Section
General Provisions
51.001 Definitions
51.002 Control of sewers; administration of chapter
51.003 Building sewers; general requirements
51.004 Tampering with wastewater facilities
51.005 Cost of repairing or restoring sewers
General Regulations
51.015 Deposits of unsanitary manner prohibited
51.016 Discharge of wastewater or other polluted waters
51.017 Restrictions on wastewater disposal facilities
51.018 Installation of service connection to public sewer
Private Wastewater Disposal
51.035 Public sewer not available
51.036 Permits
51.037 Type, capacities, location and layout
51.038 Direct connection required
51.039 Operation and maintenance by owner
51.040 Application of subchapter
Building Sewers and Connections
51.055 Restrictions on new connections
51.056 Building sewer permits
51.057 Costs and expenses
51.058 Separate building sewers required
51.059 Old building sewers; restrictions on use
51.060 Conformance to State Building and Plumbing Code requirements
51.061 Elevation below basement floor
51.062 Surface runoff or groundwater connections prohibited
51.063 Excavations
51.064 Licenses
Use of Public Services
51.080 Discharges of unpolluted water
51.081 Discharges of waters or wastes
51.082 Limited discharges
51.083 Discharges hazardous to life or constitute public nuisances
51.084 Increasing use of process water
51.085 Pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities
51.086 Grease, oil and sand interceptors
51.087 Industrial wastes; installations
51.088 Industrial wastes; requirements
51.089 Measurements, tests and analyses of waters and wastes
51.090 Protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials
51.091 Permitting substance or matter to flow or pass into public sewers
51.092 Repairing service connection
51.093 Catch basin or waste traps required for motor vehicle washing or servicing facilities
51.094 Special agreement and arrangement
User Rate Schedule for Charges
51.110 Charges generally
51.111 Purpose
51.112 Definitions
51.113 Establishment of a sewer service charge system
51.114 Determination of sewer service charges
51.115 Sewer service fund
51.116 Administration
Powers and Authority of Inspectors
51.130 Authorized employees permitted to enter all properties
51.131 Authorized employees obtaining information for industrial processes
51.132 Authorized employees to observe safety rules
51.133 Authorized employees permitted to enter all property with easements
51.999 Penalty
Cross-reference:
Health and Safety; Nuisances, see Chapter 92
GENERAL PROVISIONS
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACT. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also referred to as the Clean Water Act, being 33 USC 1251 et seq., as amended.
ASTM. American Society for Testing Materials.
AUTHORITY. This city or its representative thereof.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD5). The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20° C, expressed in terms of milligrams per liter (mg/l).
BUILDING DRAIN. The part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from waste and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning three feet outside the building wall.
BUILDING SEWER. The extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal, also referred to as a house connection or service connection.
CITY. The area within the corporate boundaries of the city as presently established or as amended by ordinance or other legal actions at a future time. The term CITY when used herein may also be used to refer to the City Council and its authorized representative.
CONTROL MANHOLE. A structure specially constructed for the purpose of measuring flow and sampling of wastes.
EASEMENT. An acquired legal right for the specific use of land owned by others.
GARBAGE. Animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and serving of food.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE. Gaseous, liquid and solid wastes resulting from industrial or manufacturing processes, trade or business, or from the development, recovery and processing of natural resources, as distinct from residential or domestic strength wastes.
INDUSTRY. Any nongovernmental or nonresidential user of a publicly owned treatment works which is identified in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, latest edition, which is categorized in Divisions A, B, D, E and I.
INFILTRATION. Water entering the sewage system (including building drains and pipes) from the ground through means as defective pipes, pipe joints, connections and manhole walls.
INFILTRATION/INFLOW (I/I). The total quantity of water from both infiltration and inflow.
INFLOW. Water other than wastewater that enters a sewer system (including building drains) from sources such as, but not limited to, roof leaders, cellar drains, yard and area drains, foundation drains, drains from springs and swampy areas, manhole covers, cross-connections from storm sewers, catch basins, surface runoff, street wash waters or drainage.
INTERFERENCE. The inhibition or disruption of the city's wastewater disposal system processes or operations which causes or significantly contributes to a violation of any requirement of the city's NPDES or SDS permit. The term includes sewage sludge use or disposal by the city in accordance with published regulations providing guidelines under Section 405 of the Act (33 USC 1345) or any regulations developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 USC 6901 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (42 USC 7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 USC 2601 et seq.), or more stringent state criteria applicable to the method of disposal or use employed by the city.
MAY. The term is permissive.
MPCA. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
NATIONAL CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARDS. Federal regulations establishing pretreatment standards for introduction of pollutants in publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities which are determined to be not susceptible to treatment by those treatment facilities or would interfere with the operation of those treatment facilities, pursuant to Section 307(b) of the Act (33 USC 1317(b)).
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT. A permit issued by the MPCA, setting limits on pollutants that a permittee may legally discharge into navigable waters of the United States pursuant to Sections 402 and 405 of the Act (33 USC 1342 and 33 USC 1345).
