If any owner connects a private sewer or building
drain with a public sewer or enters it by a side connection without
a permit, the municipal officers may immediately destroy the connection.
That owner commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not
more that $200 may be adjudged, to be paid to the municipality where
the offense is committed.
If any owner willfully or negligently violates
any condition or regulation prescribed in the permit, the municipal
officers may immediately disconnect the sewer from the public sewer
and declare the permit forfeited. That owner, the owner's heirs and
assigns may not connect with the public sewer again without a new
permit and new sewer connection permit fee (SSDC). Whoever commits
a nuisance by the construction or use of a private sewer is liable
for that nuisance notwithstanding this chapter.
All costs and expenses incident to the application,
review, installation, connection, repair and maintenance of the building
sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the Town.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
The applicant for the building sewer permit
shall notify the Town at least 48 hours before beginning work and
also when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection
to the public sewer. The connection to the public sewer shall be made
under the full-time supervision of the Superintendent or his assistant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing forty-eight-hour notice requirement,
an applicant must give the Town 45 days' prior notice of a proposed
new discharge into:
A. The system or a proposed substantial change in volume
or character of pollutants that are being discharged into the system;
B. The Town's treatment works of pollutants from any
source which would be a new source as defined in Section 306 of the
Federal Act if such source were discharging pollutants; or
C. The Town's treatment works of pollutants from any
source which would be subject to Section 301 of the Federal Act if it were discharging such pollutants.
[Amended 6-12-2024 ATM
by Art. 12]
Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of §
60-16, the building sewer shall be connected to a private on-site septic disposal system complying with the provisions of the Maine State Plumbing Code and the Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, 10-144 CMR Ch. 241, and the ordinances of the Town of Bethel.
The septage from private on-site septic disposal
systems and the contents of wastewater holding tanks from dwellings
or recreational vehicles shall not be discharged to the public sewer
system except by specific permission of the Select Board.
No roof drains, downspouts, foundation drains,
areaway drains, basement drains, sump pumps, or other sources of surface
runoff or groundwater shall be connected to a building sewer or building
drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public
sanitary sewer.
All excavations for a building 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 and in conformance with the ordinances of
the Town, and the owner shall indemnify the Town and hold the Town
harmless for all claims, damages, losses and expenses, including attorney
fees, arising out of or resulting from the owner's work. The Town
shall have the right to select its own attorney at the owner's expense.
No connection of any kind shall be made directly
from any private property to a Town sewer force main.