permit applications shall be made by the owner on forms furnished by the Village, and include the project plans and any other information required by the Public Works Superintendent or Village Engineer.
(2) 
Fee for general sewer permits. The permit and inspection fee for any sewer permit, other than as described in Subsection B(3), shall be $10, payable at the time the application is filed.
(3) 
Fee for industrial waste sewer permits. The permit and inspection fee for any connection which produces industrial waste shall be $25, payable at the time the application is filed.
C. 
Sewers required for new construction. No building permit shall be issued for a new structure requiring sanitary facilities unless a suitable and approved means of waste disposal is proposed. New developments shall have sanitary sewers.
D. 
Inspection. Sewer permit applicants shall notify the Public Works Superintendent when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. Connection shall be made under the supervision of the Public Works Superintendent or his designee.
E. 
Privately built sewer extensions.
(1) 
Permission to build. Where the Village declines to construct a sewer extension, the developer may ask the Village Board for approval to construct an extension.
(2) 
Developer bears cost. The developer is responsible for all installation costs, and shall pay all sewer costs, subject to a sewer service charge proportional to their use of trunk sewers and their proportion of operational and maintenance costs as outlined in Article IX.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(3) 
Sewers design. Sewers must be designed, installed and inspected as required by this section, including payment of fees.
(4) 
Inspection by the Village Engineer. Installation of the sewer extension must be subject to full-time inspection by the Village Engineer, with the cost of this paid by the developer. The Village Engineer's decisions shall be final in matters of quality and methods of construction.
(5) 
Exfiltration test. The sewer must pass the exfiltration test required in Subsection H before use.
F. 
Sewer design. Sewer design shall be in accordance with the following:
(1) 
Pipe. Pipe shall be either asbestos-cement conforming to the latest revision of ASTM C-428 or extra-strength vitrified clay conforming to the latest revision of ASTM C-200. No standard strength clay pipe or nonreinforced concrete pipe shall be used.
(2) 
Joints. All vitrified clay pipe shall have prefabricated resilient-type joints as specified by the latest revision of ASTM C-425. Only Type III joints shall be used. Joints of either type of pipe shall adhere to the manufacturer's published recommendations.
(3) 
O-rings. Rubber O-ring gaskets shall be solid natural rubber.
G. 
Design specifications.
(1) 
Design per federal standards. Sewer design shall be as outlined in Chapter IX of the Water Pollution Control Federation Manual of Practice No. 9, Design and Construction of Sanitary and Storm Sewers.
(2) 
Manholes. Manholes shall be constructed at all changes in slope or alignment or at intervals not exceeding 400 linear feet. The manholes shall be constructed with a poured 3,000 psi concrete base, steel troweled concrete or mortar inverts and precast four-foot diameter concrete manhole barrel sections and a tapered top section as specified in the latest revision of ASTM C478-61T. The manhole frame and cover shall be the standard design of the Village and shall be set with no less than two courses of brick underneath to allow for later adjustment in elevation.
H. 
Exfiltration test.
(1) 
Exfiltration test required. All sewers must pass a final exfiltration test before being approved and sewage flow accepted from them.
(2) 
Method of testing. The exfiltration test consists of filling the pipe with water to provide a head of at least five feet above the top of the pipe or five feet above groundwater, whichever is higher, at the highest point of the pipeline under test. After the line has remained filled for 24 hours, loss of water is measured by the amount which must be added to maintain the original level. Exfiltration is measured by the drop of water level in a standpipe with closed bottom end, or in one of the sewer manholes available for convenience measuring.
(3) 
Sewers with steep grades. For sewers laid in steep grades, the length of line to be tested by exfiltration at any one time may be limited by the maximum allowable internal pressure on the pipe and joints at the lower end of the line.
(4) 
Test period and results. All test periods shall be at least 24 hours, with total leakage in any section tested of not more than 25 gallons per 1,000 feet of pipe per 24 hours per inch of nominal pipe diameter.
(5) 
Repeating the test. If leakage exceeds the specified amount, the necessary repairs or replacements shall be made to permanently reduce the leakage to within specified limits and the tests repeated until the leakage requirement is met.
I. 
Plumbing requirements. The size, slope, alignment, materials, excavation methods, pipe placement, jointing, testing and backfilling shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable Village regulations. In the absence of code provisions, the materials and procedures of appropriate specifications of the State Plumbing Code Bulletin No. 23 apply.
A. 
Owner bears expense. All building sewer installation and connection costs shall be paid by the owner. The owner and contractor shall indemnify the Village from any loss or damage directly or indirectly caused thereby.
B. 
Separate connection for each building. Every building shall have an independent building sewer, except that a building sewer may be extended from one building to another building behind it on the same lot where there is no external area through which to construct a separate building sewer.
C. 
Testing of old sewers. Old building sewers may be used with new buildings if the Public Works Superintendent tests them and finds they fully comply with this chapter.
D. 
Elevation. Building sewers shall be brought to the building below the basement floor whenever possible. Where building drains are too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by the drain must be lifted by approved means and discharged to the building sewer.