NATURAL OUTLET. Any outlet, including storm sewers and combined sewers, which overflow into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface water or ground water.
NON-CONTACT COOLING WATER. The water discharged from any use such as air conditioning, cooling or refrigeration, or during which the only pollutant added is heat.
NORMAL DOMESTIC STRENGTH WASTE. Wastewater that is primarily introduced by residential users with a BOD5 concentration not greater than 287 mg/l and a suspended solids (TSS) concentration not greater than 287 mg/l.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.
pH. The logarithm of the reciprocal of the concentration of hydrogen ions in terms of grams per liter of solution.
PRETREATMENT. The treatment of wastewater from industrial sources prior to the introduction of the waste effluent into a publicly-owned treatment works.
PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE. The wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers with no particle greater than ½-inch (1.27 cm) in any dimension.
SEWAGE. The spent water of a community. The preferred term is wastewater.
SEWER. A pipe or conduit that carries wastewater or drainage water.
(1) COLLECTION SEWER. A sewer whose primary purpose is to collect wastewaters from individual point source discharges and connections.
(2) INTERCEPTOR SEWER. A sewer whose primary purpose is to transport wastewater from collection sewers to a treatment facility.
(3) PRIVATE SEWER. A sewer which is not owned and maintained by a public authority.
(4) PUBLIC SEWER. A sewer owned, maintained and controlled by a public authority.
(5) SANITARY SEWER. A sewer intended to carry only liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions together with minor quantities of ground, storm and surface waters which are not admitted intentionally.
(6) STORM SEWER or STORM DRAIN. A drain or sewer intended to carry storm waters, surface runoff, ground water, subsurface water, street wash water, drainage and unpolluted water from any source.
SHALL. The term is mandatory.
SLUG. Any discharge of a non-routine, episodic nature, including but not limited to an accidental spill or a non-customary batch discharge.
2014 Supp.
STATE DISPOSAL SYSTEM (SDS) PERMIT. Any permit (including any terms, conditions and requirements thereof) issued by the MPCA pursuant to M.S. § 115.07, as it may be amended from time to time for a disposal system as defined by M.S. § 115.01, Subd. 5, as it may be amended from time to time.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS (SS) or TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS). The total suspended matter that either floats on the surface of, or is in suspension in water, wastewater or other liquids, and is removable by laboratory filtering as prescribed in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, latest edition, and referred to as non-filterable residue.
TOXIC POLLUTANT. The concentration of any pollutant or combination of pollutants which upon exposure to or assimilation into any organism will cause adverse affects as defined in standards issued pursuant to Section 307(a) of the Act (33 USC 1317(a)).
UNPOLLUTED WATER. Water of quality equal to or better than the effluent criteria in effect, or water that would not cause violation of receiving water quality standards, and would not be benefitted by discharge to the sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment facilities.
USER. Any person who discharges or causes or permits the discharge of wastewater into the city's wastewater disposal system.
UTILITIES SUPERINTENDENT. The person appointed by the City Council to supervise the sewer and water systems of the city.
WASTEWATER. The spent water of a community and referred to as sewage. From the standpoint of source, it may be a combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions together with any ground water, surface water and storm water that may be present.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS or TREATMENT WORKS. An arrangement of any devices, facilities, structures, equipment or processes owned or used by the city for the purpose of the transmission, storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage, domestic sewage or industrial wastewater, or structures necessary to recycle or reuse water including interceptor sewers, outfall sewers, collection sewers, pumping, power and other equipment and their appurtenances; extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable recycled water supply such as standby treatment units and clear well facilities; and any works including land which is an integral part of the treatment process or is used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from that treatment.
WPCF. The Water Pollution Control Federation.
The Utilities Superintendent, or other official designated by the City Council shall have control and general supervision of all public sewers and service connections in the city, and shall be responsible for administering the provisions of this chapter to the end that a proper and efficient public sewer is maintained.
Building sewer construction shall meet the pertinent requirements of the Minnesota State Building Code, which is those chapters of Minn. Rules referenced in Minn. Rules part 1300.0050, as they may be amended from time to time, and the Minnesota Plumbing Code, Minn. Rules Ch. 4714, as it may be amended from time to time. The applicant shall notify the City Clerk when the building sewer and connection is ready for inspection. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the Building Official or the Building Official's representative, if the city has adopted the State Building Code. If the city has not adopted the State Building Code, the Utilities Superintendent shall perform the inspection. If the city does not have a Utilities Superintendent, an installer licensed under § 51.064 shall certify that the building sewer and connection comply with the State Building Code. No backfill shall be placed until the work has been inspected and approved, or until the certification has been received.
Penalty, see § 51.999
No person shall maliciously, willfully, or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is part of the wastewater facilities. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to immediate arrest under the charge of a misdemeanor.
Penalty, see § 51.999
In addition to any penalties that may be imposed for violation of any provision of this chapter, the city may assess against any person the cost of repairing or restoring sewers or associated facilities damaged as a result of the discharge of prohibited wastes by that person, and may collect the assessment as an additional charge for the use of the public sewer system or in any other manner deemed appropriate by the city.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner on public or private property within the city, or in any area under the city's jurisdiction, any human or animal excrement, garbage or objectionable waste.
