§ 52.05 USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS.
   (A)   Unpolluted water or stormwater discharge prohibited.
      (1)   No unpolluted water or stormwater from any unpermitted source shall be discharged to the public sanitary sewer system.
      (2)   Except as otherwise expressly authorized in this section, no water from any roof, surface, groundwater, sump pump, footing tile, swimming pool or other source of natural precipitation shall be discharged into the sanitary sewer collection system.
      (3)   It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant or user of any premises to direct into or allow any stormwater, groundwater, roof run-off, pond overflow, or well water to drain into the sanitary sewer system of the city.
      (4)   No rainspout, or other form of surface drainage and no foundation drainage, beaver systems, or sump pump shall be connected to any substance other than sanitary sewage discharged into any sanitary sewer except as provided herein.
      (5)   It is unlawful for any person or residence to discharge any water from roof, surface, drain tile, footing tiles, swimming pools, hot tubs, or other natural precipitation into the sanitary sewer or adjoining properties.
      (6)   No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, groundwater, roof run-off, yard drainage, yard fountain, pond overflow or any substance other than sanitary sewage into the sanitary collection system.
      (7)   Disconnections ordered. Any person, firm or corporation having a roof drain, surface, groundwater, sump pump, footing tile, cistern overflow pipe, swimming pool, or any surface drain now connected and/or discharging into the sanitary sewer system shall disconnect and/or remove the same. Any disconnects or openings in the sanitary sewer shall be closed and sealed or repaired in a manner as approved by the City Engineer or his or her representative. All improper connections to sanitary sewers are declared public nuisances and may be abated and the costs thereof charged against the property as a special assessment under M.S. § 429.
      (8)   Inspections. Every person owning real estate, or contractors/builders who are building a house within the city that does or may discharge into the city’s sanitary sewer system, shall allow an employee of the city or their designated representative to inspect the buildings at any time to confirm that there is no sump pump or other prohibited discharge into the sanitary sewer system. This requirement may also be met by having the property owner contract with a licensed plumber to perform the inspection. The plumber must inspect the property and any sump pump system and complete and return an inspection form provided by the city documenting the results of the inspection and certifying compliance with this section. All costs associated with an inspection by a private- retained plumber shall be the responsibility of the property owner. Any sump pump connection may be reinspected from time to time as requested by the city.
      (9)   Two weeks to arrange inspection. Any property owner or contractor/builder of a new home refusing to allow their property to be inspected within 14 days of the date city employees or their designated representatives are denied admittance to the property either by phone or in person, shall immediately become subject to the surcharge hereinafter provided. A surcharge of $100 per month will be imposed and will be added to every sewer billing to property owners who are not in compliance after a 30-day notice with this section, and to property owners who have refused entry to city employees, or their designees, to determine compliance. The surcharge will be added every month, until the property is in compliance. The imposition of the surcharge shall in no way limit the right of the city to seek an injunction in district court ordering the property owner to discontinue the non-conforming connection to the sanitary sewer system or from pursuing other legal remedies available. If the city finds it necessary to obtain an administrative warrant to enter the property for inspection due to the landowner’s lack of cooperation, the property owner may also be charged with all costs of obtaining the warrant, including court costs and attorney’s fees.
      (10)   Future inspections. At any future time, if the city has reason to suspect that an illegal connection may exist in a premises, the property owner, after written notice, shall allow city representatives to inspect the building within 14 days, or be subject to the same surcharge and costs described above herein.
   (B)   Sump pump requirements.
      (1)   Dwellings, including new housing construction or houses under construction, and other buildings and structures which require, because of the infiltration of water into basements, crawl spaces and the like, a sump pump system to discharge water, shall have a permanently installed discharge line to the outside which shall not at any time discharge water into the sanitary sewer collection system. A permanent installation shall be one which provides for a year-round discharge capability, to the outside of the building, connected to a storm sewer, or discharged through the curb to the street and the city sub drain/storm sewer system. If there is no sub drain available, the surface discharge point shall be located no closer than four feet from the curb or as approved by the city. It shall consist of a rigid discharge line inside the structure, without valving or quick connections for altering the path of discharge and, if connected to the city sub drain/storm sewer line, include a check valve.
      (2)   A drain tile, sump basket, pump, electrical receptacle and pipe connection to the outside may be installed in any existing building and will be installed in new buildings with below grade structures (other than footings) within the city, provided the design and installation complies with the provisions of this section and passes inspection by the Building Official.
      (3)   Sump pumps will have a discharge system installed to the outside wall of the building. The pipe attachment will be permanent fitting such as PVC pipe with glued fittings. The discharge may extend outside of the foundation wall with a flex hose or a permanent installation.
      (4)   Upon verified compliance with this section, the city reserves the right to inspect the property at least yearly to verify continuing compliance herewith.
   (C)   Additional prohibited discharges. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to public sewers any of the following:
      (1)   Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas;
      (2)   Any waters containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injury or interfere with any waste treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the waste water treatment plant;
      (3)   Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment or personnel of the waste water works; or
      (4)   Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of a size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the waste water facilities such as, but not limited to, ashes, bones, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails and paper dishes, cups, milk containers and similar containers, either whole or ground by garbage grinders.
