For the purpose of this division, the following words and terms, as used in this division, are defined to mean the following:
Domestic service connection.
Service to any dwelling unit occupied as living quarters for one or more persons, which establishment or unit has sanitary water or sewage facilities.
Existing septic tank.
A sanitary septic tank in continued use serving a structure or structures on property within the city at the time of the passage of the ordinance codified in this division.
Fixture connection.
Either a kitchen, bathtub or shower, commode, washing machine, floor drain, dishwashing vats and any other plumbing fixture from which wastewater or sewage passes through and into the house drain and into the house sewer, not including wash racks in garages and filling stations; provided that, when three or less dishwashing vats are connected as one unit, with one drain, same shall be considered as one fixture connection.
Functioning septic tank.
A sanitary septic tank which does not pose a threat to the public health by virtue of overflow, requirement for pumping, emission of odors, or improper filtration as determined by the building official of the city.
House drain.
A part of the main horizontal drain and its branches inside the wall of the building and extending to and connecting with the house sewer.
House sewer.
That part of the main drain or sewer extending from a point four feet outside of the outer space of the outer wall or floor line to a connection with the public sewer.
Sanitary sewage.
The waste from water closets, lavatories, sinks, bathtubs, urinals, household laundries, cellar floor drains, garage floor drains, storerooms, soda fountains, cuspidors, refrigerator drips, drinking fountains, stable floors, drains and other fixture connections.
Sewer availability.
Means that a sanitary sewer line has been installed by the city to a point within one hundred feet of property being served by an existing privately owned sanitary septic system.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.301)
(a) 
Any person, firm or corporation, partnership, association, or any agent or employees thereof who shall violate any of the rules, regulations or provisions of this division, or any part of it, or portion thereof, by any act, either of omission or commission, or cause same to be done, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code, for each and every such violation. Each violation of each part of this division shall be and constitute a separate offense, and where such violation is a continued act, each day such violation is continued or permitted to continue shall be and constitute a separate offense and punishable accordingly.
(b) 
In case of any willful or continued violation of the terms, conditions and provisions of this division, the city, in addition to imposing the penalties above provided, may institute any appropriate action or proceedings in any court having jurisdiction to restrain, correct or abate such violation; and the definition of any violation of the terms, conditions and provisions of this division as a misdemeanor shall not preclude the city from invoking the civil remedies given it by the laws of the state, but same shall be cumulative and subject to prosecution as hereinabove prescribed for such violation.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.325)
It shall be the duty of the officer in charge of the sewer department, or his duly authorized agents, to enter all premises as may be necessary in the enforcement of this division, and he is so empowered, and it is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to interfere with any inspection being made by the city plumbing inspector, or the officer in charge of the sewer department, or his authorized agents, in carrying out the provisions of this division.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.321)
(a) 
For the purpose of providing for the efficient operation of the sewage disposal system situated in the city, there is created within the city a department to be known and identified as the sewer department, which department shall be under the supervision of a superintendent who shall be the administrative officer of the department and such other employees as the city council may direct. The superintendent of the sewer department shall be appointed by the mayor, with the advice and consent of the city council, for the term as may be fixed by the governing body, and is to be paid such salary as the city council may provide. The superintendent of the sewer department shall have general supervision over all employees of the sewer system and shall make frequent trips of inspection over all pipelines and other property used in or connected with the sewer system, including the sewage disposal plant, and shall make all repairs deemed necessary and consistent with his duties; provided that the city council, when deemed expedient, shall have the right to consolidate the department and/or position herein created with any other department and/or administrative position or positions heretofore and hereafter created, and assign all of the duties provided for the sewer superintendent and authority herein conferred upon such officer to the officer in charge of the office with which such consolidation is had.
(b) 
The superintendent shall also report all violations of this division to the mayor, and shall forthwith proceed to have prosecuted offenders as set forth in this division or any amendment thereof.
(c) 
In the performance of his duties as required by this section, the superintendent shall be subject to all city ordinances, rules and regulations made pursuant thereto, at all times.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.302)
(a) 
Connection permit required; application.
