ORDINANCE NO. _______________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO,

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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An Ordinance Amending Chapter 4.24 of the Ordinance Code by Amending
Section 4.24.120 and 4.24.130 Thereof and Adding Sections 4.24.131 through 4.24.132 Thereto Relating to the Installation, Maintenance and Repair of Sanitary Sewer Laterals and Valves.

 

The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, ORDAINS as follows

 

SECTION 1.

Section 4.24.120 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code are hereby amended to read as follows:

 
 

4.24.120 Overflow Devices Required

 

Building laterals or pipes or piping which serve fixtures which are located below the level of the top of the nearest upgrade manhole of the main sewer shall be protected from the back flow of sewage by the installation of an appropriate number of district approved overflow devices. As additional protection, a gate valve of the type approved by the district, may also be installed on the building lateral.

 

SECTION 2.

Section 4.24.130 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code are hereby amended to read as follows:

 
 

4.24.130 Property Owner Responsibility – Installation, Maintenance and Repair of Sewer and Building Laterals in the Districts.

 

    It shall be the obligation and responsibility of the property owner receiving service from a District to install and maintain the devices set forth in Sections 4.24.110 and 4.24.120. Additionally, it shall be the obligation and responsibility of the property owner to install and maintain the “building sewer lateral” which is defined as the portion of the sanitary sewer line, including clean outs, overflow valves, back flow valves, “wye” branch and appurtenances that are located on private property and which connect the house or building wastewater plumbing to the sewer lateral which is located in as public easement or right-of-way. It shall also be the obligation and responsibility of the property owner to install and maintain the “sewer lateral” which is defined as the portion of the sanitary sewer line, including clean outs, overflow valves, back flow valves, “wye” branch and appurtenances that are located in public road or easement and which connects the building sewer lateral to the sewer main of the District. The District shall not be responsible for damages to the interior of a house or structure or for the costs of cleanup which results from a sewer stoppage where an overflow or backflow valve as required by Section 4.24.120 has not been installed and properly maintained.

 

SECTION 3.

Chapter 2.24 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code is hereby amended by adding Sections 4.24.131 to Section 4.24.136 inclusive thereto and to read as follows:

 
 

4.24.131 Emergency Maintenance Provided by Districts.

 

Districts will provide emergency maintenance to determine if a sewer stoppage is within the Districts’ sewer facilities or within that the property owners’ sewer lateral if a standard cleanout as defined by Section 4.24.110 has been installed at the property line or easement line. Districts shall not be responsible for the repair or replacement of any portion of the sanitary sewer lateral that may or may not have been damaged as a result of or alleged to be the result of said emergency maintenance.

 
 

4.24.132 Notification by District to Owner.

 

District shall notify property owner in writing:

 
 

(a)

if a cleanout meeting the standards of Section 4.24.110 is not in place.

 
 

(b)

that the District will not provide additional emergency maintenance until such time as a cleanout meeting the standards of Section 4.24.110 is installed by the property owner.

 
 

(c)

if District determines that any portion of a sewer building lateral is damaged.

 
 

(d)

if District determines either by repeated calls for emergency maintenance on a sewer lateral, or other means such as televising the lateral, that any portion of a property owner’s sewer lateral is damaged or in a condition which will result in additional stoppages in the lateral. District will specify a date when said lateral needs to be repaired or replaced. Failure by the property owner to do the necessary repair or replacement by the date as determined by the District will be cause for the District to refer the issue to the Director of Environmental Health with the request that the Director determine that said lateral is a nuisance as defined by Section 1.12.010 of the Ordinance Code and request that the nuisance be abated as provided by Section 1.12.020 of the Ordinance Code. The property owner shall also be responsible for the costs of any cleanup as mandated by the Director of Environmental Health or other County, State or Federal agency that is a result of stoppages in the building or sewer lateral.

 

SECTION 4.

This Ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days from the passage date thereof.