(a) Connections to service.
(1) No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections to or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the city engineer.
(2) There shall be two classes of building sewer permits as follows:
A. For residential and commercial service; and
B. For service to establishments producing industrial wastes.
(3) In either case, the owner or his or her agent shall make application for the appropriate permit on a form furnished by the city. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent by the city engineer. A permit fee and inspection fee established by ordinance shall be paid to the city when the application is filed.
(b) Premises service connection.
(1) A separate and independent sewer service shall be provided for each living unit where a separate ownership or billing is anticipated, each unit where a separate water service is required; and in house, building or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes.
(2) In lieu of a separate sewer service for every living unit, a single building sewer of a size to be determined by the city engineer may be provided. The city does not and will not assume any obligation or responsibility for damage caused by or resulting from any single connection.
(3) In the event one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.
(4) Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, following examination and testing by the owner and approved by the city engineer, to meet all requirements of this subchapter.
(c) Installation.
(1) The size, slope, alignment, materials or construction of all sanitary sewers including building sewers, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, testing and backfilling the trench, shall all conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing codes and other applicable specifications or requirements of the city. In the absence of suitable code provisions or in amplification thereof, the materials and procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the ASTM and WPCF Manual of Practice No. 9 shall apply.
(2) No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer unless the connection is specifically authorized by the city engineer or manager.
(3) The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing codes and other applicable specifications and requirements of the city, or the procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the ASTM and the WPCF Manual of Practice No. 9. All connections shall be made gastight and watertight and verified by proper testing. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the city engineer before installation.
(4) The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the city engineer when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection and testing shall be made under the supervision of the city engineer.
(5) All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city.
(d) Owner responsibility. All costs incidental to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the city from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer. The owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of the building drain and the building sewer.
(1992 Code, § 41-113) (Ord. 47-81, passed 6-1-1981; Ord. 19-82, passed 3-8-1982; Ord. 57-93, passed 7-12-1993; Ord. 102-96, passed 9-3-1996; Ord. 19-21, passed 2-16-2021)