* The city has contracted with the commissioners of public works of the city of Greenville to provide water service for the city, and to collect water and sewer service charges. The city of Travelers Rest maintains the sewer collection lines.

The owner of any houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purpose situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there shall be located a public sanitary sewer of the city is required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within ninety days after written notice from the council to the property owner to make connection thereto, provided that the public sewer is located within three hundred feet of the property line. (Prior code § 4-1-1)

(a) Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meanings of terms used in this chapter shall be as follows:
(1) “Building drain” means that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge of soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five feet outside the inner face of the building wall.
(2) “Building sewer” means the extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal.
(3) “Clerk” means the municipal clerk-treasurer, or designated deputy, agent or representative.
(4) “Garbage” means solid wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.
(5) “Industrial wastes” means liquid wastes from industrial processes as distinct from sanitary sewage.
(6) “Natural outlet” means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface or ground water.
(7) “Pit privy” means a building which is not connected to a sewer or septic tank and used for affording privacy to people while in the act of urination or defecation. They shall be constructed and maintained strictly in accordance with standards as prescribed by the U.S. Public Health Service.
(8) “Public sewer” means a sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights, and that is owned by the city or by the public.
(9) “Sanitary sewer” means a sewer which carries sewage and to which storm, surface and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
(10) “Septic tank” means a private sewage disposal system consisting of a disposal tank and drain field in which a continuous flow of waste material is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria and which is constructed and maintained in strict accordance with standards as prescribed by the U.S. Public Health Service.
(11) “Sewage” means a combination of the water-carried wastes from the residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments, together with such ground, surface and storm waters as may be present.
(12) “Sewage treatment plant” means any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.
(13) “Sewage works” means all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
(14) “Sewer” means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
(15) “Storm sewage” or “storm drain” means a sewer which carries storm and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and polluted industrial wastes other than unpolluted cooling water.
(16) “Street” means streets, avenues, drives, boulevards, roads, alleys, lanes and viaducts, and all other public highways in the sanitary area.
(17) “Unit” means an office, apartment, or other facility having water provided, when used in the context of a multi-unit structure.
(18) “Watercourse” means a channel in which a flow of water occurs either continuously or intermittently.
(b) All other words shall be construed as having the meanings defined in the Glossary of Water and Sewage Control Engineering, published by the Water Pollution Control Federation, Washington, DC, or by their general usage or as otherwise defined in this code. (Ord. 2-88, 1988: prior code § 4-1-2)

It is unlawful to discharge into any natural outlet in any area under the jurisdiction of the city any sewage, industrial wastes, or other polluted wastes, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with this chapter. (Prior code § 4-1-3)

No sewage disposal service shall be furnished or rendered free of charge to any person, firm or corporation. (Prior code § 4-1-4)

* For provisions regarding tap fees, see Section 4.04.460, et seq., of this code.

It is unlawful for any person to tamper with or make any connection to the sewer system, without written permission, or to reconnect any water or sewer service when it has been disconnected for nonpayment of a bill for service, until such bill has been paid in full, together with any reconnection fee which might be charged. It shall likewise be a violation of this chapter for the owner or occupant of any residence or other building required to be connected to the public sewer to fail to cause such building to be connected. (Prior code § 4-1-5)

The public works coordinator and other duly authorized employees of the city or the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (Prior code § 4-1-6)

The public works coordinator and other duly authorized employees of the city or the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all private properties for the purpose of, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair and maintenance of any portion of the sewer works lying within the city’s easement. All entry and work shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved. (Prior code § 4-1-7)

It shall be the duty of the public works coordinator to insure that all sewers or drain pipes are unstopped, clean and in working condition where premises are occupied. (Prior code § 4-1-8)

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner, or his agent, of all premises in the city to keep all outside toilets unstopped and in effective operation. All inside toilets shall be kept clean, sanitary and unstopped by the owners, if living on the premises, or by the tenants of all premises in the city. (Prior code § 4-1-9)

