1. Requirements for Sewer Lateral Repair and/or Replacement. The Superintendent shall issue a notice to repair to the property owner when the sewer lateral has conditions which would result in an unacceptable amount of inflow or infiltration to enter the sewer system or which would result in an unacceptable risk of blockages. The Superintendent shall have the sole discretion to determine when repair and/or replacement is required due to unacceptable conditions of a sewer lateral. A sewer lateral shall be considered in compliance with the provisions of this chapter if inspection verifies all of the following conditions to the satisfaction of the Superintendent:
A. The sewer lateral is free of roots, deposits of fat, oil and grease (FOG), and/or other solids which may impede or obstruct the flow of sewage.
B. There are no illicit or illegal connections to the sewer lateral which would cause inflow, such as roof leaders, sump pumps or yard drains.
C. All joints in the sewer lateral are tight and sound to prevent the exfiltration of sewage and/or the infiltration of groundwater.
D. The sewer lateral is free of structural defects, cracks, breaks, or missing portions and the grade is reasonably uniform without major sags or offsets.
E. The sewer lateral is equipped with cleanouts, if required, as determined by Superintendent.
F. The sewer lateral is constructed of materials that are corrosive resistant, nonabsorbent, durable, and with a remaining design life of at least twenty-five years. “Orangeburg pipe,” a bituminized fiber pipe made from layers of wood pulp and pitch pressed together, shall be considered to be at the end of its design life and not compliant with the provisions of this chapter.
G. A sewer relief valve, if required, is installed.
H. A sewer backwater valve, if required, is installed.
2. Owners’ Duty to Make Connection. When any street or alley is ordered to be paved or otherwise permanently improved, it shall be the duty of all owners of property abutting upon such street or alley upon written notice from the City to at once make permanent and substantial connections meeting the conditions listed within this ordinance with sewer, along such street or alley at their own cost and expense. The City shall order such connections made as are necessary, stating generally the location of the street, and the kind and character of connections to be made with the kind of materials to be used, and when the work of making such connections shall be completed.
3. Method and Material. The connections made within the street or alley from the mains to and right of way in front of the abutting property and shall be in accordance with the most current version of the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS).
4. Method. All the connections shall be made in a thorough and substantial manner under the direction and order of the Superintendent, and in the manner provided by plans or resolution for making connections therewith, so that whenever any such paving is once laid it need not be disturbed for the making of any such connection. No repairs are allowed to be made to “Orangeburg” pipe without the written permission of the Superintendent. When encountered, “Orangeburg” is to be replaced in its entirety of the sewer service.
5. Notice to Connect. In case any property owner or title holder fails to make such connections within the time allotted within the provided notice for the improvements of any such street or alley, the Council may order the same and cause the Superintendent to prepare notices to such delinquent property owners to make such connections within 10 days thereafter. The notices shall be mailed by certified mail to the last known address of the property owner or personally served on the property owner. The Superintendent may at his/her option, also publish notice in a newspaper in the City stating the particular lot or lots or parcel of ground in front of which connections shall be made. The publication shall be made as required by law.
6. Completion of Work. The City shall include the connections the property owners fail to make within the capital improvement project (CIP).
7. Connections Made by City. If any owner of abutting property fails to comply with the provisions of this section by the time stated in the notice to connect, the City may proceed to have such connections made under the supervision and direction of the Superintendent, and keep an accurate account of the expenses incurred.
8. Assessment. The City Clerk shall send a statement of the total expense incurred, by certified mail, to the last known address of the property owner who has failed to abide by the notice to connect. If the amount shown on the statement is not paid within 30 days of mailing, the cost and expense of putting in connections by the City as provided herein shall be levied as a special tax against the property abutting or adjacent thereto and the method of estimating, assessing, levying, and collecting the tax shall be the same as that prescribed for general taxes.
9. Excavations. After Pavement Laid. Whenever any street or alley has been ordered to be paved, and property owners owning property abutting or lying along such street or alley, have been notified by the City to connect their property by laying down pipes within the right of way in front of or along the property, any person so notified who has refused to comply with the requirements of the notice shall not enter upon such street or alley after it has been paved and make any excavation in the paved portion thereof for the purpose of connecting their property with such mains within 4 years after such paving is laid and not thereafter except by special resolution of the Council.
10. Permit Requirements. Property owner shall request permit from the City of Windsor Heights. Permit fees are waived for permits related to CIP.