(A) Conformity required. All applications for which any utility outlined in the chapter is created, extended, or enlarged shall conform to the requirements of this chapter.
(B) Installation responsibility. The applicant shall be responsible for the installation of all water and sewer utilities to serve the proposed development at their expense.
(C) Utility improvements required prior to approval. Utility improvements must be completed and approved prior to approval of any final plat or occupancy of the site, except when an improvement guarantee is approved by City Council.
(D) Underground utilities. All public utilities including electric, water, sewer, gas, fiber, telephone and cable shall be installed underground, except for electric transmission lines and any cable, telephone, or fiber lines co-located on electric transmission poles and towers.
(E) Utility location.
(1) Utilities shall be located within the street right-of-way and parallel to the street to the maximum extent possible. Any utilities located outside the street right-of-way shall be maintained by an established homeowners’ association.
(2) Lots that are adjacent to existing overhead utilities may be serviced from those lines. The service connections shall be located underground.
(3) Sewer cleanouts and water meters shall not be located within any sidewalk or driveway.
(4) Utilities shall be installed in accordance with requirements of the Public Utilities Department.
(F) Water and sewer.
(1) Applicants must hold a pre-application meeting with the Public Utilities Department prior to the development of any utility plans.
(2) Onsite disposal. In order to protect water sources and protect public health from possible contamination by improper methods of sewage disposal, the Director of Public Utilities may only approve on-site, subsurface sewage disposal systems if the following conditions are met:
(a) The existing city or other public sewer system is not readily accessible to the development site.
(b) It is infeasible or economically prohibitive to extend the city system to the property.
(c) The soil percolation and absorption are satisfactory.
(d) On-site disposal will not endanger ground water supplies below the level of the absorption system.
(e) In the event it is necessary to install subsurface sewage disposal systems, soil percolation, absorption, and water table tests shall be performed in accordance with SC DHEC requirements.
(3) Water supply requirements. The applicant or developer shall install the approved water supply system as follows:
(a) The city shall be the water provider for any subdivision or project located within the city’s water service area.
(b) Subdivisions or projects within the city limits but outside of the city’s water service area shall identify a public water supply system to service the site. The applicant or developer shall provide documentation certifying the public water system can provide adequate flow for a minimum of a six-inch diameter water main in order to supply adequate flow for fire protection.
(c) Water systems within a subdivision shall be designed as a looped system in order to provide adequate water pressure and availability.
(4) Sanitary sewer requirements. The applicant or developer shall install the approved sanitary sewer system as follows:
(a) Existing sewer system. Where there is an existing sewer system or near the project site, a complete sanitary sewage collection system must be installed and connected to the city system or other existing public system.
(b) If connection to a public sanitary sewer system is not possible, install subsurface sewage disposal systems in accordance with SC DHEC requirements.
(5) Plans for installation of a potable water supply system and a sanitary sewer system must be prepared by a South Carolina registered professional engineer. Such plans shall be approved by the Director of Public Utilities and, to the extent required, SC DHEC.
(G) Electric service.
(1) Electric service in the city limits shall be provided by the city unless the site is located within another electric service provider’s service area.
(2) The applicant or developer shall provide plans for electric service to the Director of Public Utilities for approval. Plans must be prepared by a South Carolina registered professional engineer.
(3) For residential subdivisions, the applicant or developer shall be responsible for installation of primary conduit for underground electric lines. The city shall provide the conduit to be installed.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 10-036, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24) Penalty, see § 156.999