Memo- 2nd Reading of Amendments to Public Utilities OrdinancesMemorandum
Public Works Department
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director Dom' /
Date: January 16, 1998
Subject: Second Reading of Amendments to Public Utilities Ordinance
The first reading of these amendments took place at the January 6, 1998 Council
meeting.
Staff recommends the amendments contained in the attached ordinance 98 -810 for
second and final reading.
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
ORDINANCE 98 -810
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PUBLIC UTILITY ORDINANCE
That the Hopkins City Code Section 705 Sanitary Sewer System be and the same is hereby
amended by amending and/or adding the following sections:
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.05, Subd. 15
Subd. 15. Authority to inspect. The Water Superintendent or other city inspectors
may at reasonable times enter upon the premises drained by a house drain and or sump pump
which is and connected with a public sewer to determine whether the provisions of this code in
regard to house drains and sump pumps have been complied with. If a sump pump, drain or its
attachments do not conform to the provisions of the code, the Water Superintendent will notify
the owner of the premises. The owner must repair or reconstruct as to make the drain or sump
pump conform within 15 30 days from the time of receiving the notice. (Added Ord. #92 -710)
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.09, Subd. 1
705.09 Connection to Sanitary Sewer. Subdivision 1. Prohibited Discharges. No
person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff, yard
drainage, yard fountain, pond overflow, or any substance other than sanitary sewage into the
sanitary collection system. Use of a sump pump discharge for these purposes is illegal.
a) No roof runoff, sump pump, subsurface or surface water drainage shall be connected to
the sanitary sewer system and no building shall hereafter be constructed nor shall any
existing buildings be hereafter altered in such a manner that the roof drainage or any
other source of discharge or drainage other than sanitary sewer shall connect with the
sanitary sewer system inside or outside the building.
b) Any person, firm, or corporation having a roof, sump pump, cistern overflow pipe,
subsurface or surface in violation of Subdivision 1 drain now connected or discharging
into the sanitary sewer system shall disconnect and remove it within 30 days after
written notice from the City Manager and install the necessary pipes, plumbing fixtures,
and appliances and otherwise connect said drainage with and into the storm sewer
system in compliance with this Ordinance which shall be verified by City inspection.
All disconnects or openings in the sanitary sewer shall be closed or repaired in an
effective, workmanlike manner in accordance with City codes and policies.
c) Every person owning improved real estate that discharges in the fashion above
described into the city sanitary sewer system shall allow a representative of the city to
inspect the buildings and property to confirm the absence or correction of such
prohibited discharge to the sanitary sewer system. Any person refusing to allow such
property to be inspected shall promptly become subject to the penalties and remedies of
the City as provided in its policy and codes including, but not limited to, assessments,
charges, attorney fees and court costs in achieving compliance and in addition shall be
subject to the surcharge hereinafter provided for, until the inspection is allowed
and /or Code Compliance is met.
(I) A surcharge of $100.00 per month is imposed and shall be added to every utility billing
mailed to properties refusing or failing compliance or inspection as herein provided.
The surcharge shall be added to every monthly billing until the property is in
compliance or inspection has been permitted. In addition to such surcharge, the City
retains all rights and remedies available to it including, but not limited to, obtaining a
Court Order directing compliance allowing inspection or permitting the City to correct
the violation and certify such costs as a special assessment against the property. All
properties found during annual reinspections, by the City or its agents, to have
violated this Ordinance will be subject to the S100/month penalty for all months
between the two most recent sump pump inspections. (Section 705.09,
Subd. 1 amended by Ord. 493 - 730)
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.09, Subd. 2
Subd. 2. Storm sewer: sanitary sewers: separate. In making the pipe and other
installations and connections required by subdivision 1, no pipes shall be installed or connections
made in such a manner that any water requiring sanitary sewage disposal treatment enters into the
storm sewer system; no pipes shall be installed or connections made in any manner so that any
water not requiring sanitary sewage treatment shall enter into the sanitary sewer system. The
City will require a permit for any drainage piping or pumps which will discharge clear
water from any structure or basement, directly into a storm sewer system. This permitting
process shall follow the permit procedures outlined in 705.03 in accordance with City
standards (see 705.14). Anyone discharging non - contact cooling water must meet the
MICA Requirements and Permits for this activity.
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.14
705.14. Sump Pump Discharge Design Standards. Dwellings and other buildings and
structures which require, because of infiltration of water into basements, crawl spaces, and
the like, a sump pump discharge system, shall have a permanently installed discharge line
which shall not at any time discharge clear water into the sanitary sewer system, except as
provided herein. A permanent installation shall be one which provides for year round
discharge capability to either the outside of the dwelling, building, or structure, or is
connected to City storm sewer or discharge through the curb and gutter to the street. It
shall consist of a rigid discharge line, without valving or quick connections for altering the
path of discharge, and if connected to the City storm sewer line, include a check valve and
an air gap located in a small diameter structure as shown in the City's standard plates.
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.15
705.15 Disconnection. Before March 30, 1998, any person, firm, or corporation
having a roof surface, groundwater sump pump, or footing tile, now connected and/or
discharging into the sanitary sewer system shall disconnect or remove same. Any
disconnects or openings in the sanitary sewer system shall be closed or repaired in an
effective, workmanlike manner.
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.16
705.16 Sump Pump Discharge Inspections. Every person owning improved real
estate, with a sump pump, that discharges into the City's sanitary sewer system shall allow
an employee of the City of Hopkins or a designated representative of the City to inspect the
buildings to confirm that there is no sump pump or other prohibited discharge into the
sanitary sewer system. In lieu of having the City inspect their property, any person may
furnish a certificate from a licensed plumber certifying that their property is in compliance
with this ordinance.
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.17
705.17. Future Inspections. Each sump pump connection identified will be
re- inspected periodically.
Hopkins City Code (Rev. ) 705.18
705 -18. New Construction. All new dwellings with sump pumps for which a building
permit is issued after March 30, 1998, shall have a pump and shall be piped to the outside
of the dwelling before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
First Reading: January 6, 1998
Second Reading: January . 20, 1998
Date of Publication: January 28, 1998
Date Ordinance Takes Effect: February 17, 1998
ATTEST:
Terry Obennaier, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
City Attorney Signature
Date
Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor