Chapter 20.20 DEFINITIONS

The definitions in this chapter shall govern the construction of this Division 2 of Title 20, and any permits issued thereunder unless otherwise apparent from the context. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2001, 1952.)

20.20.015 Act.

“Act” means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq. (Ord. 89-0101 § 1, 1989.)

20.20.020 Board.

“Board” means the board of supervisors of the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2002, 1952.)

20.20.030 Cesspool.

“Cesspool” means and is a lined excavation in the ground which receives the discharge of a drainage system, or part thereof, so designed as to retain the organic matter and solids discharging therein, but permitting the liquids to seep through the bottom and sides, and constructed pursuant to the provisions of the Plumbing Ordinance set out at Title 28 of this code. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2004, 1952.)

20.20.040 Chief engineer.

“Chief engineer” means the chief engineer of the County Sanitation District, the Municipal Water District or County Water District that owns and operates public sanitary sewerage facilities, or the County Flood Control District, or his authorized deputy, agent or representative. The district referred to shall be that one stipulated by the context. (Ord. 9119 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2005, 1952.)

20.20.050 Chimney.

“Chimney” means a vertical section of a sewer pipe extending either from a vertical tee set 90 degrees to the main line or from a long-radius one-quarter bend set vertically at the curb of property line, and in either case suitably reinforced with concrete. (Ord. 8690 § 2 (part), 1964: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2006, 1952.)

20.20.060 County.

“County” means the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2008, 1952.)

20.20.070 County engineer.

“County engineer” means the director of public works of the county of Los Angeles, or his authorized deputy, agent, representative or inspector. (Ord. 89-0101 § 2, 1989: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2009, 1952.)

20.20.080 County health officer.

“County health officer” means the director of public health of the county of Los Angeles, or his duly authorized representative. (Ord. 2006-0040 § 108, 2006: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2010, 1952.)

20.20.090 Dairy wastes.

“Dairy wastes” means the waste liquids incident to operation of a dairy, including wash water from the milking barn, milk house, bottle washing equipment, and similar devices. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2012, 1952.)

20.20.095 Director.

“Director” means the director of public works of the county of Los Angeles, or his authorized deputy, agent, representative or inspector. (Ord. 89-0101 § 3, 1989.)

20.20.100 Domestic sewage.

“Domestic sewage” means the waterborne wastes derived from ordinary living processes, and of such character as to permit satisfactory disposal, without special treatment, into the public sewer or by means of a private sewage disposal system. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2014, 1952.)

20.20.110 Effluent.

“Effluent” means the liquid flowing out of any treatment plant or facility constructed and operated for the partial or complete treatment of sewage or industrial waste. (Ord. 7519 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2015, 1952.)

20.20.115 Septic tank effluent.

“Septic tank effluent” is effluent from private septic tanks and shall be considered, for the purposes of this chapter involving the discharge of septic tank effluent to a Septic Tank Effluent Pumping pressure sewer system (STEP), the same as industrial waste. Whenever this chapter refers to industrial waste, the reference shall include septic tank effluent. (Ord. 89-0006 § 2, 1989.)

20.20.117 EPA.

“EPA” means the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (Ord. 89-0101 § 4, 1989.)

20.20.120 Frontage.

“Frontage” means the length or width in feet applied to a lot based on the benefit received from the abutting sewer, as determined by the county engineer. (Ord. 8690 § 2 (part), 1964: Ord. 6982 § 2, 1956: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2015.1, 1952.)

20.20.130 House lateral.

“House lateral” means that part of the sewer piping within the street or right-of-way which extends from the property or sewer right-of-way line to a construction with the main-line sewer. (Ord. 8690 § 2 (part), 1964: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2016, 1952.)

20.20.135 Indirect discharge.

“Indirect discharge” or “discharge” into a sewer means the introduction of pollutants into a POTW from any nondomestic source regulated under Section 307(b), (c) or (d) of the Act. (Ord. 89-0101 § 5, 1989.)

20.20.140 Industrial building.

“Industrial building” means any building, structure or works which is, or which is designed to be used for the manufacture, processing or distribution of materials, equipment, supplies, food or commodities of any description; or which is used or designed to be used as a school, sanitarium, hospital, penal institution or charitable institution, together with all appurtenances thereto and the surrounding premises under the same ownership or control. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2017, 1952.)

20.20.150 Industrial connection sewer.

“Industrial connection sewer” means that part of the sewer piping within the street or right-of-way which extends from the property or sewer right-of-way line to a connection with the main-line sewer through which is discharged industrial waste. (Ord. 8690 § 2 (part), 1964: Ord. 7519 § 1 (part), 1959: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2018, 1952.)

20.20.155 Industrial user.

“Industrial user” or “user” means a source of indirect discharge. (Ord. 89-0101 § 6, 1989.)

20.20.160 Industrial waste.

“Industrial waste” means any and all waste substances, liquid or solid, except domestic sewage, and includes among other things radioactive wastes and explosive, noxious or toxic gas when present in the sewage system. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2019, 1952.)