No person, persons, firm or corporation shall have the right to connect any property with the sewer system of the city, and no connection with the sanitary sewer system of the city shall be made, until the owner of such property, or his agent duly authorized, shall have received from the city a permit to do so, after having met the requirements herein specified to obtain such permit. The owner of any property desired to be connected with the sewer system of the city, or his duly authorized agent, shall first make an application in writing signed by such owner, or his agent duly authorized in writing to sign such application for and in the name of the owner, upon blanks furnished by the city and delivered to the officer in charge of the sewer department of the city, for a permit to connect any such property with the city sewer system. Such application shall contain the precise location of the property to be drained, and the type of structure and the purpose for which same is used, and give the name of the owner of the property and the number and class of plumbing fixture to be contained within the private system or property to be drained, and the name of the person or firm employed to do the plumbing work contemplated to be done and connected with the sewer system. Such application shall further contain an agreement on the part of such applicant owner of the property sought to be connected and drained by the sewer system of the city that he will promptly pay to the city the rental charges then or thereafter to be prescribed by the city for the use of the sewer system at the times and in the manner prescribed now or hereafter by the ordinances of the city, that he will abide by and observe the rules and regulations governing the use of the city sewer system and that he will be responsible for the rental charges accruing up to the time that he gives actual notice, in writing, to the city of a change in ownership of the property, or to discontinue service thereto.
(b) 
Cancellation of permit.
Any such permit issued shall remain in force only so long as the owner of the property, and the applicant therefor, shall comply with the rules and regulations now or hereafter prescribed for the use of the sewer system, and shall pay the rental charges as provided, and upon the failure of such property owner in either or any respect to fully comply with the provisions hereof, said permit shall be subject to cancellation, and the city shall have the right to discontinue sewer service to such property. This stipulation shall also be contained in the application for a permit.
(c) 
Fees.
Before any application for a permit shall be received and permit granted there must be paid to the city the required fees and one month rental for sewer service in advance, said advance payment to be applied in payment for the rental and service charge for the first month following commencement of service if the permit is issued following the fifteenth day of any calendar month. If the permit is issued on or prior to such day, the charge for sewer service shall commence on the first day of the month in which permit is issued.
(d) 
Change in ownership of property.
Whenever any property for which a permit has been issued and sewer service is being furnished changes ownership, the new owner shall make application for a continuation of sewer service to such property, and such application shall be made upon the same blanks and be subject to the same terms and conditions, and contain the same stipulations, as an original application, and such application shall be marked “application for continuation of sewer service.”
(e) 
Increase in number of plumbing fixtures.
When any person owning any property served by the sewer system in the city shall change the plumbing in premises, other than single-family dwellings used exclusively as such, to be connected with the sewer system so as to increase the number of plumbing fixtures connected with the city sewer system, such person shall make a new application, upon the same blanks, terms and conditions as an original application as set out in this section.
(f) 
Resumption of service after service discontinued.
When sewer service for any property has been discontinued for any reason, same shall not again be continued until the owner of such property shall have made application as is set out in this section for an original application.
(g) 
Scope of permit.
No permit shall be deemed to authorize anything not stated in the application.
(h) 
Plumbing standards.
A permit to make a connection with the sewer system or for a continuation of sewer service will be issued only when the plumbing in the structure or property to be connected and drained is in accordance with the provisions for plumbing as are provided in the plumbing code for the city, now in effect and hereafter adopted, and has been inspected and approved by the city plumbing inspector.
(i) 
No reduction of sewer rental charge.
