For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings herein ascribed to them:
The city waterworks system and main, filtration plants, wells
and all other works of the city directly connected therewith and all
plants, properties and appliances incident to or connected with the
operation of such water system and shall include the sanitary sewer
system of the city.
Sewer service to any structure, plant, office, barbershop,
beauty parlor, hotel, motel, washateria, restaurant, cafe, church,
school, theater, garage, filling station or any and all sorts of business
or industrial buildings not especially set out herein.
Service to any dwelling unit occupied as living quarters
by a single family consisting of one or more persons, which establishment
or unit has sanitary water or sewer facilities.
Either a kitchen sink, bathtub, or shower, commode, washing
machine, floor drain, dish washing vats and any other plumbing fixture
from which wastewater or sewage passes through and into the house
drain and into the house sewer, not including wash racks in garages
and filling stations, provided that when three or less dish washing
vats are connected as one unit, with one drain, same shall be considered
as one fixture connection.
That part of the main horizontal drain and its branches inside
of the wall of the building and extending to and connecting with the
house sewer.
That part of the main drain or sewer extending from a point
four (4) feet outside of the outer space of the outer wall or floor
line to a connection with the public sewer.
There is hereby created an additional and another sewer service
connection category, which shall be known as and referred to as “multiple
housing service connection” and shall and does include apartment
houses, trailer camps, mobile homes, multiple housing developments,
or any other dwelling units with cooking privileges, howsoever known,
not included in “domestic service connection,” but excluding
hotel and motel unit or units where cooking privileges are not granted.
The waste from water closets, lavatories, sinks, bathtubs,
urinals, household laundries, cellar floor drains, garage floor drains,
storerooms, soda fountains, drains and other fixture connections.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-39)
It shall be unlawful for any person renting, leasing or controlling,
in whole or in part, any premises situated within any section of the
city where sanitary sewer shall exist and where the property line
of such premises approaches or extends to within one hundred (100)
feet of any such sewer to construct, use or maintain, or permit to
be constructed, used or maintained, on such premises, any privy, cesspool,
water closet, urinal basin, slop sink, slop drain, bathtub, or water
waste drain from dwellings, laundries, livery stables, garages, filling
stations or other places, or any receptacle whatever used or to be
used for the purpose of receiving or removing sewage matter, or slop
of any kind, unless the same shall be connected with the system of
sanitary sewers of the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-40)
No person shall make any connections to the city sanitary sewer
system without obtaining a permit from the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-41)
An application for a permit to connect to the city sewer system
shall be made in writing, on forms furnished by the city, and filed
with the director of public works.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-42)
The application for a permit, as required by this article, shall
contain the following information:
(1)
Name of the owner of the property.
(2)
Location of the property.
(3)
Type of building to be drained and the purpose for which the same
is used.
(4)
Name of duly licensed plumber engaged to do the work.
(5)
Number and type of plumbing fixtures on the property.
(6)
An agreement by the person or owner desiring to use the sewer service
that he will comply with all rules and regulations promulgated by
the city concerning the sewer system.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-43)
No permit, as required by this article, shall be deemed to authorize
anything not stated in the application.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-44)
Before any application for a permit shall be received and a
permit granted there must be paid to the city all permit fees, inspection
fees and one-month rental for sewer service in advance. The advance
payment to be applied in payment of the rental and service charge
for the first month following commencement of service.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-46)
Any permit issued, in accordance with this article, shall remain
in force only so long as the owner of the property, and the applicant
therefor, shall comply with the rules and regulations now or hereafter
prescribed for the use of the sewer system, and shall pay the rental
charges. The failure to comply shall subject the permit to cancellation,
and the city shall have the right to discontinue sewer service to
such property.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-47)
Whenever any property for which a permit has been issued and
sewer service is being furnished changes ownership, the new owner
shall make application for a continuation of sewer service to such
property, and such application shall be made upon the same blanks
and be subject to the same terms and conditions, and contain the same
stipulations as an original application, and such application shall
be marked “application for continuation of sewer service.”