20.20.170 Industrial waste treatment facility.

“Industrial waste treatment facility” means any works or device for the treatment, storage or control of industrial waste within a site prior to disposal. (Ord. 11716 § 1, 1978: Ord. 6982 § 3 (part), 1956: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2021, 1952.)

20.20.180 Inspector.

“Inspector” means the authorized inspector, deputy, agent or representative of the county engineer. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2022, 1952.)

20.20.190 Interceptor.

“Interceptor” means and is a device designed and installed so as to separate and retain deleterious, hazardous or undesirable matter from wastes. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2023, 1952.)

20.20.195 Interference.

“Interference” means a discharge which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources:
A. Inhibits or disrupts the POTW, its treatment processes or operations, or its sludge processes, use or disposal; and
B. Is therefore a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW’s NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation) or of the prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with the following statutory provisions and regulations or permits issued thereunder (or more stringent state or local regulations): Section 405 of the Clean Water Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) (including Title II, more commonly referred to as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and including the state regulations contained in any sludge management plan prepared pursuant to Subtitle D of the SWDA), the Clean Air Act, and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. (Ord. 89-0101 § 7, 1989.)

20.20.200 Licensed contractor.

“Licensed contractor” means a contractor having a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 9, Division 3, of the Business and Professions Code, state of California, which license includes the activities listed on the permit applied for. (Ord. 6982 § 3 (part), 1956: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2024, 1952.)

20.20.210 Lot.

“Lot” means any piece or parcel of land bounded, defined or shown upon a map or deed recorded or filed in the office of the county recorder of Los Angeles County; provided, however, that in the event any building or structure covers more area than a lot as defined above, the term “lot” shall include all such pieces or parcels of land upon which said building or structure is wholly or partly located together with the yards, courts and other unoccupied spaces legally required for the building or structure. (Ord. 10020 § 3 (part), 1970: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2025, 1952.)

20.20.220 Main-line sewer.

“Main-line sewer” means any public sewer in a dedicated right-of-way in which changes in alignment and grade occur only at manholes, or where angle points or curves between manholes have been approved by the county engineer. Such sewers are generally eight inches or more in diameter. (Ord. 6982 § 3 (part), 1956: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2026, 1952.)

20.20.222 National Categorical Pretreatment Standard.

“National Categorical Pretreatment Standard,” “NCPS,” “National Pretreatment Standard,” “Pretreatment Standard,” or “Standard” means any regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by the EPA in accordance with Section 307(b) and (c) of the Act which applies to industrial users. This term includes prohibitive discharge limits established pursuant to Section 403.5 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (Ord. 89-0101 § 8, 1989.)

20.20.224 New source.

“New source” means any building, structure, facility or installation from which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants, the construction of which commenced after the publication of proposed pretreatment standards under Section 307(c) of the Act applicable to such source. (Ord. 89-0101 § 9, 1989.)

20.20.225 NPDES permit.

“NPDES permit” means a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of the Act. (Ord. 89-0101 § 10, 1989.)

20.20.226 Off-site disposal.

“Off-site disposal” means the disposal or removal of industrial wastes or other materials regulated by this division to a site other than the premises where the wastes were generated, whether or not such site is under the control of the industrial waste disposal permittee. (Ord. 89-0101 § 11, 1989.)

20.20.228 On-site disposal.

“On-site disposal” means the management, treatment, control or disposal, other than to the public sewer system, of industrial wastes or other materials within the premises named in an industrial waste disposal permit, whether or not the wastes were generated at the permitted site or by the permittee. (Ord. 89-0101 § 12, 1989.)

20.20.230 Ordinance.

“Ordinance” means an ordinance of the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2027, 1952.)

20.20.235 Pass through.

“Pass through” means a discharge which exits the POTW into the waters of the United States in quantities or concentrations which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW’s NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation.) (Ord. 89-0101 § 13, 1989.)

20.20.240 Permittee.

“Permittee” means the person to whom a permit has been issued pursuant to the provisions of this Division 2 of Title 20. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2028, 1952.)

20.20.250 Person.

“Person” means an individual human being, a firm, partnership or corporation, his or their heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, officers or agents, the county of Los Angeles, and any municipal, quasi-municipal or government agency, or district or officers thereof. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2029, 1952.)

20.20.260 Pollution of underground or surface waters.

“Pollution of underground or surface waters” means affecting the chemical, physical, biological and radiological integrity of such waters by man-made or man-induced activities. (Ord. 89-0101 § 14, 1989: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2030, 1952.)

20.20.262 Publicly owned treatment works.

“Publicly owned treatment works” or “POTW” means a treatment works as defined by Section 212 of the Act, which is owned by a state or municipality (as defined by Section 502(4) of the Act). This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes sewers, pipes and other conveyances only if they convey wastewater to a POTW treatment plant. For the purpose of this division, “POTW” shall also include any sewers that convey wastewaters to the POTW from outside the municipality by contract. (Ord. 89-0101 § 15, 1989.)

20.20.264 Pretreatment.

“Pretreatment” or “treatment” means the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater to a less harmful state prior to or in lieu of discharging or otherwise introducing such pollutants into a POTW or other disposal facility. The reduction or alteration can be obtained by physical, chemical or biological processes or process changes by use of an industrial waste treatment facility or other means, except as prohibited by 40 CFR Section 403.6(d). (Ord. 89-0101 § 16, 1989.)

