[Adopted 3-27-1979 (Ch. 18, Art. V, of the 1985 Code of Ordinances)]
This article shall be known and designated as, and may be cited and referred to as, "a Sewer Ordinance Code."
Unless the content specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of the terms used in this article shall be as follows:
EASEMENT
Property of private ownership for which an acquired legal right-of-way was secured for the purpose of installing a sewer pipe line.
GROUNDWATER
Water beneath the surface of the ground, but which may come to the surface of the ground when the ground becomes saturated.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Those wastes originating from an industry and also wastes from garages and small home-like shops, as distinguished from sanitary sewage or wastes.
LEASE-HOLDER
The leaser of any property.
MANHOLE COVERS
Covers for manholes used for protection and easy access normally located approximately at three-hundred-foot intervals on streets and easements.
MANHOLES
Provide access to sewer lines for inspections and maintenance.
NATURAL OUTLET
Any outlet into a storm sewer, watercourse, pond, ditch, lake, stream or any other type of surface or ground water.
PERMISSION OF
The Superintendent of the Smithfield Sewer Authority, his designated representative, the Department heads of the Fire, Highway and Police Departments or a member of the Smithfield Sewer Authority.
PROPERTY OWNER
The owner of any property for any reason or enterprise.
RENTER
The person who holds, or has the use of, property by payment of rent.
SANITARY SEWER
A sewer which is supposed to convey only sewage, and to which storm-, surface and ground water are not intentionally admitted.
SEPTIC TANK CONTENTS
The solids and liquid from a septic tank which are offensive, odorous, septic in nature, high in biochemical oxygen demand, high solids characteristics and high turbidity.
SEWAGE
The wastewater from residences, business institutions and industries.
SEWER
A pipe or conduit for flowing sewage from residences and industries.
STORMWATER
Excess water flowing from any surface during and immediately following a period of rainfall, and that portion of water in the areas of storm drains that can or cannot be drained by the existing storm drains.
SUBSURFACE WATER
Groundwater beneath the surface of the top ground level.
SURFACE WATER
An accumulation of water above, or on top, of the ground, natural or artificial, and public or private.
WASTEWATER
Domestic sewage from toilets, bath, kitchen and laundry; and industrial wastes from places of business.
A violation of this article shall carry a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, Violations and Penalties, § 1-9.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall become liable to the Town and the Smithfield Sewer Authority for expenses, loss and/or damage caused the Town or Authority by reason of such violations.
Whenever a violation of any provision of this article takes place, the Town may take any action necessary to correct the situation, and charge the violators to recover all costs.
No statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Town, the Department heads of the Fire, Highway and Police Departments and any addition by the Smithfield Sewer Authority.
No septic tank hauler is permitted to empty the contents of his vehicle into any manhole, nor to any natural outlet or any body of water.
No unauthorized person shall uncover, make a connection to, use, alter or disturb any manhole covers.
No unauthorized person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage, uncover, deface or tamper with any manhole cover, manhole or appurtenance which is part of the sanitary sewer collection system.
It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper with, attempt to or remove a sewer manhole cover located on any street or any easement.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any type of liquid into a sewer line by raising or removing a sewer manhole cover.
B. 
It shall be unlawful to construct anything that could be inserted between a manhole cover and the collar of the manhole for the purpose of draining some liquid substance into the manhole.
C. 
The owner, renter or leaser of any house, building or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes situated within the jurisdiction of the Smithfield Sewer Authority sewer lines and located near any of the sewer lines or any street, alley or easement are prohibited from using any manholes for the purpose of draining excess water in the area or for any other draining purposes, to include septic tank contents, for which the removal of a manhole cover is necessary.
D. 
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any surface water, groundwater, stormwater, roof runoff water, subsurface drainage, swimming pool water, cooling water, septic or cesspool wastes or industrial wastewater into any sewer manhole.
All stormwater, surface water and subsurface water seeping to ground level are to be drained, or discharged, to stormwater drains which are specifically designed for such disposal of waters listed above; or they are to be drained to natural outlets that have been approved by the Town and/or the Highway Department.
In the event of an unprecedented emergency, or another situation of similar status, a manhole cover may be removed in accordance with the provisions of § 294-32, and only after obtaining permission to remove said cover.
Permission to remove a manhole cover will be given by the superintendent of the Smithfield Sewer Authority or his designated representative, a Department head of the Fire, Highway and Police Departments or a member of the Smithfield Sewer Authority.
The removal of any manhole cover without permission is absolutely forbidden.