Sewer & Sewer Systems

Formed in 1991, the Northstar Community Services District (District) provides the Northstar community with a full range of public services, including; Sewer, Water, Fire Suppression, Snow Removal, Street Lighting, Solid Waste contracting, Multi-use Recreational Trails, and Road Maintenance. Throughout the years, the Northstar, Truckee and Tahoe areas has changed considerably. At the same time, sanitary sewer technology continues to improve. The rapidly changing community, improved technology, and a progressive District Board attitude have combined to maintain the excellence of the sanitary sewer facilities that exist today. The District’s Sewer Ordinance reflects our commitment to providing the highest quality sewer services.

The purpose of the District’s Sewer Ordinance is to provide the public with an accessible document stipulating requirements and guidelines applicable to all sanitary sewer facility construction and maintenance within the District boundaries. To see a map of the District boundary click here . The District Sewer Ordinance also establishes charges for services and provides a method for the collection of charges.

This web page contains links to information in the Sewer Ordinance regarding standards for sewer system design, development, repair, and construction. It also contains links to information in the Sewer Ordinance that is relevant to the development of new sewer systems, District code enforcement, and much more.

For complete PDF version of the District’s Sewer Ordinance, click here

Information regarding sewer treatment can be found here

Variances

All requests for variances or deviations from standards in the District’s Sewer Ordinance shall be submitted, in writing, by the owner or their agent to the General Manager. It is incumbent upon the requestor to secure such written permission and not to assume that permission will be forthcoming for said variances or deviations.

For a list of definitions and abbreviations used in the Sewer Ordinance, click here

General Policies

Section 2 of the Sewer Ordinance contains the District’s general policies regarding the following:

* Dwelling Unit Equivalent Transfers Policy
* Dedication of Sanitary Sewer Facilities
* Disasters
* Authority to Receive District Services
* Extensions and/or Alterations to Sanitary Sewer Facilities
* Initiation of Sanitary Sewer Facility Construction

* Residential

* Commercial

General Provisions and Regulations

Section 3 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding General Provisions and Regulations of the District. This includes:

* District Personnel Duties
o Access to customer’s premises

* Sanitary Sewer Installation
o Minimum Sanitary Sewer Facility Standards

o Rain and Surface Water Drainage

o Winter Construction

o Notice of Non-Compliance

o Mandatory Sanitary Sewer Connections

* Multiple Units on Same Premises
* Joint Lateral Connections
* Easement Abandonment
* District Records and Maps

* Liability for Damage to District Sanitary Sewer Facilities

* Location of Points of Service Inconsistent with District Record Maps

* Non-Existing Laterals, Wye’s and/or Points of Service Shown on Record Maps

* Time Limits

Application for Sewer Permit - Residential

Section 4 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding Residential Sewer Permits. This section of the ordinance contains information on:

* Will Serve Letter
o The purpose of the Will Server Letter is to provide Placer County, an owner, or their agent, assurance that the District has sufficient capacity to provide sanitary sewer service for the parcel.

* Sewer Permit
o The District must collect all fees and deposits prior to issuing a sewer permit

* Excessive Projected Waste Flows

Application for Sewer Permit – Commercial

Section 5 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding Commercial Sewer Permits. This section of the ordinance contains information on:

* Plan Check Review
o The District will conduct a plan set review of the proposed commercial project. The purpose of this plan check review is to verify that the District has the capacity to provide sewer services to the proposed project. .

* Will Serve Letter
o A Will Serve Letter for an individual parcel may be issued by the District at the request of the owner/agent. The Will Serve Letter provides an assurance to the owner/agent that the District has sufficient capacity to provide sanitary sewer services for the proposed commercial project on that parcel. The Will Serve Letter is based upon a plan check review.

* Transfer of Title of a Partially Completed Project
* Excessive Projected Waste Flows
* Large Land Developments
* When Sewer Permit is not Required

The District may collect all fees and deposits upon submittal for Plan Check Review.

Plan Check Review is performed on a first come, first served basis.

See the Ordinance for important information regarding changes to plans, time limits, and required information for a plan check review.

