No person other than representatives of the city shall uncover, make connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the clerk.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
B.
In each case, the owner or his agent shall make an application on a special form furnished by the clerk. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the clerk or water and sewer superintendent, including, in case of a new building, a plan or diagram of plumbing and drainage facilities.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
A.
A "certificate of sewer availability" shall be applied for prior to issuance of a side sewer permit to determine if sewer conveyance and treatment capacity is available. The application shall specify the applicant's name, address of the subject property, the number of anticipated ERUs, and anticipated water usage.
B.
The cost for preparation of this certificate is $50.00. In addition, the applicant shall pay one-half of the amount of the sewer connection charges in effect on the date the certificate issues, for each ERU purchased. Further, the applicant shall sign an agreement committing the owner or applicant to pay any difference between the current sewer connection charges paid at the issuance of the sewer availability certificate, and the sewer connection charges in effect at the time of issuance of a building permit for the subject property.
C.
If sewer service is available to the property, if the city's sewer system is sufficiently sized, constructed and maintained so as to be capable of physically conveying sewage from the property to the city's wastewater treatment facilities, and if there is sufficient treatment and volumetric capacity at the wastewater treatment facilities to accept, treat and discharge sewage from the subject property consistent with applicable legal requirements in the then-applicable NPDES and wastewater discharge permits, the certificate shall be issued by the city and will be valid for six months from the date of issuance, unless the applicant renews the certificate of availability prior to the expiration date. A certificate of sewer availability may be renewed only once, for an additional six-month period, unless the applicant provides written documentation to the director's satisfaction demonstrating that the applicant has on file with the jurisdiction in which the subject property is located (King County or the city of Snoqualmie) a complete building application or complete application for a subdivision, master site plan, or other binding land use application for the underlying property, and that, through no fault of the applicant, the building permit, subdivision, master site plan or other land use application is not likely to be approved within the certificate of sewer availability's renewal term, in which case the director may grant one or more additional renewal terms as the director determines in his/her reasonable discretion.
D.
Certificates are valid only for the real property referenced on the certificate. Any transfer of assignment of property ownership requires written notification to the city.
E.
If a certificate has expired, the applicant will be required to pay all fees for a new certificate of sewer availability.
(Ord. 1187 § 4, 2017)
Side sewer permits shall be obtained in the following manner:
A.
Side sewer permits shall be issued only upon proper application at the office of the city engineer.
B.
A permit which includes side sewer work in a public area may be issued only to a licensed side sewer contractor.
C.
A permit which includes side sewer work on private property only may be issued to the owner of the property or to a licensed side sewer contractor.
D.
No licensed side sewer contractor shall lay any pipe pursuant to any other person's permit, nor shall any unauthorized person lay any pipe pursuant to a licensed side sewer contractor's permit.
E.
The applicant for a side sewer permit shall supply the city engineer with the following information:
1.
Owner's name;
2.
Address to be served;
3.
Owner's mailing address;
4.
Name and address to which bill shall be mailed;
5.
Licensed side sewer contractor's name;
6.
Legal description of property to be served;
7.
All outside dimensions of building to be served;
8.
Location of buildings on property to be served;
9.
Purpose of building;
10.
Full course of the proposed side sewer.
F.
A permit shall be obtained and the fees thereafter paid before any side sewer is started.
G.
No permit shall be issued for side sewer connection before the main sewer is accepted.
H.
The permit must be posted on the job and must be readily accessible for inspection by the utilities director or sewer superintendent.
I.
A licensed side sewer contractor shall meet with the utilities director or sewer superintendent on the job whenever so directed.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989; Ord. 769 § 4, 1996)
A side sewer contract between owners and a licensed side sewer contractor shall be subject to the following requirements:
A.
The contract between the owner and the licensed side sewer contractor shall provide that the side sewer contractor shall connect all outlets from the plumbing fixtures existing at the time the work is done unless specifically noted otherwise.
B.
The contractor shall, when requested by the owner, furnish the owner with a release of lien or claims of both labor and material or with an affidavit stating the same have been paid before payment is accepted for the side sewer work.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
Wyes, tees and stubs shall be located in the following manner:
A.
Connection will be made at the point designated by the sewer superintendent.
B.
If a side sewer tee or stub is not found at the measurement given by the sewer superintendent, the contractor shall prospect two feet in all directions from the measurement given and if not found, then notify the sewer superintendent.
C.
Wyes may be used only if the sewer superintendent permits and at a location provided by the sewer superintendent.
