(a) Control of Sewer Systems. The sewer systems of the Sewer Districts of the City, as constructed, or as hereafter added to or changed, shall be under the charge and control of the Utilities Commission under whose supervision the sewer systems shall be used by property owners. No person shall enter into, open, or interfere with or use or do any repair or maintenance work with respect to the sewer systems except under the inspection and direction of the Utilities Commission, and after a written permit shall have been issued by the Utilities Commission. Such written permit shall be issued on payment of a fee established by the Utilities Commission.
(b) Connection Fee. The Utilities Commission shall adopt rules and regulations to govern the construction and maintenance of the sewer system and shall therein fix the amount of fees that shall be chargeable to persons or property owners who may wish to enter or use the sewer system, which fee shall be sufficient in amount to pay for the cost of installation of such entry or entries.
(c) Classes of Permits. There shall be three classes of Building Sewer Permits:
(1) For domestic wastewater service, and
(2) For industrial users, and
(3) For service to all other contributors.
The owner or his agent shall make application on a form furnished by the Director. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Director. A permit fee in an amount fixed in subsection (b) hereof shall be paid at the time the application is filed.
(d) Permit Limitations. Permits granted under this chapter shall be for a specific wastewater, and such permits shall be granted only after the submission and approval of plans set forth hereinafter. Subsequent wastewaters of different quantity, quality, characteristics shall be covered by separate permits.
(e) Protection of Sanitary and Building Sewers During Construction. No person constructing a sanitary sewer, building or house connection shall leave same open, unsealed or incomplete in such fashion as to permit storm, surface or subsurface water to enter such sewers.
(f) Cost of Building Sewer. All costs and expenses incidental to the installation, connection, maintenance, cleaning, repair, and replacement of the Building Sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the Utilities Commission from any cost or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation, maintenance, cleaning, repair or replacement of the Building Sewer.
(g) Building Sewer Limitations. Every building which is the source of the heretofore described acceptable wastewater shall be provided with a separate and independent Building Sewer.
(h) Combined Sewers. The construction of or extension to combined sewers is hereby prohibited, unless approved by the OEPA.
(i) Private Sanitary Sewers. Private (as opposed to "Public") sanitary sewers shall continue to be owned by the owners now owning same until such time as the owner and the Utilities Commission mutually agree to a transfer of ownership to the City. Such sewers shall be controlled by the Utilities Commission but shall be operated and maintained by their owners, unless the Utilities Commission agrees in writing to provide this service in which case a proper easement shall be dedicated to the City.
(j) Permit Refusal. The Utilities Commission may refuse to issue a Permit for a new connection to the sanitary sewer system if there is not available capacity in all down stream facilities, including treatment plant capacity for BOD5, suspended solids, and phosphorus removal.
(Ord. 2016-21. Passed 11-28-16; Ord. 2019-38. Passed 12-23-19.)