Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this article shall be as follows:

(a)   B.O.D. (denoting Biochemical Oxygen Demand) shall mean the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20o C, expressed in milligrams per liter.

(b)   Building Drain shall mean 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.

(c)   Building Sewer shall mean the extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal.

(d)   Combined Sewer shall mean a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.

(e)   Garbage shall mean solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.

(f)    Industrial Wastes shall mean the liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes, trade, or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.

(g)   Natural Outlet shall mean any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake, or other body of surface or groundwater.

(h)   Person shall mean any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation, or group.

(i)    pH shall mean the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.

(j)    Properly Shredded Garbage shall mean 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.

(k)   Public Sewer shall mean a sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights, and is controlled by public authority.

(l)    Sanitary Sewer shall mean a sewer which carries sewage and to which storm, surface, and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.

(m)  Sewage shall mean a combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings; institutions and industrial establishments, together with such ground, surface, and storm waters as may be present.

(n)   Sewage Treatment Plant shall mean any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.

(o)   Sewage Works shall mean all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.

(p)   Sewer shall mean a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.

(q)   Shall is mandatory; May is permissive.

(r)    Slug shall mean 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 or flows during normal operation.

(s)   Storm Drain (sometimes termed storm sewer) shall mean a sewer which carries storm and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.

(t)    Superintendent shall mean the superintendent of sewage works and/or of water pollution control of the city, or his or her authorized deputy, agent, or representative.

(u)   Suspended Solids shall mean 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.

(v)   Watercourse shall mean a channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.

(Ord. 1506, Art. I, Sec. 1:22; Code 2013)

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.

(Ord. 1506, Art. II, Sec. 1; Code 2013)

It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the city any sewage or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this article.

(Ord. 1506, Art. II, Sec. 2; Code 2013)

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.

(Ord. 1506, Art. II, Sec. 3; Code 2013)

The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreational or other purposes, situated within the city on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which areas are now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer of the city, is required at his or her expense to install a suitable toilet facility therein, and to connect such facility directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with provisions of this article, within ninety (90) days after official notice to do so. Any extension from the existing sewer line to a point within 150 feet (46 meters) of the property line of any residence shall be provided by the city. The city shall be responsible for 30% of the costs required to extend any existing sewer main and 70% of the costs of extending any sewer main shall be the responsibility of those property owners requesting such sewer main extension.

(Ord. 2021; Code 2013)

Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of section 15-305, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this article.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 1; Code 2013)

Before commencement of construction of private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permission signed by the superintendent. The application for the permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications and other information as deemed necessary by the superintendent. A permit and inspection fee of $5 shall be paid to the city treasurer at the time the application is filed.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 2; Code 2013)

A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent. He or she shall be allowed to inspect the work in any state of construction. In any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. Inspection shall be made within 48 hours of the receipt of notice by the superintendent.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 3; Code 2013)

(a)   The type capacity, locations, the layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the State Department of Health and Environment. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system having subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of lot is less than one acre (43,560) square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any public sewer or natural outlet.

(b)   At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in section 15-305, 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.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 4:5; Code 2013)

The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facility in a sanitary manner at all times at no expense to the city.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 6; Code 2013)

No statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the superintendent.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 7; Code 2013)

When a public sewer becomes available, the building sewer shall be connected to the sewer within 60 days and the private sewage disposal system shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean bank run gravel or dirt.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 8; Code 2013)

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 superintendent.

(Ord. 1506, Art. III, Sec. 1; Code 2013)

There shall be two classes of building sewer permits:

(a)   For the residential and commercial services, and

(b)   For the service to establish and produce an industrial waste.

In either case, the owner or his or her agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the city. Permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the superintendent. A permit inspection fee of $5 for residential and commercial building sewer permits and $15 for industrial builder sewer permit. It shall be paid to the city treasurer at the time application is filed.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 2; Code 2013)

All costs and expense incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall identify the city from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 3; Code 2013)

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, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 4; Code 2013)

Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the superintendent, to meet all requirements of this article.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 5; Code 2013)

(a)   The building sewer shall be cast iron pipe ASTM Specification A-377; Vitrified clay pipe ASTM C-700; asbestos cement non pressure sewer pipe ASTM C-644; ABS Sewer Pipe ASTM D2751; PVC Sewer Pipe ASTM D-3033 or D-3034 or approved equals. Joints for PVC pipe shall be either O-ring rubber gasket joints or solvent cemented joints, or equal. All joints shall be tight and waterproof. Any part of the building sewer that is located within 10 feet of a water service pipe shall be constructed of cast iron sewer pipe with leaded joints. Cast iron pipe leaded joints may be required by the superintendent where building sewer is exposed to damage by tree roots. If installed in fill or unstable ground, the building sewer shall be cast iron sewer pipe except that non-metallic material shall be accepted if laid on suitable concrete bed or cradle as approved by the superintendent.

