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City of Monona, WI
Dane County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
HOUSE SEWERS
That part of the drainage system extending from three to five feet outside of the building to the connection at the curb or other disposal terminal.
PLUMBING
A. 
All piping, fixtures, appliances and appurtenances in connection with the water supply and drainage systems with a building.
B. 
The construction and connection of any drain or waste pipe carrying domestic sewage to the sewer service lateral at the curb or other disposal terminal, including private domestic sewage treatment and disposal systems and the alteration of any such system, drain or waste pipe, except minor repairs to faucets, valves, pipes, appliances and removing of stoppages.
C. 
The water service piping outside of the foundation walls of any building to the mains in the streets, alley or other terminal and the connecting of domestic hot water storage tanks, water softeners and water heaters with the water supply system.
D. 
The water pressure system other than municipal systems.
E. 
A plumbing and drainage system so designed and vent piping so installed as to keep the air within the system in free circulation and movement, and to prevent with a margin of safety unequal air pressures of such force as might blow, siphon or affect trap seals or retard the discharge from plumbing fixtures, or permit sewer air to escape into the building.
SEWER SERVICE LATERAL
That part of the drainage system extending from the lot line to the connection with the main sewer.
The provisions and regulations of the Wisconsin State Plumbing Code, Chs. SPS 381 to 387, Wis. Adm. Code, are hereby made a part of this chapter by reference as though set forth herein, and together with such additional regulations as may be adopted by the Council, shall extend over and govern the installation of all plumbing installed, altered or repaired in the City.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
Authority granted. The Plumbing Inspector shall, under the direction of the Building Inspector, be responsible for the inspection of plumbing, water supply and drainage installations from the right-of-way line or other terminal and installations inside and in connection with any building as set forth in this article.
B. 
Qualifications and appointment. The Plumbing Inspector shall be State of Wisconsin certified as a Plumbing I Inspector. The Plumbing Inspector shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Common Council. The compensation to be paid the Plumbing Inspector shall be determined by the Council. The Plumbing Inspector shall also take and subscribe an oath, which together with the certificate of his or her appointment shall be filed with the City Clerk. The Plumbing Inspector may be removed from office for cause only after a full hearing by the Council at which he or she shall be entitled to appear and produce evidence.
C. 
Alternate for plumbing inspection work. The Plumbing Inspector shall not inspect his or her own plumbing work. The Council may appoint an alternate plumbing inspector, provided he or she shall not make inspections except during the absence of the regular Plumbing Inspector or when the regular Plumbing Inspector is unable to carry out the duties of the office. The alternate plumbing inspector shall also inspect plumbing work done by the regular inspector.
D. 
Duties. The Plumbing Inspector, under the direction of the Building Inspector, shall be responsible for the supervision and inspection of plumbing and drainage work within or in connection with buildings in the City. He or she shall make periodic reports to the Building Inspector on pertinent matters related to the office. The Plumbing Inspector shall make or cause to be made all inspections of house sewers and shall faithfully enforce all laws, ordinances and rules in relation thereto. The Plumbing Inspector shall see that construction, reconstruction and alteration of all plumbing, drainage and plumbing ventilation hereafter installed in all of the buildings in the City shall conform with the laws and the rules and regulations laid down by the State Department of Health and Social Services and the Common Council and that the work be done by licensed plumbers as provided by law and this chapter and amendments hereof, and to make all inspections required thereby and in the manner therein set forth.
E. 
Authority of Plumbing Inspector.
(1) 
The Plumbing Inspector may enter all buildings in the City in the performance of his or her duties, and any person who willfully or knowingly resists or obstructs the Plumbing Inspector in the performance of his or her duties shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.
(2) 
The Plumbing Inspector may refuse to approve any application for a plumbing permit by any person who has not complied with a lawful order of the Plumbing Inspector. The issuing and approving of a plumbing permit may be withheld until such time as a lawful order has been complied with. The person refused such permit may appeal within 10 days to the State Plumbing Inspector, whose decision in the controversy shall govern.
A. 
All plumbing within City limits to be inspected. All plumbing systems or installations within the City and those connections with City water and sewerage systems beyond the City boundaries are subject to inspection as required in this chapter.
B. 