There shall be no reduction or abatement of the sewer rental charge for any property so long as said property is connected with the sewer system of the city.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.303; Ordinance adopting Code)
Every application for a permit filed to connect with the city sewer system shall be accompanied by a fee, as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code, to cover the issuance of the permit, plus one month sewer rental charge in advance, which sum shall be paid directly to the city, and no permit shall be issued unless such fee and charge has been so paid; provided, however, that all owners of property situated within the city who apply for sewer connection or connections to their respective premises prior to the initial construction and installation of sewer mains in the immediate area where such property is situated, the city will install a street service line running from the street sewer main to such owner’s curb and gutter or sidewalk line, or to the owner’s property line when no curb and gutter or sidewalk exists, free of any cost to the owner other than the payment of the required fees at the time of filing application for the sewer connection, and of the rental and service charge for the first month beginning on the first day of the calendar month after sewer service is made available to owner’s property, notwithstanding the available sewer service is not being utilized by the owner at such time.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.304; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Residential garages.
Before any residential garage may be connected to the city sewer, same shall be equipped with a cast iron sand trap provided with a removal receptacle inside of the trap to remove mud, sand and other refuse washed into same. This provision does not apply where such drain is located in such a manner as to receive drainage exclusively from a washing machine used for laundry purposes.
(b) 
Commercial garages and filling stations.
Before any wash racks at all commercial garages and filling stations may be connected to the city sewer system, same shall be equipped so that wastewater therefrom shall discharge into a two-compartment sand and grease trap made of concrete.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.305)
The policy set out in this section applies to the connection of service to the city’s sanitary sewer system:
(1) 
If city sanitary sewer system service is available within one hundred feet of the subject property, the use of an existing septic tank may be continued until the privately owned sanitary septic system ceases to be a functioning septic tank. No privately owned sanitary septic system can be installed after the date of sewer availability.
(2) 
The charge to the property owner by the city for connecting to available city sewer shall be a tap fee, plus the applicable impact fees as set forth in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code.
(3) 
A fifty percent discount on the tap fee will be allowed for any connection made to the city sanitary sewer system if the tap fee, plus the impact fees, is paid within thirty days from the date of sewer availability.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.306; Ordinance adopting Code)
All defective septic tanks, cesspools and other structures, devices or other class outdoor facilities used for the purpose of receiving human sewage that may be on any premises as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this division, the property line of which, at any point, extends to within one hundred feet of a city sanitary sewer, shall be removed or abated after the giving of notice as provided in this division for removal and abatement of same.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.307)
The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer of the city, is required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer, within ninety days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that the public sewer is within one hundred feet of the property line. All connections to the public sewer system shall be made under the supervision of the city and its representatives.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.308)
It is unlawful:
(1) 
To uncover the public sewer or branches thereof unless by consent and under the supervision of the officer in charge of the sewer department of the city;
(2) 
For the owner or occupant of any building located on any lot reaching within one hundred feet of any city sanitary sewer, any portion of which is used for any purpose during any portion of the day, to fail to have at least one water closet connection with the public sewer or with any functioning septic tank in place or in use prior to the availability of public sewer;
(3) 
For the owner or occupant of any building located on any lot reaching within one hundred feet of any city sanitary sewer, in which food is cooked or clothing is washed, to fail to have a suitable sink, slop stone or hopper for the reception of water and connected with the city sewer system or with a functioning septic tank which was in place or in use prior to the availability of public sewer;
(4) 
To throw or allow to be thrown or deposited upon the surface of the ground or in any hole or vault in or under the surface of the ground, on any lot within one hundred feet of any city sanitary sewer, any water which has been used for domestic or manufacturing purposes, or any liquid or any solid filth, feces or urine;
(5) 
To throw or deposit, or cause to be thrown or deposited, in any vessel or receptacle connected with the city sewer system, any newspaper, garbage, hair, fruit, ashes, vegetable peelings or refuse, rags, cotton, cinders, or any other matter whatsoever, except feces, urine, the necessary closet paper or liquid slops;
(6) 
To allow any slops, wash or waste of any kind to flow over or under the pavement into the streets or alleys;
(7) 
