(A) The Manager or his or her designee shall be permitted to enter any property other than residences, at any time, for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling or testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; provided that if the property is occupied he shall first present proper credentials to the occupant and request entry, explaining his or her reasons therefor, and if the property is unoccupied he or she shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner of the property and request entry, explaining his or her reasons therefor. If the entry is refused or cannot be obtained because the owner of the property cannot be found after due diligence, the Manager shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry for the purposes stated in this division.
(B) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (A) of this section, if the Manager has reasonable cause to believe that waters or wastes of the types referred to in §§ 53.022 and 53.023 are being discharged from any property into a public sewer or natural outlet, and has reasonable cause to believe that the discharge is so dangerous, hazardous or unsafe as to require immediate inspection to safeguard the public health or safety, he or she shall have the right to immediately enter and inspect the property, and may use any reasonable means required to effect the entry and make the inspection, whether the property is occupied or unoccupied, and whether or not permission to inspect has been obtained. If the property is occupied, he or she shall first present the proper credentials to the occupant and demand entry, explaining his or her reasons therefor and the purpose of his or her inspection. No person shall fail or refuse, after proper demand has been made upon him or her, as provided in this subchapter, to promptly permit the Manager to make any inspection provided for by this subchapter.
(2) Any person violating this subchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(C) The Manager 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 or waste treatment.
(D) While performing the necessary work on property referred to in this section, the Manager shall observe all applicable safety rules established by the owner of the property.
(Prior Code, § 52-197)