System of inspection. Whenever any work is ready for inspection, the Inspector shall be notified either by the plumber in charge or the person holding the permit. The person requesting inspection shall specify the street and number and also when possible the permit number under which the work is being done. Unless otherwise permitted by the Inspector, all work, either plumbing, water supply piping, house sewers or drains, shall be left uncovered for examination until examined and approved by the Inspector. When necessary, the Inspector shall notify the plumber in charge or the owner of the property at what time the inspection will be made. The plumber in charge shall make such arrangements as will enable the Inspector to reach all parts of the building safely and readily and shall have present the proper apparatus and appliances for making the test and shall furnish all materials and shall perform all labor in making such tests as required by the Inspector to make the necessary property inspection.
C. 
Inspection of installations from curb to plumbing.
(1) 
The Inspector shall be notified whenever any house sewer work is ready for inspection, and all work except when otherwise permitted by the Inspector shall be left uncovered for examination until examined and approved. All notifications of this kind must specify the correct location of the premises.
(2) 
In all cases where house sewers or drains are laid and the master plumber claims that he or she cannot leave the trench open for inspection, such claim shall be determined by the Inspector. Timely notice to that effect shall be left at the office of the Inspector, and an Inspector will be placed on the work to see that the same is properly done to the end of such drain. The contractor shall pay the City for such Inspector's service at the Inspector's prevailing wage rate or at the rate of a journeyman plumber, whichever is greater, and such fees shall be chargeable to the contractor.
D. 
Failure to report for inspection is a violation. Failure of a master plumber to report for inspection all work done by him or her other than repair work will subject the master plumber to a penalty as provided in § 175-15.
E. 
Installation of water meter. At the time of the rough inspection, the plumber or person holding the permit shall obtain the water meter at the City Water Utility offices and shall install the same according to the regulations of the Water Utility.
A. 
Permit required. Any licensed master plumber or any person permitted by the Wisconsin Statutes to do plumbing work, except in the case of repairs, shall, before doing any plumbing work in a building or making any extension with any house sewer or drain, make application to the Building Inspector on an application form furnished by the Building Inspector for a plumbing permit. When deemed advisable by the Inspector, the applicant shall also file plans and specifications showing the size and kind of pipes, size and kind of traps and number and kind of fixtures to be used for approval or rejection of the Inspector. No plumbing work shall be commenced until a permit has been obtained.
B. 
Definition of repairs. "Repairs" are defined as the stoppage of leaks in supply or waste pipes, clearing stoppages in waste pipes, thawing out frozen supply or waste pipes, and repairing valves or faucets.
C. 
To whom issued; exception. No permit shall be issued to any one not licensed or who has failed to renew a license. However, a permit may be issued to the owner of a single-family residence to do his or her own plumbing work within the building and laying of the house sewer and building supply pipe, subject to the same rules and regulations as govern licensed plumbers, provided that the connection of the house sewer to the sewer service lateral, and also the building supply pipe to the water lateral, must be made by a licensed plumber.
D. 
Bad faith or unreasonable delay in performance of work is a violation. Bad faith or unreasonable delay in the performance of plumbing work or failure to respond promptly to official communications shall be a sufficient reason for withholding permits, and the master plumber shall be responsible for the violation of these regulations by him or her and any of his or her employees.
E. 
Revocation. The Building Inspector may revoke any permit issued hereunder subject to appeal for violation of any provision of this chapter or the State Plumbing Code.
A. 
The Common Council shall establish a fee for processing building permits and inspections. An applicant for a building permit shall pay the required fee upon final submission of the application. An application shall not be deemed complete until the required fee is paid. A copy of the current fees established by the Common Council shall be kept on file by the City Clerk.
B. 
Inspection fees.
(1) 
All fees for required inspections are included in the schedule of fees. The Inspector shall determine the number of required inspections based on the complexity of the project.
(2) 
Additional inspections or reinspections shall be assessed fees as set by the Common Council in the City's Fee Schedule. All fees for additional inspections or reinspections shall be paid prior to final approval of the project.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
All sewers shall be under the supervision of the City Engineer, and no sewer service lateral shall be laid, and no opening into or connection with a sewer service lateral shall be made, except under the Engineer's direction and supervision.
The City Engineer shall keep a record, showing the location of the lot, the name of the owner of the premises desiring to make connection with the public sewers and of the master plumber proposing to lay the drain or sewer or extension thereof. The Engineer shall keep a record of the exact location of the connection with the public sewer of each drain or sewer so laid.
A. 
No connection for privies. No privy vault shall be connected with public sewers in the City.
