Copyrighted by the City of Springdale & Municipal Code Corporation, 1998.
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ARTICLE IV. ------------
State law reference(s)--Municipal sewerage systems generally, A.C.A. § 14-235-101 et seq.
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DIVISION 1. Sec. 118-146. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Act or the Act means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
BOD (denoting biochemical oxygen demand) means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20 degrees Celsius, expressed in milligrams per liter.
Building drain means that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five feet (1.5 meters) outside the inner face of the building wall.
Building sewer means the extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal.
Chief city inspector means that person or his delegated authority employed by the city, whose responsibility is to enforce compliance within the city's planning area of all building codes.
Combined sewer means a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.
Director means the executive director of the water and sewer department, or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.
Environmental Protection Agency or EPA means the United States Environmental Protection Agency or, where appropriate, the term may also be used as a designation for the administrator or other duly authorized official of the agency.
Garbage means solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.
Industrial wastes means the liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes, trade, or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.
National categorical pretreatment standard or pretreatment standard means any regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by the EPA in accordance with section 307(b) and (c) of the Act (33 U.S.C. 1347) which applies to a specific category of industrial users.
National pollution discharge elimination system or NPDES permit means a permit issued pursuant to section 402 of the Act (33 U.S.C. 1342).
Natural outlet means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface water or groundwater.
pH means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the concentration of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
Properly shredded garbage means the wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than one-half inch (1.27 centimeters) in any dimension.
Public sewer means a sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights, and is controlled by public authority.
Sanitary sewer means a sewer which carries sewage and to which stormwaters, surface waters and groundwaters are not intentionally admitted.
Sewage means a combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments, together with such groundwaters, surface waters and stormwaters as may be present.
Sewage treatment plant means any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.
Sewage works means all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
Sewer means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
Slug means any discharge of water, sewage or industrial waste which in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer than 15 minutes more than five times the average 24-hour concentration of flows during normal operation.
Storm drain or storm sewer means a sewer which carries stormwaters and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.
Superintendent means the superintendent of municipal water and sewage utilities of the city, or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.
Suspended solids means 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.
Toxic pollutant means any pollutant or combination of pollutants listed as toxic in regulations promulgated by the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under the provision of CWA 307(a) or other acts.
Watercourse means a channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
(Code 1973, § 33-35)
Cross reference(s)--Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 118-147. Damaging, tampering with sewer system.
No unauthorized person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the sewage works. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to immediate arrest under the charge of disorderly conduct.
(Code 1973, § 33-36)
State law reference(s)--Penalties generally, A.C.A. § 14-235-301 et seq.
Sec. 118-148. Liability for damages.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall become liable to the city for any expense, loss or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation.
(Code 1973, § 33-37)
State law reference(s)--Similar provisions, A.C.A. § 14-235-301(2)(B)(i).
Sec. 118-149. Violation; notice, penalty.
(a) Any person found to be violating any provision of this article, except section 118-147, shall be served by the city with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.
(b) Any person who shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in subsection (a) above shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be subject to the penalties in section 1-9.
(Code 1973, § 33-38)
Sec. 118-150. Deposits in unsanitary manner prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner on public or private property within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any human or animal excrement, garbage or other objectionable waste.
(Code 1973, § 33-44)
State law reference(s)--Powers regarding dangerous, unhealthy, etc., conditions generally, A.C.A. § 14-54-103.
Sec. 118-151. Responsibility of owner to provide and connect sanitary facilities to public sewers; unlawful to sell or transfer lots without facilities.
(a) The owners of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer of the city, is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article, within 30 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that the public sewer is within 300 feet of the subdivision.
(b) It shall be unlawful to convey, sell or transfer to others any lots within a subdivision void of municipal sewer facilities, provided municipal sewer facilities are within 300 feet of the subdivision.
(Code 1973, § 33-46)
State law reference(s)--Authority to require connection, A.C.A. § 14-235-302.
