Chapter 14.12
CONNECTIONS
Sections:
14.12.020 Separate connection required.
14.12.030 Backflow prevention devices required.
14.12.040 Excavations shall be adequately guarded.
14.12.050 Information to be provided.
14.12.060 Use of existing side sewer.
14.12.070 Physical location of side sewer.
14.12.080 Side sewers at a steep grade.
14.12.090 Minimum requirements for side sewer in right-of-way.
14.12.100 Minimum size for side sewer in private property.
14.12.110 Side sewers near watermains.
14.12.120 Side sewer easements—When required.
14.12.130 Capping location of side sewers.
14.12.140 Side sewer materials and standards.
14.12.150 Property owner responsible for side sewer maintenance.
14.12.160 Permit may be issued with special provisions met.
14.12.010 Connections made by authorized representatives—Connection and general facilities charges—Credits.
A. No person other than authorized personnel of the city, or a properly permitted, licensed, and bonded contractor who is approved by the city, shall make any connection to or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any part of the city sewer system or appurtenance thereto without the express consent of the city.
B. All charges incurred in establishing a connection to the city’s sewer system shall be at the sole expense of the applicant.
C. The city shall collect a general facilities charge (GFC) for each new customer’s equitable share of the system cost under RCW 35.92.025. The GFC shall be adopted by the council based on a professional rate study conducted by a qualified consultant and may be amended by the council, as necessary. The GFC shall be subject to an adjustment equal to the average annual percentage increase provided in the Engineering News-Record (ENR) 20-Cities Construction Cost Index, using an October through September average increase to establish the adjusted rate(s); the fee shall not, in any case, decrease. The adjusted rate will automatically be effective January 1st of each year.
D. GFC charges shall be paid prior to the city’s issuance of the approved utility permit application, under the fee schedule that is in effect at the time of issuance. GFCs for sewer will not be charged for new connections on properties previously connected to city sewer after March 1, 2004; provided, that the water service requested is not larger than the previous service. If the water meter size increases, the applicant will be required to pay the difference between the applicable sewer GFC for the water meter size requested and the sewer GFC charge for the existing water meter size.
E. If an applicant, as a condition of development approval, is required to build a qualified system improvement to serve the development project, a GFC credit shall be given, at the applicant’s request, for the cost of the improvement, not to exceed the total amount of GFCs that would otherwise be due. A public improvement is considered a qualified system improvement when it is identified as a capacity improvement on the current comprehensive or six-year capital improvement plan. Credits may be given in lieu of or in addition to a utility latecomer agreement under Chapter 35.91 RCW, at the developer’s option. Additional credits may be considered in the context of a development agreement under Chapter 36.70B RCW.
F. The city manager or designee may adopt policies as necessary to administer this section. (Ord. 2019-0124 § 2, 2024; Ord. 1921-0518 (part), 2018; Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.020 Separate connection required.
A separate and independent sewer connection shall be required for each premises, building, structure, and commercial structure; provided, that no commercial structure may have more than one connection to the sewer system, even if the commercial structure is divided into individual components or dwelling units. A separate connection waiver may be granted only for existing connections or preexisting but unconnected side sewers installed from the sewer main. (Ord. 1729-0608 § 4, 2008: Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.030 Backflow prevention devices required.
A. For all building sewers, a backflow prevention device shall be installed in an area for easy access and maintenance by the property owner. Said device shall be approved and inspected by the city.
B. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer and a backflow preventer shall be installed in the system. The city shall establish reasonable rules and regulations for approval, inspecting and installation of any sewage lifting devices. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.040 Excavations shall be adequately guarded.
All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Work within the city right-of-way shall conform to all city rules and regulations. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.050 Information to be provided.
The city may require a sewer services customer to provide information needed to determine compliance with this title. These requirements may include but are not limited to:
A. Wastewater discharge peak rate and volume over a specified time period.
B. Chemical analyses of wastewater.
C. Information on raw materials, processes and products affecting wastewater volume and quality.
D. Quantity and disposition of specific liquid, sludge, oil, solvent, or other materials important to sewer use control.
E. A plot plan of sewers on the user’s property showing sewer and pretreatment facility locations.
F. Details of wastewater pretreatment facilities.
G. Details of systems to prevent and control the losses of materials through spills to the municipal sewer. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.060 Use of existing side sewer.
When a building is rebuilt or converted, the use of an existing side sewer will not be permitted unless approved by the city. If an application for use of an existing side sewer is disapproved, the person shall file for a new service and pay all applicable fees. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.070 Physical location of side sewer.
Side sewers shall be located as permitted by the city’s plumbing code or any other applicable rules and regulations. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.080 Side sewers at a steep grade.
If a side sewer is to be constructed at more than one hundred percent grade, or with less than the required minimum cover prescribed by the city’s plumbing code or any other applicable rule and regulation, the city may require special plans for the construction to be submitted for approval. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.090 Minimum requirements for side sewer in right-of-way.
Four inches shall be the minimum diameter of pipe for gravity flow side sewers in street and alley rights-of-way and pipe shall be PVC, unless conditions require ductile iron as determined by the city. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.100 Minimum size for side sewer in private property.
A side sewer on private property shall be permitted, installed and inspected per the city’s plumbing code. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.110 Side sewers near watermains.
Ductile iron pipe shall be used for all side sewers crossing watermains for a distance of at least ten feet from the mains in each direction where it crosses, and must be laid at least one foot vertically from watermains. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.120 Side sewer easements—When required.
A. Before a side sewer may be located on property other than that of the side sewer owner, and before the city issues a permit authorizing the side sewer, the owner of the side sewer shall secure a written easement from the owner of the property to be crossed. The easement shall be duly acknowledged and shall grant the right to occupy the property for side sewer or utility purposes. The easement shall be recorded in the office of the county auditor by the owner of the side sewer and the recording number shall be provided to the city.
B. Where a side sewer is to be connected and/or located in the city right-of-way, written permission for such connection and/or location must be obtained from the city before a permit authorizing such connection is issued. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.130 Capping location of side sewers.
Side sewers, when capped, shall either be capped at the property line or at the point of connection to the public sewer, at the city’s discretion. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.140 Side sewer materials and standards.
Materials and workmanship in connection with the installation of any side sewer or drain shall be as required by the Uniform Plumbing Code and the standard plans and specifications of the city and modifications adopted by the city. Where conflicts exist between this title and the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted by the city concerning materials to be used for sewer services, the city shall determine which material is most appropriate for the specific situation. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.150 Property owner responsible for side sewer maintenance.
The maintenance of the building sewer from the structure to and including the connection to the public sewer shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.160 Permit may be issued with special provisions met.
If the city determines that physical conditions make compliance with this title impracticable, the city may issue a permit for installation of a side sewer conditioned on compliance with as many provisions of this title as possible. The owner shall also record with the county auditor an instrument acceptable to the city stating that the owner and his/her successors in interest will hold the city harmless from any damages or injuries resulting from such installation. This section is not intended to allow storm drainage connections to a sanitary sewer. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)
14.12.170 Trees near sewers.
It is unlawful to plant within thirty feet of any sanitary sewer, or side sewer, any willow, poplar, cottonwood, soft maple, gum tree, or any other tree or shrub whose roots are likely to enter and obstruct the flow of said sewers. Trees on private property whose roots interfere with the proper operation of the public sewer system in any manner may be required to be removed. (Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 3 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 3 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 3 (part), 2003)