To enter in or upon the premises of the sewage disposal plant site and to in any way tamper with, or injure in any manner whatsoever, the buildings, fixtures and equipment of the sewage disposal plant, or any fixtures, equipment or supplies that may be stored on the site;
(8) 
To discharge to any natural outlet within the city or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city any sanitary sewage, industrial waste, or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided;
(9) 
To construct or maintain within the city any nonfunctioning septic tank within one hundred feet of any city sanitary sewer or to maintain within the city any privy, privy vault, cesspool or other facility intended for the disposal of sewage;
(10) 
No unauthorized person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the municipal sewage works;
(11) 
To discharge or cause to be discharged into any public sewer any of the following described waters or wastes:
(A) 
Any waste or water which contains more than seventy-five parts per million by weight of fats, oil or grease,
(B) 
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other inflammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas,
(C) 
Any garbage that has not been properly shredded;
(D) 
Any solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works;
(E) 
Any waters or waste containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant;
(F) 
Any waters or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the sewage treatment plant.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.309)
It is unlawful for any person or corporation to obstruct or in any way injure any of the pipes, drains, works or machinery belonging to or connected with the sewer system of the city, or to place any substance whatever into any sink, water closet, bathtub, vessels, drains, or other receptacles belonging to or connected with the sewer system which may obstruct or injure same.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.313)
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to lay pipes for water, gas, steam or any purpose in any street or alley where sewers are laid shall give at least twenty-four hours’ notice to the city officer in charge of the sewer department before opening the street or alley, and the manner of excavating the trenches and laying the pipe and backfilling over the same shall be subject to the approval of the officer in charge of the sewer department. All such work shall be planned and executed in accordance with the provisions of the plumbing and other ordinances of the city so that no injury shall occur to any street, public sewer or drain or to any house or other sewer drain connected therewith.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.314)
A proper barrier and lights must be maintained on the banks of the house or other sewer trench to guard the public against accidents during the progress of work. In backfilling, no stone shall be used and the earth shall be carefully rammed or flooded so as to keep the pipe in proper position and to avoid settling.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.315)
The owner or occupant of any building not located within the city shall be allowed to make connection with the sewer system after obtaining a permit as provided in this division, and such work of connection shall be subject to the regulations and inspections provided for in this chapter, and the owner or occupant of any building thus connected shall be required to pay the inspection, installation and the service charges exacted in this division.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.316)
It is unlawful to connect any old housing plumbing to the city sanitary sewer system unless same conforms in all respects to all requirements of the plumbing code of the city and shall be approved by the plumbing inspector.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.317)
All connections of house sewer lines into the main and lateral sewer lines shall be in accordance with the specification as is provided in the plumbing code of the city.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.318)
No permit for a basement drain shall be granted until the owner of the building has executed and signed a written agreement releasing the city from any damage that may result from the basement being flooded by the stoppage of sewers, which agreement shall be filed with the city secretary.
(2001 Code, sec. 13.319)
(a) 
Permit required.
(1) 
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to construct, extend or make extensions of any sewer main or sublateral lines to be attached to any sewer mains or manholes in the sewer system shall be required to file an application to secure a permit from the city.
(2) 
The applicant shall submit four copies of the plans and specifications for the proposed extensions and any subsequent changes thereof. Such plans and specifications shall be approved by the city’s engineer before any permit shall be granted.
(3) 
All construction performed under any such permit shall be subject to inspection by representatives of the city and all plumbing from all structures connected by any such extensions shall be in compliance with all applicable ordinances of the city.
(4) 
All extensions shall be constructed within easements dedicated to the city without reservation.
(5) 
All plans and specifications for sewer improvements and extensions shall be prepared by registered professional engineers and conform to standard engineering practices.
(6) 
All such extensions and improvements shall be constructed as designed.
(b) 
Inspection.
All new extensions to the city sewer system, and appurtenances thereto, shall be inspected and approved by the officer in charge of the sewer system, and the consulting engineer of the city, or his duly authorized representative, before backfilling any part thereof. Any person, firm or corporation violating this provision shall be subject to the penalty provided for in this division, and shall be compelled to uncover the extension or any part thereof, so that same may be fully inspected as provided in this division.
(2001 Code, secs. 13.322, 13.323)