(A) To the maximum extent possible, all sewer lateral construction shall be of the gravity type. However, when serving basement plumbing or on an otherwise case-by-case basis, individual grinder pumps may be allowed by the town. In all cases, the installation shall be subject to approval of the town. Before a permit will be issued, the property owner shall provide a detailed sketch of the location of the grinder pump and lines leading to the service connection. The property owner shall sign an operate, maintain, and repair easement, and agree to construct the on-site portion according to town requirements. All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer or grinder pump station, where applicable, shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the town from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer. The grinder pump details and manufacturer’s specifications shall be submitted to the Town Engineer for review and approval prior to installation.
(B) Subject to the foregoing, pertaining to prior approval, property owners who otherwise wish to construct and install the street-to-structure segment, including the grinder pump, by themselves or through their own private contractor, shall be subject to the following additional permits and charges:
(1) Completion of an application, which shall include the following:
(a) Engineering details of construction;
(b) Site drawing showing location;
(c) Agreement to comply with town construction specifications; and
(d) Agreement for operation, maintenance, and replacement of a low pressure grinder pump system, also referred to as the sanitary sewer agreement.
(2) Sanitary sewer application fee;
(3) Inspection fee;
(4) Surety bond, or other satisfactory method of guaranteeing compliance and performance, to be submitted prior to issuance of the permit in the amount which equals the Engineer’s estimate of construction costs, until final inspection of the connection to the public sewer; and
(5) The following permits and charges:
(a) Construction inspection fee;
(b) Street cut permit; and
(c) Connection charge for the service line.
(C) In addition, the contractor shall furnish the town with a copy of all test data recorded during the installation check.
(D) Each property owner connecting a pressure/grinder system to the public sewer system shall be responsible for construction, installation, and perpetual maintenance of the pressure/grinder system and any building sewer, as well as all electrical and plumbing connections for the segment, including connections to the grinder pump. No work shall proceed until a permit therefor has been obtained from the town and until the applicable permit fees have been paid and other requirements have been met.
(E) Owners of properties to be connected to the public sewer system shall have the sole responsibility of constructing the street-to-use portion themselves, including the grinder pump. All construction and connections shall comply with this chapter, and all other applicable ordinances, statutes, and laws.
(F) Unless the specific duties of the town and the property owner are specified in a written agreement pertaining to a specific project, the following shall control.
(1) It shall be the duty of each property owner to maintain, clean, and repair the building sewer lines at his or her own expense as necessary to keep such lines free and clear of obstructions and in good working order.
(2) The property owner, and not the town, shall maintain, clean, and repair, as necessary and at the user’s expense, the sewer lines and the grinder pumps.
(3) In the case of a bona fide dispute as to whether needed maintenance, cleaning, or repair of a portion of sewer line is the responsibility of the property owner or the town under the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the property owner to establish that the obstruction, disrepair, or defect has occurred in that portion of the line for which the town is responsible. If the property owner fails to establish responsibility, it shall be the property owner’s responsibility to perform the necessary maintenance as provided in this chapter. If the town’s responsibility is established, the town shall perform the necessary maintenance and shall reimburse the property owner for reasonable expenses incurred in locating the defect in the line or in otherwise establishing the town’s responsibility. As heretofore stated, the property owner shall be responsible under this chapter for the maintenance and repair of the building sewer lines and specifically the grinder pumps. The town is responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the municipal sewer line out of the grinder pump but not for any repair, major or otherwise, of the grinder pump and has no responsibility of any kind for the building sewer lines.
(G) Any property owner who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be liable to the town for civil damages incurred in correcting the defect. If any property owner fails to maintain a building sewer line or any aspect of the grinder pump system as required by this chapter, then, in addition to the other penalties prescribed, the sewer may be declared a public nuisance by the town or the County Health Department, and the defect may be corrected by either governmental agency. Any costs so incurred shall be assessed against the property and become a lien on the property if not timely paid.
(2011 Code, § 51.05) (Ord. 2001-4, passed 6-18-2001) Penalty, see § 51.999