Chapter 13.22
SEWER CONNECTIONS
Sections:
13.22.010 General requirements.
13.22.020 On-site septic system to comply with city, county and state regulations.
13.22.030 Application for sewer service – Payment of fees.
13.22.040 Service connections – Specific requirements.
13.22.050 Main extensions, replacements, pump stations and other system improvements required.
13.22.060 Service connection sizing – Other requirements.
13.22.070 City and customer responsibilities.
13.22.090 Temporary connections for construction and other uses.
13.22.100 Transfer of sewer taps not allowed.
13.22.010 General requirements.
A. All new development must connect to the city’s wastewater collection and treatment system when the development is located within 260 feet of a wastewater collection line, measured from the nearest portion of the subject parcel; provided, however, that accessory dwelling units within the city approved pursuant to PTMC 17.16.020 are not required to separately connect to the city’s wastewater system, and may connect through the primary residence located on the property.
B. All new development that is subject to one or more of the following approvals must connect to the city’s wastewater collection and treatment system, regardless of its location:
1. Subdivision, short subdivision and planned unit development (PUD) approvals subject to the subdivision ordinance, PTMC Title 18;
2. Land use or building permit approvals subject to review and threshold determination under the State Environmental Policy Act implementing ordinance, Chapter 19.04 PTMC; and
3. Land use or building permit approvals subject to the permit requirements of the critical areas ordinance, Chapter 19.05 PTMC.
4. Exceptions. New single-family residences located at a distance greater than 260 feet from an existing wastewater collection line that are subject to review under Chapter 19.05 PTMC (Critical Areas), are exempt from this section; provided, that the impacts of the on-site wastewater disposal system are adequately mitigated and conditioned through critical area review.
C. New development which is not required to connect to the city’s wastewater collection and treatment system under subsections A and B of this section, or because a waiver has been granted, may install an individual on-site septic system; provided, that the following conditions are met:
1. The on-site septic system meets Jefferson County health department requirements and is approved by the Jefferson County environmental health department;
2. The system is designed to be efficiently converted to the city’s sewer system; and
3. The developer enters into a “no-protest” agreement with the city requiring connection to the city’s sewer system within two year(s) of when a sewer main is within 260 feet of the property line, and/or participation in a local improvement district (“LID”) which may include installation of sewer mains, interceptors, pump stations and/or latecomer agreement paybacks, all to be filed on record title, as a condition of any building or development permit.
D. Existing development containing an on-site septic system will be required to connect to the city’s sewer system within two years of notification by the city that a sewer main is located or extended to within 260 feet of the nearest portion of the subject parcel.
E. Notwithstanding any requirements or exceptions stated in this section, if an on-site septic system fails, connection is required unless the nearest portion of the subject parcel is greater than 260 feet from the nearest sewer main, in which case the septic system may be repaired to serve the subject property; provided it can be upgraded to Jefferson County health department requirements. (Ord. 2736 § 2, 2000; Ord. 2659 § 2, 1998; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.020 On-site septic system to comply with city, county and state regulations.
A. When on-site septic systems are allowed as defined in PTMC 13.22.010, the type, capacities, location and layout of the system shall comply with all recommendations and regulations of the Jefferson County environmental health department, the Washington State Department of Health, or other state regulatory agency, and with the regulations of the city. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any public sewer or natural outlet or to ground surface. The owner shall operate and maintain the private wastewater disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times at no expense to the city.
B. On-site septic systems shall be inspected and pumped periodically, and in no case less than once every five years.
C. When an on-site system is abandoned, the property owner shall pump out the tank and fill it with sand or other appropriate materials and provide documentation to the Port Townsend public works department that the system has been properly abandoned. Abandonment of on‑site systems shall comply with all Jefferson County health department requirements. (Ord. 2736 § 3, 2000; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.030 Application for sewer service – Payment of fees.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to make any connection with any sewer main or side sewer without complying with the provisions of this chapter and having first received an approved utility development permit as identified in Chapter 13.01 PTMC for sewer service from the public works department and paying all applicable fees and charges as identified in Chapter 13.05 PTMC and council resolution.
B. Sewer Service Application Required. An application shall be made for sewer service to any premises, or for a change in use of a premises or for a temporary connection.
C. Form of Application. All applications for sewer service shall be submitted to the city department identified in the engineering design standards manual on forms provided by the city. Information required for the sewer service application shall include:
1. The name of the owner or agent and his or her mailing address, the street address or name of the premises to be served, and the legal description of the premises to be served.