Sec. 118-152. Connection to municipal sewer.
(a) Required when available. Each owner of improved property lying within the area in which municipal sanitary sewer service is available is hereby directed and required to connect all toilet and wastewater facilities of such improved property with the municipal sanitary sewer system within 30 days as provided in section 118-151 and each owner of property that is improved who fails, refuses and neglects to connect such improved property to the municipal sewer service shall constitute a threat to public health.
(b) Determination of health hazard upon failure to connect. The sewer commission of the city is hereby designated as the city board of health with power to ascertain whether improved and occupied property which is not connected to the municipal sanitary sewer system, but can be served thereby, has adequate sanitary facilities so that the public health is not impaired because of the failure to connect the properties to the municipal sanitary sewer system.
(c) Notice; penalty. If the city sewer commission proceeding as the city board of health finds that any improved or occupied property is not connected with the municipal sewer system and does not have adequate sanitary disposal facilities, and that the public health is impaired or threatened, it shall send a written notice to the owner of such property, if it can be served by the system, to connect the property to the system within 30 days from the date of the notice. Nothing in this section shall be so construed as to compel the building of a sewer line by one property owner over the property of another or for a greater distance from his property through or into any street or alley than 300 feet to a place where a connection can be made to the municipal sewer system.
(d) Discontinuance of water for failure to connect. In addition to subsection (c) hereinabove, and if the city sewer commission proceeding as a city board of health finds that an improved and occupied property not connected with the system does not have an adequate sanitary disposal facility and that the public health is impaired or threatened to be impaired, the city sewer commission shall have the authority, after giving notice as hereinabove provided, to terminate the water service of the owner of such improved and occupied property not connected with the municipal sewer system and causing the public health to be impaired or threatened to be impaired.
(Code 1973, § 33-47)
State law reference(s)--Authority to order connection to public sewer, A.C.A. § 14-235-202.
Sec. 118-153. Penalties.
(a) It is declared a misdemeanor for any person to injure, damage, destroy, or fail or refuse to connect with or tap the sewers of the city, within the time prescribed by an order of the board of health, any sewer, public or private, made under the provisions of this article.
(b) Any person so offending, on conviction, shall be punished by fine and imprisonment, or both, at the discretion of the court, in any sum not more than $500.00, and for a period not longer than six months.
(c) An offender shall also be liable for all damages which shall be found by the jury. The sum so found, judgment shall be rendered in favor of the city, and execution shall issue on it as on other judgments at law.
(d) The city council shall have power, to compel all sewers built by private parties or under the direction of the board of health to be kept clean and in repair, by fine and punishment of the party in possession as owner or lessee of the property where the sewer may be situated. The fine shall not exceed $50.00 for any one neglect, nor shall the imprisonment be more than 90 days.
State law reference(s)--Similar provisions, A.C.A. § 14-235-301.
Secs. 118-154--118-165. Reserved.
DIVISION 2. Sec. 118-166. Permit required to make connection.
No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the chief city inspector. At least 72 hours' prior notice shall be given to the chief city inspector before any new, approved connection or repair to a connection is made.
(Code 1973, § 33-53)
Sec. 118-167. Classes of permits.
There shall be two classes of building sewer permits:
(1) Residential and commercial service.
(2) Service to establishments producing industrial wastes.
(Code 1973, § 33-54)
Sec. 118-168. Application for wastewater discharge permit.
Owners or agents of commercial or industrial establishments proposing to connect to or contribute to a sanitary sewer shall submit an application for a wastewater discharge permit before connecting to or contributing to the sewer. Owners or agents of existing establishments discharging wastewaters into the city sewage works shall submit an application for a wastewater discharge permit for continued existing operation within 30 days after receipt of notification in writing by the superintendent that such a permit is required for continued operation.
(Code 1973, § 33-54.1)
Sec. 118-169. Form of wastewater discharge permit; required information.
Applications for a wastewater discharge permit shall be in a form prescribed by the city, and shall contain the following information:
(1) Name, address, and location of the discharger.