(1965 Code, sec. 24-48)
When any person owning any property now served by the sewer
system of the city shall change the plumbing connected with the sewer
system, so as to increase the number of plumbing fixtures connected
with the sewer system, such person shall make a new application, upon
the same blanks, terms and conditions as an original application as
herein set out.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-49)
When sewer service for any property has been discontinued for
any reason, same shall not again be continued until the owner of such
property shall have made application as is set out herein for an original
application.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-50)
A permit to make a connection with the sewer system or for a
continuation of sewer service will be issued only when the plumbing
in the house to be connected and drained is in accordance with the
provisions for plumbing, as are provided in the plumbing code for
the city, and has been inspected and approved by the plumbing inspector.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-51)
(a)
Commercial consumers.
The monthly charges to commercial
and industrial class customers will be based on the total water use
as measured by appropriate meters, with the provision that if a customer
can show to the city's satisfaction and within the scope of the contractual
agreement between the City of Fort Worth and the City of River Oaks
that a significant portion of the metered water usage does not enter
the sanitary sewers, the customer will be charged only for that volume
entering the sewers, as determined by a method approved by the city.
The commercial sewer customers will be charged the base rate amount
of $63.00 plus $0.08700 per cubic feet of water consumption.
(b)
Residential class customers.
The monthly volume charges
for residential class customers will be based upon the individual
customer average monthly water use during the preceding winter quarter
months of December, January, and February, but in no event shall the
volume used to compute this monthly charge exceed 1,500 cubic feet.
The volumes used to compute these charges are based on the amount
of water used by the residential class customer as measured by the
water meter. Where no preceding winter quarter average is available
from records, the utility manager shall estimate a volume to be used
for this monthly volume charge, such estimated volume not to exceed
1,500 cubic feet. The residential sewer customers will be charged
the base rate amount of $44.50 plus $3.00 per 100 cubic feet of water
usage.
|
Cubic Foot Range
|
Current Rate (2022)
|
New Base Rate (2023-2024)
|
$3.00 usage per 100 cu. ft.
|
New Rate (12-01-2023)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0–99
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$3.00
|
$47.50
|
|
100–199
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$6.00
|
$50.50
|
|
200–299
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$9.00
|
$53.50
|
|
300–399
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$12.00
|
$56.50
|
|
400–499
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$15.00
|
$59.50
|
|
500–599
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$18.00
|
$62.50
|
|
600–699
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$21.00
|
$65.50
|
|
700–799
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$24.00
|
$68.50
|
|
800–899
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$27.00
|
$71.50
|
|
900–999
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$30.00
|
$74.50
|
|
1000–1099
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$33.00
|
$77.50
|
|
1100–1199
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$36.00
|
$80.50
|
|
1200–1299
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$39.00
|
$83.50
|
|
1300–1399
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$42.00
|
$86.50
|
|
1400–1499
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$45.00
|
$89.50
|
|
1500
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$48.00
|
$92.50
|
|
Wells
|
$40.00
|
$44.50
|
$48.00
|
$92.50
|
(c)
Apartment class customers.
The monthly charges to apartment
class customers will be based on the total water use on a per cubic
foot basis as measured by appropriate meters similar to that of a
commercial consumer. The apartment customers will be charged the base
rate amount of $59.00 plus $0.08200 per cubic feet of water consumption.
(Ordinance 1326-2021 adopted 9/14/21; Ordinance
1360-2022 adopted 9/13/2022; Ordinance 1390-2023 adopted 10/10/2023)
(a)
Commercial users such as greenhouses, truck farms and cemeteries
using water which is disposed of by other means than through the city
sewerage system shall pay the minimum rate for a commercial sewer
connection.
(b)
If, in the opinion of the superintendent of waterworks, such user
is discharging into the city’s sewerage system more water than
permitted under the minimum rate for a commercial sewer connection,
the superintendent may require that some recognized and acceptable
method of measuring or gauging such water being so discharged by the
customer, and if practical he may require a separate water meter to
be installed to meter water being discharged into the city’s
sewerage system.
(c)
In all cases except as is otherwise provided for herein where more than one living or business unit is supplied water through one meter, each living unit or business unit supplied through a single water meter shall be paid for at a rate of not less than the minimum adopted base rate for each unit that discharges sewer into the city sewer system, plus the adopted consumption charge for each such unit. The per unit rate shall be based upon the quantity of water passing through the meter, divided by the number of units, and be charged for as set forth in the applicable rate schedule in section 13.04.013 of this code, and referred to as sewer service rates.
(1)
Exception.
In cases where more than one living residential
unit is supplied water through one meter being occupied by one or
more persons who are related by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster
assignment, or a group of not more than three adults, living together
as a single-housekeeping unit with or without single-kitchen facilities,
on a nonprofit cost-sharing basis shall not be charged a multiple
living unit rate for sewer service; and
(2)
Inspection required.
