Public Utilities – Article 4. Installation, Connection, Building, and Usage of Sewers

Section 19-33 Definitions.

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

“BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)” means the quality of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five (5) days at 200C 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 piping inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five (5) 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.
“Combined sewer” means a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.
“Garbage” means solid waste 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 that are distinct from sanitary sewage.
“Natural outlet” means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake, or other body of surface or groundwater.
“Person” means any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.
“pH” means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
“Property 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 particles greater than one-half (1/2) inch (1.27 centimeters) in any dimension.
“Public sewer” means a sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights and are controlled by public authority.
“Sewer” means which carries sewage and to which storm, surface, and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
“Sewage” means 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.
“Sewage treatment plan” 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
“Shall” is mandatory, and “may” is permissive.
“Sludge” means any discharge of water, sewage, or industrial waste which in the concentration of any given constituent or in the quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer than fifteen (15) minutes more than five (5) times the average twenty-four (24) hour concentration or flows during normal operation.
“Storm drain” (sometimes termed “storm sewer”) means sewer which carries storm and surface wastes and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.
“Superintendent” means the superintendent of sewage works and/or of water pollution control of the Town of Tryon, or his authorized deputy, agent, or representative.
“Suspended solids” means solids that either float on the surface or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids, and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
“Watercourse” means a channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
“Sewer inspector” means that person designated by the Board of Trustees to inspect work and compliance with ordinances and laws governing the installation and operation of sewer, water, and gas plumbing.

Section 19-34. Use of Public Sewers Required.

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 Town of Tryon, or in any area under the jurisdiction of said city, any human or animal excrement, garbage or other objectionable waste.

Section 19-35. Unlawful Discharges.

It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the Town of Tryon, or in any area under the jurisdiction of said Town, any sewage or other polluted waters except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this Chapter.
It shall be unlawful to discharge, cause to be discharged, or allow to be discharged any sewage or other polluted waters onto the open ground, into a public street, public way or alley, or any other public place.
The Town of Tryon shall have the right to cut off, without notice, the water supply to any person, firm, or corporation that shall allow sewage or other polluted waters to be discharged in violation of the provisions of this Section.

Section 19-36. Privies. Septic Tanks, etc. Declared Unlawful.

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.

Section 19-37. Sanitary Facilities Within 150 Feet of Sewer.

The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment* recreation, or other purposes situated within the Town and abutting on any street, alley, or right of way in which there is not located or may in the future be located a public sanitary or combined sewer of the Town, is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities thereon and to connect such directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter within ninety (90) days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the property line.

Section 19-38. Private Sewage Disposal.

Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of Section 19-37, the building sewer shall not be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this Article.

Section 19-39. Permits Required Before Commencing Construction.

Before the commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the County Health Department. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by the said Health Department which the applicant shall supplement with any plans, specifications, and other information as deemed necessary by the said Health Department.

Section 19-40. Permit Not Effective Until Inspection and Requirements Are Met.

A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the County Health Department. Representatives shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction, and in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the 9aid Health Department when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered.

Section 19-41. Department of Public Health, State of Oklahoma.

The type, capacities, location, and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the Department of Public Health of the State of Oklahoma. No septic tanks or cesspools shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.

Section 19-42. Abandoning Private Septic Tanks, etc. Upon Connection.

At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private disposal system, as provided in Section 19-37, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this Chapter, and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with suitable material.

Section 19-43. Operation of Private Sewage Facilities.

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

Section 19-44. Additional Requirements May Be Imposed.

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

Section 19-45. Filing Private Sewers.

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

Section 19-46. Unauthorized Connections, etc. Permit Required.

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 Board of Trustees.
No permit shall be issued until such time as the applicant has paid to the Town of Tryon a sewer tap fee in the amount of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00).

Section 19-47. Costs Borne by Owner.

All costs and expenses incident to the installations and connections of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the Town from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.

Section 19-48. Separate and Independent Sewers Required: Exception.

A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, dwelling, or structure that is used or intended to be used for human occupancy or human use 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 and the whole considered as one building sewer.

Section 19-49. Old building Sewers May be Used: When.

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

Section 19-50. Construction Shall Conform to Codes.

The size, slope, alignment, materials of construction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing the pipe, jointing, testing, and backfilling the trench shall all conform to the requirements of the National Plumbing Code.

Section 19-51. Sewer Elevation.

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.

Section 19-52. Drain Connections Not to Be Made to Sewer.

No person shall make the connection of roof downspouts, 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 indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.

Section 19-53. Sewer Connection to Meet Specifications.

The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the National Plumbing Code.

Section 19-54. Sewer Excavation to Be Guarded.

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

Section 19-55. Water Drainage Not to Be Discharged Into Sanitary Sewer.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.

