No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, ground water, roof runoff, yard drainage, yard fountain, pond overflow or any substance other than sanitary sewage into the sanitary collection system.
(A) No roof runoff, sump pump, swimming pool discharge or surface water drainage shall be connected to the sanitary sewer system and no building shall hereafter be constructed, nor shall any existing buildings be hereafter altered in such a manner that the roof drainage or any other source of discharge or drainage other than sanitary sewer shall connect with the sanitary sewer system inside or outside the building.
(B) Any person, firm or corporation having a roof sump pump, swimming pool discharge, cistern overflow pipe or surface drain now connected and/or discharging into the sanitary sewer system shall disconnect and/or remove same upon adoption of this subchapter. Any disconnects or openings in the sanitary sewer shall be closed or repaired in an effective, workmanlike manner as described in the next section.
(C) (1) Effective 11-17-2004, all new residential construction having a sump pump with a sump basket shall be in compliance with the state’s Plumbing Building Code. Such work shall be completed prior to the final building inspection and issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(2) All sump pumps shall have a discharge pipe installed to the outside wall of the building with one inch inside minimum diameter. The pipe attachment must be a permanent fitting such as a PVC pipe with glued fittings. The discharge shall extend at least three feet outside of the foundation wall. If a public drain tile system has been installed in a street before a certificate of occupancy has been issued for a lot abutting such street, a certificate of occupancy may not be issued until the foundation drain tile system has been constructed and connected to the public drain tile system.
(3) If a public drain tile system has not been installed in the street before a certificate of occupancy has been issued, any property with a foundation drain tile system abutting such street shall connect such system to the public drain tile system within one year after the public drain tile system is installed when water from the private drain tile is either being discharged into a city boulevard or street or discharged onto property not owned by the owner of the foundation drain tile system.
(4) All new residential construction having a foundation drain tile system shall discharge into an abutting holding pond, drainage swale, ravine or similar system. No foundation drain tile system shall be discharged into a front yard boulevard area unless it can be connected to a public drain tile system. Discharge pipes from sump pumps not connected to a public drain tile system shall be located no closer than five feet from any property line, unless authorized by the City Engineer.
(D) (1) Every person owning improved real estate that discharges into the city’s sanitary sewer system shall either:
(a) Following written notice to the property owner, allow city employee(s) to enter upon and inspect the buildings and pipes therein to confirm that there is not a sump pump or other prohibited discharge into the sanitary sewer system; or
(b) The property owner, at his or her sole cost, shall, within 30 days of receiving notice from the city of a proposed inspection by city employee(s), have the property inspected by a plumber licensed in Minnesota, which plumber, on a form available from the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer, shall attest that if the property has a sump pump, such sump pump does not discharge into the sanitary sewer system and there are no other prohibited discharges emanating from the property into the sanitary sewer system.
(2) The property owner of any property found to be in violation of this section shall make the necessary changes to comply within 30 days of the inspection and such changes shall be verified by city employee(s) or, at the option and sole expense of the property owner, by a plumber licensed in the state. It shall be the property owner’s responsibility to request a compliance inspection from the city.
(E) A surcharge as set forth in the annual fee schedule is hereby imposed and shall be added to every sewer bill mailed on or after 3-1-2008, to property owners who are not in compliance with this section within 30 days after the initial inspection of the subject property or to property owners who have not complied with the inspection reports of division (B) above. The surcharge shall be added every month until the property is in compliance. In the event a violation of this section is discovered upon inspection of new construction, the surcharge shall be paid to the city prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit.
(F) Upon verified compliance with this section, the city reserves the right to inspect such property at least yearly to verify compliance herewith, in accordance with § 10.20.
(Ord. 78, passed 11-17-2004; Ord. 78A, passed 2-20-2008) Penalty, see § 10.99