Chapter 4.45
LAND DRAINS
Sections:
4.45.020 Recognition of the land drain system.
4.45.030 Surface drainage systems connection prohibited.
4.45.040 Connection standards for land drain connections.
4.45.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect public health and safety of the City and its inhabitants through regulations governing the utilization of land drain systems and connections to the City land drain system. [Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-09 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-05 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-09-010.]
4.45.020 Recognition of the land drain system.
(A) Syracuse City has constructed and established a land drain system for the purpose of draining subsurface waters from developing properties. The Syracuse City Council hereby finds and determines that the land drain system is and has been a City operated utility and that connections to the land drain system have been regulated by the City for the protection of public health and safety and that such regulation continues to be necessary for the preservation of public health and safety and property values within the City.
(B) All connections to the land drain system within Syracuse City, whether previously established or otherwise, shall comply with the provisions and regulations of this chapter.
(C) Nothing herein shall be construed to require authorized connections to be retrofit to meet new construction standards. The retroactive application of this chapter shall be limited to the required disconnection of surface drainage systems or other surface collection conduits and appurtenances to the land drain system.
(D) Any lift stations, sump pumps or other facilities designed to cause land drain to move to higher elevations shall not be dedicated or accepted by the City. The City shall have no responsibility to own, operate, maintain or replace such facilities. Any such facilities shall be owned, operated, maintained, and annually inspected through a public special service district. For single lot subdivisions or individual site plans, any such facilities shall be owned, operated, and maintained privately.
(E) Any development proposing to install basements at an elevation lower than the nearest top back of curb in that development shall be required to install a land drain system meeting City engineering and construction standards. [Ord. 20-03 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 16-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-09 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-05 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-09-020.]
4.45.030 Surface drainage systems connection prohibited.
Roof drainage structures, storm gutters, or other above-ground collection conduits (“surface drainage systems”) are prohibited from connecting to or discharging storm water into City underground land drains. New residential dwellings constructed within subdivisions containing a land drain system are required to make a connection via a subsurface service lateral stubbed to the dwelling foundation footing and connected to the main land drain line owned by the City. This section is expressly intended to operate retroactively and to require the disconnection of any surface drainage systems connected to a land drain system. The Syracuse City Public Works Director is hereby empowered and authorized to require the disconnection of any surface drainage system connected to the Syracuse City land drain system. The Public Works Director is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to grant a waiver from the requirements of this chapter where the Public Works Director finds: (A) the connection of a surface drain to the land drain system does not present a surcharge or flooding risk to other properties; and (B) the owner signs a recordable agreement, in a form acceptable to the City, agreeing to indemnify and hold the City harmless for any future damages or liability arising from the connection of the surface drain to the land drain system. [Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 10-11 § 1; Ord. 08-09 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-05 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-09-030.]
4.45.040 Connection standards for land drain connections.
(A) Any connection to the Syracuse City land drain system shall be authorized and approved by the Syracuse City Public Works Department and Syracuse City Building Department and shall comply with construction standards and regulations set forth in Chapter 8.45 SCC.
(B) All laterals connecting to the land drain system remain the property of the owner of the property being served thereby. Ownership of the lateral begins where the lateral connects to the City’s main lines, and the City has no responsibility for the maintenance, control or repair of laterals. [Ord. 18-18 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-09 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-05 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-09-040.]