A city inspection is required verifying
that the living units are being occupied solely as a single-housekeeping
unit and providing that the pre-existing property use has been previously
registered with the city as a legal nonconforming use of the property
in that the nonconformity existed prior to the adoption of the city’s
zoning ordinance as amended.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-53; Ordinance 923-2012, sec. 3, adopted 4/24/12)
No free sewer service shall be rendered by the city to any individual,
corporation, institution or municipality.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-57)
It shall be unlawful for any person to commit the following
acts:
(1)
To uncover the public sewer or branches thereof unless by consent
and under the supervision of the public works director.
(2)
For the owner or occupant of any building, located on any lot reaching
within one hundred feet (100') of any city sanitary sewer, any portion
of which is used for any purpose during any portion of the day, to
fail to have at least one water closet connection with the public
sewer.
(3)
For the owner or occupant of any building, located on any lot reaching
within one hundred feet (100') of any city sanitary sewer, in which
food is cooked or clothing is washed, to fail to have a suitable sink,
slop stone or hopper for the reception of water and connected with
the city sewer system.
(4)
To throw or allow to be thrown or deposited upon the surface of the
ground, or in any hole or vault in or under the surface of the ground
on any lot within one hundred feet (100') of any city sanitary sewer,
any water which has been used for domestic or manufacturing purposes,
or any liquid or any solid filth, feces or urine.
(5)
To throw or deposit, or cause to be thrown or deposited, in any vessel
or receptacle connected with the city sewer system, any newspaper,
garbage, hair, fruit, ashes, vegetable peelings or refuse, rags, cotton,
cinders, or any other matter whatsoever, except feces, urine, the
necessary closet paper and liquid slops.
(6)
To fail or refuse to connect with the sanitary sewer all washstands
or slop stands in house or yard, where a city sanitary sewer is within
one hundred feet (100') of the property line, or to allow any slops,
wash or wastewater of any kind to flow over the pavement or under
the pavement into the streets or alleys.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-59)
No person shall connect any open gutter, cesspool, privy, vault,
private sewer or cistern with the city sanitary sewer system.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-60)
No cesspool, open surface or pit privy shall be constructed
within the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-61)
No person shall deposit any garbage, offal, dead animals, filth
or any substance having a tendency to obstruct the flow of sewage
in any manhole, flush tank or sewer opening.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-62)
It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct or in any way
injure any of the pipes, drains, works, or machinery belonging to
or connected with the sewer system of the city or to place any substance
whatsoever into any sink, water closet, bathtub, vessels, drains,
or other receptacles, belonging to or connected with the sewer system
which may obstruct or injure it.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-63)
Proper barriers and lights must be maintained on the banks of
the house sewer trench to guard the public against accidents during
the progress of work. In backfilling, no stone shall be used and the
earth shall be carefully rammed or flooded so as to keep the pipe
in proper position and to avoid settling.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-64)
It shall be unlawful to connect any existing house plumbing
to the city sanitary sewer system unless same conforms in all respects
to all requirements of the plumbing code and is approved by the plumbing
inspector.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-65)
All connections of house sewer lines into the main and lateral
sewer lines shall be in accordance with the specifications as is provided
in the plumbing code of the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-66)
No permit for a basement drain shall be granted until the owner
of the building has executed and signed a written agreement releasing
the city from any damage that may result from basement being flooded
by the stoppage of sewers, which agreement shall be filed with the
city secretary.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-67)
No rainwater or downspout pipes, range boiler pipe, or other
pipe used to convey water or other substances of like character, except
the pipes necessary to plumbing systems, shall be connected to the
sewer system.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-68)
All drains from four feet outside of buildings to main sewer
must be of vitrified clay or cement pipe with bells, or extra heavy
cast iron pipe laid to a uniform grade. Joints of clay pipe shall
have bell holes provided or hemp gaskets put in and joints well cemented
with two parts of well screened sand and one part of best Portland
cement, and cast iron pipe shall be caulked with molten lead and oakum.
