Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of § 277-6, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this article and with the provisions of the City and standard specifications of the State Department of Health.
A.
Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal
system, the owner shall first obtain a written approval signed by
the Director of Public Works. The application for such permit shall
be made 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 Director.
B.
No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or
opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance
thereof without first obtaining a written approval from the Director
of Public Works or Chief Operator. No unauthorized person shall make
connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, driveway
drains or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building
sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly
to a public sanitary sewer.
C.
All costs and expenses incidental to the installation and connection
of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall
indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly
be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer. Work will
be performed by Department of Public Works personnel. Before the commencement
of work, a fee, which is to be adjusted administratively annually
based on the inflation rate, is charged as listed below:
D.
Cost to televise existing sewer laterals:
(1)
The following fees will be charged for utilization of City equipment
to televise sewer laterals:
(a)
Owner-occupied residences: $200 (flat fee).
(b)
Investor rental properties: $375 (flat fee).
(c)
Industrial/commercial/retail/not-for-profit entities: $450 per
hour.
(d)
Senior exemption: All seniors who are income eligible pursuant
to the Over 65 Property Tax Exempt Program will not be charged for
this service.
(2)
Prior to utilization of City equipment, the private owner or business
representatives must ensure that the sewers are snaked-cleaned. In
the event that the problem is determined to be within the City right-of-way,
no fee will be charged. If the problem is determined to be within
the owner's property line, the fee will be billed to the property
owner and, in the event of nonpayment, any such charge will be added
to the next annual tax bill.
(3)
All users are responsible for maintenance of sanitary sewer lines
to the City right-of-way. If a problem occurs, it is the property
owner's responsibility to determine whether or not the problem
is on City property. If City employees are required to respond to
a problem that is not on City property, the property owner will be
charged at current rates for time, equipment and material.
(4)
At no time shall City employees access a sanitary line through a
private basement, commercial property or industrial property. If cleaning
or inspection is required, the property owner must provide sanitary
access through a cleanout from the right-of-way. If the sanitary line
is blocked for any reason, a determination will be made as to the
location of the blockage. The blockage will be repaired by City personnel
only if it is within the City right-of-way. All other repairs will
be made by the property owner at his or her expense.
The type, capacities, location and layout of a private sewage
disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the Department
of Health of the State of New York. No permit shall be issued for
any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption
facilities where the area of the lot is less than 15,000 square feet.
No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any
public sewer or natural outlet.
At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in § 277-6, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this chapter, and any septic tanks, cesspools and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with suitable material. All costs associated with securing abandoned facilities shall be borne by the property owner.
The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal
facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the
City.
No statement contained in this article shall be construed to
interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by
the authorized representative of the New York State Department of
Health.