2. The type of development proposed and the number of living units and/or the type of activity that will occur within the premises to be served.
3. A site plan showing the proposed location of the service connection.
4. Upon request by the director and in accordance with the engineering design standards manual, a hydraulic analysis and assessment of the ability of the collection system and treatment facilities to handle the wastewater discharges and mitigation measures if the assessment shows that the city system does not have sufficient capacity.
5. Pretreatment facilities and best management practices to be used for commercial and industrial services.
6. The design drawings and specifications of the sewer system improvements required under Chapter 13.23 PTMC.
7. Any other information deemed reasonably necessary by the director for action upon the application, or required by other provisions of the sewer code, SEPA, the critical areas ordinance or other city ordinance.
D. Complete Application Required. The city will not process any application unless and until the information required by subsections B and C of this section is substantially complete. The public works director may reject an application as incomplete within a reasonable time of review, in which case the director shall return it to the applicant with an indication of the additional information needed to make the application complete.
E. Payment of Fees and Charges Required. All fees and charges shall be paid at the time of building permit approval except as otherwise noted in this code. The fees for service connections are as established in the schedule of fees and charges set out by council resolution.
F. Contract With the City. The approved application shall constitute a contract whereby the applicant agrees as a condition of sewer service to comply with the rules and regulations of this chapter and the engineering design standards manual.
G. Approved permits must be posted at all times during the performance of the work, and until completion thereof in some conspicuous place at or near the work and must be readily and safely accessible to city staff. (Ord. 3051 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.040 Service connections – Specific requirements.
A. Initial service connections shall be installed at the expense of the property owner.
B. Each served premises must have a separate connection to a main, except two adjacent single-family residential units may have a single connection in accordance with the requirements specified in the engineering design standards manual. In no case shall more than two single-family residential units be served by a single connection to a main.
C. When buildings are replaced by new buildings, the existing sewer service connection may be used unless determined by the director to be unacceptable due to size, condition or materials of construction, in which case the customer shall be required to install a new sewer service connection and pay all applicable fees and charges in accordance with Chapter 13.05 PTMC and council resolution. (Ord. 3051 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.050 Main extensions, replacements, pump stations and other system improvements required.
A sewer main extension, main replacement, pump station and/or other system improvements may be required as further set forth in Chapter 13.23 PTMC. (Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.060 Service connection sizing – Other requirements.
A. Sizing. The size of service connection to the premises served shall be based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (as adopted by the city in Chapter 16.04 PTMC) and the engineering design standards manual, using the information supplied in the application for service in PTMC 13.22.020.
B. Change in Use. A change in use may require a new service connection or other sewer system requirements, as determined by the director, and fees and charges shall be paid as set forth in Chapter 13.05 PTMC and council resolution.
C. Backflow Valves. The public works director may require a customer to install a backflow valve on the sewer service connection to prevent wastewater from moving from the sewer main to the premises.
D. Other Regulatory Approval. The director may require the applicant to obtain approval to discharge to the city’s system from the Department of Ecology Pretreatment Program when the type of activity at the proposed location is a commercial or industrial service. (Ord. 3051 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.070 City and customer responsibilities.
A. City Responsibility. The city shall own all sewer mains, pump stations and appurtenances in public streets or utility rights-of-way or easements to the property owner’s side of the sewer main.
B. Customer Responsibility. The ownership and responsibility for the maintenance of individual service pipe extensions from the main to the premises served shall be that of the owner of the premises served and the city shall not be liable for any part thereof. (Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.080 Use of the service.
The service shall be considered to be in use when both a sewer service connection is made and the water meter is placed by city crews. Monthly billings for sewer service shall begin when the service is considered to be in use. (Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.090 Temporary connections for construction and other uses.
A. Application – Conditions. Sewer service may be supplied to a premises on a temporary basis. Application for temporary service shall only be approved by the public works director and upon payment of all fees and assessments required by council resolution. The application shall state fully the circumstances which require service by temporary means, and the duration for which temporary service is necessary. All costs necessary to install and remove the temporary service shall be paid by the applicant.
B. Payment – Delinquent Charges. All sewer service for building and construction purposes shall be charged at the rate set forth by council resolution. All sewer use shall be charged against the property owner, and all delinquent and unpaid charges shall become a lien upon the premises supplied, and shall be collected in the same manner as other delinquent and unpaid charges for sewer service. (Ord. 3051 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
13.22.100 Transfer of sewer taps not allowed.
No transfer of sewer taps is allowed from an existing premises to another premises; in other words, sewer taps stay with the premises. (Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).