Fees and Charges

Section 6 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding Fees and Charges. See this section for information regarding:

* Deposits and Refunds
* Residential Plan Checking and inspection Fees
* Commercial Project Application Fees
o Plan Check Review

o Commercial Project Deposit

* Connection Fees
o Residential

o Commercial

* Billing of User Fees
* Annexation Fees and Charges
* Fees for Preparing and/or Reviewing Special Documents
* Penalties on Unpaid Connection Fees

* Delinquent Account Penalty Fee

* Returned Check Fee

* Billing Basis for User Fees

* Initial Billing of User Fees

* Billing Adjustments

* Collection Remedies

* Unreported Connections and Discharges

* Collection of Delinquent Assessment District Bonds

See Appendix A-2 for the District’s detailed sewer fee schedule.

See Appendix A-3 for a plumbing fixture unit equivalent chart.

See Appendix A-4 for a multiple use formula table.

Installation of Sanitary Sewer Facilities

Section 7 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding the installation of sanitary sewer facilities. Refer to this section of the ordinance for information regarding:

* District Connection Policy regarding installed facilities
* Alternate Connection Option
* Responsibility for Building Lateral Installation
* Size and Type of Building Laterals
o Plan Check Review

o Residential

o Commercial

See Appendix A-5 for detailed information regarding materials for construction of sanitary sewers.

See Appendix A-6 for District standard specifications for sewer systems.

Grease Reduction Program

Section 8 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding the District’s grease reduction program. Please refer to this section of the Ordinance for information regarding:

* Commercial Food Establishments and/or Facilities (including but not limited to)
* Grease Interceptors
o Requirements for Installation

o Access to Grease Interceptor

* Grease Interceptor Capacity Requirements
* Grease Traps
* Sand/Oil Interceptors
* Time of Compliance

Inspection

Section 9 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding the District’s Inspection code. Please refer to this section for information regarding:

* Pre-Inspection Requirements
o Residential

o Commercial

* Request for Inspection of Sanitary Sewer Facilities
* Conditions Required at Time of Inspection
* Correction of Defective Work
* Facilities Not to Be Used Prior to Final Inspection

See Appendix A-1 for a detailed fee schedule for inspection charges and special fees for sewer system. .

Maintenance of Existing Facilities

Section 10 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding the maintenance of existing sewer system facilities. Refer to this section of the Ordinance for the following information:

* Maintenance and Testing of Private Sanitary Sewer Facilities
* Conditions Requiring Testing of Existing Sanitary Sewer Facilities
o Remodeling

o Change from residential to commercial

o Transfer of Ownership

o More...

* Testing Procedures for Existing Sanitary Sewer Facilities
o Sanitary Sewer Pipelines

o Manholes, Grease Interceptors, Sand/Oil Interceptors

o Pump Systems

* Time Limits for Completion of Testing Procedures
* Waiver of Testing Requirements
* Shared Use Facilities/Shared Ownership – Residential
* Cleaning Manholes

Prohibited Uses of Sewer

Section 11 of the Sewer Ordinance contains information regarding prohibited uses of the District’s sanitary sewer system. Please refer to this section of the Ordinance for information regarding:

* When a Discharge Permit is Required
* General Prohibited Uses
* Garbage
* Temperature of Effluent
* Control of pH
* Toxic Substances
* Removal of/or Damage to Sewer
* Unauthorized Opening of District Sanitary Sewer Facilities

Enforcement

Section 12 of the Sewer Ordinancecontains information regarding the enforcement of the District’s Sewer Ordinance. Please refer to this section for information regarding:

* Violations
* Authority of the District
* Public Nuisance
* Public Nuisance Abatement
* Discontinuance of Service
* Notice of Hearing Prior to Discontinuance of Service for Non-Payment
* Notice and Hearing Prior to Discontinuance Other Than a Discontinuance of Service for Non-Payment
* Discontinuance of Service on Weekends, Holidays, or After Hours
* Amortization of Delinquent Bill for Service
* Authority of Settle Controversies Relating to Discontinuance and to Permit Amortization of Delinquent Bills
* Notice Required Prior to Discontinuance of Service for Failure to Comply with Amortization Agreement
* Enforcement of Provisions
* Mean of Enforcement Only
* Cumulative Remedies
* Appeals Procedure
* Re-connection to the District’s Sanitary Sewer System
* Re-connection to the District’s Sanitary Sewer System