Minnesota Rural Water Association

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Sample Sewer Discharge Ordinance

ORDINANCE NO. 1-1992 

ORDINANCE FOR DISCHARGE OF STORM WATER, GROUND WATER
AND SURFACE WATER INTO SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM

 1.  PROHIBITED WATER.

a.      It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant or use of any premises to direct into or allow any storm water, surface water or ground water, to drain into the sanitary sewer system of the City. No rain spout, roof drain or other form of surface drainage and no foundation drainage or sump pump shall be connected or discharged into any sanitary sewer.

2.  SUMP PUMP AND RIGID PIPE REQUIRED. 

a.          NEW SUBDIVISIONS: ALL CONSTRUCTION. A sump pump and rigid pipe discharged connection to the outside shall be required for all construction in new subdivisions when it is determined necessary by the City Engineer to protect sanitary sewer infiltration. The Engineer shall conduct his analysis and make his 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. Any new construction in a subdivision platted prior to the effective date of this ordinance shall be examined by the City Engineer or Maintenance Supervisor when the footing inspection is made. At that time the City Engineer will determine, 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 3(a) and 3(b) below. 

c.          EXISTING SUBDIVISIONS, EXISTING CONSTRUCTION. Any existing construction in a subdivision platted prior to the effective date of this ordinance in which a sump pump have been or will be installed, shall be required to install a rigid pipe connection discharge in accordance with 3(b) below. It shall be unlawful to maintain any connection with the sanitary sewer carrying roof water, ground water, surface water or any other natural precipitation after the effective date of this ordinance. 

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 15th to March 15th. In no case, shall any connection to the sanitary sewer be maintained from March 15th to October 15th.  Exceptions will be granted by permit on a case by case basis as determined by the City Engineer or Maintenance Superintendent.

3.   SUMP PUMP AND RIGID PIPE: METHOD OF INSTALLATION. 

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. The sump pit shall be located at least ten (10) feet away from the inside sanitary floor drain. 

b.        A discharge pipe shall be installed to the outside wall of the building with rigid pipe (plastic, copper, galvanized or black pipe) one (1) inch inside diameter minimum. The discharge pipe must have a check valve within one (1) foot of the floor grade and a union or other approved coupling for easy disconnection for repair or replacement. 

c.          Alternate methods of installation. The discharge pipe may be connected directly to the municipal underground storm sewer system provided the discharge is at a higher elevation than the normal flow level and that an approved backflow prevention device is installed.

4.  PENALTIES. 

a.          Any person found to be violating any provision of this ordinance shall be served by the City with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations. 

b.          Any person who shall continue any violation beyond the time limited provided shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in the amount not exceeding Fifty and no/100 Dollars ($50.00) for each violation. Each day in which any such violation occurred shall be deemed a separate offense. 

c.          In the event that the owner fails to correct the situation within the given time period, the City may correct it and collect such costs together with reasonable attorneys fees and the collection fees by suing the owner in a court of competent jurisdiction, or in the alternative, by certifying said costs of correction as any other special assessment upon the land from which said correction of said violation was made.

5.  VALIDITY. 

All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

6.  POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF INSPECTIONS. 

The City Engineer or City Maintenance Superintendent and other duly authorized employees of the City bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing pertinent to discharge to the community system in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.

 

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Minnesota Rural Water Association

217 12th Avenue SE
Elbow Lake, MN  56531
Phone: 218-685-5197
Fax: 218-685-5272
E-mail: mrwa@mrwa.com