B. 
No connection of downspouts. No person shall connect or be permitted to connect the downspouts of any building or cistern overflow with any sanitary sewer or cause or permit rain or surface water to drain directly or indirectly into any sanitary sewer.
C. 
Injuries to sewers, drains, plumbing fixtures, etc. No person shall injure or obstruct any sewer, house drain, cesspool, catch basin or any plumbing fixture or apparatus, pipes or other parts of any plumbing in a public building, or any sewer, water or gas pipes or any parts or apparatus connected therewith, laid or constructed in the alleys, streets or other public places, or under any sidewalks in the City.
A. 
Connection required. To assure preservation of public health, comfort and safety, every building within the City used for human habitation and located adjacent to the City sewer and water system or in a block in which both such systems extend shall be connected with such public system. If such building is adjacent to or in a block in which the City water system only extends, such building shall be connected with the City water system.
B. 
City may install connections. If the occupant or owner fails to comply with Subsection A for more than 10 days after notice in writing is given to him or her, the City shall cause such connection to be made, and the expense thereof shall be assessed as a special tax against the benefited property. Such failure shall also be a violation of this section punishable as provided in § 175-15.
C. 
Payment for installation by installments. If the City causes connection to be made, the owner may, within 30 days after completion of the work, file a written request with the City Clerk stating that he or she cannot pay such amount in one sum and asking that it be levied in not to exceed two annual installments. The unpaid balance, in such instance, shall be a special tax lien on the property and shall bear interest at the rate of 8% per year.
D. 
No person shall continue to use outdoor toilet. No person shall use an outdoor toilet on any premises within the City nor any cesspool, septic tank or other contrivance located thereon for collecting and disposing of sewage after the time a public utility water supply and sewer service becomes available to such premises by connection to mains lying in the street or alley or public grounds or across a dedicated easement abutting such premises.
E. 
Private defective sewer system a public nuisance. The operation of any defective septic tank, dry well or cesspool constitutes a public nuisance and as such is a violation of this chapter.
Whenever it shall be reported to the City Clerk or Plumbing Inspector that the plumbing in any building is contrary to the ordinances of the City or is of faulty construction and liable to breed disease or sickness or is a menace to health, the Plumbing Inspector shall examine all the plumbing in such building and direct the occupant or owner to make changes as are necessary to put the same in proper sanitary condition. Any temporary connection, when in use for a period exceeding seven days, shall be considered unsanitary.
No person shall permit any drain or sewer to discharge into any open sewer or gutter or upon any street or public alley or upon or over any sidewalk.
No owner or occupant of any real estate shall discharge domestic sewage or industrial wastes therefrom into the waters of Lake Monona or any stream within the jurisdiction of the City or into any sewer connected with or discharging into such lake or stream or permit the same to be so discharged from such premises.
A. 
Prohibition against. The connection of basement drains, sump pump drains, drain tile or any other drain system the purpose of which is to alleviate a groundwater problem or condition or which may contribute groundwater at any time of the year to the sewerage system of the City is prohibited.
B. 
Builder of new houses to see that no discharge into sewers occurs. The builder and owner of any new house shall take necessary precautions to effectively prevent any groundwater from entering the basement, floor drain, or lateral and, subsequently, the main sewers of the sewerage system of the City.
C. 
Houses not to discharge into sewer. If after inspection it is found that groundwater is being discharged from a house or other building into the sewerage system of the City, the owner of the house or building shall, after notice by the Building Inspector, within a reasonable time, make the necessary repairs, alterations or modifications of the drainage system so as to prevent the entrance of any groundwater into the system and thence into the main sewers of the City. By "reasonable time" is meant as soon as possible after the high-water table of the ground has receded sufficiently to allow repairs to be made, but in no case more than six months from the time of serving of the notice. Such notice shall specify what repairs, alterations or modifications, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, City Engineer or a registered professional engineer, must be made to correct the groundwater drainage.
D. 
Building Inspector or Engineer may enter houses for inspection. The Building Inspector or City Engineer may enter upon any public or private premises and make inspection thereof at any reasonable time. Any person who resists or obstructs any lawful exercise of authority by the Building Inspector or City Engineer is subject to a penalty as provided in § 175-15.
Police officers, the Plumbing Inspector and the Building Inspector shall inquire into the causes of violation of this chapter and report the same to the proper officer for investigation and prosecution.