§ 36-94. Private wastewater disposal.

(a)

Use where public sanitary or combined sewer unavailable; permit requirements generally. Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of section 36-93(d), the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this article. Anyone wishing to obtain a building permit must first submit a septic tank permit and a percolation test approved by the county health department.

(b)

Permit required; application fee. Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system the owner shall first obtain a permit from the superintendent. A permit and inspection fee in an amount set forth in the schedule of fees and charges shall be paid to the City at the time the application is filed.

(c)

Permit effective upon installation completion. A permit for a private wastewater disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent.

(d)

Specifications for system set by state department of natural resources. The type, capacities, location, construction and layout of a private wastewater disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the state department of natural resources. State approval is required of all private wastewater disposal systems before they may be put into use.

(e)

Connection to public sewer upon availability; cleaning and filling of private facilities. At such time as a new or extended public sewer line becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in section 36-93(d), a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer line. Owners of such properties shall have a period of 120 days from time of adoption of the ordinance from which this article derived within which they must pay the required City tap-in fee and request scheduling of connection to the sewer. However, if within such 120-day period any private sewage system (septic tank, cesspool, etc.) on property where sewer is now available should fail or require maintenance, the owner of such system shall be required to connect immediately to the available public sewer. Owners of such private sewage systems shall not at any time make repairs, pump out any septic tank, or make any alterations or extensions to any private sewage system in any way, where public sewer lines are available. At time of connection, any existing septic tanks, cesspools and similar private wastewater disposal facilities shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with suitable material according to applicable city, county, or state health codes.

(f)

Operation and maintenance of facilities. The owner shall operate and maintain the private wastewater disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the City.

(g)

Additional requirements. No statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the health officer.

(Code 1997, § 15-103; Ord. of 10-9-2006))