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§ 51.01 DEFINITIONS.
   For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND or BOD. The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in 5 days at 20°C, expressed in terms of milligrams per liter (mg/l).
   CONTROL MANHOLE. A structure specially constructed for the purpose of measuring flow and sampling of wastes.
   CURB BOX. A device designed to provide access to a curb stop.
   CURB STOP. A device designed to control the flow of water within a service line from a water main.
   GARBAGE. Animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and serving of food.
   INDUSTRIAL WASTE. Gaseous, liquid and solid wastes resulting from industrial or manufacturing processes, trade or business, or from the development, recovery and processing of natural resources, as distinct from residential or domestic strength wastes.
   INFILTRATION. Water entering the sewage system, including building drains and pipes, from the ground through means such as defective pipes, pipe joints, connections and manhole walls.
   INFILTRATION/INFLOW or I/I. The total quantity of water from both infiltration and inflow.
   INFLOW. Water other than wastewater that enters a sewer system, including building drains, from sources such as, but not limited to roof leaders, cellar drains, yard and area drains, foundation drains, drains from springs and swampy areas, manhole covers, cross-connections from storm sewers, catch basins, surface runoff, street wash waters or drainage.
   METER. A device that records gallons of water used.
   MPCA. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
   NON-CONTACT COOLING WATER. The water discharged from any use such as air conditioning, cooling or refrigeration during which the only pollutant added is heat.
   pH. The logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in terms of grams per liter of solution.
   PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE. The wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers with no particle greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension.
   SEWAGE. The spent water of a community. The preferred term is WASTEWATER.
   SEWER. A pipe or conduit for carrying wastewater.
      COLLECTION SEWER. A sewer whose primary purpose is to collect wastewater from individual point source discharges and connections.
      INTERCEPTOR SEWER. A sewer whose primary purpose is to transport wastewater from collection sewers to a treatment facility.
      PRIVATE SEWER. A sewer that is not owned and maintained by a public authority.
      PUBLIC SEWER. A sewer owned, maintained and controlled by a public authority.
      SANITARY SEWER. A sewer intended to carry only liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions together with minor quantities of ground, storm and surface water which are not admitted intentionally.
      STORM SEWER OR STORM DRAIN. A drain or sewer intended to carry storm waters, surface runoff, ground water, subsurface water, street wash water, drainage and unpolluted water from any source. It excludes wastewater and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.
   TOXIC POLLUTANT. The concentration of any pollutant or combination of pollutants which upon exposure to or assimilation into any organism will cause adverse affects as defined in standards issued pursuant to § 307 (a) of the Act (33 U.S.C. 1317(a)).
   USER. Any person who discharges or causes or permits the discharge of wastewater into the city's wastewater disposal system.
   WASTEWATER. The spent water of a community and referred to as sewage. From the standpoint of source, it may be a combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions together with any ground water, surface water and storm water that may be present.
   WATER MAIN. A pipe, or system of pipes and fittings, designed and used to distribute water to the water service of any customer.
   WATER OPERATOR. The person appointed by the City Council to supervise the water system of the city.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
§ 51.02 WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT.
   There is hereby established a Water Department and a Sewer Department, which shall be under the supervision of the Public Works Department. The departments shall be responsible for the management, maintenance, care, and operation of the water works and sanitary sewerage system of the city.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
§ 51.03 USE OF WATER OR SEWER SYSTEM RESTRICTED.
   No person shall make or use any such installation contrary to the regulatory provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 51.04 WATER AND SEWER CONNECTION REQUIRED.
   (A)   General requirement. When property abuts upon any public street or alley along which water and sewer mains have been constructed, the owner of any dwelling or commercial establishment on the property shall connect to the water main and sanitary sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within 90 days after the date of mailing or delivering official notice to do so. The notice shall be given to the owner or occupant in writing by the City Administrator on order of the City Council.
   (B)   Connection by city. Whenever any owner or occupant fails to comply with such written notice, the City Council shall by resolution direct a connection be made with the water and sewer system and that the cost of the installation be paid in the first instance out of the appropriate fund and then assessed against the property benefitted.
   (C)   Assessment.
      (1)   After the installation and connection have been completed pursuant to City Council resolution, the City Administrator shall serve a written notice of the assessment upon the owner or the owner's representative directing him to pay the assessment to the Treasurer within 10 days after the service of the notice.
      (2)   If the assessment is not paid within 10 days, the City Administrator shall certify the amount to the County Auditor for collection in the same manner as other special assessments. The City Council may by resolution spread the assessment over a 3-year period.
   (D)   Removal of private systems. Once connection has been made to the city water or sewer system, private wells and septic systems must be disconnected and sealed.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
§ 51.05 CHARGES FOR SERVICE CONNECTIONS.
   When the applicant requests a connection with the sanitary sewer or water main, the applicant shall pay a connection fee set by the City Council from time to time per residential or commercial structure for sanitary sewer and per residential or commercial structure for water.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
Cross-reference:
   Fee schedule, see § 36.01
§ 51.06 ACCOUNTING, BILLING AND COLLECTING.
   (A)   Accounts in name of owner.
      (1)   All accounts shall be carried in the name of the owner.
      (2)   The owner shall be liable for water supplied to the property, whether the owner is occupying the property or not, and any charges unpaid shall be a lien upon the property.
   (B)   Bills for service.
      (1)   Water and sewer service charges shall be billed together.
