Ordinance 999ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO AND REGULATING SEWAGE DISPOSAL. SYSL'EMS,
PROVIDING FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL
SYSTEM DESIGNERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM INSTALLERS, REQUIRING
PERMITS DEFINING OFFENCES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES^
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONTIS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
• Section 1. DEFINITIONS. Certain words and phrases used in this Article,
unless othervvise clearly indicated by their context, shall mean as follows:
APPROVED. Approved in writing by the City Engineer.
SANITARY DRAINAGE SYSTEM. The piping which conveys sewage
from plumbing f ixtures to a public sewer or private sewage system.
SEWAGE. Any liquid or liquid borne waste from the ordinary
living processes, or liquid or liquid borne waste which contains animal or vegetable
matter in suspension or solution, or liquid or liquid borne waste which may con-
tain chemical in solution, and which may be lawfully discharged into a public san-
itary sewer.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. Sanitary drainage systems, septic
tanks grease traps, leaching pits, surface and sub -surface leaching filter weds, and
appurtenances; or other approved facilities for the disposal of sewage by means
other than through a public sewer.
HEALTH OFFICER. Shall mean the Health Officer of the City of
Edmonds.
Section 2. ENFORCEMENT AND RULES AND REGULATIONS. It shall
be the duty of the City Engineer to enforce this Ordinance; he or his authorized
representatives may enter any building or premises at any reasonable time to per-
form any of the duties imposed on him by this Ordinance; the City Engineer is
hereby authorized to establish reasonable rules and regulations for the location,
construction, repair and maintenance of sewage disposal systems based upon accept-
ed standards and recommendations found in Public Health Service Publication No.
526, Manual of Septic Tank Practise; Federal Housing Administration Publication
No. 300, Minimum Property Standards for One and Two Living Units, and other
reasonable standards and practices in keeping with acceptable engineering principles.
Section 3. RETROACTIVITY. This Ordinance shall not apply to any work
on a sewage disposal system for which a permit had been issued }y the City Engin-
eer, and which permit was valid and existing at the time of adoption of this Ord-
inance, but any such work shall be subject to applicable Ordinances existing at the
• time such permit was issued.
Section 4. DESIGNERS CERTIFICATE.
(a) It is unlawful to engage in business as a Sewage Disposal
System Designer without a Sewage Disposal System Designer's Certificate of Com-
petency as provided for in this resolution, or a State of Washington Sanitary or
Civil Engineer's License.
(b) The fee for a Sewage Disposal System Designer's Certificate
of Competency shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per year.
(c) Application for a Sewage Disposal System Designe_ Is Certificate
of Competency shall be made to the City Engineer, who may examine the applicant,
and may deny the application if, in his judgment, the applicant is not qualified to
design sewage disposal systems.
• (d) Prior to the issuance of a Sewage Disposal System Designer's
Certificate of Competency, the applicant must provide a surety bond approved as
to form by the City Engineer in the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1, 000) running
to the City of Edmonds, executed by a surety company authorized to do business in
the State of Washington. The bond shall be conditioned that the holder of the Cer-
tificate of Competency and lis agents in performing work governed by the Ordinance
shall exercise all reasonable care and skill and shall fully comply with all pro-
visions of this Ordinance relating to sewage disposal.
(e) The City Engineer may suspend or revoke any Sewage Disposal
System Designer's. Certificate of Competency if, after a hearing, he shall find
incompetency, negligence, misrepresentation, or failure to comply with this Ord-
inance or the rules and regulations of the City Engineer adopted pursuant to this
Ordinance.
(f) Sewage Disposal System Designers Certificates of Competency
shall expire December 31 of each year.
Section 5. INSTALLERS CERTIFICATE.
(a) It is unlawful to engage in business as a Sewage Disposal
System Installer without a Sewage Disposal System Installer's Certificate of Comp-
etency.
(b) T`e fee for a Sewage Disposal System Installer's Certificate of
Competency shall be Fifty Dollars ($50. 00) per year.
