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:
(1) 
Sewer tap fee, installed, complete from sewer main to the City right-of-way line.
(a) 
Tapping fees for four- and six-inch sewer lines:
[1] 
Service materials: $350.
[2] 
Materials for excavation: $1,144.
[3] 
Equipment: $916.
[4] 
Labor: $1,200.
[5] 
Total cost: $3,610.
(b) 
Tapping fees for eight- and twelve-inch sewer lines:
[1] 
Service materials: $780.
[2] 
Materials for excavation: $1,725.
[3] 
Equipment: $1,345.
[4] 
Labor: $1,415.
[5] 
Total cost: $5,265.
(2) 
Cost of tap fees for sewer lines larger than 12 inches in size will be determined on an individual basis.
(3) 
Disconnect fee:
(a) 
Four- to six-inch sewer lines: $2,500.
(b) 
Cost of disconnecting a six-inch-or-larger sewer line will be determined on an individual basis.
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.