E. 
Prohibition of surface water and groundwater. No source of surface runoff or groundwater shall be connected to a building sewer or drain which connects to a public sanitary sewer.
F. 
Connections conform to plumbing codes. All building sewer connections to public sewers shall conform to the building and plumbing code, State Plumbing Code Bulletin No. 23 and all applicable laws. All connections must be gas- and watertight, as verified by proper testing. Deviations from prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the Public Works Superintendent before installation.
G. 
Barricading of excavations. Excavations for building sewer installations must be fully marked by barricades and lights to protect the public. Public property disturbed by the work shall be restored to the Village's satisfaction.
H. 
Sewer extensions installed by Village.
(1) 
Cost basis decisions. Sewer extensions, including individual building sewer laterals to the property line, may be constructed by the Village under public contract if, in the opinion of the Village Board, the number of properties to be served by such extension warrants its cost.
(2) 
Owners' costs. The property owner pays for and installs the building sewer from the property line to the structure in accordance with the requirements of §§ 277-4 and 277-5. Thereafter, each property owner served by the extended public sewers is charged at the full service rate as outlined in Article IX.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(3) 
Petition of property owners. Property owners may propose sewer extensions within the Village by filing a written petition with the Village Board, signed by a majority of the benefiting property owners.
I. 
Sewer extensions installed by owner.
(1) 
Becoming Village property. After final approval and acceptance by the Village Engineer, sewer extensions constructed at the expense of the property owner, builder or developer become the property of and are maintained by the Village.
(2) 
One-year guarantee. Sewer extensions shall be guaranteed, in a form provided for by the Village, by the property owner, builder or developer for one year after acceptance by the Village. The Village may require a completion bond or certified check.
J. 
Vents and cleanouts. If a sewer is excavated for maintenance or repair and has no vent or cleanout, the owner must install one at his expense, which must be inspected and approved by the Public Works Superintendent.
A. 
Industrial sewage. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an agreement between the Village and a business to have the Village accept and treat waste of unusual strength or character at the business's expense.
B. 
Unpolluted water. Stormwater, industrial cooling water, unpolluted process water and other unpolluted drainage must be discharged only to sewers specifically designated as combined or storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the Public Works Superintendent.
C. 
Prohibited discharges.
(1) 
Unpolluted water. No unpolluted water may be discharged to any public sewer.
(2) 
Flammables. No flammable or explosive may be discharged to any public sewer.
(3) 
Toxic or injurious matter. No toxic substance may be discharged to any public sewer in sufficient quantity, singly or mixed with other wastes, to interfere with sewage treatment, be hazardous to humans or animals, be a public nuisance, or be a hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant, including, but not limited to, cyanides in excess of 2 mg/l of CN as discharged to the public sewer.
(4) 
Corrosives. No waters or wastes may be discharged to any public sewer which has a pH lower than 5.5 or is sufficiently corrosive to be dangerous to sewage plants, equipment or personnel.
(5) 
Obstructive. No solid or viscous substance may be discharged to any public sewer in quantities or sizes capable of obstructing the sewer's flow or interfering with sewage treatment.
D. 
Questionable discharges. Substances shall not be discharged to any public sewer if the Public Works Superintendent determines they can in any way adversely affect the sewers, treatment processes or equipment, endanger people or public property, or be a nuisance. The Public Works Superintendent shall consider the subject waste quantities relative to sewer flows and velocities, sewer construction materials, treatment process, treatment plant capacities, treatability of the subject wastes and other pertinent factors. Prohibited substances include the following:
(1) 
Hot substances. Liquids or vapors hotter than 150° F. or 65° C.
(2) 
Congealable substances. Fats, wax, grease or oils, emulsified or not, in excess of 100 mg/l, which may solidify or become viscous between 32° F. and 150° F. (0° C. and 65° C.).
(3) 
Improperly shredded material. Any garbage not properly shredded.
(4) 
Strong acids. Strong acid iron pickling wastes or concentrated plating solutions, neutralized or not.
(5) 
Toxic substances. Iron, chromium, copper, zinc, similar toxic or objectionable substances, or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, such that these materials in the composite sewage at the sewage treatment works exceed the limits established by the Public Works Superintendent. See § 277-9 for toxic and objectionable substances and allowable concentrations.
(6) 
Odor-producing substances. Phenols or other taste- or odor-producing substances in concentrations exceeding limits set by the Public Works Superintendent, after treatment of the composite sewage to meet state, federal or other requirements for such discharge to the receiving waters.
(7) 
Excessively radioactive material. Radioactive material with a half-life or concentration exceeding limits set by the Public Works Superintendent pursuant to state or federal regulations.
(8) 
Excessively alkaline material. Water or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.5.
(9) 
Materials which interfere with treatment.
(a) 
Inert suspended or dissolved solids, including, but not limited to, fullers earth, lime slurries and residues, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate.
(b) 
Materials which cause excessive discoloration, including, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions.
(c) 
Materials which cause unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in quantities which constitute a significant load on sewage treatment works.
(d) 
Materials which cause slugs.
