§ 28-1. Connections with water mains and sanitary sewers; inspections; books, plats, diagrams and price schedule.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to install a private water system except in cases where the public water or sewer systems are not accessible to the premises where such private systems are requested. To determine whether or not such public water and/or sewer systems are available for connection, each person or corporation desiring to install a private water or sewer system must first make application for connection to a public system. Upon determination by the city that it is not feasible to connect the applicant's premises to the public water or sewer system, then the applicant shall be granted a permit to install a private water and/or sewer system in accordance with all appropriate state and local regulations.

(1)

Property served by a private sewer system shall promptly connect to public sewer and water if the private sewer system does not function or creates a nuisance or health hazard.

(2)

Within ninety (90) days after the public sanitary sewer system or water system is extended to serve property, all property served by private water and sewer systems must connect to public sewer and water, or if it is available on the date of adoption of this subsection, within ninety (90) days after the adoption of this subsection. A water availability charge, as set by the utility fee schedule, will be imposed on all landowners who do not connect to public water and sewer.

(3)

Whenever any premises are connected to the city water system, there shall be maintained a complete physical separation between the city water supply system and any private water supply system so that it is impossible to intentionally or unintentionally allow any water produced by a private system to be introduced in the supply line of the city system.

(4)

City council may extend the compliance period outlined in section 28-1(a)(2).

(b)

No corporation stop or tap shall be put into any water main or connection made to any sanitary sewer in the city at any time by any person, except under the immediate direction and supervision of the city. Any such corporation stop shall be inserted in the main, or any such connection made to a sanitary sewer, at the point approved by the city pursuant to a written application therefor.

(c)

The owner of each lot or subdivision of a lot in the city, not serviced by water on any street, shall be required to construct, install and connect with the water main a one-inch copper, type "K" water service pipe from the water main to a curb stop approximately nine (9) feet inside the property from the property line, if a public water main is reasonably available.

(d)

The owner of each lot or subdivision of a lot in the city, not serviced by a sanitary sewer on any street or public right-of-way, shall be required to construct, install and connect with the sewer main a four (4) inch, extra-heavy-duty cast-iron or PVC soil pipe to a point approximately nine (9) feet from the property line, if a public sewer is reasonably available.

(e)

The provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section also shall apply to the owner of each parcel of land in the city which is not platted into lots, provided one or more residential structures are situated thereon. Said subsections (c) and (d) shall apply to each such structure, even though more than one such structure is situated on one unplatted parcel; except that said subsection (c) does not apply, if the particular structure is already receiving water from a private well within the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations; and except that, said subsection (d) does not apply, if the particular structure is serviced by a private septic tank within the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations. If and when any such structure no longer receives water from a legally acceptable private well or no longer is serviced by a legally acceptable private sewer, then said subsections (c) and (d) hereof shall apply respectively when the particular private facility no longer meets the law or regulations.

(f)

All pipes, stopcocks, and other fixtures used and all work done by any plumber at any time in connection with the sanitary sewerage system or waterworks system of the city shall be subject to inspection and approval by the city before placed in operation and use.

(g)

The city engineer shall keep in their office a comprehensive diagram of all water mains, branches, extensions, hydrants and gates showing their location and size. He shall, from time to time, correct and enlarge such diagram as occasion may require.

(h)

The city engineer shall keep in books, provided for that purpose, records with suitable diagrams showing, as far as possible, the number, the size and location of all corporation stops inserted in the mains and of all service pipes connected therewith.

(Code 1971, § 28-16; Ord. No. 80-3, § 1, 3-11-80; Ord. No. 80-24, § 1, 9-10-80; Ord. No. 88-21, § 1, 1-10-89; Ord. No. 2004-25, § 1, 10-26-04)

State law reference

Power of city council in statutory city to require connections with sewer and water mains, M.S. § 412.221, subd. 31.

Charter reference

Power of council to fix rates, fares and prices for municipal utility, § 11.02.