For purposes of this division, the following definitions shall apply, unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Note: Terms used in this division which are not defined within this section are defined in section 12.04.081.
Building (house) drain.
That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, wastes, and other drainage pipes within the walls of the building, and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning two feet outside the inner face of the building wall or foundation.
Domestic sewage.
Water-borne wastes normally discharging from the sanitary conveniences of dwellings (including apartment houses and hotels), office buildings, factories and institutions, free from storm and surface water and industrial wastes.
House lateral.
The extension from the public sewer main to the nearest property or easement line.
Properly shredded garbage.
The waste from the preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food that has been shredded to such degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers.
Sewage.
A combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments.
Sewage treatment plant.
Any city-owned facility, devices and structures used for receiving and treating sewage from the city sanitary sewer system.
Sewage works.
All facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
Sewer.
A pipe or conduit for carrying sanitary sewage.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.10)
(a) 
Every building intended for human habitation or occupancy, where a public sewer capable of receiving gravity flow from such buildings exists within 150 feet of the lot, tract, or acreage upon which the building is situated, shall have the same connected to the sewer by the owner or agent of the premises in accordance with the adopted city plumbing code and with a separate connection for each house or building.
(b) 
The owner or occupant shall maintain his or her private service line and its connection in such a way to:
(1) 
Be impermeable to storm water or rain infiltration and inflow; and
(2) 
Prevent sewage discharge into the surrounding terrain.
(c) 
The owner shall be notified in writing by the city when his or her line is broken or damaged and shall be given 30 days to repair it himself or herself. Failure of the owner or his or her agent to repair or replace his or her private service line as required shall result in the following at the city's option:
(1) 
The city may repair or replace the line and place a lien against the property for the cost; or
(2) 
The property may be disconnected from city sanitary sewer system.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.11)
(a) 
If any owner of a building is not required to connect with the sewer system, a septic tank must be constructed on the premises. Septic tanks installed under this provision will be constructed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of 30 TAC 285.
(b) 
When a sewer line is extended to within 150 feet of the lot, tract, or acreage upon which the building is situated the owner shall be notified in writing by the city and shall be given 180 days to connect to the sewer line in accordance with the provisions of this section and cease use of the septic tank.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.12)
It shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other private facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage or industrial wastes within the city limits except allowed by this division.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.13)
(a) 
Charges for sanitary sewer service for customers who are water customers of the city shall be based upon building use and water consumption, in accordance with the schedule of rates as provided for in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
Charges for sewer services for customers who are not water customers of the city shall be determined based upon a flat fee as provided in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.14)
The city sanitary sewers and sewage treatment shall be under the control and management of the city council and the public works department, and the public works department shall make and keep a complete transcript of the records of the sanitary sewers and sewage treatment.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.15)
(a) 
Connection to public sewer.
(1) 
It shall be the duty of the public works department to issue all permits for sewer connections.
(2) 
Before making connection with any sewer, the builder or plumber shall take out a plumbing permit with the office of the public works department. The application for a plumbing permit shall give the exact location of the property, the name of the owner and the name of the person employed to do the plumbing work.
(b) 
Maintenance or replacement of building sewer.
No person shall break or remove any portion of any building sewer without taking out a plumbing permit with the public works department. Such building sewer will be subject to inspection by the plumbing inspector to assure that a tight and well-constructed building sewer has been constructed to prevent surface water from entering the city sewer system.
(c) 
Authority to revoke permit prior to completion of work.
All permits to connect with sewers shall be given upon the express condition that the public works department may, at any time before the work is completed or the sewer is connected to the city's sanitary sewer system, revoke and annul the same, and no party interested shall have the right to claim damage in consequence of such permits being revoked or annulled.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.16)
No person shall injure, break or remove any portion of any manhole or any part of the city's sanitary sewer system, and when any person shall desire to lay or drive any pipe in any of the streets upon which sewers are laid, they shall give at least 24 hours' notice to the public works department.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.17)
All of the rules and regulations contained in this division applicable to patrons within the city shall likewise be applicable to patrons now being served outside of the city limits.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.18)
(a) 
It shall be the policy of the city to supply sewer service to the city's patrons through mains and lines owned and controlled by the city and which shall be located behind curbs in a dedicated street, alley or approved easement adjacent to property being served.
(b) 
All connections within the city limits shall be made in the following manner:
(1) 
When sewer main is available.
If the property to be served is adjacent to a dedicated street, alley or easement, where there exists a city sewer main or line, the city, upon payment by applicant of the regular sewer tap charge, will construct such lines that shall be necessary to serve such patron.
(2) 
When sewer extension is necessary.
(A) 
If the property to be served is adjacent to a dedicated street, alley, or easement, and an extension of the city sewer main line is necessary, the city, upon payment of the sewer tap charge and the payment as provided for in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code [sic]. No sewer extension shall be made without a written contract setting forth the provisions of this article and other pertinent ordinances between the city and the person desiring such extension.
(B) 
All lines constructed under the provisions of this section shall be the property of the city and the city shall have full control and jurisdiction over such lines.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.19)
(a) 
Abandoned sewer taps.
