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All connections to the water system and sanitary sewer system shall be performed by a plumber licensed to do plumbing in the city, except that nothing in this chapter shall be construed as to prohibit an individual owner from obtaining a permit and installing the connection by his or her own labor, provided, however, that the construction is conducted under the regulations of this chapter and requirements of the engineer and plumbing inspector.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-13)
(A) It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, or user of any premises to direct into or allow any stormwater, surface water, ground water, or water from air conditioning systems to drain into the sanitary sewer system of the city. This includes water from any roof, surface or ground sump pump, foundation drain, or swimming pool. Dwellings and other buildings and structures which require a sump pump system to discharge excess water shall have a permanently-installed discharge line which shall not at any time discharge water into the sanitary sewer system except as provided herein.
(B) A permanent installation shall be one which provides for year-around discharge capability to either the outside of the dwelling, building, or structure, or is connected to the city storm sewer system or discharges to the street. It shall consist of a rigid discharge line without valving or quick connections for altering the path of discharge and include a check valve if connected to the city storm sewer line.
(1) Inspection. Every person owning improved real estate that discharges into the city sanitary sewer system shall allow an employee of the city or their designated representative to inspect the buildings to confirm that there is no sump pump or other prohibited discharge into the sanitary sewer system. Properties found to be in compliance will receive a certificate of compliance at the time of inspection.
(2) Non-compliance. Within 30 days of initial inspection, any person, firm, or corporation having a roof, surface or ground sump pump, foundation drain, or swimming pool and/or discharging into the sanitary sewer system shall disconnect and/or remove same. Any disconnects or openings in the sanitary sewer shall be closed or repaired in an effective and workmanlike manner in accordance with § 50.13. Any person refusing to allow his or her property to be inspected shall immediately become subject to the surcharge hereinafter provided for. Any property found to violate this section shall make the necessary changes to comply with this section within 30 days of the initial inspection.
(3) Future inspections. At any future time, the city may conduct random inspections if the city has reason to suspect that an illegal connection exists on a property to ensure compliance with this section.
(4) New construction. A sump pump and rigid pipe discharge connection to the outside shall be required on all new construction within the city where a ground water drainage system is part of the construction plans.
(5) Temporary winter variance (November 1 through March 1). The City Council shall have the power and duty of hearing and deciding requests for temporary variances from the applicability of the provisions of this section where strict enforcement would cause undue hardship because of circumstances unique to the individual property or cause a safety problem. This does not apply to monetary hardship. Application for a temporary waiver should be addressed in writing to the City of Monticello, Director of Public Works. The applications shall identify the property for which the variance is being applied for, the name of the property owner/applicant, and describe in detail what characteristics of the subject property create undue hardship or concern. Within 30 days after application, the city shall make its order deciding on the matter and serve a copy of the order upon the applicant by mail. Upon receipt of an application for variance, the city will allow the property owner to temporarily discharge directly into the sanitary sewer system. Employees of the city will divert the discharge and seal the connection of the discharge to the sanitary sewer using a meter seal. The cost for the connection to the sanitary sewer and subsequent removal will be noted in the fee schedule ordinance. Additionally, the applicant will be responsible for the cost to transport and treat the added flow to the sanitary sewer at the established city rate. The total flow for the period of the variance will be monitored by the city.
(6) Single-family unit surcharge. A surcharge of $75 per month is hereby imposed and added to every sewer billing to property owners who are not in compliance with this section within 30 days of initial inspection. This surcharge is in addition to any other penalties that may be incurred under this subchapter. Should a single-family unit property owner found to be in compliance with this section and during a subsequent inspection found to have reconnected an illegal source to the sanitary sewer, the surcharge as listed in the fee schedule ordinance will be applied for all months between the previous two inspections.
