Liquid waste vehicle specifications and maintenance requirements.
San Antonio City Code § 34-514
in effectSec. 34-514. - Liquid waste vehicle specifications and maintenance requirements.
All liquid waste transportation vehicles utilizing the city streets and public rights-of-way to transport grit trap waste, grease trap waste and septage must at all operational times conform to the following vehicle specifications and maintenance requirements. Each instance of failure to do so shall constitute a separate violation of this division.
(1) Vehicle specifications.
(a) The vehicle must be equipped with tank(s) that is (are) firmly, securely and permanently attached to the primary structure of the vehicle in such a manner as to assure that the tank(s) will not loosen or dislodge during the transport of liquid wastes. Vehicles with portable or removable tank(s) or other containers temporarily attached or affixed to vehicles are prohibited, unless otherwise approved by the director.
(b) All piping, valves, and connectors shall be permanently attached to the tank(s) and/or vehicle.
(c) The tank(s) must be liquid tight.
(d) The tank(s) must be constructed so that every interior and exterior portion can be thoroughly cleaned.
(e) All piping, valves, and connections shall be accessible and easy to clean.
(f) The inlet, or the opening of the tank(s) shall be constructed and located so that collected waste shall not spill during filling, transfer or transport.
(g) Outlet connections shall be constructed so that no liquid waste shall discharge, leak, run or spill out from the tank(s).
(h) Outlets are to be of a design and type suitable for the liquid waste to be safely removed and be capable of controlling outflow without discharge, spillage, spray, or flooding of immediate surroundings while in use.
(i) Pumps, valves, cylinders, diaphragms and other appurtenances shall be of a design and type suitable for the liquid waste to be safely loaded, transported and removed, be capable of operation without discharge, spillage, spray or leakage, and be easily disassembled for cleaning.
(j) All vehicles used to transport liquid waste shall have sight gauges maintained in a manner which can be used to determine whether or not a vehicle is loaded and the approximate capacity. Gauges are not required to read in gallons or liters, but shall show what percentage of the tank capacity is filled.
(k) All vehicles used to transport liquid wastes shall prominently mark all discharge valves and ports. All discharge ports shall be visible and readily accessible. The position of the vacuum pump, i.e. pulling a vacuum into the tank or pumping air into the tank, must also be clearly labeled.
(2) Maintenance requirements. A liquid waste transporter shall:
(a) Maintain hoses, tanks, valves, pumps, cylinders, diaphragms, pipes, connections, and other appurtenances on a vehicle in good operation and repair and free from leaks.
(b) Provide a safety plug or cap for each inlet and outlet tank valve.
(c) Cause the vehicle exterior to be clean, vector free and relatively odor free at the beginning of each working day and provide for intermittent wash downs of vehicle exterior and wash outs of tank interiors as necessary to maintain the above conditions at all times.
(d) The permittee shall remove the control authority authorization sticker, and the control authority permit number from the vehicle when it is no longer permitted to collect, transport or dispose of liquid waste or when the vehicle ownership changes.
(Ord. No. 80574, § 14, 8-4-94; Ord. No. 85765, § 2, 3-20-97; Ord. No. 99480, § 1(Exh. 1), 7-22-04)
Source: City of San Antonio, City Code, City Charter and Unified Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH34WASE_ARTVSETRTRDI_DIV4LIWATRDIRE_S34-514LIWAVESPMAREFetched: 10/27/2026