"Abandoned sewer tap" shall mean a sewer tap that has been disconnected from the building sewer line. All such taps must be plugged in such a manner that will prevent ground or subsurface drainage from entering the sewer main. All such abandoned taps must be plugged at a depth, below the ground surface, of not less than one foot to prevent damage to house lateral and sewer main. In the event service is restored at the same location, a service charge as provided for in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code shall be made. In all such cases where the abandoned sewer tap is not used to restore service at the same location, a sewer tap charge shall be made.
(b) 
Sewer service to vacant lots.
In no event shall sewer service be furnished to any vacant lot, either by a sewer tap or by an extension of the sewer main, unless or until sufficient proof is given to the city that a building will begin construction within 180 days on such vacant lot.
(c) 
Separate service required for each residence.
For any service hereafter installed at each individual residence, building or trailer house located on one lot or plot of ground, each shall have a separate sewer tap. The provisions of this section shall not apply to garages, wash houses or utility buildings that serve an individual residence, building or trailer house.
(d) 
Multiple use of tap in existing buildings.
In existing cases where more than one building or house is served by a single sewer tap, the entire amount of the monthly sewer charge shall be billed to the building or house nearest the sewer tap and shall include the regular monthly base charge for each building or house being served by such tap. Such procedure shall continue until such buildings are served by separate sewer taps.
(e) 
Single tap for apartment houses.
Any number of apartments on one plot of ground and constructed in one building shall constitute a bona fide apartment unit and shall be entitled to service through one sewer tap.
(f) 
Apartment houses with separate water meters.
Where apartment units or apartment houses are served with one sewer tap and such apartment units or apartment houses are served with separate water meters for each such apartments or houses, the monthly sewer charge shall be billed to the person [in whose name] such water service is registered, the same as to single-family dwellings.
(g) 
Persons authorized to make taps.
No plumber or other person, except the public works department, shall be allowed to tap any city sewer main or line without the signed, written approval of the director of public works.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.21)
The provisions of this division shall not abridge any existing refunding contract between the city and any person, but such contract shall remain in full force and effect.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.22)
The building sewer two feet outside the building shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of this division and the city plumbing code, covering methods and materials for building sewer construction. Such building sewers will be subject to inspection and approval by the city plumbing inspector as required by this division and the city plumbing code. The public works department shall refuse to connect to the sanitary sewer system any building sewer not meeting requirements of such regulations as to workmanship and materials. To assure such quality of workmanship, the plumbing inspector shall have performed such water or infiltration tests as necessary to assure a tight and well-constructed building sewer.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.24)
It shall be unlawful for any reason to do any of the acts designated in this division except as provided by this article, or to uncover any city sewer for any purpose, or to make connection therewith, unless by consent and under the supervision of the public works department or its authorized representative, whose duty it shall be to insure full compliance with the provisions of this division and the city plumbing code pertaining to connections.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.25)
It shall be the duty of the public works department to notify the owner or occupant of every building situated where there has been laid a sanitary sewer, and where there is sufficient water service from the city's water system, to make closet connections with the city's sanitary sewer, and any such owner or occupant of any building so situated who shall fail to make at least one water closet connection with the city's sanitary sewer within 30 days after receipt of such water closet suitably arranged for the use of a urinal shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.26)
(a) 
Discharge of unpolluted water to sanitary sewer.
No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any storm water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage downspouts, yard drains, yard fountains, and ponds, or lawn sprays into any sanitary sewer. Water from swimming pools, [and] unpolluted industrial water, such as [water from] boiler drains, blow-off pipes or cooling water from various equipment, shall not be discharged into sanitary sewers if a closed storm sewer is available. If a closed storm sewer is not available, it may be discharged into the sanitary sewer by an indirect connection whereby such discharge is cooled if required and flows into the sanitary sewer at a rate not in excess of three gallons per minute, provided that the waste does not contain materials or substances in suspension or solution in violation of the limits prescribed by this division or other sections of this article.
(b) 
Prohibited wastes.
No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, into any public sewer any of the substances, materials, waters or wastes specifically prohibited in division 3 of this article.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.27)
Where, in the opinion of the city council and the city engineer or an engineer acting for the city, the property is subject to flooding or the sanitary sewer is subject to being surcharged due to infiltration or storm waters, or the premises are subject to being flooded by an overcharged sewer due to its elevation in relation to the main sewer line, then the owner or user of the premises shall be denied a connection to the sanitary sewer unless the owner agrees to install a check or backflow valve in his house sewer and agrees to indemnify fully the city and save it whole and harmless from and against any and all damages, costs, or expense of every kind, character and nature, where real or asserted, accruing upon or about the building due to surcharge of the sanitary sewer. Such agreement shall be executed by the owner of the property and filed in the deed records of the county, and shall be a covenant running with the land and shall be binding on the owner, his successors or assigns.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.29)
Failure to pay monthly bills when due or failure to pay the established pro rata fee or charge for sanitary sewer installations, as provided in this article, when due, or repeated discharge of prohibited wastes into the sanitary sewer, shall be sufficient cause to disconnect any and all services from the city water mains, and the same penalties and charges provided for within this Code of Ordinances shall apply.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.30)
The city officials and authorized employees of the city acting as its duly authorized agent, and bearing proper credentials and identification, shall be permitted to gain access to such properties as may be necessary for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling and testing in accordance with the provisions of this division or other regulations of the city.
(Ordinance O-01-08 adopted 1/22/2008; 1997 Code, sec. 51.31)