Chapter 12.12
Sewer Use
Sections:
12.12.010 Connection to city sewer.
12.12.020 Failure to connect--Lien.
12.12.025 Failure to connect to treatment facility lines--Penalty.
12.12.040 Discharging water into sewer.
12.12.050 Unauthorized discharge--Action.
12.12.060 Penalty for violation.
12.12.070 Sewer construction--Tapping.
12.12.080 Lateral sewer line sealing--Reopening.
12.12.010 Connection to city sewer.
(a) All vaults, sewers, sinks, cesspools and water closets on any premises or within private or public buildings shall be connected with and discharged into the city sewer provided. It is made the duty of the owner of such premises or property to make arrangements for the city to construct the service lead from the sewer main to the front property line of the owner. The owner shall connect the sewer lead at the property line to the building sewer in a manner approved by the director of public works or his designee.
(b) The director of public works shall submit to the owner of the premises connected a statement for services rendered in connecting their premises to the city sewer system. The statement for services rendered shall be based upon the actual cost to the city for the time and materials required to complete the connection. The statement so rendered shall be paid by the owner in the same manner as a bill for city utility services and shall constitute a lien against the property in the same manner and be subject to collection as provided for such liens. (Ord. 1036, 1977: Ord. 338 §1, 1911).
12.12.020 Failure to connect--Lien.
It shall be the duty of the police officers and employees of the department of public works of the city, when it comes to their knowledge, that any such vault, sewer, cesspool, sink or water closet within the city where there is a sewer in the street in front, or in the alley in the rear of the property upon which the same is situated is not connected with the city sewer, to report the same to the city council who shall, if it deems it necessary to protect the public health, cause the director of public works of the city to immediately give written notice to the owner of the premises or property on or in which such vault, sewer, sink, cesspool or water closet is situated, or to the person in possession thereof if he is not the owner who is the agent of nonresident owners of the premises or property, to connect same with the city sewer. Upon failure of such owner or his or her agent as above designated, for a period of thirty days from the date of giving of the notice, to connect the same, the superintendent shall cause the same to be connected at the expense of the owner of such premises or property, and the cost of the connection is a charge and a lien upon the premises or property and may be foreclosed against such premises or property in the manner that other liens or mortgages are foreclosed against real estate under the laws of the state of Washington, and in the manner provided by law. The authority to require connection to sewer and the responsibility to carry out the connection to the sewer under the conditions specified in this section shall exist only in the event that a sewer main is located within two hundred feet of the structure to be served or which would be required to be connected to the city sewer system. Being located more than two hundred feet from an existing city sewer line, while excusing the responsibility to connecnect to the city sewer line under the provisions of this section shall in no manner excuse the compliance with other applicable ordinances, laws, resolutions, rules or regulations, whether promulgated by the city, county or state, in relation to the matter of sewage disposal. (Ord. 1081 §20, 1978: Ord. 338 §2, 1911).
12.12.025 Failure to connect to treatment facility lines--Penalty.
In the event that improvements upon a property are not connected to a city sewer line which is connected to such treatment facility as may be from time to time maintained by the city for the treatment of sanitary sewage effluent, then that premises shall be deemed to be in noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter. In addition to any other relief which may be allowed under the provisions of this chapter or any other chapter of this code, the property upon which the deficient improvements are located shall not be eligible for service by the water system maintained by the city. In the event that the property is already served by such water, the city shall give the owner and occupier of the land notice that the improvements must be connected in a manner approved by the city to the operational sewer line within forty-eight hours of the giving of the notice. In the event of a failure to so connect, water service to the property shall be terminated and shall not be reinstituted until it is determined by the director of public works that the property and the improvements thereon are in fact properly connected to the sanitary sewer line then being utilized by the city. (Ord. 1280 §1, 1989).
12.12.030 Nuisance--Penalty.
Any person who is the owner of, or actually using any such vault, sewer, sink, cesspool or water closet which is not connected with the city sewer, and who neglects for a period established by Section 12.12.020 to connect it with the public sewer of the city as provided, is guilty of maintaining a public nuisance, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished in the manner provided by Section 1.08.030. (Ord. 1081 §21, 1978: Ord. 338 §3, 1911).
12.12.040 Discharging water into sewer.
It is unlawful for any person to discharge any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof run-off, surface drainage, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process water into any sanitary sewer. (Ord. 832 §1, 1963).
12.12.050 Unauthorized discharge--Action.
In the event that any person discharges or causes to be discharged, any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof run-off, surface drainage, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process water, into any sanitary sewer, the city council shall direct that the owner or occupant of the premises shall, within such time as the council designates, discontinue the unauthorized discharge. If the owner or occupant fails to comply with the notice within the time designated, the city council shall direct that water service to the premises shall be discontinued until the proper compliance has been made. (Ord. 832 §2, 1963).
12.12.060 Penalty for violation.
In addition to the remedy provided in this chapter, any person who fails to or refuses to comply with the corrective directive of the city council or with any other provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished in the manner provided by Section 1.08.030. (Ord. 1081 §22, 1978: Ord. 832 §3, 1963).
12.12.070 Sewer construction--Tapping.
In accordance with the "laws of the State of Washington of 1959," chapter 261, the city council may from time to time as it deems necessary and advisable, contract with owners of real estate for the construction of storm, sanitary or combination sewers, pumping stations and disposal plants, water mains, hydrants or appurtenances, hereinafter called water or sewer facilities within the corporate limits of the city or within four miles of the corporate limits connecting with the public water or sewerage system to serve the area in which real estate of such owners is located, and to provide for a period of not to exceed fifteen years for the reimbursement of the owners and their assigns by any owner of real estate who did not contribute to the original cost of the sewer or water facilities, and who subsequently taps on to or uses the same of the fair pro rata share of the cost of construction of the water or sewer facilities, including only those directly connected, but also users connected to laterals or branches connecting thereto, subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the city council may provide or contract, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law the provisions of such contract shall not be effective as to any owner of real estate not a party thereto unless such contract shall have been recorded in the office of the Grays Harbor County prior to the time the owner taps into or connects to the water or sewer facilities.
In connection with the terms of the contract and the enforcement thereof all of the terms of this chapter and as hereafter amended shall apply. (Ord. 827 §1, 1963).
12.12.080 Lateral sewer line sealing--Reopening.
Whenever any building is abandoned or demolished, the lateral sewer line shall be sealed at the main at the expense of the property owner.
To reopen such sewer line, the connection must be water tight as verified by air test or other test approved by the city engineer (Ord. 930 §§1, 2, 1971).