Penalty, see § 51.999
It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet any wastewater or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this chapter and the city's NPDES/SDS permit.
Penalty, see § 51.999
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, 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 wastewater.
Penalty, see § 51.999
The owners of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes from which wastewater is discharged, and which is situated within the city and adjacent to any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located, or may in the future be located, a public sanitary sewer of the city shall be required at the owner's expense to install a suitable service connection to the public sewer in accordance with provisions of this code within 365 days of the date the public sewer is operational; provided, the public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure generating the wastewater. All future buildings constructed on property adjacent to the public sewer shall be required to immediately connect to the public sewer. If sewer connections are not made pursuant to this section, an official ten-day notice shall be served instructing the affected property owner to make the connection.
Penalty, see § 51.999
PRIVATE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL
Where a public sewer is not available under the provisions of § 51.018, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this subchapter and Minn. Rules Ch. 7080, Design Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems, as they may be amended from time to time.
Penalty, see § 51.999
(A) Required. Prior to commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city. The application for the permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications and other information as are deemed necessary to the city.
(B) Inspections. A permit for a private wastewater disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the city or its authorized representative. The city or its representative shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction, and in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the city when work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 24 hours of the receipt of notice. The Utilities Superintendent or other duly authorized employees of the city, bearing proper credentials and identification, are authorized, with the permission of the licensee, owner, resident or other person in control of property within the city, to enter all properties for the purpose of inspection in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. If the licensee, owner, resident or other person in control of property within the city does not permit the entrance to the property, the city shall obtain a search warrant as provided for in § 10.20 before entering the property, except in emergency situations.
Penalty, see § 51.999
(A) The type, capacities, location, and layout of a private wastewater disposal system shall comply with all requirements of Minn. Rules Ch. 7080, Individual Sewage Treatment Systems Program, as they may be amended from time to time. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.
(B) Straight-pipe systems; noncompliance. A city inspector who discovers the existence of a straight-pipe system may issue a noncompliance notice to the owner of the straight-pipe system and forward a copy of the notice to the Pollution Control Agency. The notice must state that the owner must replace or discontinue the use of the straight-pipe system within ten months of receiving the notice. If the owner does not replace or discontinue the use of the straight-pipe system within ten months after the notice was received, the owner of the straight-pipe system shall be subject to a Pollution Control Agency administrative penalty of $500 per month of noncompliance beyond the ten-month period. Administrative penalty orders may be issued for violations under this subdivision, as provided in M.S. § 116.072, as it may be amended from time to time. One-half of the proceeds collected from an administrative penalty order issued for violating this subdivision shall be remitted to the local unit of government with jurisdiction over the noncompliant straight-pipe system.
Penalty, see § 51.999
At the time a public sewer becomes available to a property serviced by a private wastewater disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer within 365 days in compliance with this chapter, and within 365 days any septic tanks, cesspools and similar private wastewater disposal systems shall be cleaned of sludge. The bottom shall be broken to permit drainage, and the tank or pit filled or may be removed.
Penalty, see § 51.999
BUILDING SEWERS AND CONNECTIONS
Any new connections to the sanitary sewer system shall be prohibited unless sufficient capacity is available in all downstream facilities, including but not limited to capacity for flow, BOD5 and suspended solids, as determined by the Utilities Superintendent.
Penalty, see § 51.999
(A) Required. 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 from the city.
(B) Applications. Applications for permits shall be made by the owner or authorized agent and the party employed to do the work, and shall state the location, name of owner, street number of the building to be connected and how occupied. No person shall extend any private building drain beyond the limits of the building or property for which the service connection permit has been given.
(C) Classes. There shall be two classes of building sewer permits: one for residential and commercial service, and one for service to establishments producing industrial wastes. In either case, the application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or any other information considered pertinent in the judgement of the city. The industry, as a condition of permit authorization, must provide information describing its wastewater constituents, characteristics and type of activity.
(D) Inspection and connection. The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the city when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection and inspection shall be made under the supervision of the Utilities Superintendent or authorized representative thereof.
Penalty, see § 51.999
All costs and expenses incidental 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 be directly or indirectly occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.
Penalty, see § 51.999
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway. The building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered one building sewer. The city does not and will not assume any obligation or responsibility for damage caused by or resulting from any connection.
Penalty, see § 51.999
(A) The size, slopes, alignment, materials of construction of building sewers and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, testing, and backfilling of the trench, shall all conform to the requirements of the State Building and Plumbing Code or other applicable rules and regulations of the city. Cast iron pipe shall be used for a building sewer laid within 50 feet of any well per Minnesota Public Health department requirements.
(B) The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the State Building and Plumbing Code or other applicable rules and regulations of the city. All connections shall be made gastight and watertight, and verified by proper testing to prevent the inclusion of infiltration/inflow. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the city prior to installation.
Penalty, see § 51.999
Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by the building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer.
Penalty, see § 51.999
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