(A) Use of public sewer required.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in an unsanitary manner human waste on public or private property within any area under the jurisdiction of the county.
(2) It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within any area under the jurisdiction of the county any sewage or other polluted waters except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the Lake County Health Department and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) Except as hereinafter provided and subject to the provisions of Article V of the County Board of Health Ordinance, 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.
(4) (a) The owners of all existing houses, building, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes situated within the county and abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located any public sanitary sewer of the county, is after notice from the county hereby required to install at the owner's expense suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The connection shall be made within 180 days after the date of official notice to do so provided that the public sewer is within 300 feet from the nearest property line of a single family dwelling and 1,000 feet from the nearest property boundary of a nonresidential, multi-family, or subdivision property boundary.
(b) The county will not issue any permit or approval to repair or upgrade an existing private disposal system where the public sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the property line of a single family dwelling and 1,000 feet from the nearest property boundary of a non-residential, multi-family, or subdivision property boundary. Owners whose private disposal system requires repairs or upgrades, plans to sell or have a change of use of the property shall notify LCPW and the Lake County Health Department, and then abandon the existing system in accordance with the Lake County Health Department regulations and connect to the public sewer within one 180 days of the notification.
(c) The owner shall pay all costs of connection and sewer main extension fees.
(B) Private sewage disposal.
(1) Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of division (A) above, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of the Lake County Health Department.
(2) When a public sanitary sewer becomes available, the building sewer shall be connected to the public sanitary sewer within 180 days after the date of official notice to do so and the private sewage disposal system shall be abandoned in accordance with Lake County Health Department regulations.
(3) No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the building or zoning authority having jurisdiction over the property.
(C) Building sewers and connections.
(1) 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 sanitary sewer/water permit from the Director.
(2) It shall be unlawful to discharge wastewater to any public sanitary sewer except those wastewaters that are in compliance with standards promulgated pursuant to the federal Act, the state Act, or any rules, regulations, ordinances or standards of the county.
(3) The owner of a building or his or her agent seeking to connect to the public sewer shall complete a sanitary sewer/water permit application as furnished by the county. The sanitary sewer/water permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Director. An industrial user, as a condition of permit authorization, must complete the industrial user survey (see LCPW website for a copy) and provide information describing its wastewater constituents, characteristics, flow and type of activity.
(4) Each sanitary sewer which is designed and is to be connected so as to be an integral part of the public sanitary sewer system shall be constructed pursuant to a sanitary sewer/water permit issued by the county and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, where required.
(5) A new or supplemental sanitary sewer/water permit, connection fee and/or Illinois Environmental Protection Agency permit may be required for existing buildings or premises when there is a change of use, a change in process, a change of the constituents or flow of the sewage discharged from such premises.
(6) A sanitary sewer/water permit will only be issued and a building sewer connection shall only be allowed if it can be demonstrated that the downstream sewerage system, including sewers, pump stations and water reclamation facilities, have sufficient reserve capacity to adequately and efficiently handle the additional anticipated waste load.
(7) All costs and expense incidental to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The person installing, maintaining or repairing the building sewer for the owner shall (a) be a licensed plumber or sewer contractor and (b) indemnify the county for any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation.
(8) A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except that where an existing building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and the rear lot does not have frontage 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.
(9) Existing building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only after an internal video inspection of the building sewer has been completed and either provided to (in digital format) or witnessed by the Director and has been found by the Director to meet all of the requirements of this chapter.
(10) Each unit of a multi-unit residential (e.g., condos and townhomes) or commercial establishment (e.g., strip malls) must have its own building drain and building sewer.
(11) The connection of the building sewer into a county sanitary sewer shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing codes, this chapter, and other applicable rules and regulations of the county and the procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the Standard Specifications for Water and Sewer Construction in Illinois by Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, et al. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the Director before installation.
(12) (a) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof run-off or sub-surface drainage to any building sewer or building drain which is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.
(b) The above requirements and prohibitions shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Downspout s. No downspouts or roof drains shall be connected to the sanitary sewer system.
2. Footing/foundation drains. No footing drains or drainage tiles shall be connected to the sanitary sewer system.
3. Sump pumps. Sump pumps installed to receive and discharge ground waters or other storm waters shall not be discharged to a public sanitary sewer. Ejector pumps installed to receive, and discharge floor drain flow or other wastewater shall be connected to the sanitary sewers.
4. Window well and area drains. No window well or area drains shall be connected to the sanitary sewer system. Area drains include, but are not limited to, dumpster drains, stairwell drains, yard drains and dock drains.
5. Drain tiles. Discharge from drain tiles shall not be directed to the sanitary sewer system.
(D) Prohibitive discharge. The user/permitee shall not discharge any pollutant or wastewater which will interfere with the operation or performance of the wastewater treatment or sludge disposal process of the water reclamation facilities. Prohibitive discharges include but are not limited to:
(1) Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas which creates a fire or explosion hazard in the water reclamation facilities, including, but not limited to, waste streams with a closed flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Centigrade using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21.
(2) Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases, including herbicides and insecticides, in sufficient quantity either singly or by interaction with other wastes, so as to injure or interfere with the wastewater treatment or sludge disposal process , or to constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create a public nuisance in the receiving waters of the water reclamation facility, or to exceed the limitations set forth in any local, state or national discharge standards.
(3) Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.0 or greater than 9.5.
(4) Solids or viscous substances which may cause obstruction of the flow in sanitary sewers, or other interference with the operation of the water reclamation facilities such as, but not limited to animal guts, tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshing, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, wax, grease, tar, plastics, wood, ungrounded garbage, paper (wipes, towels, dishes, cups, and the like), milk containers, and the like, either whole or ground by garbage grinders.