   (D)   Other permitted discharges.
      (1)   Discharge into the municipal system of substances described in this division shall be limited to concentration or quantities which will not harm the sewers or the waste water treatment process or equipment; will not adversely effect the receiving stream; will not endanger lives, limb or public property; or will not constitute a nuisance.
      (2)   The Superintendent may impose restrictions more stringent than those in this code, if the Superintendent deems the more stringent restrictions necessary to meet the above objectives.
      (3)   The Superintendent shall consider the quantity of subject waste in reaction to flows and velocities in the sewers, sewer construction materials, the waste water treatment plant and other pertinent factors.
      (4)   Variations from the restrictions listed in this section must have the Superintendent's prior approval. Restrictions on substances discharged into the sanitary sewer are as follows:
         (a)   Waste water temperature shall be less than or equal to 150°F (65°C);
         (b)   Waste water shall not contain more than 25 milligrams per liter of petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oils or products of mineral oil origin;
         (c)   Waste water from industrial plants and commercial establishments shall not contain floatable oils, fat or grease;
         (d)   Any garbage not properly shredded (see § 52.01 for definition of properly shredded garbage). Garbage grinders may be connected to sanitary sewers from homes, hotels, institutions, restaurants, hospitals, catering establishments or similar places where garbage originates from the food preparation in kitchens for consumption on the premises or catering service;
         (e)   When water or waste containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, similar objectionable or toxic substances are received in the composite waste water at the waste water treatment works, it shall not exceed the limits established by the Superintendent for those materials;
         (f)   Water or waste containing odor-producing substances shall not exceed the limits established by the Superintendent;
         (g)   The half-life or concentration radioactive wastes or isotopes shall not exceed limits established by the Superintendent in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;
         (h)   Slugs shall not be allowed;
         (i)   Water or waste containing substances not amenable to treatment or reduction by the waste water treatment processes employed shall not be allowed;
         (j)   Water or waste which, by interaction with other water or waste in the public sewer system, releases obnoxious gases, forms suspended solids which interfere with the collection system or creates a condition deleterious to structures and treatment processes shall not be allowed; and
         (k)   Waste which will cause the district to violate its national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit shall not be allowed.
   (E)   City/district action. If water or waste:
      (1)   Does not comply with § 52.05(D);
      (2)   Is discharged or proposed to be discharged into the public sewers; or
      (3)   Is deemed by the Superintendent to:
         (a)   Possibly have a deleterious effect upon the waste water facilities, processes, equipment, or receiving waters;
         (b)   Create a hazard to life; or
         (c)   Constitute a public nuisance, the city/district do any of the following:
            1.   Reject the wastes;
            2.   Require pretreatment to any acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;
            3.   Control the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or
            4.   Require payment to cover any added cost of handling the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges.
   (F)   Approval required. If the city/district permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the city and the district.
   (G)   Interceptors.
      (1)   Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when the Superintendent deems them necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing either floatable grease in excessive amounts, as specified in § 52.05(D)(3), or any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients.
      (2)   Interceptors shall not be required for dwelling units. All interceptors' type and capacity shall be approved by the Superintendent and shall be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
      (3)   The owner shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal of the captured material and shall maintain records, which may be reviewed by the Superintendent, of the dates, and means of disposal.
      (4)   Any collected materials not removed or hauled by the owner's personnel must be removed and hauled by licensed waste disposal firms.
   (H)   Pretreatment and flow-equalizing. Where pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided or required for water or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at the owner's expense.
   (I)   Required meters.
      (1)   When required by the Superintendent, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable structure with necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observing, sampling and measuring the wastes.
      (2)   The structure shall be accessible and safely located and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the Superintendent and the executive director of the district.
      (3)   The structure shall be installed and maintained by the owner at the owner's expense and shall be safe and accessible at all times.
   (J)   Examination methods.
      (1)   All measurements, tests and analysis water and waste characteristics to which reference is made in this code shall be as stated in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water, published by the American Public Health Association.
      (2)   Sampling methods, location, times, durations and frequencies are to be determined on an individual basis subject to approval by the Superintendent and the executive director of the district.
      (3)   Reference is made to 40 C.F.R. pt. 136, Guidelines for Establishing Test Procedures for Analysis of Pollutants dated October 16, 1973.
   (K)   Special agreements. No statement contained in this part shall be construed as preventing a special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for transport.
   (L)   Federal law. Reference is made to the Federal Register, volume 38, number 215, part III, section 128 and Federal Guidelines titled Pretreatment of Pollutants Introduced into Publicly Owned Treatment Works as published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, October, 1973.
(1987 Code, § 303.05) (Am. Ord. 510, passed 7-10-2007; Am. Ord. 557, passed 11-12-2012) Penalty, see § 10.99
Cross-reference:
   For the definition of slug, see § 52.01