D.
An inspection tee with a riser to not less than one foot from the surface of the ground shall be placed on every side sewer at or near the connection to a common sewer, the location to be approved by the water and sewer superintendent. The tee shall be capped with a cast iron cover. If the inspection tee is located on private property, the city shall have the right to enter onto that private property and excavate to the inspection tee at any time when there is a reasonable doubt on the legal use of the building sewer, but the city shall restore the surface after such excavation.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
All costs and expense incident to the installation and connection of the side 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 side sewer.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
A.
A single side sewer shall be provided for every building unless the connection of more than one building to a single side sewer is approved by the utilities director prior to the construction of such side sewer. Nor more than one multiple dwelling, industrial, or commercial building shall be connected to a side sewer, unless otherwise approved by the utilities director.
B.
If the side sewer is to be installed across or exist upon the property of another person, approved easement documents assuring that all property involved shall have perpetual use of the side sewer, and having provisions for maintenance and access for repair purposes, shall be signed by the recorded owners. These documents shall be acknowledged and recorded with the county auditor, and a copy provided to the city.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
Old side sewers, including septic tank lines, may be used only when they are found on examination and test by the sewer superintendent to meet all requirements of this chapter. The owner or his agent shall demonstrate to the sewer superintendent that no connection to such side sewer or septic tank line exists which conveys any material prohibited by SMC § 13.04.420 through § 13.04.500.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
The side sewer shall be cast iron soil pipe, ASTM specification A-74, with leaded joints, vitrified clay with "Brant" or approved equal rubber joint gaskets cement-asbestos with standard couplings and fittings, or other suitable material approved by the sewer superintendent. Joints shall be tight and waterproof. Any part of the side sewer that is located within less than 10 feet of the water service pipe shall be constructed of cast iron oil pipe with leaded joints unless such part is at least three feet lower than such water pipe. If installed and filled on unstable ground, the side sewer shall be of cast iron soil pipe, except that nonmetallic materials may be accepted if laid on a suitable concrete bed or cradle as approved by the sewer superintendent.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject to the approval of the water and sewer superintendent, but in no event shall the diameter be less than four inches for single connections and six inches for multiple connections. The slope of such building sewer shall be not less than three-sixteenths inch per foot for four-inch pipe or one-eighth inch per foot for six-inch pipe unless the depth of the public sewer requires a lesser slope, and such a lesser slope is approved by the water and sewer superintendent.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
Whenever possible, the side sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. No side sewer shall be laid under any building or within two and one-half feet of any foundation wall unless the side sewer is constructed of cast iron pipe. The minimum depth of trench shall be two feet. The side sewer shall be laid at uniform grade and in straight alignment insofar as possible. Changes in direction shall be made only with properly curved pipe fittings, as approved by the water and sewer superintendent. Fittings shall be used at all major changes of direction and a clean-out shall be provided at such fittings.
Whenever a side sewer or drain for a single-family residence cannot be constructed low enough to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewer service may be authorized to allow sewage carried by such drain to be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the public sewer; provided, however, that the cost of installation, operation, maintenance, inspection, and repair/replacement of the approved artificial sewer lifting facilities and appurtenances shall be at the property owner's sole expense. In addition, a city of Snoqualmie single-family resident sanitary sewer pump system agreement in a form approved by the public works director shall be executed by the property owner and recorded against the property to be served by artificial sewer lifting means, prior to installation of any artificial sewer lifting facilities or appurtenances or connection of said facilities or appurtenances to the city's sanitary sewer system.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989; Ord. 1156 § 2, 2015)
The owner of any building shall be responsible for obtaining from the sewer superintendent the location and elevation of the sewer tee or sewer stub at the point of connection and, in the case of new construction, for planning the building and plumbing to provide adequate slope for the side sewer. The applicant for permit shall be responsible for determining the available grade between the building drain and the sewer tee or stub.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
All excavations required for the installation of the side sewers shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the sewer superintendent. Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with the following specifications:
A.
Pipe shall be carefully bedded, either by forming the trench bottom to support the bottom one-quarter of the pipe or by over excavating and bedding the granular material thoroughly tamped or trod under and along side of the pipe.
B.
No large rocks shall be left in the trench bottom which may damage the pipe, and no large rocks shall be placed in the backfill.
C.
Pipe shall be laid with spigot ends downstream and all changes of directions shall be made by suitable fittings. The trench shall be free of water during laying of pipe.
D.