(5) Debris removed from municipal or industrial stormwater catch basins, commercial grease traps, industrial processes, shop basins or car wash basins.
(6) Any radioactive wastes with combined radium (Ra 226/Ra 228) greater that 5.0 pCi/l.
(7) Any other biological or chemical agents that may interfere with the operation or performance of the wastewater treatment or sludge disposal process of the water reclamation facilities.
(8) The discharge of the following described substances, materials, waters, or wastes shall be limited to concentrations or quantities which will not harm either the treatment processes or equipment of the water reclamation facility, and will not have an adverse effect on the receiving water, or will not otherwise endanger lives, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance.
(a) Wastewater having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Centigrade).
(b) Wastewater containing more than 100 milligrams per liter (mg/l) of non-polar (SGT-HEM) FOG defined as petroleum oil, non- biodegradable cutting oils, grease or other mineral oils.
(c) Wastewater containing more than 200 milligrams per liter (mg/l) of polar (P-HEM) FOG defined as floatable oils, fat or grease of animal or vegetable origin.
(d) Any garbage that has not been properly shredded, with no particle greater than one-half inch in any direction.
(e) Any waters or wastes containing color producing or odor producing substances that will inhibit, interfere or pass through the treatment process.
(f) Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to the treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the water reclamation facility's effluent cannot meet the requirements of the agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.
(g) Any waters or wastes which result in the release of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes that may cause acute worker health and safety problems, and/or form suspended solids which interfere with the wastewater treatment system, or create a condition deleterious to structures and treatment processes.
(h) Materials which exert or cause:
1. Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute an excessive load on the water reclamation facility, in the opinion of the LCPW.
2. Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, fuller's earth, lime slurries, and lime residues) or dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium sulfate).
(i) Waters or wastes containing chlorine above 2 mg/l.
(9) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged a wastewater containing items or pollutants that could clog or damage the county's sewerage system including (but not limited to) the following items:
(a) Wet/dry cleaning cloths (Swiffer, and the like);
(b) Any plastics (bags, gloves, condoms);
(c) Sanitary napkins and tampons;
(d) Antibacterial wipes (Lysol, and the like);
(e) Cooking oil, fat and grease;
(f) Diapers and diaper wipes;
(g) Cloth, rags and string;
(h) Laundry dryer sheets;
(i) Pharmaceutical drugs;
(j) Over-the-counter medicines;
(k) Household cleaning chemicals;
(l) Hygiene or personal care products;
(m) Fuels, motor oil and antifreeze;
(n) Paints and paint thinners;
(o) Perfumes and cosmetics;
(p) Lawn care chemicals.
(E) Application for connection. If requested sewer service requires the installation of any sewer main, any applicant whose building, structure or premises directly benefits from such main extension shall pay with such application the cost to install the main (including, but not limited to construction cost, permit fees, and all engineering, administrative and legal expenses). Such payment shall be made in addition to any other connection fees in force at the time of the application. Any extension of the main shall be installed in accordance with plans approved by the Public Works Department and shall be installed along the entire frontage of the premises to be served to the next adjacent property as determined by the Director.
(1) No connection shall be made to the county's sanitary sewer system or to any tributary sanitary sewer system, and no additional use shall be made of an existing connection until an appropriate sanitary sewer/water permit for such connection or additional use has been issued by the county. Prior to the issuance of such permit by the county, an application shall be properly completed and filed with the county and all applicable fees and charges paid in full. In addition, the applicant shall submit plans and specifications for the proposed construction in accordance with the provisions of § 53.06(C).
(2) After a connection has been made according to the provisions of the sanitary sewer/water permit issued the construction excavation shall be left open until the county has inspected and approved the connection.
(3) All building sewers (whether new installation or replacing or repairing existing services) within the service area of the county shall be constructed in accordance with Title 77 Illinois Administrative Code, part 890, "Illinois Plumbing Code", latest edition or materials as required by the municipality and approved by the county.
(4) All sanitary sewer/water permits issued by the county shall expire after two calendar years from the date of issuance. If the permit has expired, the applicant shall be required to obtain a new permit. Additional permit fees may be incurred by the owner if the fee amount at the time of re-applications is larger than the original amount paid.
(5) When any work to any building sewer is necessary (including lining or repairs requiring excavation), a sanitary sewer/water permit shall be issued prior to commencement of any such work.
(F) Connection fees and credit.
(1) Sanitary sewer connection fees. Sanitary sewer connection fees shall be as set forth in the county's then-applicable Retail Water/Sewer Rate Ordinance.
(2) Credit toward connection fees. Credit towards connection fees may be issued by the county for the circumstances where specific documentation either exists in the county's records or is presented to the county by the developer.
(3) For residential property the connection charges can be found in the county's Retail Water/Sewer Rate Ordinance.
(4) For nonresidential property the connection charges can be found in the county's Retail Water/Sewer Rate Ordinance.
(5) Where it has been determined by the county that there are existing/unpaid connection fees, user fees, fines, penalties, or other specific use charges in any nonresidential building, any permit(s) applied for within the building shall be held and not issued by the county until restitution of unpaid amounts has been made in full to the county by either the tenant or the owner of the building.
(G) Duty to notify at change of use, ownership, tenant or process. Each customer is obligated to notify the county when the following occurs in connection with any premises from which such customer receives sewer service from the county:
(1) Any structure or dwelling is to be sold, quit claimed, traded or otherwise transferred;
(2) The use of the property has or will change from its existing use;
(3) There is a change in process that impacts or can significantly impact the volume or characteristics of discharge;
(4) There is a building expansion;
(5) There is a change of tenant;
(6) There are interior or exterior building changes that affect the sewer discharge upon the premises.
(Ord. 19-1394, passed 9-10-2019) Penalty, see § 53.99