13.15.030 Mandatory connection to city wastewater system once available.
A. Within 180 days from the date that the finance director provides notice of sewer availability, as defined in SCC 13.05.020, a real property owner with building or water fixtures thereon shall make direct connection to the city wastewater system in accordance with the city design requirements, the adopted plumbing code, as amended, and all applicable state, county and city regulations.
B. If the sewer availability notice is given to a group of real property owners with private roads as the only access, the property owners shall either build and maintain the proper local wastewater collection system in accordance with the city design requirements or donate an easement at no cost to the city for access to the private roads so that the city will, at the city’s expense, extend the city wastewater system to points adjacent to the individual real property.
C. Cluster Systems.
1. If the sewer availability notice is given to property owners that are both the users and owners of an existing collector cluster system, the city shall request that the property owners shall pay to the city an administrative processing fee, together with a fee to be set by the city manager to reimburse the city for the cost of inspecting the system. The administrative processing fee shall be $5,000 beginning in September 2008 and increase no more than two percent annually thereafter over the previous year’s fee beginning in August 2009. The applicable fee shall be stated within and approved as part of the annual city budget. The property owners shall provide to the city an acceptable set of as-built drawings of the system, copies of all applicable permits and copies of all records of inspection, maintenance, repair, expansion and improvement of the system. If the city is not provided with the administrative processing and inspection fees, or information regarding the system stated herein, the city may proceed to perform the required work and pursue any legal remedies on properties served by the existing system or upon the common disposal field as the city may deem appropriate.
2. If, upon inspection, it appears that the physical condition of the system does not meet the standards adopted by city council for sewer connection to the city’s wastewater system, then it shall be the responsibility of the property owners to bring the system into compliance with such standards before the city will accept sewer connection to the city’s wastewater system. If the system needs to be connected because it is necessary for public health or environmental reasons, then the city may proceed with such connection and assess the property owners using the system for the incurred cost or at the city’s discretion treat the improvement as a city-initiated extension.
3. Once it is determined the cluster system meets city standards, the city shall allow the cluster system to be connected to the city wastewater system only after every property owner in that area has paid or made arrangements to pay the capacity fee pursuant to SCC 13.15.060 and the cluster system owners have presented to the city an acceptable written plan for responding to spills, overflows, blockages and damage to the cluster system.
D. If a property owner fails to connect to the city wastewater system within the time limits set forth in subsection (A) of this section, the city shall assess a monthly environmental penalty charge for every month such property remains unconnected. This charge shall be equal to twice the current monthly service charge for the property in question and shall be due and payable monthly. The city may employ the procedures set forth in SCC 13.20.060 and 13.20.070 for collection of such environmental penalty charge if not paid when due and payable. Outstanding environmental penalties owed are not considered to be outstanding late charges for purposes of this section.
E. Upon connection to the city wastewater system, any septic, STEP or alternate disposal system shall be pumped and abandoned and either removed or filled in at the owner’s expense, in accordance with the city’s adopted plumbing code, as may be amended from time to time, and all local and state laws, rules and regulations.
F. Failure to abandon a septic or other alternate disposal system in accordance with subsection (E) of this section shall constitute a public nuisance pursuant to SCC 8.10.020(A). Pursuant to the provisions of SCC 1.15.010(A), as amended or as may be amended from time to time, any person found guilty of violating this provision shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $2,500 or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense punishable as set forth herein or by civil sanction.
G. Single connections to the city sewer system serving two or more land parcels shall not be allowed prior to the city being presented with an acceptable written plan for responding to spills, overflows, blockages, pump failures and conveyance system damage by the owner of the private collection and conveyance system and demonstrating compliance with state regulations regarding private sewer systems. [Code 2006 § 13-5-4. Ord. 98-04, 3-11-1998; Ord. 2009-04, 4-14-2009; Ord. 2010-07 § 1, 4-13-2010; Res. 2010-08 § 3 Exh. B, 4-13-2010; Ord. 2010-14 § 1, 9-28-2010; Res. 2010-27 § 1 Exh. A, 9-28-2010; Ord. 2014-06 § 1, 5-27-2014; Res. 2014-10 Exh. A, 5-27-2014; Ord. 2021-07 § 1, 9-28-2021; Res. 2021-23 Exh. A, 9-28-2021].