(A) Every person owning improved real estate that discharges into the city's sanitary sewer system shall allow the City of Wells employee(s) to inspect the buildings to confirm that there is no sump pump or other prohibited discharge into the sanitary sewer system. Any person refusing to allow their 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 and changes shall be verified by City of Wells employee(s).
(B) Any use of sump pumps by property owners in the City of Wells is strictly prohibited unless the use is specifically authorized and allowed as stated herein.
(1) No sump pumps shall be allowed to place, deposit, or pump water into the Wells sanitary sewer system at any time unless the following conditions are met.
(a) New subdivisions; all construction. A sump pump and rigid pipe discharge connection to the outside shall be required for all construction in new subdivisions when it is determined necessary by the City Building Official or his or her designate to protect sanitary sewer infiltration. The Building Official or designate shall conduct his or her analysis and make his or her determination of soil conditions on a subdivision basis. The sump pump and rigid pipe discharge requirement will apply to all units constructed within a specific subdivision.
(b) Existing subdivisions; new construction. A new construction in a subdivision platted prior to the effective date of this section shall be examined by the City Building Official or his or her designate when the footing inspection based upon excavated soils, whether the sump pump and rigid connection are required. Should the building owner choose the option of installing a sump pump and rigid connection where they are not required, they shall be installed in accordance with divisions (B)(2)(a) and (B)(2)(b) below.
(c) Existing subdivisions; existing construction. Any existing construction in a subdivision platted prior to the effective date of this section in which a sump and pump have been or will be installed shall be required to install a rigid pipe connection discharge in accordance with division (B)(2) below. It shall be unlawful to maintain any connection with the sanitary sewer carrying roof water after the effective date of this section.
(d) Exceptions. In certain locations where surface storm water discharge would create a safety hazard during freezing weather, connection to the sanitary sewer may be maintained from October 15 to March 15. In no case shall any connection to the sanitary sewer be maintained from March 15 to October 15, unless granted by the City Council. Exceptions will be granted by permit on a case by case basis as determined by the City Building Official or his or her designate.
(2) All sump pumps shall comply with the following installation requirements.
(a) The building shall have a drain tile placed around the inside or outside perimeter of the foundation connected to a sump pit. All baseboard seepage collection systems shall be discharged to the sump pit.
(b) A discharge pipe shall be installed to outside wall of the building with rigid pipe (plastic, copper, galvanized or black pipe) 1 inch inside diameter minimum. The discharge pipe must have a check valve within 1 foot of the floor grade and a union or other approved coupling for easy disconnection for repair or replacement. The discharge shall extend at least 3 feet outside of the foundation wall.
(c) All pipe installation shall be with approved P.V.C. piping. All valves used and installed shall be capable of being sealed and unsealed by the Wells City Building Official or his or her designate.
(C) Because surface storm water discharge will create a safety hazard during freezing weather, connection to the sanitary sewer may be maintained from October 15 to March 15. In no case shall any connection to the sanitary sewer be maintained from March 15 to October 15, unless approved by the City Council. It shall be the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that the appropriate connections are maintained throughout the year. The City Building Official of Wells, or his or her designate shall be authorized to enter any and all premises wherein sump pumps are believed to be, or are, connected to the sanitary sewer system for purposes of inspecting the discharge connection.
(D) In addition to criminal violations as provided, the unauthorized use of a sump pump during the period of March 15 to October 15 shall constitute the basis for the City of Wells to levy on the landowner a civil penalty in the amount of $100 per day to be added to the water/sewer bill of the landowner, and, if not promptly paid, to be added to the tax levy on the property as otherwise provided.
(Ord. 247, passed 1-7-2002; Am. Ord. passed 8-22-2005) Penalty, see § 10.99