Section 19-56. Certain Water and Waste Not to Be Discharged Into Sanitary Sewer.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged the following substances if it appears likely in the opinion of the sewer inspector, that such wastes can harm the sewers, the sewage treatment process, or equipment; have an adverse effect on the receiving stream; or can otherwise endanger life, limb, or public property, or otherwise constitute nuisance. The prohibited substances are:

Flammable or explosive materials;
Water or waste containing fats, wax, grease, or oils in excess of 100 mg/l, or containing any substance which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures higher than 32 degrees F;
Any liquid having a temperature higher than 150 degrees F;
Any garbage or food waste not properly shredded. The installation and operation of any grinder or shredder equipped with a motor of three-fourths horsepower (3/4hp) or greater shall be subject to review and approval by the sewer inspector;
Any waters or wastes containing the metals listed below or other toxic substances in quantities determined by the sewer inspector to be harmful:
- Antimony
- Bismuth
- Cadmium
- Arsenic
- Beryllium
- Chromium
- Barium
- Boron
- Cobalt
- Cooper
- Iron
- Knenium
- Manganese
- Mercury
- Molybdenum
- Nickel
- Strontium
- Selenium
- Silver
- Tellurium
- Tin
- Uranium
- Zinc
Any water or waste containing iron-pickling wastes or plating solutions;
Any water or wastes containing phenols or other taste or odor-producing substances;
Any radioactive wastes or a half-life or concentration determined by the sewer inspector or be harmful;
Any water or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5, or having any corrosive property capable of damaging installations, equipment, or personnel of the sewage works;
Solid or viscous substances of such size or in such quantities capable of causing obstruction of sewers or interference with the operation of sewage works, such as ashes, cinders, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood underground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair, fleshings, entrails, and paper containers;
Wastes containing unusual concentrations of suspended solids, such as fuller’s earth, lime, or clay;
Wastes containing unusual concentrations of dissolved substances, such as sodium chloride or sodium sulfate;
Waters or wastes containing excessive coloration, such as that caused by dye wastes and tanning solutions;
Wastes containing concentrations of organic material, such as whey, mile, yeast, blood, or unusual biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), or chlorine requirement, constituting a significant load on the sewage treatment facilities;
Materials which cause unusual volumes of flow or concentration of wastes constituting slugs that adversely affect the sewage treatment process.
Any storm water, ground water, roof runoff, foundation drainage, or subsurface drainage. If any waters or wastes are discharged or proposed to be discharged which contain the substances described above, the sewer inspector may prohibit their discharge; require the responsible party to pretreat the wastes before discharge; limit the quantity, rates, and times of discharge; require the installation of a control manhole for observation, sampling, and metering of the wastes; and assess a surcharge based on the quantity and strength of the wastes.

Section 19-57. The Town of Tryon May Require Special Handling of Waste.

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 19-56 of this Chapter, and which in the judgment of the Town of Tryon 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 Town of Tryon 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, and/or
4. Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges.
If the Town of Tryon permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the Town of Tryon, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances, and laws.
If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the open ground, public street, public way, alley, or other public place within the Town of Tryon the superintendent or the Town of Tryon may cause the water supply to any such person, firm, corporation or entity to be cut off without notice.
If any waters or wastes are discharged to the open ground, public street, public way, alley, or other public place within the Town of Tryon the person, firm, corporation, or association causing, creating, or allowing such discharge shall be liable to the Town of Tryon for the cost to clean such waste or discharge.

Section 19-58. Measurements, Tests, and Analyses of Wastes to Meet Certain Standards.

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 said control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control 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 twenty-four (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 twenty-four (24) hour composites of all outfalls whereas pH’s are determined from periodic grab samples.

Section 19-59. Protection From Damage.

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 charge of disorderly conduct.

Section 19-60. Powers and Authority of Inspectors.

The sewer inspector and other duly authorized employees of the Town bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this Article. The sewer inspector or his 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 treatment.
While performing the necessary work on private properties referred to in (A) above, the sewer inspector or duly authorized employees of the Town 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 Town employees and the Town shall indemnify the company against loss or damage to its property by town 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.
The sewer inspector and other duly authorized employees of the Town bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all private properties through which the Town holds a duly negotiated easement for the purposes of, but not limited to, inspections, observation, measurement, sampling, repair and maintenance of any portion of the sewage works lying within said easement. All entry and subsequent work, if any, on said easement shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved.

Section 19-61. Violations: Penalties.

Any person found to be violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be served by the Town of Tryon with a 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.
Any person who shall commit any violation beyond the time limit provided for in (A) above shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) excluding costs, for each violation. Each day in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
Any person who shall commit any violation involving the regulation of pretreatment of wastewater or regulating storm water discharge beyond the time limit provided for in (A) above shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than One thousand dollars ($1,000.00) excluding costs, for each violation. Each day in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
Any person violating any of the provisions of Chapter 19 of the Tryon Town Code shall be liable to the Town for any expense, loss, or damage occasioned to the Town by reason of such violation.

Town of Tryon