It is unlawful for any tenant or occupant to fail to notify the public works coordinator of any public toilet which is stopped up, unsanitary or not working within twenty-four hours after discovery of the condition. (Prior code § 4-1-10)

Any public toilet, either outside or inside, that is not made serviceable within seventy-two hours after service has stopped shall be ordered cleaned up, and shall be closed by the public works coordinator until service is reestablished. (Prior code § 4-1-11)

It is unlawful for any person to rent or let rooms for housekeeping or for sleeping accommodations in any building or structure in the city, unless such person shall provide one toilet for every ten persons. Such toilets shall be installed in accordance with the laws of the city, and the sanitary conditions of such toilets shall be approved by the public works coordinator. In determining the number of persons occupying rooms, all children over the age of six months shall be counted or included. The provisions of this section shall not apply to rooms rented or let from day to day only at hotels and tourist homes where no cooking is done in the rooms so rented or let, or to rooms occupied by students in schools or colleges where no cooking is done in the rooms so occupied by students, provided that adequate toilet facilities are otherwise furnished. (Prior code § 4-1-12)

No statement contained in this article shall be construed to nullify, restrict or impair any requirements that may be imposed by the appropriate state or county authorities. (Prior code § 4-1-13)

(a) Any person found to be violating any provision of this chapter, except Section 4.04.060, shall be served by the city with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.
(b) Any person who shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in such notice shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in accordance with Section 1.12.510 of this code. (Prior code § 4-1-14)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to the city for any expense, loss, or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation. (Prior code § 4-1-15)

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 permit. (Prior code § 4-1-21)

There shall be two classes of building sewer permits: (1) for residential and commercial service, and (2) for service to establishments producing industrial wastes. In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the city. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent to the judgment of the city. A permit and inspection fee, as shall be fixed from time to time by council, shall be paid to the clerk-treasurer at the time the application is filed. (Prior code § 4-1-22)

All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the city from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.
The building sewer connecting the drains, plumbing fixtures, or like drainage devices of any type whatsoever to the public sewer system, regardless of the size or use of such building sewer, shall be deemed to be owned by the owner or the real property on which such drains, fixtures or devices are located, unless the owner can show otherwise by a recordable written instrument establishing ownership of the line in another party; and the city in no instance shall be deemed owner of such sewer by virtue of the line’s connection to the public sewer system or the circumstances of the original installation of the building sewer. (Ord. O-19-93, 1993; prior code § 4-1-23)

A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building. Where one building stands to the rear of another on a single lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, courtyard, or driveway, the city may grant permission for the building sewer from the front building to be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer, upon a showing by the applicant that it is not feasible that the two buildings so connected will ultimately be on separate building lots. (Prior code § 4-1-24)

Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the city and/or the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority, to meet all requirements of this chapter. (Prior code § 4-1-25)

The size, slope, alignment, materials of construction of a building sewer and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, testing and backfilling the trench shall all conform to the requirements of the appropriate specifications of the ASTM or WPCF Manual of Practice No. 9. All installation is to be subject to the express written approval of the city and/or the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority and in no case shall the size of the pipe installed be less than four inches in nominal diameter. (Prior code § 4-1-26)

Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement or first floor. No building sewer shall be made parallel to or within three feet of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened. The depth shall be sufficient to afford protection from live loads (automobiles, etc.) which may be superimposed. The building sewer shall be made at uniform grade and in straight alignment insofar as possible. The building sewer shall be constructed to such point as directed by the city and/or the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority. (Prior code § 4-1-27)

No person shall maintain or make a connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer. (Prior code § 4-1-28)

Before any underground portions thereof are covered, the applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the Greenville County codes department when the building is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection thereof shall be made to the public sewer by the owner, and only after inspection. (Prior code § 4-1-29)

All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazards. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city and/or the state department of highways and public transportation. (Prior code § 4-1-30)

Developers who desire to tie in their subdivisions to the public sewer of the city shall be required to lay and install all sewer lines and connections to the specifications required in this chapter and to such specifications as may be necessary to meet the approval of the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority. After meeting the specifications, the developers may petition the city to accept a deed to the sewer lines and if the connections are free of all incumbrances, the same may be deeded without further expense to the city. (Prior code § 4-1-31)

* For provisions regarding waiver of tap fees, see Section 4.04.480 of this code.

