A. Where, prior to the amendment of the wastewater code on March 11, 1998, there exists a STEP or SDG system already connected to the city wastewater system, or a STEP or SDG system has been already approved by the city in writing to be connected to the city wastewater system, the property owner, lessee or user of the city wastewater system, at his or her own expense, shall be responsible for pumping septage or wastewater from his or her property as required, and for cleaning, unstopping, maintaining and repairing the conveyance sewer from the building or residence up to and including the connection to the city wastewater system in the public right-of-way or utility easement (collectively referred to herein as on-site system maintenance). If, from time to time, the city wastewater system is modified so as to eliminate the need for a STEP or SDG system, the property owner shall comply with SCC 13.15.030(E), as may be amended from time to time. Nothing herein shall require the city to provide or be responsible for on-site system maintenance for any STEP or SDG system, unless expressly agreed to by contract or other agreement.

B. Where there exists a cluster system connected to the city’s wastewater system, the individual property owners are responsible as stated in subsection (A) of this section. If an easement is granted on private roads as the only access and the existing sewer lines comply with the city design requirements and are considered acceptable for donation, the city may, at its discretion, accept responsibility for the sewer lines as designated main sewer lines on the city’s wastewater system. If an easement is granted for access to existing lift or pump stations that are or have been brought into compliance with city standards of operation and are considered acceptable for donation, the city may, at its discretion, accept responsibility for the stations as part of the city’s wastewater system.

C. Where a cluster system that is to be connected to the city wastewater system is a septic effluent wastewater system (referred to herein as a cluster system), the city, in its discretion, may allow septic tanks to remain as an integral component of that system until such time as the cluster system is converted to a raw wastewater collection system. At the time of such conversion to a raw wastewater collection system, all septic tanks in the cluster system shall be pumped and abandoned and either removed or filled in, all 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.

D. The property owner shall be responsible to install and maintain in proper operation all backwater valves and backflow prevention devices. The property owner shall be responsible for the consequences of not providing and not maintaining these devices as required by this code.

E. The property owner shall be responsible to install and maintain in proper operation pretreatment devices. The property owner shall be responsible to maintain records demonstrating the periodic cleaning and proper disposal of material collected by such devices.

F. The portions of a sewer lateral located on private property shall be removed if the facility to which it is connected is removed. The property owner may request and the city engineer may approve an exemption from this requirement, provided the sewer lateral or portions thereof will be reused for wastewater disposal within one year or less. The property owner shall, if an exemption is granted, commit in writing to restore use or remove the portions of the sewer lateral within one year. If the commitment is not kept, the city may enter the property to remove the portions of the lateral and cap the lateral, and seek all legal remedies for reimbursement of its costs.

G. The owner shall be responsible to contact the director prior to performing work between the sewer clean out and the city sewer main or within the city right-of-way or easement. The owner shall be responsible to notify the director should it appear that a problem with the sewer system between the facility and the sewer clean out or right-of-way or easement is due to improper operation of the city sewer system.

H. The city shall not be responsible for costs or impacts due to the owner’s failure to perform owner’s responsibilities. The city shall not be responsible for work that may occur between the sewer clean out and the city sewer main or within the city right-of-way or easement, if the city has not granted permission for such work prior to it proceeding. If work is performed without prior permission between the sewer clean out and the city sewer main or within the city right-of-way or easement the city may hold the individual or entity performing the work responsible for any damages or repair work resulting from such work.

I. The property owner shall be responsible for making sure that the allowable capacity for a parcel or nonresidential development is not exceeded. The allowable capacity is the sewer capacity, in terms of WSFUs (water supply fixture units) for which sewer permits have been issued. No owner shall make or maintain nonresidential uses that would require WSFUs in excess of the allowable capacity. If the city determines that an owner’s sewer connections exceed the allowable capacity, then upon notice by the city, the owner must make the necessary modifications to ensure that the development configuration of the property does not exceed the allowable capacity.

J. Owners shall provide all requested information concerning the water supply fixtures upon any change of ownership, remodel or change of billing address. The city may require that continuing owners of such facilities provide current requested information to the city regarding the water supply fixture count. [Code 2006 § 13-5-6. Ord. 98-04, 3-11-1998; Ord. 2009-04, 4-14-2009; 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].