§ 00053-5. Toilets, plumbing, sewerage, drainage.

(A)

In all dwellings the owner shall provide an adequate number of approved flush toilets as defined in the Cincinnati Municipal Code section 1117-29 and make them readily accessible to the occupants. The occupant or tenant shall keep their toilet compartments and all its fixtures clean.

(B)

The owner or person having charge of any dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises shall not allow any sewer, water closet or drain to leak, to be out of repair, to be inoperable, or to remain clogged or stopped; nor allow sewage or waste or stagnant water or other fluid to remain in any building or upon any land. Every plumbing fixture and all water and waste pipes shall be installed and maintained in good sanitary and safe working condition.

(C)

It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully obstruct or damage, or permit to be obstructed or damaged, any toilet or sanitary fixture in any occupied building.

(D)

No garbage, ashes, rubbish, hazardous waste, or any other material deemed inappropriate by the Health Commissioner shall be deposited in any privy vault or flush toilet fixture.

(E)

The owner of any property shall keep the below-ground space, foundation slab, basement, and/or cellar free from accumulations of water or sewage and shall have any such water or sewage removed immediately and the below-ground space, foundation slab, basement, or cellar treated with chlorinated lime or a product that is labeled as a disinfectant, and have conditions remediated so that further accumulations will be prevented.

(F)

The owners of all properties connected to a private sewer not owned or maintained by the Metropolitan Sewer District shall be jointly responsible for the maintenance of that sewer.

(G)

When a connection to a public sewer is not possible, no person shall discharge, or permit or cause to be discharged, treated or untreated sewage, the drainage or contents of a sewage tank, or other putrescible or offensive wastes onto the surface of the ground, into any street, road, alley, open excavation, or underground drain as referred to in the Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29-02(F). All drainage pipes shall be installed and maintained in accordance with all applicable state and local standards.

(H)

It shall be unlawful for the owner of a tract of land to dispose or allow to be disposed, any kind of material in such a manner as to interfere with existing drains, sewers, or natural watercourses.

(I)

No person shall discharge or permit to be discharged the contents of any privy vault, portable toilet, chemical toilet, sewage holding tank, cesspool, or septic tank to the surface of any lot, public sewer, street gutter, or abandoned water supply, well, spring, or cistern or into a natural or artificial well, sink hole, crevice, or other opening extending into limestone, sandstone, shale, or other rock formation, or normal ground water table.
Reference Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29-02.

(J)

When a privy vault is in existence, the owner shall maintain the vault and privy house so that flies and/or animals cannot have access to the filth. Disinfectants labeled for such use shall be used if the vault is foul. No roof water, surface water, or sink waste water shall be allowed to flow into any privy vault.

(K)

Privy vaults may be ordered cleaned whenever the contents are three feet or less from the ground surface or whenever an unsanitary condition exists. Contents shall be properly disinfected and the vaults shall then be cleaned to the bottom or to a depth of not less than seven feet from the ground surface.

(L)

No person shall engage in the cleaning of any privy vault, portable toilet, chemical toilet, sewage holding tank, cesspool, or septic tank without first obtaining a permit from the Health Commissioner.

(M)

Removal of contents of privy vaults, sewage holding tanks, cesspools, or septic tanks shall be made in accordance with the Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29-02. Removal shall be made only in approved non-leaking, closed vehicles or vessels. Spillage shall be minimized. Vehicles, tanks or other equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected immediately after each use so that they will not be a nuisance.

(N)

Whenever a sewer becomes available, the premises shall be connected to the Metropolitan Sewer District and water-flushed toilets provided. The privy vault or other household sewage treatment system shall be abandoned, cleaned and filled with suitable material. Reference: Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29-18.

(O)

All Household Sewage Treatment Systems shall meet the requirements of the Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29.

The Health Commissioner may grant a variance from the requirements of Regulation 00053-5 (O) if the variance will not be contrary to the public interest and if, because of special conditions, strict application of the regulation will cause unusual and unnecessary hardship. However, no variance shall be granted that will defeat the spirit and general intent of this regulation.

(Amended, Nov. 28, 1978; a. Sept. 24, 1981; a. Res. No. 2007-02, §§ 1, 2, approved Feb. 2007; a. March 22, 2011, § 1)