20.20.270 Public sewer.

“Public sewer” means a main-line sanitary sewer, dedicated to public use. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2031, 1952.)

20.20.280 Radioactive material.

“Radioactive material” is defined to be any material composed of or containing chemical elements which spontaneously change their atomic structure by the emission of alpha or beta particles or gamma rays or any other particles or rays or forms of energy. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2032, 1952.)

20.20.290 Rainwater diversion system.

“Rainwater diversion system” means any device designated to prevent the entry of stormwaters into the public sewer system or other waste disposal or treatment systems, and to redirect storm flows to appropriate areas. (Ord. 11716 § 3, 1978: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2032.1, 1952.)

20.20.300 Saddle.

A. “Wye saddle” means a short pipe-fitting with a shoulder at one end to allow the application of the fitting to a hole tapped in the main-line sewer such that the short pipe shall form a 45-degree angle from the main-line sewer pipe.
B. “Tee saddle” means a short pipe-fitting with a shoulder at one end to allow the application of the fitting to a hole tapped in the main-line sewer such that the short pipe shall form a 90-degree angle from the main-line sewer pipe. (Ord. 11716 § 2, 1978; Ord. 6982 § 4 (part), 1956: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2032.2, 1952.)

20.20.310 Section.

“Section” means a section of the ordinance codified in this Division 2, unless some other ordinance or statute is mentioned. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2033, 1952.)

20.20.320 Seepage pit.

“Seepage pit” means a line-excavation in the ground which receives the discharge of a septic tank, so designed as to permit the effluent from the septic tank to seep through its bottom and sides. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2034, 1952.)

20.20.330 Septic tank.

“Septic tank” means a watertight receptacle which receives the discharge from a sewerage system, designed and constructed so as to retain solids, digest organic matter through a period of detention, and allow the liquids to discharge either into the soil outside of the tank through a drainfield system or one or more seepage pits, or into a STEP system. (Ord. 89-0006 § 3, 1989: Ord. 8690 § 3 (part), 1964: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2034.1, 1952.)

20.20.340 Sewage.

“Sewage” means any waterborne or liquid wastes, including domestic sewage and industrial waste, but does not include or mean stormwater, groundwater, roof or yard drainage. (Ord. 7519 § 3 (part), 1959: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2035, 1952.)

20.20.345 Sewer disposal.

“Sewer disposal” means the disposal of industrial wastes or other materials into the public sewer system by means of a direct connection to the public sewer system from the premises named in an industrial waste disposal permit. (Ord. 89-0101 § 17, 1989.)

20.20.350 Sewage pumping plant.

“Sewage pumping plant” means any works or device used to raise sewage from a lower to a higher level or to overcome friction in a pipeline. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2036, 1952.)

20.20.360 Shall and may.

“Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2038, 1952.)

20.20.361 STEP system.

“STEP system” means a Septic Tank Effluent Pumping system which is a public sewer system, operating under pressure and especially designed to receive effluent from private septic tanks. (Ord. 89-0006 § 4, 1989.)

20.20.365 Standard Industrial Classification.

“Standard Industrial Classification” or “SIC” means a classification pursuant to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual issued by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, 1972, as amended. (Ord. 89-0101 § 18, 1989.)

20.20.370 Tapping.

“Tapping” means the forming of a tee or wye branch connection to a main-line sewer by installing a tee or wye saddle after the sewer is in place. (Ord. 6982 § 4 (part), 1956: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2039.1, 1952.)

20.20.380 Tee or T.

“Tee” or “T” means a fitting for a branch on which the spur joins the barrel of the pipe at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2040, 1952.)

20.20.390 Trunk sewer.

“Trunk sewer” means a sewer under the jurisdiction of a public entity other than the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2041, 1952.)

20.20.395 Uncontrolled discharge.

“Uncontrolled discharge” means any discharge, intentional or accidental, occurring in such a manner that the discharger is unable to determine or regulate the quantity, quality or effects of the discharge. (Ord. 89-0101 § 19, 1989.)

20.20.400 Waste disposal facility.

“Waste disposal facility” means any dump, solid waste disposal site, transfer station, sanitary landfill, land reclamation project, incinerator (except household incinerators and wood refuse to be burned in a suitable furnace), or other similar site or facility which is used or intended to be used for the acceptance for transfer, salvage or disposal of rubbish, garbage or industrial waste, whether liquid or solid. (Ord. 11716 § 6, 1978: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2041.1, 1952.)

20.20.410 Water pollution control plant.

“Water pollution control plant” means any works or device for treating sewage except any industrial waste treatment facility, and except any private sewage disposal system covered by the Plumbing Code set out at Title 28 of this code. (Ord. 11716 § 5, 1978; Ord. 8690 § 2 (part), 1964: Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2041.2, 1952.)

20.20.420 Wye or Y.

“Wye” or “Y” means a fitting for a branch on which the spur joins the barrel of the pipe at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. (Ord. 6130 Part 2 § 2042, 1952.)

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