CHAPTER 96

BUILDING SEWERS AND CONNECTIONS

96.01  Permit

96.06  Interceptors Required

96.02  Connection Charge

96.07  Sewer Tap

96.03  Plumber Required

96.08  Inspection Required

96.04  Excavations

96.09  Property Owner’s Responsibility

96.05  Connection Requirements

96.10  Abatement of Violations

96.01    PERMIT.  No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connection with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the City.  The application for the permit shall set forth the location and description of the property to be connected with the sewer system and the purpose for which the sewer is to be used, and shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent.  The permit shall require the owner to complete construction and connection of the building sewer to the public sewer within thirty (30) days after the issuance of the permit, except that when a property owner makes sufficient showing that due to conditions beyond the owner’s control or peculiar hardship, such time period is inequitable or unfair, an extension of time within which to comply with the provisions herein may be granted.  Any sewer connection permit may be revoked at any time for a violation of these chapters.

96.02    CONNECTION CHARGE.  The person who makes the application shall pay a connection charge to the City in accordance with the following schedule:

1.                  Residential Connection – $2,000.00.

2.                  Additional Residential Connection on Lot with Existing Connection – $150.00.

3.                  Commercial Connection – $2,000.00.

4.                  Industrial Connection – to be determined by the City Engineer after review of the proposed application.

5.                  Multi-family Residential - $2,000.00 per dwelling unit within the building.

(Subsections 1 & 3 - Ord. 193 – Feb. 06 Supp.)

(Subsection 5 - Ord. 2005-203 – Feb. 06 Supp.)

96.03    PLUMBER REQUIRED.  All installations of building sewers and connections to the public sewer shall be made by a plumber approved by the City.  The Superintendent shall have the power to suspend the approval of any plumber for violation of any of the provisions of these Sanitary Sewer chapters; a suspension, unless revoked, shall continue until the next regular meeting of the Council.  The Superintendent shall notify the plumber immediately by personal written notice of the suspension, the reasons for the suspension, and the time and place of the Council meeting at which the plumber will be granted a hearing.  At this Council meeting the Superintendent shall make a written report to the Council stating the reasons for the suspension, and the Council, after fair hearing, shall affirm or revoke the suspension or take any further action that is necessary and proper.  The plumber shall provide a surety bond in the minimum sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) secured by a responsible surety bonding company authorized to operate within the State, conditioned to indemnify and save the City harmless against all losses or damages that may arise from or be occasioned by the making of connections with the public sewers or excavations therefor or by carelessness, negligence or unskillfulness in making the same.  Such bond shall remain in force and must be executed for a period of one year except that on such expiration it shall remain in force as to all penalties, claims and demands that may have accrued thereunder prior to such expiration.  In lieu of a surety bond, a cash deposit of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) may be filed with the City.

96.04    EXCAVATIONS.  All excavations required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the City.  Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with A.S.T.M. Specification C-12, except that no backfill shall be placed until the work has been inspected.  The excavations shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 135 where applicable.

96.05    CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS.  Any connection with a public sanitary sewer must be made under the direct supervision of the Superintendent and in accordance with the following:

1.            Old Building Sewers.  Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test conducted by the owner and observed by the Superintendent, to meet all requirements of this chapter.

2.            Separate Building Sewers.  A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every occupied building; except where 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.  In such cases the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.

3.            Installation.  The installation of the building sewer and its connection to the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of Division 4, Plumbing Rules and Regulations, of the State Building Code and the City Design Standards.  All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight.  Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the Superintendent before installation. 

96.06    INTERCEPTORS REQUIRED.  Grease, oil, sludge and sand interceptors shall be provided by gas and service stations, convenience stores, car washes, garages, and other facilities when, in the opinion of the Superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of such wastes that contain grease in excessive amounts or any flammable waste, sand or other harmful ingredients.  Such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units.  When required, such interceptors shall be installed in accordance with the following:

1.            Design and Location.  All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity as provided by the Iowa Public Health Bulletin and Division 4 of the State Building Code, to be approved by the Superintendent, and shall be located so as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

2.            Construction Standards.  The interceptors shall be constructed of impervious material capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature.  They shall be of substantial construction, watertight and equipped with easily removable covers that shall be gastight and watertight. 

3.            Maintenance.  All such interceptors shall be maintained by the owner at the owner’s expense and shall be kept in continuously efficient operations at all times.

96.07    SEWER TAP.  Connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall be made at the “Y” branch, if such branch is available at a suitable location.  If no properly located “Y” branch is available, a saddle “Y” shall be installed at the location specified by the Superintendent.  The public sewer shall be tapped with a tapping machine and a saddle appropriate to the type of public sewer shall be glued or attached with a gasket and stainless steel clamps to the sewer.  At no time shall a building sewer be constructed so as to enter a manhole unless special written permission is received from the Superintendent and in accordance with the Superintendent’s direction if such connection is approved.

96.08    INSPECTION REQUIRED.  No building sewer shall be put into use until it has been tested and inspected in accordance with the City Design Standards.

96.09    PROPERTY OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITY.  All costs and expenses incident to the installation, connection and maintenance 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.

96.10    ABATEMENT OF VIOLATIONS.  Construction or maintenance of building sewer lines whether located upon the private property of any owner or in the public right-of-way, which construction or maintenance is in violation of any of the requirements of this chapter, shall be corrected, at the owner’s expense, within thirty (30) days after date of official notice from the Council of such violation.  If not made within such time the Council shall, in addition to the other penalties herein provided, have the right to finish and correct the work and assess the cost thereof to the property owner.  Such assessment shall be collected with and in the same manner as general property taxes.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[3])