[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:
Property of private ownership for which an acquired legal
right-of-way was secured for the purpose of installing a sewer pipe
line.
Water beneath the surface of the ground, but which may come
to the surface of the ground when the ground becomes saturated.
Those wastes originating from an industry and also wastes
from garages and small home-like shops, as distinguished from sanitary
sewage or wastes.
The leaser of any property.
Covers for manholes used for protection and easy access normally
located approximately at three-hundred-foot intervals on streets and
easements.
Provide access to sewer lines for inspections and maintenance.
Any outlet into a storm sewer, watercourse, pond, ditch,
lake, stream or any other type of surface or ground water.
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.
The owner of any property for any reason or enterprise.
The person who holds, or has the use of, property by payment
of rent.
A sewer which is supposed to convey only sewage, and to which
storm-, surface and ground water are not intentionally admitted.
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.
The wastewater from residences, business institutions and
industries.
A pipe or conduit for flowing sewage from residences and
industries.
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.
Groundwater beneath the surface of the top ground level.
An accumulation of water above, or on top, of the ground,
natural or artificial, and public or private.
Domestic sewage from toilets, bath, kitchen and laundry;
and industrial wastes from places of business.
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.
