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Sample Ordinance on Private Water and Sewer Systems

City of _________ Code CHANGES
Adopted 4-16-01

8-1-5: PRIVATE WATER SYSTEM UNLAWFUL: 

A.            It shall be unlawful for any person to install a new private or community water system and/or well in the City limits. 

B.            In newly platted areas, only lots that have City water and sewer extended can be issued a zoning permit. In no circumstances will new private wells be allowed. 

C.            For those households within City limits that currently do not have City water connections and have private wells, mandatory hookup to City water will be required on or before August 21, 2005. 

D.            To determine whether or not such public water is available for an existing private connection each person or corporation must make application for connection to the public system by January 1, 2002.

Upon determination of the Council that it is not feasible to connect the applicant’s premises to the public water system, then the applicant shall be granted a permit to continue the use of their private system (well) for a maximum increment of two (2) years. After the application expires, the process would have to be repeated and reviewed.

A fee may be charged for this permit with costs set by Council resolution. (These fees will cover the costs of yearly testing of the water by City staff.) 

E.            All existing private wells within City limits that are on property already connected to the City water system will be sealed at the property owners expense and in accordance with Minnesota Department of Health requirements on or before August 21, 2002.

F.            Owners of existing wells must present the City of ____________ with documentation of completion of sealing the private well by August 21, 2002.

G.        ABATEMENT: The Associate Public Works Supervisor shall be charged with the enforcement of verifying sealing of any non-permitted private well that exists on premises in the City. The officer shall notify in writing the owner or occupant of the premises of such fact and order that such well be sealed. The notice shall be served in person, or by certified or registered mail. If the notice is not complied with, within the time specified (60 days) the enforcing officer shall report that fact forthwith to the City Council. Thereafter the City Council shall cause the well to be sealed by the City.

H.        RECOVERY OF COSTS: Personal liability: The owner of premises on which the City has sealed a well shall be personally liable for the cost to the City of the sealing, including administrative costs. As soon as the work has been completed and the costs determined, the City Clerk shall prepare a bill for the cost and mail it to the owner. Thereupon the amount shall be immediately due and payable at the office of the City clerk.

Assessment: Once the well is sealed and payment is not received, the City Clerk shall, on or before September 1 next following the abatement of the well, list the total unpaid charges along with all other such charges as well as other charges for current services to be assessed under Minnesota Statutes section 429.01 against each separate lot or parcel to which the charges are attributable. The City Council may then spread the charges against such property under that statute and other pertinent statutes for certification to the County Auditor and collection along with the current taxes the following year or in annual installments, not exceeding ten (10) years as the City Council may determine in each case.

J.          Penalty:  Any person convicted of violating any provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to penalty as provided in Section 1-4-1 of this Code.                       

City of ______________ Code CHANGES
Adopted 4-16-01

8-2-2: PRIVATE SEWER SYSTEM UNLAWFUL: 

F.            It shall be unlawful for any person to install a new private or community sewer system in the City limits.

 G.            In newly platted areas, only lots that have City water and sewer extended can be issued a zoning permit. In no circumstances will new private sewers/holding tanks be allowed.

 H.            For those households within City limits that currently do not have City sewer connections and have private sewer/holding tanks, mandatory hookup to City sewer will be required on or before August 21, 2005.

 To determine whether or not such public sewer is available for an existing private connection each person or corporation must make application for connection to the public system by January 1, 2002. Upon determination of the Council that it is not feasible to connect the applicant’s premises to the public sewer system, then the applicant shall be granted a permit to continue the use of their private sewer system for a maximum increment of two (2) years. After the application expires, the process would have to be repeated and reviewed. . A fee may be charged for this permit with costs set by Council resolution.

 J.            All existing private sewers within City limits that are on property already connected to the City sewer system will be removed and rendered inoperable (i.e. filling with dirt) at the property owners expense and in accordance with Minnesota Department of Health requirements on or before August 21, 2002.

 K.            Owners of existing sewers must present the City of ___________ with documentation of completion of dismantling the private sewer by August 21, 2002.

 L.            ABATEMENT: The Associate Public Works Supervisor shall be charged with the enforcement of verifying sealing of any non­permitted private sewers that exists on premises in the City. The officer shall notify in writing the owner or occupant of the premises of such fact and order that such sewer be dismantled. The notice shall be served in person, or by certified or registered mail. If the notice is not complied with, within the time specified, the enforcing officer shall report that fact forthwith to the City Council. Thereafter the City Council shall cause the sewer to be dismantled by the City.

 M.        RECOVERY OF COSTS: Personal liability: The owner of premises on which the City has dismantled a sewer shall be personally liable for the cost to the City of the work, including administrative costs. As soon as the work has been completed and the costs determined, the City Clerk shall prepare a bill for the cost and mail it to the owner. Thereupon the amount shall be immediately due and payable at the office of the City clerk.

N.        Assessment:  Once the well is sealed and billed to the owner, the City Clerk shall, on or before September 1 next following the abatement of the well, list the total unpaid charges along with all other such charges as well as other charges for current services to be assessed under Minnesota Statutes section 429.01 against each separate lot or parcel to which the charges are attributable. The City Council may then spread the charges against such property under that statute and other pertinent statutes for certification to the County Auditor and collection along with the current taxes the following year or in annual installments, not exceeding ten (10) years as the City Council may determine in each case.

O.            Penalty:  Any person convicted of violating any provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to penalty as provided in Section 1-4-1 of this Code.

 

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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