(2) Standard industrial classification.
(3) Wastewater constituents and characteristics.
(4) Average and peak wastewater flow rates.
(5) Where known, the nature and concentration of any pollutants in the discharge which are limited by any city, state or federal pretreatment standards, and a statement regarding whether or not the pretreatment standards are to be met on a consistent basis.
(6) Where additional pretreatment and/or operation and maintenance will be required to meet any pretreatment standards, a compliance schedule shall be provided, subject to approval by the superintendent, giving dates for the commencement and completion of major events leading to the construction and operation of facilities required for the compliance with applicable pretreatment standards.
(7) Any other information as may be deemed by the superintendent to evaluate the permit application.
(Code 1973, § 33-54.2)
Sec. 118-170. Promulgation of federal categorical pretreatment standards; compliance of wastewater discharge permits of establishments subject to such standards.
(a) Upon the promulgation of federal categorical pretreatment standards for a particular industrial subcategory, the federal standard, if more stringent than the city's limitations for sources in that subcategory, shall apply. The superintendent shall notify all affected users of the applicable reporting requirements under 40 CFR 403.12.
(b) Within nine months of the promulgation of a national categorical pretreatment standard, the wastewater discharge permit of establishments subject to such standards shall be revised to require treatment no less than that necessary for compliance with such standard within the time frame prescribed by such standard. An establishment subject to a national categorical pretreatment standard which has not previously submitted an application for a wastewater discharge permit shall do so within 180 days after the promulgation of the applicable national categorical pretreatment standard.
(Code 1973, § 33-54.3)
Sec. 118-171. Issuance, validity and renewal of wastewater discharge permits.
Wastewater discharge permits may be issued by the city within 90 days of receipt of an acceptable application and shall be valid for a period of five years, and may be renewed upon submission and acceptance of an application for renewal.
(Code 1973, § 33-54.4)
Sec. 118-172. Report by owners of establishments subject to pretreatment standards.
Owners or agents of establishments subject to any pretreatment standard shall, within 30 days of notification by the superintendent, submit a report indicating the nature and concentration of pollutants in the effluent which are limited to such pretreatment standard.
(Code 1973, § 33-54.5)
Sec. 118-173. Wastewater discharge permits subject to article provisions; contents.
Wastewater discharge permits shall be expressly subject to all provisions of this article and all other applicable regulations, user charges, and fees established by the city. Permits may contain the following:
(1) The unit charge or schedule of user charges and fees for the wastewater to be discharged to a community sewer.
(2) Limits on the average and maximum wastewater constituents and characteristics.
(3) Limits on average and maximum rate and time of discharge or requirements for flow regulations and equalization.
(4) Requirements for installation and maintenance of inspection and sampling facilities.
(5) Specifications for monitoring programs which may include sampling locations, frequency of sampling, number, types and standards for tests and reporting schedule.
(6) Compliance schedules.
(7) Requirements for submission of technical reports or discharge reports.
(8) Requirements for maintaining and retaining plant records relating to wastewater discharge as specified by the city, and affording city access thereto.
(9) Requirements for notification of the city of any new introduction of wastewater constituents or any substantial change in the volume or character of the wastewater constituents being introduced into the wastewater treatment system.
(10) Requirements for notification of slug discharges.
(11) Other conditions as deemed appropriate by the city to ensure compliance with this article.
(Code 1973, § 33-54.6)
Sec. 118-174. Responsibility of applicant for costs of evaluation and issuance of permit and connection costs; indemnification of city.
All costs and expenses incident to the evaluation of a permit application and the issuance of a permit, and connection of the building sewer, shall be borne by the person applying for the permit, and such person shall indemnify the city from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be caused by the installation of the building sewer.
(Code 1973, § 33-55)
Sec. 118-175. Notice of readiness for inspection; supervision of connection.
The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the chief city inspector when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the chief city inspector or his representative.
