City of Mt. Angel, OR Article 2 CONNECTIONS

§ 52.020 USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS REQUIRED.

(A) Unlawful uses. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in an unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any human or animal excrement, garbage, or other objectionable waste.

(B) Pretreatment required. It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any sanitary sewage, industrial wastewaters, or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this chapter and as approved and specifically permitted by the DEQ.

(C) Unlawful disposal systems. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.

(D) Connection required. 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 public street, alley, or easement in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sewer is hereby required at his or her expense to install suitable toilet and plumbing facilities therein and to connect those facilities directly with the public sewer, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. This connection shall be made within 90 days after the date of the official notice to do so, provided that the public sewer is within 300 feet of the property line. For the purposes of this section, notice shall be deemed to have been received upon the mailing of the notice in accordance with § 52.071.

(E) Failure to connect. Upon failure of the owner, lessee, or occupant to connect the premises to a public sewer within the stipulated time, the city, after giving the owner, lessee, or occupant an opportunity to be heard, may proceed to connect the premises to a public sewer, and the cost thereof shall be charged and become a city lien upon the property.

(F) Easements if required. An easement to construct, operate, and maintain the system may be required by the city prior to installation.

Penalty, see § 52.999

(1993 Code, § 3-2.3.1; Ord. 578, passed 3-4-1991)

§ 52.021 PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL.

(A) Compliance. Where a public sewer is not available under the provisions of § 52.020(D), the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system whose type, capacities, location, and layout are in compliance with the provisions of this section and with requirements of the OSPSC, the County Sanitarian, and the rules and regulations of the DEQ.

(B) Permit required. Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by a representative of the DEQ. The permit must also be signed by the City Superintendent.

(C) Connection to sewer system. At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, a connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this chapter, including payment of all connection fees and systems development charges. Any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be removed or abandoned and filled with suitable material as required by the DEQ. When public sewer service is obtained, the connection or connections to the premises being served shall be made ahead of the private disposal system. No connections shall be made to the effluent side of existing septic tanks or cesspools.

(D) Owner responsibility. The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, including routine pumping, at no expense to the city. Evidence of untreated or partially treated wastewater on the ground surface shall be proof of an improperly functioning private sewage disposal facility.

Penalty, see § 52.999

(1993 Code, § 3-2.3.2; Ord. 578, passed 3-4-1991)

§ 52.022 CONNECTION PROCEDURES.

(A) Permit required. 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 permit. The permit shall specify the location where the connection or other approved work shall be made, the manner of making the connection, the nature of the waste to be discharged to the sewer, the name and address of the owner, and the name of the sewer installer who will be doing the work. No permit shall be issued unless the sewer to which connection is requested has been accepted as a part of the public sewer system. No permit shall be issued without payment of all appropriate permit, connection, development, and inspection fees, including any delinquent assessments against the owner of the property.

(B) Permit types. There shall be 2 types of sewer permits: Type 1, for residential and commercial service; and Type 2, for service to establishments producing industrial wastes. The owner or an agent thereof shall make application on a special form furnished by the city. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Superintendent or City Engineer. Connection fees and systems development charges for residential, commercial, and industrial sewer permits shall be in amounts as provided for in division (E) of this section.

(C) Payment of connection costs. All costs and expenses incident to the installation of the building sanitary 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.

(D) Emptying of sewage holding tanks. Every establishment providing facilities for the emptying of sewage holding tanks on recreational vehicles shall obtain a permit to do so. These facilities shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be so constructed that surface drainage cannot enter the sewer. Plans for this type of dumping facilities constructed after the effective date of this chapter shall be approved by the City Engineer prior to construction. The permit fees shall be the same as that required for a sewer connection and shall be in addition to the appropriate connection fees and systems development charges.

(E) Sewer connection and systems development charges.

(1) The sewer connection fee shall be calculated based on estimates of actual costs incurred by the city in conjunction with the connection of service, which includes tapping the main line, and shall be payable with the application for service. Costs in excess of the estimate shall be due upon completion of the connection work by the city.

(2) The systems development charge shall be charged on a per dwelling unit or E.R.U. basis at a rate as set forth under Chapter 50 of this code. Any premises which shall add additional E.R.U. equivalents to a structure served by an existing service shall be subject to an additional systems development charge for the E.R.U. equivalents added. An E.R.U. equivalency may be defined for nonresidential purposes; each 10 sewer openings as defined in this chapter, or any portion thereof, can be deemed and considered a dwelling unit equivalency.

(3) Each separate building or structure is required to possess a sewer connection permit, irrespective of the fact that the same may be under 1 ownership or constructed upon 1 property; and the fact that the same may be connected by doorways, archways, walks, or appurtenances thereto shall not alter or change this provision.

(F) Design and construction standards. Plans for all public and private sewer systems shall be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer prior to construction. The plans shall conform to the requirements of the DEQ, as well as the city. All public sewer systems shall be designed by a registered professional engineer. Although specific standards may apply in individual cases, general city standards are summarized below.

(1) A separate and independent building sanitary sewer shall be provided for every building; except where 1 building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an alley, yard, or driveway, the building sanitary sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as 1 building sewer.

