(A) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to damage, tamper with, or in any manner obstruct the normal functions or operations of the water distribution system, the wastewater collection system, the storm drainage system, the raw water treatment plants, or the wastewater treatment plants of the city. As used in this section,
UTILITY shall include all of the foregoing systems and plants and all appurtenances, appliances and facilities including, but not limited to, manholes and pump stations used in connection with the operation of said systems and plants.
(B) Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to alter or significantly change the ground elevations over any city-owned water, sanitary sewer or storm drain line, manholes or associated appurtenances, without prior written approval from the Division of Design and Construction. The property owner or the duly authorized representative of the property owner, on or under whose property such utility lines, manholes, appurtenances or facilities lie, must submit a grading site plan for the proposed work or changes to the Division of Design and Construction for its approval before any work can begin.
(C) The grading plan required by this section shall include, but is not limited to, a grading site plan showing existing and proposed grades, and engineering data tables from a reliable source (pipe manufacturers catalog data or ASTM standards, etc.) that provide information on the maximum and minimum allowable depth or height of cover above the top of pipe for the type of pipe in question, together with certified calculations under the seal of a professional engineer licensed in the state. The certified calculations shall specify the maximum allowable cut or fill of earthen material over the existing pipe, without jeopardizing the structural integrity of the utility.
(D) If alterations or changes are proposed around manhole structures, the manhole structure shall be raised or lowered to the required elevation as determined by the Division of Design and Construction.
(E) In no case shall the maximum depth or height of cover above the top of pipe exceed 25 feet, nor shall the minimum depth or height of cover above the top of pipe be less than three feet.
(F) All costs associated with modifying the existing underground utility shall be borne by the property owner.
(G) If the city does not have a fully executed, recorded easement for the existing utility in question, the property owner shall grant an easement to the city. After full execution and recording of the easement, the city will raise or lower any existing manholes in question to a maximum change in elevation of eight feet, with this cost being borne by the city. If the property owner desires and has approval by the city to raise or lower any manholes more than eight feet, all costs associated with this work shall be borne by the property owner.
(1989 Code, § 16-108) (Ord. passed 10-15-85; Am. Ord. passed 5-15-01; Am. Ord. passed 11-20-12) Penalty, see § 1-16 et seq.