No vitrified clay or cement pipe shall be used for sewer connections
unless it is at least twelve (12) inches underground. Extra heavy
cast iron shall be used where the depth of such pipes is less than
twelve inches underground.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-69)
All sewer, soil and waste pipe drains shall have a continuous
fall of not less than one-quarter of an inch to the foot, if obtainable.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-70)
It shall be the duty of the public works director, or his duly
authorized agents, to enter all premises as may be necessary and at
reasonable times in the enforcement of this article and he is hereby
so empowered.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-71; Ordinance
adopting Code)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to
interfere with any inspection being made by the city plumbing inspector,
or the public works director and his authorized agents, in carrying
out the provisions of this article.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-72)
Any person desiring to construct or extend or make any extensions
of any main or sublateral lines to be attached to any of the main
sewer lines or manholes now installed shall be required to secure
a permit from the public works director authorizing such extensions.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-83)
(a)
Before receiving the permit required in section 13.04.061, the applicant shall file with the public works director four (4) copies of plans and specifications of the proposed extensions and any subsequent changes thereto as set out in section 13.04.063. Before any action is taken thereon, the same shall be submitted to the department of state health services for its approval, and upon receiving such approval, the plans and specifications shall then be approved by the consulting engineer of the city.
(b)
The application shall contain the provision that permission is hereby
given to the agents of the department of state health services and
the city to inspect all of the work during its progress as often as
may be desired and that the plumbing work installed in all structures
to be connected to the extensions shall comply with all applicable
ordinances and state laws and that the extensions or lines being constructed
with all easements shall, after completion, be conveyed to the city
without cost or reservations of any kind.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-84)
(a)
All plans and specifications for sewer improvements and extensions
shall include the following:
(1)
Profiles of all sewers proposed.
(2)
Details of construction of manholes, flush tanks and substructures.
(3)
Shall be drawn to a scale of not greater than one hundred feet (100')
to the inch nor less than three hundred feet (300') to the inch.
(4)
Lines and figures shall be clearly and distinctly made thereon and
extensions to be built to be shown by solid lines. Existing sanitary
sewers shall be shown by the following symbols: .......; and combined
sewers by a dot and dash -.-.-.-.-.-. All topographical symbols to
be the same as those of the United States Geological Survey.
(5)
Elevations of the surface of the streets to be placed outside the
street lines in the upper right angles, or opposite their respective
positions in the street. The elevations of sewer inverts should be
shown at street intersections, ends of lines and wherever a change
of grade occurs. The elevations with the sewer line and between the
street lines. The elevations of surface shall be shown to the nearest
1/10 foot; those of the sewer invert to the nearest 1/100 foot. The
sizes and gradients of all proposed and existing sewers shall be marked
along the line of the sewer.
(6)
All sewer appurtenances and unusual features, such as manholes, lamp-holes,
flush tanks, siphons, pumps, etc., shall be designated on the plans
by suitable symbols and referenced by a legend near the title.
(7)
Profiles of sewer lines shall be prepared and drawn to such a scale
as to show clearly the structural features of the sewer. For ordinary
use the following scales are suggested: vertically, 10 feet to 1 inch;
horizontally 100 feet to 1 inch. Both scales must be clearly shown
upon each sheet. Upon these profiles shall be shown all manholes,
flush tanks, lamp-holes, siphons and stream crossings, with elevations
of streambed and normal water. Figures showing the sizes and gradients
of sewers, surface elevations, sewer inverts, etc., should be shown
with the same frequency as required for the map.
(8)
When grades lower than those given in the recommended practice are
used, an explanation and reasons for the use of such grades should
be included in the engineer’s report. On each sheet of profiles
must be given, under the title, an index of the streets appearing
on that sheet. Profile sheets shall be numbered consecutively.
(9)
The detail plans shall be drawn to such a scale as to show suitably
and clearly the nature of the design and all details, such as manholes,
frames, covers, iron pipes, valves, gates, etc.
(10)
Each drawing shall have legibly printed thereon the name of the city
or persons for whom the drawing is made, the name of the engineer
in charge, the date, the scale and such references and the title as
are necessary for the complete understanding of each drawing.
(b)
Applicant shall furnish built-in drawings in as many copies as may
be required by the city when the work is completed.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-85)
(a)
All new extensions to the city sewer system, and appurtenances thereto,
shall be inspected and approved by the public works director, the
consulting engineer of the city or his duly authorized representative,
before backfilling any part thereof.
(b)
Any person violating this section shall be guilty, upon conviction,
of a misdemeanor, and shall be further compelled to uncover the extension
or any part thereof so that it may be fully inspected.
(1965 Code, sec. 24-86)
