HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Ordinance 1995-36ORDINANCE NO. 95- 36
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER VII OF
THE PLYMOUTH CITY CODE CONCERNING
DISCHARGE INTO THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Chapter VII of the Plymouth City Code is amended to add Section
740 to provide:
Section 740 - Prohibiting Discharges
into the Sanitary Sewer System
740.01. Purpose. The discharge of water from roof, surface, groundwater sump
pump, footing tile, swimming pool, or other natural precipitation into the City sewerage
system results in flooding and overloading of the sewerage system. When this water is
discharged into the sanitary sewer system it is treated at the sewage treatment plant. This
results in very large and needless expenditures. The City Council, therefore, finds it in
the best interest of the City to prohibit such discharges.
740.02. Discharge Prohibited. Except as otherwise expressly authorized in this
Section, no water from any roof, surface, groundwater sump pump, footing tile,
swimming pool, or other natural precipitation shall be discharged into the sanitary sewer
system. Dwellings and other buildings and structures which require, because of
infiltration of water into basements, crawl spaces, and the like, a sump pump discharge
system shall have a permanently installed discharge line which shall not at any time
discharge water into the sanitary sewer system, except as provided herein. A permanent
installation shall be one which provides for year round discharge capability to either the
outside of the dwelling, building, or structure, or is connected to City storm sewer or
discharge through the curb and gutter to the street. It shall consist of a rigid discharge
line, without valving or quick connections for altering the path of discharge, and if
connections for altering the path of discharge, and if connected to the City storm sewer
line, include a check valve and an air gap located in a small diameter structure as shown
in the City's standard plates.
740.03. Disconnection. Before August 1, 1995, any person, firm, or corporation
having a roof surface, groundwater sump pump, footing tile, or swimming pool now
connected and/or discharging into the sanitary sewer system shall disconnect or remove
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same. Any disconnects or openings in the sanitary sewer system shall be closed or
repaired in an effective, workmanlike manner.
740.04. Inspection. Every person owning improved real estate that discharges into
the City's sanitary sewer system shall allow an employee of the City of Plymouth or a
designated representative of the City to inspect the buildings to confirm that there is no
sump pump or other prohibited discharge into the sanitary sewer system. In lieu of having
the City inspect their property, any person may furnish a certificate from a licensed
plumber certifying that their property is in compliance with this ordinance.
740.05. Future Inspections. Each sump pump connection identified will be
reinspected periodically.
740.06. New Construction. All new dwellings with sumps for which a building
permit is issued after August 1, 1995, shall have a pump and shall be piped to the outside
of the dwelling before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
740.07. Surcharge. A surcharge of One Hundred and 00/100 Dollars ($100.00) per
month is hereby imposed on every sewer bill mailed on and after October 1, 1995, to
property owners who are not in compliance with this ordinance or who have refused to
allow their property to be inspected to determine if there is compliance. All properties
found during yearly reinspection to have violated this ordinance will be subject to the
$100.00 per month penalty for all months between the two most recent inspections.
740.08. Winter Discharge. The City Manager is authorized to issue a permit to
allow a property owner to discharge Surface Water into the sanitary sewer system. The
permit shall authorize such discharge only from November 15 to March 15 and a property
owner is required to meet at least one of the following criteria in order to obtain the
permit:
(a) The freezing of the surface water discharge from the sump pump or footing
drain is causing a dangerous condition, such as ice buildup or flooding, on
either public or private property.
(b) The property owner has demonstrated that there is a danger that the sump
pump or footing drain pipes will freeze up and result in either failure or
damage to the sump pump unit or the footing drain and cause basement
flooding.
(c) The water being discharged from the sump pump or footing drain cannot
be readily discharged into a storm drain or other acceptable drainage
system.
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Following ten (10) days written notice and an opportunity to be heard, the City Manager
may require a property owner to discharge their sump pump into the sanitary sewer from
November 15 to March 15 if surface water discharge is causing an icy condition on
streets.
SECTION 2. Chapter VII of the Plymouth City Code is amended by amending
Section 705.29 to read:
705.29. Certain Uses of Sewers Prohibited. it is uFAawf�! to diseharge or eause
to be .im Y.atu f,vu any JLViaii water, J411AMewaff,gfeund water,feef funeff-,
dfainage, eeoling water, of unpalluted industrial proeess waters to any Sanitary Sewe
. It is unlawful to discharge
or cause to be discharged to any Public Sewer, any harmful waters of wastes, whether
liquid, solid, or gas, capable of causing obstruction to the flow in the sewers, damage or
hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewerage works, or other
interferences with the proper operation of the sewage works. Violation of this Subsection
is a misdemeanor.
SECTION 3. Chapter VII of the Plymouth City Code is amended by deleting
Section 715.13 and Section 715.15 in their entirety.
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SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
ADOPTED by the City Council this '�'L1 �-� day of
1995.
ATTEST:
Laurfe F. Ahrens, City Clerk
Published: Plymouth Sailor, 7-5-95.
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��e1y11/�I. Tierney, Mayor
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