(7) Non single-family unit surcharge. A surcharge as listed in the fee schedule ordinance is hereby imposed and added to every sewer billing to property owners who are not in compliance with this section within 30 days of initial inspection. This surcharge is in addition to any other penalties that may be incurred under this subchapter. Should a non single-family unit property owner found to be in compliance with this section and during a subsequent inspection found to have reconnected an illegal source to the sanitary sewer, the surcharge as listed in the fee schedule ordinance will be applied for all months between the previous two inspections.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-15) (Ord. 271, passed 6-12-1995) Penalty, see § 50.99
All installation work or repair of connections to the water and sewer systems, including grades, bends, and backfilling, shall be performed under the direction and supervision of the plumbing inspector. No work shall be covered or backfilled until directed by the inspector. All work and excavations shall be protected by barricades and warning markers and lights reasonable and suitable to the purpose. The city shall be held harmless of any claim or loss as might otherwise arise for damage, loss, or injury caused by or arising by reason of the work being performed; and the applicant causing the work to be done shall give undertaking to the city with respect thereto.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-16)
The City Council may impose emergency regulations pertaining to the conservation of water by resolution of the Council and by giving notice by publication or by posting in City Hall and at the public places as the Council may direct.
(A) Lawn and garden watering regulations.
(1) Purpose. The city has limited water storage and pumping capacity. Due to the fast growth in residential developments, this section will promote a higher awareness of the primary use of water in the summer lawn and garden irrigation, and regulate the watering of lawns, gardens, grass seed, and sod.
(2) Odd/even schedule. A home or business address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may water its lawn on odd numbered calendar days each month and an address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) may water its lawn on even-numbered calendar days. The only deviations to the odd/even watering system are apartment complexes and homeowner associations that have been assigned odd or even watering days because of the numerous addresses on one sprinkling system. For these complexes and associations, the address of the bill for sprinkling water shall be used to determine odd or even. The odd/even schedule is in effect from June 1 through September 30 of each year until further notice. This may be deleted or modified when the city completes construction of additional wells and water towers to improve pumping and storage capabilities.
(3) Permit required. A 30-day permit may be obtained at City Hall to water newly seeded or sodded lawns and newly planted trees.
(4) Rain sensors. Rain sensors are required on all commercial, institutional, or governmental sprinkler systems. All newly installed sprinkling systems from the date of publication of this subchapter, including residential, will be required to have rain sensors.
(5) Private wells. Restrictions of this section do not apply to property serviced by private wells, provided the sprinkling water is pumped from a private well. Residents, commercial, institutional, or governmental entities with private wells are required to notify City Hall that they have a well used for watering purposes.
(B) Additional restrictions. In the case of a severe shortage of water, the City Administrator and/or Public Works Director are authorized to impose additional restrictions to provide for the safe operation of the municipal water supply. The notice shall be posted at all city offices on the city’s website, and in the official newspaper. The Mayor and City Council shall be notified of the restrictions as soon as possible.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-17) (Ord. 379, passed 6-10-2002) Penalty, see § 50.99
The city, by any authorized employee or agent, shall have the right to enter and be admitted to any lands and property in the city for the purpose of inspection of materials, plumbing work, and fixtures of all kinds used by or in connection with the water and sewer systems, in accordance with § 10.20.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-18)
Whenever any premises are connected to the water system, there shall be maintained a complete physical separation between the water supply system and the private water supply system so that it is impossible to intentionally or unintentionally allow any water produced by a private system to be introduced in the supply line from the city system.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-19)
(A) Shut off for nonpayment. The city shall endeavor to collect delinquent accounts promptly. In any case where satisfactory arrangements for payment have not been made, the Public Works Department may, after the procedural requirements of division (B) below have been complied with, discontinue service to the delinquent customer by shutting off the water at the stop box. When water service to any premises has been discontinued, service shall not be restored except upon the payment of all delinquent amounts due plus a fee for disconnection and reconnection based on a fee schedule adopted by the City Council.
(B) Procedure. Water shall not be shut off under division (A) above until notice and an opportunity for a hearing have first been given the occupant of the premises involved. The notice shall be sent by certified mail and shall state that if payment is not made before a date stated in the notice but not less than 30 days after the date on which the notice is given, the water supply to the premises will be shut off. The notice shall not be sent until an account is 30 days past due. The notice shall contain amount due and shut off date if payment is not made.
(C) Shut off for abandonment or vacancy.
(1) The Chief Building Official or the Public Works Director, to protect the public health and safety and in order to protect the public water supply and/or private property, may order the city water service immediately disconnected to any property without prior notice to the owner upon determining that any of the following conditions exist:
(a) The property is vacant or abandoned;
(b) The property is unsecured;
(c) The property is determined to be uninhabitable or unsuitable for occupancy;
(d) Other utilities have been shut off or the city has been provided notice of disconnection of gas or electric service; or
(e) Running water to the property creates an unsanitary or unsafe condition.