(Code 1973, § 33-61)
Secs. 118-176--118-185. Reserved.
DIVISION 3. Sec. 118-186. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ANSI means American National Standards Institute.
ASTM means American Society for Testing Materials.
Building sewer means the sewer which conveys the discharge from a building's plumbing system or other soil waste to the city sanitary sewer system. The building sewer shall be considered as beginning at the connection to the city sanitary sewer system and ending at the building foundation.
City sewer means the public sanitary sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights and is maintained and controlled by the city wastewater department. No sewer smaller than six inches shall be considered a city sewer.
Director means the executive director of the city water and wastewater department, or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.
Inspector means that person or his delegated authority employed by the city, whose responsibility is to enforce compliance within the city's planning area of all building codes and authorized to inspect and approve building sewers.
Permit means the authorization issued to a plumber or contractor, upon request, allowing installation of a building sewer connected to the city sanitary sewer system.
Plumber or contractor means a corporation, partnership or individual engaged in the installation of building sewers.
Wastewater department means the city wastewater department under the jurisdiction of the city sewer commission assigned to own and operate the municipal wastewater collection system and treatment facilities.
(Code 1973, § 33-95)
Cross reference(s)--Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 118-187. Work subject to inspection.
(a) Building sewer installations. All building sewer installations shall be inspected and approved by an authorized inspector. Backfill may be placed on the completed portions of a building sewer following inspection, but no approval certificate shall be issued until all portions of a building sewer from the main connection to the building foundation have been inspected and approved by an authorized inspector. At the time of inspection, the pipe should be in place in the trench and safed-up, but the top half of the pipe barrel exposed. No approval will be given for building sewers all or a portion of which are covered at the time of inspection.
(b) Repairs, replacement of building sewers. All repairs or replacements of building sewers, regardless of length, shall be subject to the same inspection and material requirements as new installations. Where the repair or replacement of a building sewer requires a new point of connection to the city sewer, the abandoned building sewer should be sealed to prevent entrance of rainwater or debris into the city sewer and the seal inspected by an inspector.
(c) Building sewer site plans required. Building sewer site plans shall be required for all commercial, industrial, institutional and multifamily connections. The site plan shall include, as a minimum, the following information:
(1) Size and location of the building sewer.
(2) Size and location of the city main.
(3) Location of building to be connected.
(4) Location of cleanouts, grease trap or sand traps as they may be required.
(5) A north arrow.
(6) Streets adjacent to the facility being connected.
The plans must be approved before a permit can be issued and construction can start.
(d) Conformance with building, plumbing codes, other regulations. The size, slope, alignment, materials or construction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe jointing, testing and backfilling the trench, shall all conform to the requirements of this division, or the building and plumbing code, or other applicable rules and regulations of the city. In the absence of code provisions or in amplification thereof, the materials and procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the state plumbing code shall apply.
(Code 1973, § 33-96)
Sec. 118-188. Location and connection requirements.
(a) Minimum size for any building sewer shall be four inches nominal diameter.
(b) A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway. Under such circumstances the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.
(c) No more than one dwelling unit may be served by the same building sewer except as follows: Where more than one dwelling unit is situated on the same lot or tract, as defined by the city subdivision rules and regulations, multiple units may be served by the same building sewer, provided that no more than four dwelling units are served by a four-inch line. Approval for installations serving more than one dwelling unit per individual building sewer will be at the discretion of the director, but each building sewer must be under the maintenance responsibility of only one ownership. Multiple dwelling units cannot be served by the same building sewer if the tract or lot can, in the opinion of the wastewater department, possibly be subdivided in the future.
(d) Where building sewers must be installed outside of the lot or tract on which the facility served is located, installation must be in the public right-of-way or in valid easements.
SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL*
GENERALLY
PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS
CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SEWERS
| Size (inches) | Slope percent | Fall (per foot) |
| 4 | 1.00 | 1/8" |
| 6 | 0.60 | 1/12" |
| 8 | 0.40 | 1/16" |
| 10 | 0.28 | |
| 12 | 0.22 |
(c) Elevation; lifting devices. Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer.