      (2)   Bills shall be mailed to the customers quarterly and shall specify the water consumed and the sewer and water charges in accordance with the rates adopted by the City Council.
      (3)   Water and sewer charges shall start at the time of installation of the water meter, or in the event the meter is not installed, 7 days after completion of outside piping, and shall be calculated upon the quarterly rate.
   (C)   Dishonored checks and payment.
      (1)   Service charge and additional penalties. A service charge, not to exceed $30, will be imposed immediately on any dishonored check by the payee of the holder of the check, regardless of mailing a notice of dishonor. Dishonored check holders will be notified by regular United States Postal Service mail of the dishonored check. If the dishonored check is not paid within 5 days after mailing of notice of dishonor, additional penalties may be imposed. This can be as much as the amount of the check plus a service charge and the bank charge. If a dishonored check is issued to bring an account current following a notice of disconnection of service, water service shall be disconnected immediately, without prior notice. The service charge and reconnection charge, plus the balance on the account, shall be required to be paid in full, by cashier's check, money order or cash payment, prior to reconnecting service. If a resident issues a dishonored check, all future utility bills must be paid in cash or by cashier's check or money order. If a customer who has issued a dishonored check in the past wishes to set up a new account, a $100 deposit is required. This deposit will be reimbursed to customer after 1 year with interested (with interest rate on day of payment), if account has remained current for the entire year.
      (2)   Prepayment or overpayment. Any prepayment or overpayment of charges may be retained by the city and applied on subsequent quarterly charges.
   (D)   Delinquent accounts.
      (1)   All charges for water and sewer service shall be due on the quarterly due date specified by the city for the respective account and shall be delinquent if they are unpaid at the close of business on the due date specified on the statement.
      (2)   If such due date shall fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the time shall be extended to the close of business on the next succeeding day on which business is normally transacted.
      (3)   A penalty of 10% of the amount due shall be added to, and become a part of, all delinquent utility bills. The water operator shall be authorized to shut off the consumer's supply of water, if the consumer's water bill becomes delinquent for a period of 30 days and the procedural requirements of division (E) have been complied with.
      (4)   When water service to any premises has been discontinued, service shall not be restored except upon the payment of all delinquent bills and a turn on fee in the amount duly established by the City Council from time to time.
      (5)   Delinquent accounts shall be certified to the City Administrator who shall prepare an assessment roll each year providing for assessment of the delinquent amounts against the respective properties served.
      (6)   The assessment roll shall be delivered to the City Council for adoption on or before October 1 of each year for certification to the County Auditor for collection along with taxes.
      (7)   Such action is optional and may be subsequent to taking legal action to collect delinquent accounts.
   (E)   Procedures for shutoff of service.
      (1)   Water shall not be shut off under division (D) or for a violation of rules and regulations affecting utility service until notice and opportunity for a hearing have first been given the owner of the premises involved.
      (2)   The notice shall be personally served or shall be mailed by first class mail to the owner of the premises and shall state that if payment is not made before a day stated in the notice but not less than 10 days after the date of which the notice is given, the water supply to the premises will be shut off.
      (3)   The notice shall also state that the owner may, before such date, demand a hearing on the matter, in which case the supply will not be cut off until after the hearing is held.
      (4)   If the owner requests a hearing before the date specified, a hearing shall be held on the matter by the Administrator at least 1 week after the date on which the request is made.
      (5)   If, as a result of the hearing, the Administrator finds that the amount claimed to be owing is actually due and unpaid and that there is no legal reason why the water supply of the delinquent customer may not be shut off in accordance with this chapter, the city may shut off the supply.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 6-24-2011; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
§ 51.07 PROTECTION OF PUBLIC AND CITY.
   (A)   Liability insurance.
      (1)   Before undertaking the construction work, the plumber or contractor shall secure and maintain a policy of insurance against damages to property or injury or death to persons.
      (2)   The policy shall indemnify and hold harmless the city and its personnel against any claim, damages, or cause of action arising out of the work and from any expenses of defending the same.
      (3)   The property damage insurance coverage shall be in the amount of at least $300,000 combined single limits for bodily injury and property damage.
      (4)   Proof of such insurance shall be filed with the city prior to construction work and such policy shall provide that the city shall be notified immediately of any termination or cancellation of such insurance.
   (B)   Apportionment of costs.
      (1)   The owner shall bear the costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer or extension of water service to private property.
      (2)   The owner shall indemnify the city for any loss or damage directly or indirectly caused by its installation and connection.
      (3)   To the extent the City Administrator deems necessary, the City Administrator shall establish rules and regulations for the proper implementation of these requirements which, when approved by the City Council by resolution, shall govern the installation and connection of building sewers and extension of water service to private property.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
§ 51.08 LIMITATION OF CITY LIABILITY.
   (A)   The city will endeavor to provide continuous service, but does not guarantee an uninterrupted or undisturbed supply of utility services.
   (B)   The city will not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the interruption or disturbance of service for any cause other than gross negligence of the city.
   (C)   The city will not be liable for any loss of profits or other consequential damages resulting from the use of service or any interruption or disturbance of service.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
§ 51.09 DAMAGE TO A MUNICIPAL UTILITY PLANT, FIXTURE, EQUIPMENT OR APPURTENANCE.
   Any person causing damage to any municipal utility plant, fixture, equipment, or appurtenance, including but not limited to meters, water hydrants and curb stop box housing shall pay the reasonable value thereof, including labor for repair or replacement and installation of any equipment, including excavation, if necessary.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)
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