(c) Prior to the issuance of a commercial installer's Certificate of
Competency, the applicant must provide a surety bond approved as to form by the
City Engineer in the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1, 000) running to Life City of
Edmonds, executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of
Washington. The bond shall be conditioned that the holder of the Certi'icate of
Competency and his agents in performing work governed by the Ordinance shall
exercise all reasonable care and skill and shall fully comply with all provisions
of this Ordinance relating to sewage disposal.
(d) Application for a Sewage Disposal System Installer's Certi-
ficate of Competency shall be made to the City Engineer, who may examine the
applicant, and may deny the application if in his judgment the applicant is not
qualified to install sewage disposal systems.
(e) The City Engineer may suspend or revoke any Sewage Dis-
posal System Installer's Certificate of Competency if, after a hearing, he shall
find incompetency, negligence, misrepresentation, or failure to comply with this
oc n Rlie. b,
(f) Sewage Disposal System Installer's Certificates of Competency
shall expire December 31, of each year.
Section 6. PERMITS
(a) It is unlawful to construct, install or alter a sewage disposal
system without a sewage disposal system permit. Such permit shall be posted on
• the building or premises where the work permitted is being done, and unless re-
voked, shall not be removed until such work has been finally approved by the City
Engineer.
(b) The fee for a sewage disposal system permit shall be Ten
Dollars ($10.00). -
(c) Application for a sewage disposal sysiem permit shall be made
to the City Engineer, who may deny the application if in his judgment the physical
features of property on which it is proposed to locate the sewage disposal system,
or the design of the proposed sewage disposal system, are not adequate for safe.
operation of such system.
(d) Application for a sewage disposal system permit shall be
supported by the following:
1. A completely dimensioned plot plan, drawn to scale, showing direction
of surface drainage, approximate slope, and other topographical
features relevant to the design and installation of an adequate and
efficient dewage disposal system.
2. Construction plans and specifications.
3. A log of soil formation and ground water level as determined by test
holes in the proposed disposal field.
4. A statement of absorption characteristics of the soil as determined
by percolation tests made in the proposed disposal fiel.d.
Provided, however, that Paragraph D, Items 1, 2, 3 and 4, are not
applicable when application is made for a sewage disposal permit for
repairs to an existing system.
(e) Sewage disposal system permits shall expire one year from
date of issue.
Section 7. WHERE REQUIRED. Every plumbing fixture and every san-
itary e; ainWe_ system not connected to a public sewer, or not required by law zo
• be connected to a public sewer, shall be connected to a private sewage disposal
system.
Section 8. LOCATION. Sewage Disposal systems shall be located on
the same lot as the buildings they are designed to serve, or, if an easement there-
for is obtained and recorded, on adjoining property if approved by the City Engineer.
Section 8. DESIGN.
"'Ta) Sewage disposal systems shall be designed by a Sewage
Disposal System Designer, certificated as provided in this Ordinance, or by a
Sanitary or Civil Engineer licensed by the State of Washington, except that a
resident, or intended resident owner may personally design a system for his
own single family residence.
(b) Design of sewage disposal systems shall be such as to
• accommodate all sewage from the buildings and premises to be served, and in
accordance with this Ordinance and the rules and regulations of the City Engineer
adopted pursuant to this Ordinance. The type of system shall be determined by
location, soil porosity, ground water level and other relevant conditions.
Section 10. INSTALLATION AND ALTERATION
(a) Sewagc disposal systems shall be constructed, installed or
altered only by a Sewage Disposal System Installer, certificated as provided in
this Ordinance, except that a resident, or intended resident owner may personally
construct, install or alter a system for his own single family residence this
does not apply to builders of speculative homes.
(b) Construction, installation or alteration of sewage disposal
systems shall be such as to accommodate all sewage from the buildings and
premises to be served, and in accordance with this Ordinance and the rules and
regulations of the City Engineer adopted pursuant to this Ordinance. No down-
spout or footing drain shall be directly or indirectly connected to a sewage
disposal system, and sewage disposal systems shall be so constructed and
installed that surface water or ground water will not interfere with the operation
of such system.