(d) Pipe trench depth and bedding. Pipe trench shall be graded so that the entire length of the pipe joint rests upon firm trench bottom with holes excavated for the bells. Where the depth of cover over the pipe (to existing or finish grade) exceeds six feet, the pipe manufacturer's recommendations shall be adhered to concerning lying, bedding and backfilling. The pipe shall be of sufficient depth to prevent freezing and provide protection from live earth loads. In the opinion of the building inspector or the director, cast iron soil pipe or ductile iron pipe may be required in shallow building sewers.
(e) Backfilling; barricades and lights at excavations. Backfill material shall be free of large rocks, boulders, lumber, trash or other materials which may injure the pipeline. Where a pipe trench is to be backfilled in a public right-of-way, or under any area to be paved, select materials shall be placed in compacted layers to prevent settlement. Backfill in public rights-of-way shall be placed in accordance with section 118-86 of this Code, as administered by the street department. All excavations for building sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with barricades and warning lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city.
(f) Fitttings and appurtenances. All fittings and appurtenances shall be free of defects, watertight and compatible with the pipe.
(1) Bends. Ninety-degree bends on four-inch building sewers should be avoided. Where absolutely necessary, long sweep bends must be used.
No bend of any type or degree shall be permitted in the installation of six-inch and larger building sewers, and these six-inch and larger building sewers shall be laid within straight alignment and on constant slopes not less than those listed in subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Cleanouts. Cleanouts are required at the building foundation, as required by the plumbing code. In addition, on lines longer than 100 feet, cleanouts are required at 100-foot spacing. Cleanouts shall be provided adjacent to any 90-degree bend. Cleanouts should be piped up to finished grade for easy access when construction of the building is completed.
(3) Backwater traps (Sewage check valve). Backwater traps shall be provided as required by section 6.14 of the state plumbing code or on any building sewer where, in the opinion of the director or inspector, the building connected may be subject to flooding by the sewer. Backwater traps should be placed in a meter box or similarly housed to allow periodic servicing.
(g) Testing for watertightness; waiver. All building sewers are subject to testing to insure watertightness. Tests may be either by exfiltration of water or low pressure air. All tests must be performed in the presence of an inspector.
(1) Exfiltration of water. The section of line to be tested shall be plugged at the lower end and filled with water so that at least four feet of head is obtained. The water loss while so filled shall be not more than 250 gallons per 24 hours per inch of pipe diameter per mile of pipe. This is approximately three-eighths gallon for a 100-foot long section of four-inch pipe tested 30 minutes.
(2) Low pressure air loss. Both ends of the line to be tested shall be securely plugged and the line charged with air to a pressure of 4.5 psi. After allowing at least five minutes for the temperature in the pipe to stabilize, the time required for a 1.0 psi drop in pressure shall be determined. This time shall not be less than 28.5 d seconds, where d equals the nominal diameter in inches of the pipe being tested.
(3) Waiver of testing. If, in the opinion of the inspector, the line in question is properly installed and free from open joints and breaks, building sewers may be connected to the city sewer without testing.
(h) Sealing sewer when building demolished or moved; permit required. When a building is demolished or moved, the building sewer shall be sealed to prevent stormwater or groundwater infiltration and this work shall be done by wastewater department forces only. The demolition or moving contractor shall obtain a permit from the wastewater department for the seal work so that it can be promptly scheduled and performed.
(i) Roof, exterior drains. No person shall make connection of roof downspout, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or to a public sanitary sewer.
(Code 1973, § 33-99)
Sec. 118-191. Special structures and details.
(a) Manholes. Manholes shall be required at the junction of two or more six-inch or larger lines. In consideration of building sewer length and waste characteristics, a manhole may be required on the upper end of a building sewer greater than four inches in size. Connection of a five-inch or larger building sewer to a city sewer shall be accomplished by means of a manhole. Manholes shall be constructed at spacings not to exceed 300 feet and at changes in alignment or grade on building sewers six inches and larger.