The city shall attempt to keep a permanent and accurate record of the location, depth and direction of all new sewer connections, including such landmarks as may be necessary to make an adequate description. (Prior code § 4-1-32)

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water or unpolluted industrial process to any sanitary sewer. (Prior code § 4-1-41)

No statement contained in this article shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for treatment, subject to payment therefor by the industrial concern, and approved by the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority. (Prior code § 4-1-42)

No person, firm or corporation shall deposit in, allow to escape into, or cause or permit to escape into, the sanitary sewer system of the city any material or substance that would in any manner, damage or injuriously affect the operation of the system. The above includes, but is not limited to, petroleum products, grease, chemicals, refuse, or any other substance that will affect, injure, or retard the biological, basement drains, wash racks drains, or any drain conveying surface or storm water shall be connected directly or indirectly with any sanitary sewerage system. (Prior code § 4-1-43)

Except as hereinafter provided, 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. (Prior code § 4-1-51)

(a) It is unlawful for any property owner to construct, erect, install, maintain or permit any pit privy on any property within the city to which a sewer connection is available. Where a sewer connection is made available, the privy must be removed and connection shall be established. Such sewer connection shall not be required if, prior to 1962, a connection was made with a septic tank of a design approved by the state.
(b) No pit shall be located within three hundred yards of the residence of anyone other than the owner of the premises on which it is located. If located within three hundred yards of any residence, every pit privy must be operated strictly according to the U.S. Public Health Service standards. Not more than two family units may use any one pit privy. No open or surface type privy shall be permitted in the city.
(c) All construction or building being carried on within the city where sewerage is not available shall provide temporary pit privies for employees using a standard ditch. When work is complete, such temporary accommodations shall be cleared away, removing all health hazards. (Prior code § 4-1-52)

Septic tanks may be installed upon any lot not closer than three hundred feet to any public sanitary sewer; provided, that septic tanks may not be installed upon lots that are too small to provide sufficient area to accommodate the number of branches and the number of linear feet of drainage tile required in the plans and specifications on file in the office of the plumbing inspector and the building inspector. Septic tanks may not be installed upon lots that are frequently inundated, or upon which surface water frequently stands, or upon lots where adequate seepage from the drainage tiles cannot be obtained because of soil water or soil structure. (Prior code § 4-1-53)

Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this article. (Prior code § 4-1-54)

Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system for other than a single-family dwelling, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city administrator. The application therefor shall be made on a form furnished by the city which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications, and other information as deemed necessary by the city, or by the state or county. A permit and inspection fee shall be paid to the Greenville County permits office at the time the application for permit is filed. (Prior code § 4-1-55)

A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the state and county health authorities and the city. The city shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Greenville County codes department when the work is ready for final inspection and before any underground portions are covered. (Prior code § 4-1-56)

The type, capacity, location and layout of a private sewage system shall comply with all recommendations of the state department of health and environmental control. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet. (Prior code § 4-1-57)

At such time as a public sewer comes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this chapter, and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned, cleaned of sludge, and filled with clean bank-run gravel or dirt within sixty days of notification to do so by the city. (Prior code § 4-1-58)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the owner shall at all times operate and maintain private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner, at no expense to the city. As to single-family dwellings with septic tanks installed prior to May 8, 1979, the city will assume the expense of emptying the septic tank when necessary, but not more frequently than once each eighteen months. (Prior code § 4-1-59)