(b)   The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject to the approval of the superintendent, but in no event shall the diameter of the pipe be less than four or six inches. The slope of such six inch pipe shall not be less than 1/8 inch per foot. If four inch pipe is allowed, 3/16 inch per foot slope shall be the minimum for that size connection.

(c)   Whenever possible the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. No building sewer shall be laid parallel to or within three feet of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened. The depth shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost. The building sewer shall be laid on uniform grade and in straight alignment insofar as possible. Changes in direction shall be made with properly curved pipe and fittings, including cleanout fittings.

(d)   In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such drain shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged into the building sewer. The use of any pumping equipment for which cross-connections of a public water supply system are needed, is prohibited.

(e)   All excavation required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by superintendent. Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with ASTM specifications (C12) except that no backfill shall be placed until the work has been inspected. Pipe shall be bedded in a minimum of three inches of sand unless otherwise approved by superintendent.

(f)    All joints and connections shall be gas tight and water tight. Cast iron pipe joints shall be permanently packed with Oakum or hemp and filled with molten lead (Federal specifications QQ-L-156), not less than one inch deep. Lead shall be run in one pouring and calked tight. No paint, varnish or other coatings shall be permitted on the joining material until after the joint has been tested and approved. All joints in vitrified clay pipe or between the pipe and metals shall be made with approved hot or cold formed asphaltic joint material as specified above. Clay pipe may have factory applied joints meeting ASTM specifications (C-425). Material for hot poured joints shall not soften sufficiently to destroy the effectiveness of the joint when subjected to temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, or be solvent in any of the waste carried by the drainage system. Joints shall first be caulked tight with jute, hemp, or similar approved material. See sanitary sewer specifications for joint materials and other pertinent information if neither hot poured nor cold asphaltic materials are specified. Other joint materials and methods may be used only if approved by the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 6:11; Code 2013)

(a)   The connection of a building sewer into the public sewer shall be made at the “Y” branch, if the branch is available at a suitable location. If the public sewer is 12 inches in diameter or less, and no properly located “Y” branch is available, the owner shall at his or her expense install a “Y” branch in the public sewer location specified by the superintendent. When the public sewer is greater than 12 inches in diameter and no properly located “Y” branch is available, a neat hole may be cut in the public sewer to receive the building sewer with entry in the downstream direction at an angle of about 45 degrees. A 45 degree elbow may be used to make the connections with the spigot end cut so as not to extend past the inner surface of the public sewer. The invert of the building sewer at the point of the connection shall be at the same or a higher elevation as the invert of the public sewer. The smooth, neat joints shall be made, and the connection be made secure and water tight by easement in concrete. Special fittings may be used for the connection only when approved by the superintendent.

(b)   When a sewer tapping machine is owned by the city, tapping into the public sewer locations other than “Y” branches shall be made by the city and a charge of $10 for each tap shall be levied.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 12:12.1; Code 2013)

The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the superintendent when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the superintendent or his or her representative.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 13; Code 2013)

All excavations for public sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights as to protect the public from hazards. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 14; Code 2013)

No person shall make connections of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer to building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to public sanitary sewer.

(Ord. 1506, Art. IV, Sec. 15; Code 2013)

(a)   No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, including interior and exterior foundation drains, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.

(b)   Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the superintendent. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process water may be discharged by approval of the superintendent to a storm sewer, or natural outlet.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 1:2; Code 2013)

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:

(a)   Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas.

(b)   Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant, including but not limited to cyanides in excess of two mg/1 as CN in the wastes as discharged to the public sewer.

(c)   Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, and personnel of the sewage works.

(d)   Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in 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 fleshing, entrails and paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc. either whole or ground by garbage grinders.