(b) Sand traps. Connection of vehicle washing facilities or other grit producing discharges to the city sewer shall be preceded by a sand trap. The sand trap or any open grating must be located so as to completely exclude the possibility of rainwater entering the sewer. No connections may be approved to the city sewer which will allow the entrance of rainwater into the sewer.
(c) Grease interceptors. Grease interceptors or traps shall be required for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, except that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All grease interceptors shall be routinely maintained to prevent the discharge of grease in excess of 100 mg/liter to the city system.
(d) Control manhole for observing, sampling, measuring industrial wastes. When required by the director, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole together with such necessary appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the director. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times.
(Code 1973, § 33-100)
Secs. 118-192--118-200. Reserved.
DIVISION 4. Sec. 118-201. Discharge of untreated sewage to natural outlets.
It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any sewage or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this division.
(Code 1973, § 33-45)
State law reference(s)--Polluting waters prohibited, A.C.A. § 8-4-217; Water and Air Pollution Control Act, A.C.A. § 8-4-101 et seq.
Sec. 118-202. Discharge of stormwater, other unpolluted drainage; discharge of sewage and polluted waters after suitable treatment.
(a) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage to any sanitary sewer.
(b) Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers.
(c) It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any sewage or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided and where a valid National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit has been issued for such discharge.
DISCHARGES
| Element | Maximum concentration (mg/l) |
| Cadmium | 0.02 |
| Mercury | 0.002 |
| Cyanide | 0.05 |
| PCB's | detection limit |
(3) Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.0 or higher than 11.0 units, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, and personnel of the sewage works.
(4) Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow of sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails, paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders.
(5) Heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the sewage treatment plant resulting in interference, but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the sewage treatment plant exceeds 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
(Code 1973, § 33-69)
Sec. 118-204. Discharges subject to review by superintendent.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged the following described substances, materials, waters or wastes, if it appears likely in the opinion of the superintendent that such wastes can harm either the sewers, sewage treatment process or equipment, have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger life, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. In forming his opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, the superintendent will give consideration to such factors as the quantities of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, nature of the sewage treatment process, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the sewage treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The substances prohibited are:
(1) Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius).
(2) Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 150 mg/l or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32 degrees and 150 degrees Fahrenheit (zero and 65 degrees Celsius).
(3) Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three-fourths horsepower (0.76 hp metric) or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the superintendent.
(4) Any waters or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions whether neutralized or not.
(5) Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, manganese, magnesium, chlorides, sulfates, cyanides, or any other objectionable or toxic substances, to such a degree that any such material received in the composite sewage at the wastewater treatment works exceeds the limits established by the superintendent for such materials.
(6) Any industrial waters or wastes discharged in the municipal sewers containing elements, substances, compounds or matter that causes taste and odors that cannot be removed by the normal treatment process, or that creates pernicious problems in the receiving stream.
(7) Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits of maximum safety for discharge into receiving waters as established by the United States Public Health Service, state board of health, Atomic Energy Commission and the city sewer department. Half-life for any one radioactive element, (the number of atomic charges per unit of time is proportioned to the quantity of the element present), is the time necessary for the quantity of a given element to decrease to one-half that initially present.
(8) Materials which exert or cause:
a. Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, fuller's earth, lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate).
b. Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solution).
c. Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment works.
d. Unusual volume of flow or concentrations of wastes constituting slugs (see section 118-146).
(9) Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.
(Code 1973, § 33-70)
Sec. 118-205. Superintendent's options with respect to hazardous wastes.
If any waters or wastes are discharged, or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in section 118-204, and which in the judgment of the superintendent may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the superintendent may:
(1) Reject the wastes;
(2) Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;
(3) Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; or
(4) In case of noncompliance by the industry, the director shall have the authority to discontinue the municipal water service until requirements have been met.