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this code, a property owner may install and use a septic tank on his premises; provided, however, such owner presents to the city administrator, or his designate, a clear and convincing showing, substantiated by reliable evidence, that the cost is excessive for installing a connection to an available public sewer line within three hundred feet of the property line, considering the cost ordinarily associated with connections for buildings within the city limits, and that the property owner further shows by written certification from the county health department or the department of health and environmental control, that the particular use of the septic tank in the specific location does not present a threat to the environment or to the health and sanitation of the community.
(b) After approval and installation of a septic tank in accordance with this article, the owner shall be solely responsible for maintaining the septic tank in all respects and for preventing the septic tank from threatening the health and sanitation of the community. In the event that the city should determine that a septic tank installed pursuant to this article poses a threat to the environment or the health and sanitation of the community, the city has the right to terminate the use of the septic tank and require the applicant to connect to the public sewer within thirty days after written notice is given by the city.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not affect those agreements in effect on March 8, 1983, between the city and certain property owners, for whom the city maintains septic tanks, nor shall the provisions prohibit the city from entering similar maintenance agreements when no sewer line is available within three hundred feet of the property line. (Prior code § 4-1-60)

Before any permit for the installation of a septic tank is issued, a fee in the amount of one hundred dollars shall be paid to the city. (Ord. O-09-96 § 1 (part), 1996: prior code § 4-1-74)

(a) Any person, firm or company applying for sewer service shall pay the following tap-in fees at the time of their application:
(1) Single-dwelling unit residential buildings shall pay a four hundred dollars tap fee;
(2) Multi-dwelling unit residential buildings shall pay a tap fee of four hundred dollars for the first unit and a two hundred dollar tap-in fee for each additional unit within the same building;
(3) Single-unit office, commercial and service buildings shall pay an eight hundred dollar tap fee;
(4) Multi-unit office, commercial and service buildings shall pay tap fee of eight hundred dollars for the first unit and a four hundred dollar tap-in fee for each additional unit within the same building;
(5) Single-unit industrial buildings shall pay a one thousand dollar tap fee;
(6) Multi-unit industrial buildings shall pay a tap fee of one thousand dollars for the first unit and a five hundred dollars tap-in fee for each additional unit within the same building.
A “unit” is defined as one or more rooms with facilities separate and distinct from other units within the same building and designed to be used as a principal place of residence for one family or a principal place of business for one separate business.
(b) Any person, firm, or company applying for sewer service shall pay the following city impact fees at the time of their application in addition to the tap-in fees listed in subsection (a) of this section.
(1) Single dwelling unit residential building shall pay a one thousand two hundred dollars impact fee.
(2) Multi-dwelling unit residential building shall pay a one thousand two hundred dollars impact fee for each unit within the same building.
(3) Single unit office, commercial and service buildings shall pay a two thousand four hundred dollars impact fee in addition to the following impact fees: one thousand two hundred dollars for each four hundred gallons per day of wastewater flow.
(4) Multi-unit office, commercial, and service buildings shall pay a two thousand four hundred dollars impact fee for each unit within the same building in addition to the following impact fees: one thousand two hundred dollars for each four hundred gallons per day of wastewater flow.
(5) Single unit industrial buildings shall pay a four thousand eight hundred dollars impact fee in addition to the following impact fees: one thousand two hundred dollars for each four hundred gallons per day of wastewater flow.
(6) Multi-unit industrial buildings shall pay a four thousand eight hundred dollars impact fee per unit in addition to the following impact fees: one thousand two hundred dollars for each four hundred gallons per day of wastewater flow.
A “unit” is defined as one or more rooms with facilities separate and distinct from other units within the same building and designed to be used as a principal place of residence for one family or a principal place of business for one separate business. Wastewater flow based on latest addition of S.C. DHEC “unit contributory loadings” and actual flow from industrial buildings. (Ord. O-05-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. O-09-96 § 1 (part), 1996; prior code § 4-1-72)

Each house or building shall be separately provided with sewer connections. In the event one building is to the rear of another building, two tap fees will be required. Where a dwelling and place of business occupy the same building, two tap fees will be required. (Prior code § 4-1-73)

Any developer who has installed at his own expense any sewer line and connections required by this chapter in and upon his land and/or in public rights-of-way contiguous thereto, and who shall convey said sewer lines to the city in the form and manner required by the city, may request a waiver of tap fees. The city may waive, in whole or in part, any and all tap fees otherwise required herein on such terms and conditions as it shall deem fit and proper. (Prior code § 4-1-74)