(e)   Any waters or wastes having (1) a five-day BOD greater than 300 parts per million by weight, or (2) containing more than 350 parts per million by weight of suspended solids, or (3) having an average daily flow greater than two percent of the average sewage flow of the city, shall be subject to the review of the superintendent. Where necessary in the opinion of the superintendent, the owner shall provide, at his or her expense, the preliminary treatment as may be necessary to (1) reduce the biochemical oxygen demand to 300 parts per million by weight, or (2) reduce the suspended solids to 350 parts per million by weight, or (3) control the quantities and rates of discharge of the waters or wastes. Plans, specifications, and any other pertinent information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the superintendent and no construction of the facilities shall be commenced until the approvals are obtained in writing.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 3; Code 2013)

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 the 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 or her opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, the superintendent will give consideration to the 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:

(a)   Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees F. (65 degrees C).

(b)   Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease, or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 mg/1 or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32 and 150 degrees F. (0 and 65 degrees C).

(c)   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.

(d)   Any waters or wastes containing strong acid from pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions whether neutralized or not.

(e)   Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances; or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, to such degree that any such material received in the composite sewage at the sewage treatment works exceeds the limits established by the superintendent for the materials.

(f)    Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste or odor producing substances, in the concentrations exceeding limits which may be established by the superintendent as necessary, after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the requirements of state, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for the discharge to the receiving waters.

(g)   Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of the half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the superintendent in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations.

(h)   Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of (9.5).

(i)    Materials which exert or cause:

(1)   Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, Fullers earth, lime slurries, and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride or sodium sulfate).

(2)   Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions).

(3)   Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in the quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment works.

(4)   Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting “slugs” as defined herein.

(j)    Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amendable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment process employed, or are amenable to treatment only to the degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 4; Code 2013)

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 15-325, 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 to constitute a public nuisance, the superintendent may:

(a)   Reject the wastes;

(b)   Require the pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;

(c)   Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or

(d)   Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of section 15-330 of the article.

Plans, specifications, and any other pertinent information related to the proposed preliminary treatment facility shall be submitted for approval of the superintendent and Kansas State Department of Health and Environment. No construction of the facilities shall be commenced until the set of approvals are obtained in writing.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 5; Code 2013)

Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients; except that the interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the superintendent, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 6; Code 2013)

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 or her expense.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 7; Code 2013)

When required by the superintendent, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole together with the necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastes. The manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the superintendent. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his or her expense, and shall be maintained by him or her so as to be safe and accessible at all times.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 8; Code 2013)

All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this article 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. In the event that 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. (The particular analyses involved will determine whether a 24 hour composite of all outfalls of a premise is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended solids analyses are obtained from 24 hour composites of all outfalls whereas pH’s are determined from periodic grab samples.)

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 9; Code 2013)

No statement contained in this article shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for treatment, subject to payment therefore, by the industrial concern.

(Ord. 1506, Art. V, Sec. 10; Code 2013)

It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to maliciously, willfully, or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper with any structure, appurtenance, or equipment which is part of the sewage works.

(Ord. 1506, Art. VI, Sec. 1; Code 1988; Code 2013)

(a)   The superintendent and other duly authorized employees of the city bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this article. The superintendent or his or her representatives shall have no authority to inquire into any processes including metallurgical, chemical, oil, refining, ceramic, paper, or other industries beyond that point having a direct bearing on the kind and source of discharge to the sewers or waterways or facilities for waste.

(b)   While performing the necessary work on private properties referred to in subsection (a), 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 for 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 may be caused by negligence or failure of the company to maintain safe conditions as required in section 15-329.

(c)   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 a duly negotiated easement for the purposes of, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair, and maintenance of any portion of the sewage works lying within the easement. All entry and subsequent work, if any, on the easement, shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved.

(Ord. 1506, Art. VII, Sec. 1:3; Code 2013)

The minimum sewer charge per month shall be $17.75 per month.

(Ord. 2249; Code 2013; Ord. 2422)

(a) Any person found to be violating any provision of this article, except section 15-332, 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 the notice, permanently cease all violations.

(b)   Any person who shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in subsection (a), shall be guilty of a violation of this code, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in the amount not exceeding $100 for each violation. Each 24-hour period in which any violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.

(c)   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 the violation.

(Ord. 1506, Art. VIII, Sec. 1:3; Code 2013)