(A) Prohibited water. It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, or user of any premises to direct into or allow any storm water, surface water, ground water, well water, or water from industrial or commercial air conditioning systems to drain into the sanitary sewer system of the city. No person(s) shall make connection of roof down spouts, foundation drains, areaway drains, sump pumps, or other sources of surface runoff or ground water to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer (unless such connection is approved by the city).
(B) Exceptions. In certain locations where surface storm water discharge would create a safety hazard during freezing weather, connection to the sanitary sewer may be maintained from October 15 to April 15. In no case shall any connection to the sanitary sewer be maintained from April 15 to October 15. Exceptions will be granted by permit on a case by case basis as determined by the City Council.
(C) Sump, pump, and rigid pipe; method of installation.
(1) The building shall have a drain tile placed around the inside or outside perimeter of the foundation connected to a sump pit. All baseboard seepage collection systems shall be discharged to the sump pit. The sump pit shall be located at least ten feet away from the inside sanitary floor drain.
(2) A discharge pipe shall be installed to the outside wall of the building with rigid pipe (plastic, copper, galvanized, or black pipe) one inch inside diameter minimum. The discharge pipe must have a check valve within one foot of the floor grade and a union or other approved coupling for easy disconnection for repair or replacement. The discharge shall extend at least three feet outside of the foundation wall.
(3) Alternate methods of installation include the following.
(a) The discharge pipe may be connected directly to the municipal underground storm sewer system, provided the discharge is at a higher elevation than the normal flow level and that an approved backflow prevention device is installed.
(b) The discharge may be connected directly to the municipal curb and gutter system, provided the pipe is placed under the sidewalk or boulevard and through the back of the curb and that an approved backflow prevention device is installed.
(D) Violation. Each property within the city to which there is a sanitary sewer connection shall receive an annual surcharge in the sum of $75 per month, fine of $750, or both. This surcharge shall be paid with the monthly sewer charges. The owner of any building who permits the city to make thorough and complete inspection of the building and premises to determine that there is no unauthorized or prohibited connection to the sanitary sewer shall have such surcharge abated. This surcharge may be reimposed at any time the city reasonably believes unauthorized connection of the sanitary sewer has been made and shall be abated only upon proof by inspection by city personnel that no such connection exists. Surcharge shall begin July 1, 1994. In the event that the owner fails to correct the situation within the given time period, the city may correct it and collect such costs, together with reasonable attorneys fees and the collection fees, by suing the owner in a court of competent jurisdiction, or in the alternative, by certifying the costs of correction as any other special assessment upon the land from which the correction of the violation was made.
(E) Powers and authority of inspections. The City Administrator will appoint duly authorized employees of the city bearing proper credentials and identification who shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing pertinent to discharge to the community system in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(Prior Code, § 53.66) (Ord. 180, passed 7-13-1993; Ord. 211, passed 2-14-2000) Penalty, see § 53.999