Chapter 17.16
CONNECTION OF BUILDING SEWERS
Sections:
17.16.010 Tampering with sewers forbidden.
17.16.020 Application and permit for connections with public sewers – Fee.
17.16.030 City not responsible for private building sewers.
17.16.040 Costs to be borne by owners.
17.16.050 Separate sewers required – Exception.
17.16.060 Old sewers must conform.
17.16.010 Tampering with sewers forbidden.
No person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenances thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the city engineer, except city employees performing routine maintenance and/or repairs. [Ord. 77; Ord. 07-04].
17.16.020 Application and permit for connections with public sewers – Fee.
The owner, his agent, or his sewer contractor shall make application on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary by the city engineer for enforcement of this title, and a permit to perform work in public rights-of-way or easements shall be obtained from the city engineer prior to performing sewer work in such areas or making connections to public sewers. [Ord. 77].
17.16.030 City not responsible for private building sewers.
The city assumes no responsibility for the maintenance of any building sewer lines on private property or in easements or street rights-of-way. The owner of property served by a building sewer is responsible for the building sewer’s connection to the public sewer, and for the entire length of the building sewer from the public sewer to the building the line serves. Each property owner shall, at the property owner’s sole expense, operate, maintain, and repair and/or replace the building sewer so that it does not cause or contribute to an obstruction in the public sewer. The owner shall perform such duties as may be required in response to notice from the city of observed obstructions in the public sewer attributable to the building sewer’s condition. Where such maintenance requires excavation or replacement of existing sewer facilities, the owner shall apply for and receive appropriate permits from the city.
If one or more discharges from a building sewer result in damage, partial or complete blockage, impairment of the public sewer’s conveyance capacity, or excessive city maintenance of the public sewer, the discharger responsible shall be liable for said damage, and shall take the corrective action necessary to restore the public sewer system to full and normal operations. “Excessive maintenance” of the public sewer means pipe flushing or cleaning required more frequently than once every 12 months. Liability under this section is in addition to civil penalties imposed pursuant to Chapter 17.64 RMC. [Ord. 77; Ord. 63-18 § 2].
17.16.040 Costs to be borne by owners.
All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner or applicant of the premises in question shall indemnify the city against any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer. [Ord. 77].
17.16.050 Separate sewers required – Exception.
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building; except where one building stands at the rear of another on an interim lot and it is impracticable to require a separate building sewer, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer. [Ord. 77 § 4.05].
17.16.060 Old sewers must conform.
Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the city engineer, to meet all requirements of this title. [Ord. 77 § 4.06].