Section 11. INSPECTION
(a) Any work done on a sewage disposal system, and any material
used, may be inspected by the City Engineer at any reasonable time, and if he
shall find that any work done, or material used, is not in accordance with this
Ordinance or with the rules and regulations n° the City Engineer adopted pursuant
to this Ordinance he may revoke the permit r the work, or he may notify the
owner or installer to make such changes in the work as he shall specify, and if
such changes are not made within a reasonable time, the City Engineer shall then
revoke the permit and it shall be unlawful to use such sewage disposal system.
(b) When the work of constructing, installirg or altering a sewage
disposal system has been otherwise completed, it shall be left open and uncovered,
and the owner shall be notified and he shall cause an inspection of such work and
such system to be made by a designer.
(c) If upon inspection by him following work on a sewage disposal
system, a designer shall find that such weirk or system is not in accordance with
this Ordinance, he shall so notify the owner who shall cause such changes in the
work as are specified by the designer, and shall then again notify a designer that
such work is ready for inspection.
(d) When upon inspection by him faI14,ving work on a sewage
disposal system, a designer shall find that such work and system are in ac-
cordance with this Ordinance, he shall so certify to the City Engineer, and
shall submit to the City Engineer with such certification, a detailed "as -built"
drawing of such system.
Section 12. APPROVAL
• (a) Within a reasonable time after receipt of certification by
a designer that work done on a private sewage disposal system, and such system
is in accordance with this Ordinance, the City Engineer shall approve or dis-
approve thereof.
(b) If the City Engineer shall disapprove such work or system,
he shall so notify the owner, Mating his reasons for such disapproval, and it
shall then be unlawful to use such system.
(c) If the City Engineer shall finally approve such work and such
system, he shall so notify the owner and tt-en such work shall be covered, and
such system may be used.
Section 13. MAINTENANCE. Sewage disposal systems shall be main-
tained in accordance with this Ordinance and the rules and regulations of the City
Engineer adopted pursuant to this Ordinance, and no sewage disposal system shall
be used which directly or indirectly discharges upon the surface of the ground or
into any waters within the County unless the contents of such system have been
subjected to approved purification and bactericidal treatment.
Section 14. STANDARDS AND APPEALS. In examining any applicant
for any certificate required hereunder, the City Engineer shall .hold the
applicant to the standards required by the Standard Sanitary Engineering te:'s
of Snohomish County. Any applicant who may feel aggrieved by any decision
of the City Engineer shall have the right to appeal the same to the Board of
Appeals of the City of Edmonds as established by the Uniform Building Coda
(Ordinance No. 847) of the City of Edmonds.
Section 15. PENALTY. Anyone violating or failing to comply with this
Ordinance, or any lawful rule of the City Engineer pursuant, thereto, upon con-
viction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Three Hundred Doliars
($300.00), or by imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or by both
such fine- and imprisonment, and each day that anyone shall -continue to violate
or fail to comply with this Ordinance shall be a separate offense.
Section 16. SEVERABILITY. Should any part of this Ordinance be
• declared invalid for any reason, such declaration shall not affect the validity
of the remainder.
Section 17. REPEAL. Sections 1109, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116
and Tables 11-1, R -2, 11-3, 11-4, of the Uniform Plumbing Code, 1961 Edition
published by Western Plumbing Officials Association as adopted by Ordinance
No. 820 adopted by the Edmonds City Council on July 5, 1960 be and said
sections and tables are hereby repealed, and Ordinance No. 498 passed by the
Edmonds City Council on December 3, 1935 be and the same is hereb repealed,
and all other Ordinances of the City of Eft onds in conflict herewith are here-
by repealed.
Section 17.
That this Oruinance shall become effective
------�A AiA_yOR -------- --—
MAY
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
Passed;
Published,—
FILED with City Clerk:,
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