If the director permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the facilities shall meet permit requirements.
(Code 1973, § 33-71)
Sec. 118-206. Protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials; submittal of plans and specifications upon notification by superintendent; report to director.
(a) The owner or agent of establishments discharging industrial wastes shall provide protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other substances regulated by this division.
(b) Detailed plans and specifications showing facilities and operating procedures shall be submitted to the city for review within 180 days following written notification by the superintendent requiring such plans and specifications.
(c) Within five days following an accidental discharge, the owner or agent of the establishment shall submit to the director a detailed written report describing the cause of the discharge and the measures to be taken to prevent similar future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the user of any expense, loss, damage or other liability which may be incurred as a result or any other damage to persons or property; nor shall such notification relieve the user of any fines, civil penalties or other liability which may be imposed by this division or other applicable law.
(Code 1973, § 33-72)
Sec. 118-207. Maintenance of preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities.
Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense.
(Code 1973, § 33-74)
Sec. 118-208. Measuring, testing and analyzing wastes.
All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this division shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association, and shall be determined at the control manhole provided, or upon suitable samples taken at the control manhole. If no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the sewage works and to determine the existence of hazards to life, limb and property.
(Code 1973, § 33-76)
Sec. 118-209. Observance of safety rules; liability for damages to or caused by city employees.
While performing necessary work on private properties, the superintendent or duly authorized employees of the city shall observe all safety rules applicable to the premises established by the company and the company shall be held harmless from injury or death to the city employees and the city shall indemnify the company against loss or damage to its property by city employees and against liability claims and demands for personal injury or property damage asserted against the company and growing out of the gauging and sampling operation, except as such may be caused by negligence or failure of the company to maintain safe conditions as required in this article.
(Code 1973, § 33-78)
Sec. 118-210. Easements, right of entry for purposes of maintenance, inspection, etc.
The superintendent and other duly authorized employees of the city, bearing proper credentials and identification, shall be permitted to enter all private properties through which the city holds an easement for the purpose of, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair and maintenance of any portion of the sewage works lying within such easement. All entry and subsequent work, if any, on such easement, shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved.
(Code 1973, § 33-79)
Secs. 118-211--118-220. Reserved.
DIVISION 5. Sec. 118-221. Conformity with division required.
Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.
(Code 1973, § 33-85)
Sec. 118-222. When permitted.
Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of section 118-152, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this division.
(Code 1973, § 33-86)
Sec. 118-223. Permit required to construct; fee.
Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the chief city inspector. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary by the chief city inspector. A permit and inspection fee shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed as provided for under the city plumbing code.
(Code 1973, § 33-87)
Sec. 118-224. Approval of chief city inspector required; inspection.
A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the chief city inspector. He shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the inspector when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 24 hours of the receipt of notice by the inspector.
(Code 1973, § 33-88)
Sec. 118-225. Compliance with state health regulations.
The type, capacity, location and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the state department of public health.
(Code 1973, § 33-89)
Sec. 118-226. Authority of health officer not impaired.
No statement contained in this division shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the health officer.
(Code 1973, § 33-90)
Sec. 118-227. Restriction on use of subsurface soil-absorption facilities; discharge to natural outlets.
(a) No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil-absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than 7,000 square feet.
(b) No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.
(Code 1973, § 33-91)
Sec. 118-228. Operation and maintenance.
The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the city.
(Code 1973, § 33-92)
State law reference(s)--Authority concerning cleanliness and operation of private persons, A.C.A. § 14-235-301(8)(1).
Sec. 118-229. Abandonment of facilities.
(a) At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in section 118-152, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this article, and any septic tanks, cesspools and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with suitable material.
(b) When a public sewer becomes available, the building sewer shall be connected to the sewer within 30 days and the private sewage disposal system shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean bank-run gravel or dirt.
(Code 1973, § 33-93)
Secs. 118-230--118-250. Reserved.
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PRIVATE DISPOSAL FACILITIES