(10) 
Untreatable substances. Substances not sufficiently treatable for the plant effluent to meet the requirements of agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.
E. 
Treatment processes.
(1) 
Pretreatment and equalization. The design and installation of plants and equipment to pretreat or equalize waste flows, if permitted by the Public Works Superintendent, shall meet all applicable codes and laws.
(2) 
Handling of prohibited substances. If waters or wastes to be discharged to public sewers contain questionable discharges (Subsection D) which the Public Works Superintendent determines may impair treatment or receiving waters, or be hazardous to life or constitute a public nuisance, he or she may:
(a) 
Reject the wastes.
(b) 
Require adequate pretreatment.
(c) 
Limit quantities and rates of discharge.
(d) 
Require payment of the cost of processing wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(3) 
Garbage grinders. Garbage grinders with motors of 0.75 horsepower (0.76 hp metric) or greater must be approved by the Public Works Superintendent.
(4) 
Grease, oil and sand. Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when the Public Works Superintendent deems them necessary to handle nonresidential liquid wastes containing excessive amounts of grease or other flammable wastes, or sand or other harmful ingredients. The type and capacity of all interceptors must be approved by the Public Works Superintendent and they must be located where easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
(5) 
Continuance of pretreatment. Treatment facilities shall be properly maintained at the owner's expense.
F. 
Control manholes for industrial wastes. The Public Works Superintendent may require the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes to install a control manhole and necessary meters and appurtenances to facilitate waste observation and measurement. Manholes are installed and maintained at the owner's expense to specifications set by the Public Works Superintendent.
G. 
Analysis of sewage.
(1) 
Standard methods. All analyses of waters and wastes referred to in this chapter shall be pursuant to the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" published by the American Public Health Association.
(2) 
Control manholes. Measurements and samples shall be taken at the control manhole. Where no special manhole exists, the control manhole is the first one in the public sewer downstream of the building sewer connection.
(3) 
Sampling. Sampling shall be by customary methods, and analyses will determine whether a twenty-four-hour composite of discharge or a grab sample(s) is appropriate.
(4) 
BOD and suspended solids. Normally, BOD and suspended solids analysis are by twenty-four-hour composites, and pH by grab samples.
H. 
Standards for sewage works. Extensions to the Village sanitary sewer system shall be designed in accordance with the Recommended Standards of Sewage Works, adopted by the Great Lakes-Upper Mississippi River Board of State Sanitary Engineers, and shall comply with all requirements of the State Department of Health. Specifications for sewer extensions must be approved by the Village Engineer and State Department of Health before construction begins. Sewer design must anticipate and allow for flow from all possible future extensions or developments.
No one shall intentionally or negligently damage or tamper with any part of the Village sewage system. Anyone convicted of violating this section shall be arrested immediately for disorderly conduct.
A. 
Entry and pertinence of inquiries. The Public Works Superintendent, other authorized Village officials, and agents of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) bearing proper credentials and identification may enter any properties to inspect and test under this chapter. The Public Works Superintendent or his designee may inquire only into industrial processes which bear directly on discharge to the Village sewage system.
B. 
Inspectors shall observe safety rules. In conducting inspections and tests under this chapter, Village officials and other government agents shall observe that business's safety rules.
C. 
Indemnification. Businesses shall be held harmless for injury or death to Village employees and indemnified against property loss or damage caused by Village employees and against personal injury or property damage liability claims from Village employees, where such issues arise from the inspection and testing and were not caused by the business's negligence.
D. 
Entry into easements. The Public Works Superintendent, other Village officials and USEPA and NYSDEC agents with proper credentials may enter any private property through a Village easement to inspect or work on the sewage system therein, subject to the terms of the easement.
Following are the limits for substances discharged into the Village sewage system, for samples taken over the listed time periods in milligrams per liter (mg/l):
Substance
30 days
24 hours
Arsenic
0.2
0.4
Barium
0.4
0.8
Cadmium
0.4
0.8
Available chlorine
50.0
50.0
Hex. chromium
0.2
0.4
Total chromium
4.0
8.0
Copper
0.8
1.6
Cyanide, free
0.4
0.8
Cyanide, complex
1.6
3.2
Fluorides in fluoridated fresh water
4.0
8.0
Fluorides in other fresh water
6.0
12.0
Fluorides in saline water
36.0
72.0
Gold
0.2
0.4
Lead
0.2
0.4
Manganese
4.0
8.0
Mercury
0.2
0.4
Nickel
4.0
8.0
Phenol
4.0
8.0
Selenium
0.2
0.4
Silver
0.2
0.4
Sulfide
6.0
12.0
Zinc
1.2
2.4
A. 
General penalties. Anyone convicted of violating this chapter, except § 277-7, shall be sent written notice of violation and a reasonable date by which it must be corrected.
B. 
Violations beyond time limits. Anyone whose violation continues beyond the date noticed under Subsection A is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined up to $150 for each day the violation continues.
C. 
Liability for cost of correction. Anyone convicted of violating this chapter shall be liable for any expense, loss or damage suffered by the Village because of such violation.