No backfill shall be placed over the pipe until the work has been inspected and approved.
E.
Backfill shall be placed by hand and be thoroughly tamped or trod to six inches above the top of the pipe.
F.
Only the owner or a licensed side sewer contractor may excavate in the vicinity of a public sewer and stubs.
G.
No downspouts or outside drains shall be connected to a side sewer.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
All joints and connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Cast iron pipe joints shall be firmly packed with oakum or hemp and filled with molten lead, federal specifications QQ-L-156, not less than one inch deep. Lead shall be run in one pouring and caulked tight. No paint, varnish or other coating shall be permitted on the joining material until after the joint has been tested and approved by the sewer superintendent. All joints between metallic and nonmetallic pipe, or between two pipes of nonmetallic pipe shall be made with hot poured joining material or cement mortar approved by the sewer superintendent. Material for hot poured joints shall not soften sufficiently to destroy the effectiveness of the joint when subjected to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, nor be soluble in any of the waste carried by the drainage system. The joint shall first be caulked tight with jute, hemp or similar material approved by the water and sewer superintendent. Other joining materials and methods may be used only by approval of the sewer superintendent.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
The connection of the side sewer into the public sewer shall be made at the stub, if such stub is available at the suitable location. If no properly located stub is available, a neat hole may be cut into the public sewer to receive the side sewer, with entry at right angles or in the downstream direction at an angle of about 45 degrees, which hole may be cut only by licensed side sewer contractor. A 45-degree L may be used to make such connection, with the spigot end cut so as not to extend past the interservice of the public sewer. The invert of the side sewer at the point of connection shall be at the same or a higher elevation than the invert of the public sewer. A smooth neat joint shall be made, and the connection made secure and watertight by encasement in concrete. Special fittings may be used for the connection only when approved by the sewer superintendent.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
A.
The applicant for the side sewer permit shall notify the sewer superintendent when the side sewer is ready for inspection. After pipe has been inspected, the bottom of the trench shall be puddled and the line will be checked for infiltration by the sewer superintendent by observing the flow through the inspection tee. An infiltration rate of more than four gallons per hour per 100 feet of pipe shall be sufficient reason for rejection.
B.
As an alternate to the infiltration as specified, the pipe may be tightly sealed above the inspection tee by a plumber's ball or similar apparatus, the pipe filled with water to the level of the lowest fixture, and the loss through exfiltration observed. Any joints observed to leak shall be repaired, and the test repeated until exfiltration is reduced to specified amount.
C.
Proof that downspouts are not connected to the side sewer may be established by watering roof gutters and again observing flow through inspection tee or by any other acceptable test.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
All excavations for side sewer installations 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 utilities director, when applicable.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
Any person who makes or causes to be made any connection to public sewers of the city without receiving a permit therefor or executing the standard participation contract, provided by the city before such connection, shall be subject to the penalties set forth in SMC § 13.04.510, and $200.00 in addition to charges payable to the city.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
A private sewer constructed in a public right-of-way or in an easement conveyed to the city may be conveyed to the city subject to acceptance by the city. If the city accepts that conveyance, the sewer thereafter shall be a public sewer under the jurisdiction of the city. Prior to acceptance of the conveyance, the city may require that the grantor of the private sewer satisfy certain construction and other reasonable standards, including, but not limited to, the payment of a connection charge and an inspection fee and the execution of a standard participation contract.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
The owners of property outside the boundaries of the city or of property within the city which has not been assessed for sewers by the district may, if the city council consents, connect to the public sewer of the city and obtain sewage disposal service by entering into a standard participation contract, provided for by SMC § 13.04.320 through § 13.04.360.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)
If the property to be connected has been assessed for sewers, the cost of constructing that portion of the side sewer between the main sewer and the property line of the public right-of-way or easement shall be borne by the owner as identified in the side sewer permit.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989; Ord. 1187 § 5, 2017)
No structure may be disconnected from a side sewer and no side sewer may be disconnected from the public sewer for any reason without prior notification to and approval of the city (acting through its sewer superintendent). No approval shall be given unless the disconnection is lawful under this chapter and other applicable ordinances of the city, and satisfactory protection is given by the owner or his contractor to the city, including, but not limited to, the satisfactory capping of the side sewer or public sewer. Sewer service charge for any structure disconnected or to be disconnected shall continue until such disconnection is approved by the city council and the building and public sewer capped and otherwise protected to the satisfaction of the sewer superintendent.
(Ord. 627 § 1, 1989)