Escalon Municipal Code Art. II Sewer Connection Requirements

It shall be unlawful for any person, other than the director, to commence or make any sewer connection or to do or cause to be done, or to construct or cause to be constructed, or to use or cause to be used, or to alter or cause to be altered, any sewer connection within the city without first obtaining a sanitary sewage permit from the building inspector to do so.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

Any person desiring a sanitary sewage permit for a sewer connection pursuant to EMC § 13.08.200 shall make application in writing to the building inspector, giving such information as said inspector may require, on forms to be furnished for that purpose, and if it appears therefrom that the work to be performed thereunder is to be done according to the regulations contained in this chapter and otherwise provided by law governing the construction of said work, a permit shall be issued upon payment of the fees as fixed by ordinance or resolution of the city.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

A. An applicant for a sanitary sewage permit shall pay the following fees:

1. Inspection Fee. A sanitary sewage permit fee established by ordinance or resolution of the city council at the time an application for a sanitary sewage permit is filed. In the event such application is granted, said fee shall entitle the permittee to one inspection;

2. Connection Fee. A connection fee for every new connection to the sanitary sewage system at the time application is made for a permit for sanitary sewer service. The connection fee shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the city council; and

3. Other Fees. Any other fees established from time to time by the city council in accordance with applicable laws governing the establishment of such fees.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

A. Any person desiring to connect with the city's sewage system shall first secure an encroachment permit as required by city ordinance and a sanitary sewer permit from the building inspector as required by EMC § 13.08.200.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

A. Users shall pay all applicable rates and charges for the provision and use of the sanitary sewage system.

B. Rates and charges for sanitary sewage disposal service shall be established by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

All sewer service revenues collected shall be retained by the city regardless of the date of termination of sewer service and no rebate will be made for mid-month disconnection.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

Provisions pertaining to the application for sewer service, deposit requirements, payment and collection of bills, discontinuance of service and transfer of service to a new address are contained in Chapter 13.10 EMC.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

In the event an industrial or commercial user, after having paid the appropriate fee(s) pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, enlarges and/or modifies the use which generates the sewage effluent on the subject property, regardless of whether or not such enlargement and/or modification requires the issuance of a building permit, the city engineer shall determine, based upon generally accepted engineering principles, whether or not such modification and/or enlargement will result in either additional quantities of sanitary sewage or industrial wastewater into the sewage system or, in the case of industrial wastewater only, whether or not such enlargement and/or modification will result in a substantial change in the quality or quantity of the effluent that is being discharged into the sewage system. In the event the city engineer determines that additional effluent will be generated, and/or, in the case of industrial wastewater only, that there will be substantial change in the quality or quantity of the effluent, such user shall pay such additional connection fees as may be determined by the city engineer.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

Revenues derived under the provisions of EMC § 13.08.200 through § 13.08.235 shall be used only for the purposes for which the fees were imposed, including but not limited to the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, maintenance and operation of the city's sewage system; to repay principal and interest on bonds issued for the construction or reconstruction of the sewage system; and to repay federal or state loans or advances made to the city for the construction or reconstruction of the sewage system.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

A. Any applicant for city sewer service shall, at his or her own expense, install a sewer main of not less than eight inches inside diameter from the nearest existing main at a point extending across the front of the applicant's property; provided, that for good cause shown, the director may in writing allow the main to be smaller than eight inches inside diameter. In the case of corner lots, the main shall extend across applicant's property on the side from which service is to be made. In the case of dead-end streets, incapable of extension, and with the permission of the director, the applicant shall only be required to extend the sewer main to the point of the sewer connection.

B. Any person desiring any property within the limits of the city to be furnished with sewage service by the city shall install or cause to be installed, at his or her own expense, all on- and off-site improvements, including the installation of sewer connection at the sewer main, valves, plumbing and accessory sewer facilities to city standards and approved by the city prior to service turn-on.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

The owner or developer of any property shall install, at his or her sole expense, any and all sewer mains required to be installed by reason of development of that property, which shall include but not be limited to the cost of an eight-inch sewer main. The developer shall pay the entire costs thereof, which costs may be used as a credit against the connection fees levied against the development under the terms of this chapter.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

A. Whenever an applicant requests sewer service from the city and should it be deemed necessary by the city, because of potential development of the applicant's property or intervening property or property more distant from the city, to require a main larger than eight inches in diameter, the same may be required by the city, and paid by the applicant.

B. In the event the installation costs for a new sewer main(s) exceeds the connection fees, the city may elect in its sole discretion to enter into an agreement to reimburse the property owner or applicant for the amount that the installation costs exceed the connection fees, upon such terms and conditions as are required by the city; provided, however, that the city may elect to refund reasonable extra costs only if other developments assure reimbursement within a reasonable time not to exceed 10 years from the date of any such agreement.

C. In the event that other developments or intervening properties establish a connection to a sewer main larger than eight inches in diameter installed by another property owner or applicant, the city may elect in its sole discretion to enter into an agreement to reimburse the property owner or applicant who installed the sewer main the pro rata cost of such connection, upon such terms and conditions as are required by the city; provided, however, that the city may elect to refund reasonable extra costs only if other developments assure reimbursement within a reasonable time not to exceed 10 years from the date of any such agreement.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

The city shall maintain all city sewer mains and appurtenances within public easements or on public property. The property owner shall maintain all sewer laterals, connection lines and appurtenances from the structure served by the sewer lateral to the main.

A. Request for Determination of Responsibility. Public works will check the main sewer line for blockages upon request of the property owner. If a blockage is determined to be on the city's end, it shall be the city's responsibility to resolve it. If there is a cleanout on the property line, public works will conduct an inspection to determine if the blockage is in the lateral line between the clean­out and the main line. The owner will be notified if it is determined to be a private plumbing issue. If necessary, public works will assist with private plumbing repairs by trenching the roadway asphalt and restoring the roadway once the private plumbing repairs are completed.

B. Resolution and Appeals. If an owner disagrees with an action or determination made by the city pursuant to subsection A of this section, the owner may, within five calendar days of receiving notice of such action or determination, file a written appeal. Any such appeal shall be filed with the city manager, accompanied by payment of fees as set forth in the city's fee schedule. In the event the appeal is resolved in favor of the owner, the owner shall be refunded the fee for such appeal.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 580B § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)

Where there is an existing septic tank in use before the sewer connection is made, the sewer lateral shall not drain the same but shall run directly from the building to the main. Immediately after connection, the septic tank shall be completely filled in with earth and properly abandoned in accordance with applicable standards.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

All lines and appurtenant facilities constructed in or under streets, easements, or alleys shall become the property of the city upon the completion of the installation and upon the final inspection and approval of the lines by the director.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)

A. When a sewer lateral must be constructed across private property under different ownership than the property to be served by the sewer lateral, the owner of the property to be served must obtain an easement for the location of the sewer lateral. The easement line, size and installation shall be designed to the satisfaction of the director.

B. When a sewer main must be constructed across private property to serve more than one lot, the applicant proposing to construct a sewer main across private property must obtain an easement to be granted to the city, and the easement line, size and installation shall meet the satisfaction of the director.

(Ord. 553 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016)