To minimize ground water infiltration and surface water inflow to the public sewer system, the city hereby requires the owner of any property on which a defective service line or a prohibited connection is located to repair the service line or remove the prohibited connection at the owner's expense.
(A) Defective service line. The city will investigate and determine if a service line is defective. Cracked, broken, crushed or similarly damaged lines, lines with separated joints or lines with any condition that allows infiltration of ground water shall be considered defective.
(B) Prohibited connections. The city will investigate and determine if a connection to the public sewer is a prohibited connection. Prohibited connections may be direct to the public sewer or indirect through the property service line, and may include but are not limited to; roof drains, yard drains, driveway and parking area drains, foundation drains, exterior stairwell drains, uncapped cleanouts, sumps or any other system that conveys ground water or surface runoff to a public sanitary sewer. A connection may be found to be a prohibited connection, even though such connection may not have been prohibited under existing ordinances, regulations or standards at the time of construction.
(C) Administrative procedure.
(1) The Code Enforcement Officer will provide written notice to the property owner by certified mail that corrective action is required. The written notice will specify action required and may include partial repair, replacement or disconnection.
(2) The property owner shall have 90 days from the date of the notice to complete the required work.
(3) If the property owner fails to complete the required work, a Code Enforcement Officer may file appropriate charges in municipal court for violation of the city code(s). The city may pursue a civil action in any court for violation hereof.
(4) In addition, the city may disconnect water and/or wastewater service to the property until the violations are corrected. All costs incurred by the city for disconnection of the water/wastewater service must be reimbursed to the city prior to the restoration of service to the property. In the event the city disconnects water/wastewater service to any property, the city shall file a notice to the City Clerk's office giving the legal description of the property, the amount of expense incurred by the city in disconnecting the services, and shall further state that such services will not be restored until the city is reimbursed the amount.
(D) Corrective action.
(1) Plumbing work shall be done in accordance with all city, state and federal codes, regulations and standards. The city in no way whatsoever assumes any responsibility or liability for corrective action undertaken by the property owner(s) or plumbing contractor.
(2) All prohibited connections shall be disconnected immediately at the public sewer or sanitary service line and capped with a watertight seal.
(3) Any repairs to the public sewer shall be made only by city personnel. The owner shall be responsible for reimbursing the city for its reasonable costs as determined by the city. All corrective work shall be inspected and accepted by the city prior to the line being covered and returned to service. Reconnection of terminated service shall be at the owner's expense.
(Ord. 2003-31, passed 11-3-03)