(2) (a) Water service shall not be re-connected to the property until it has passed an inspection by the city and the owner pays any re-connection fee as noted in the fee schedule ordinance.
(b) Upon disconnection, the city will post or leave notice at the property indicating the date of disconnection and directions regarding how the service may be reconnected.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-20) (Ord. 107, passed 11-23-1981; Ord. 458, passed 10-23-2006)
All property owners and customers of the municipal water service shall comply with the following cross connection control requirements:
(A) Any private water line, system, apparatus or equipment that is connected to or has a cross-connection with the city's municipal water system shall have a backflow prevention device installed, tested, and properly maintained in accordance with the Minnesota State Plumbing Code.
(B) Prior to the installation of or the repair to any private water line, system, apparatus or equipment that is connected to or has a cross-connection with the city's municipal water system, the property owner, or the customer if different than the owner, shall notify and obtain approval for the installation or repair and the backflow prevention devices proposed to be installed.
(C) The backflow prevention device is to be owned, tested, and maintained in working condition by the customer/owner of the premises being served and shall be done so in accordance with the Minnesota State Plumbing Code.
(D) The backflow prevention device shall be tested at the intervals set forth by the Minnesota State Building Code for the type of device installed. The required test shall be performed by an ASSE/state certified backflow tester. All internal maintenance to the device shall be performed by an ASSE/state certified backflow prevention re builder. The owner/customer shall provide a certified report of the test results to the city. An ASSE certified Cross-Connection Control Surveyor is considered qualified by the City of Monticello to investigate all potable water outlets for actual or potential connections between a potable water supply and sources of contamination or pollution.
(E) (1) All properties connected to the municipal water utility system shall be subject to annual inspections by a city-designated inspector for the purpose of determining whether cross connection(s) exist and if so, whether the proper device is present on the property. The property owner or occupant shall permit the city-designated inspector on the property and within any structure thereon to complete the inspection. The compliance inspection shall occur within 30 days of written notice from the city that a compliance inspection is required on the property. The compliance inspection shall occur at a time and in the manner as reasonably determined by the city inspector.
(2) In lieu of a compliance inspection by the city-designated inspector, the property owner or occupant may have the property inspected, at the sole expense of the owner or occupant, by an ASSE certified Cross-Connection Control Surveyor who shall inspect the property and file a certificate of compliance, on a form provided by the city, within 30 days of the city's notice of the required inspection. The private ASSE certified Cross-Connection Control Surveyor who conducts the compliance inspection shall certify on the certificate of compliance whether all backflow prevention devices required on the property are installed and in proper working condition in in compliance with the provisions of this section and the Minnesota State Plumbing Code.
(3) If the property owner or occupant fails to permit or have completed a compliance inspection, the city may apply to the district court for an appropriate administrative search warrant authorizing the city to enter the property to conduct the inspection.
(4) In the event that backflow prevention device(s) is required on the property and said device(s) are not present or are not in compliance with this section, the installation or repair of the proper backflow prevention device( s) shall be completed and a second compliance inspection shall be completed within 60 days of the notice of noncompliance to determine if the necessary corrections have been made and compliance with this section has been met. The second compliance inspection shall be subject to the requirements set forth above. Thereafter, the property shall be subject to re-inspections on an annual basis to confirm continued compliance. Properties that are in compliance shall also be subject to re-inspections to confirm continued compliance.
(F) Surcharges.
(1) A surcharge in an amount duly adopted by City Council resolution and set forth in the city's fee schedule shall be assessed against the property on which backflow prevention devices (or lack thereof) in violation of this section. The surcharge will be charged on the property's municipal utility billing statement. A surcharge will be assessed and charged as follows:
(a) An inspection as required herein has not been allowed by the property owner or occupant or a certificate of compliance has not been filed with the city within 30 days after the city's notice of inspection;
(b) The necessary corrections have not been made within the time specified; and
(c) The property owner or occupant has failed to install, replace or repair any and all backflow prevention device(s) at the city's or a court's direction.
(2) A surcharge will be assessed for every billing period during which the property is not in compliance, whether the non-compliance has existed for the entire billing period or a portion thereof.
(G) The city may impose a fee for administering a backflow preventer testing program which shall be as established by City Council resolution.
(H) Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall be cause to disconnect municipal water service to the property in accordance with this chapter.
(Ord. 743, passed 7-27-2020)
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