(2) Old building sanitary sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test, to meet all requirements of this chapter.

(3) The building sanitary sewer shall be cast iron pipe, PVC, or approved equal in accordance with the OSPSC. All joints and connections shall be made watertight and installed in accordance with the OSPSC. Any part of the building sanitary sewer that is located within 10 feet of a water service pipe shall be constructed of cast iron pipe. Cast iron pipe may be required where the building sanitary sewer is exposed to damage by tree roots. If installed in filled or unstable ground, the building sanitary sewer shall be of cast iron pipe, except as approved by the City Engineer.

(4) The size and slope of the building sanitary sewer shall be as follows. In no event shall the diameter be less than 4 inches. The slope of the pipe shall be not less than 1/4 inch per foot toward the point of disposal. A building sanitary sewer shall utilize no bends greater than 1/16 bends (22.5 degrees) unless a cleanout is installed immediately upstream, except at or adjacent to the connection to the main where a 1/8 bend is allowed without a cleanout.

(5) Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In no case shall the depth be less than 1 foot below the ground surface. A building sanitary sewer may be required to include an approved backflow device upon recommendation of the City Engineer.

(6) In all buildings in which any building sanitary sewer is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by that sewer shall be lifted by approved pump before discharge to the building sanitary sewer.

(7) All excavation required for the installation of a building sanitary sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved. Pipe laying shall be performed in accordance with pipe manufacturer's recommendations. In no case shall broken or damaged pipe be used.

(8) Tapping of public sewers shall be done only by or under the supervision of city crews or city authorized representative. The applicant shall obtain the necessary permits, make the necessary excavation, and provide a safe trench in which the work can be accomplished.

(9) Tapping of building sanitary sewers directly into manholes is prohibited except where provided for in the original design and approved by the City Engineer.

(G) Cleanouts. Cleanouts shall be installed on all new or reconstructed building sanitary sewers. The cleanout shall be placed vertically above the flow of the pipe and at a point near the connection of the sanitary sewer to the building drain. A 2-way cleanout may also be required at the property line by the Superintendent or City Engineer.

(H) Unacceptable conditions. No direct connection shall be made between the sanitary sewer system and any opening which will drain rain run-off, surface water, or subsurface water.

(I) Construction safety measures. All excavations for sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city.

(J) Independent drainage systems. The drainage system of each new dwelling unit or building using an existing sewer shall be separate and independent from that of any other dwelling or building. Every dwelling or building under separate ownership shall have an independent sewer connection.

(K) Inspection requirement for sewer connection permit. Every building sanitary sewer and connection to the public sewer shall be inspected and approved by a city inspector prior to closure and usage. Reasonable notice shall be given to the city to inspect all work in connection with the construction or reconstruction while the work is still uncovered. The applicant for the permit shall notify the city when the sewer is ready for inspection at least 3 working days prior to the date of the desired inspection.

(L) Owner responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the owner, lessee, or occupant of a building to maintain the building sanitary sewer in a free-flowing, gastight, and watertight condition, from the structure served to the public sewer.

(M) Monitoring of private sewers. New and existing building sanitary sewers will be periodically monitored by the city for leaks, discharges, or infiltration of extraneous water. This monitoring may take the form of, but is not limited to, direct visual observations, indirect measurements, television inspection, or air or water pressure tests, smoke tests, or exfiltration tests.

(1) If, in the opinion of the City Engineer, the monitoring shows a sewer to be defective, no further proof is needed to require the sewer be repaired to current standards at the owner's expense.

(2) Those users who do not comply shall have a period of time not to exceed 90 days to reach compliance with these regulations. If the sewer user fails to correct the infiltration within the prescribed time limit, the building sanitary sewer shall be declared nonconforming and triple the monthly user charge shall be assessed until the service lateral piping is brought into compliance. The city may also elect to enter the property and make the necessary repair or correction and cause the expenses associated with the repair or correction to become a lien upon the property.

(3) A permit as described in this section shall be required for this work.

(N) Capping of building sewer for abandonment.

(1) Before a building can be moved or demolished, a building permit must be obtained from the city which requires that the sewer has been properly capped and inspected. No exceptions will be allowed.

(2) All building sanitary sewers shall be capped at the public main in an approved manner by the property owner or his or her contractor and inspected by the city prior to closure of the excavation. Exception: if adequate proof can be given showing a building sanitary sewer is in usable condition and is to be reused, the city may allow the service to be capped at the building drain.

(3) It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that no other structure is connected to the sewer service being abandoned.

(O) Watertightness, other conformance required. All public or private sewer systems construction shall conform to current standards of design, materials, and workmanship. Failure to meet tests for watertightness shall be grounds for refusal of acceptance. Permits to connect to these sewers will not be issued until the system is approved and accepted.

(P) Installation on private property. All sewer and plumbing installations on a private property to be connected with any sewer connection installed in accordance with this chapter shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of the OSPSC and all ordinances, rules, and regulations of the city applicable thereto; and the city shall have the power to refuse to make or complete the sewer connection in the event of any failure to comply.

Penalty, see § 52.999

(1993 Code, § 3-2.3.3; Ord. 578, passed 3-4-1991)