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1b Sump Pump Drainage 1,1 , 1b - CITY OF CHANHASSEN MEMORANDUM TO: Scott A. Botcher, City Manager 'City Center Drive, PO Box 147 FROM: hanhil1"n, Minnesota 55317 Phone 612.937.1900 DATE: General Fax 612.937.5739 Igineering Fax 612.937.9152 SUBJ: hli, Safety Fax 612.934.2524 "ftb www.ci.chanhassm.mn.us Teresa Burgess, Public Works Director/City Engi~ September 25, 2000 Request for Temporary Waiver from Section 19-44, Prohibited Discharge into Sanitary Sewer System, for Sump Pump Drainage Project No. 96-21-1 The City has received a request for a waiver to Section 19-44, Prohibited Discharge into Sanitary Sewer System. The code requires that sump pump drainage not be directed into the sanitary system. Paragraph H of the ordinance allows the City Council to hear and decide requests for temporary waivers from the provisions. The property owner acknowledges in the written request that they will be responsible for an additional fee for the additional flow in the sanitary system. The City's attorney has reviewed this request. In discussing it with him, it is clear that the ordinance allows for only temporary waivers and not the permanent waiver desired by the property owner. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council grant a temporary waiver for the months of October, 2000 through April, 200 I. This time should be used by the property owner to explore options for permanently correcting the problem alternative to drainage into the sanitary system. Failure to approve the request will result in continued problems for the property owner until a final solution can be reached. tjb Attachments: I. 2. Letter from Mary P. Minear. City Code Section 19-44. c: Mary P. Minear g:\eng\public\96·21 \temporary waiver cc.doc Citv of Chall/wsen. A ?,rOwinf commullitv with clean lakes, .unlitv schook a ,harminf dOWl/toWl/. thrivillf busillesses. and beautilùl Parks. A mat olace to live. work. and ola, September 12,2000 CITY OF CHANHASSEN FnI~(ë:I1"II\\II!'!ð\ Theresa Burgess Director of Public Works/City Engineer City of Chanhassen 690 City Cenla' Drive Chanhassen, MN 55317 SEP 1 3 2000 ENGINEERING DEPT, Dear Ms. Burgess: As per our telephone conversatim of yesterday, I am putting my coocerns regarding my sump pwnp fi'eezing in the winter in writing. I have grave concerns regarding fuilure of my pump no matter what the season. I have been able to resolve most of the problems except fur the me that coocerns this device in the winter. That is why I am asking for your assistance in obtaining a variance to the ordinance that would allow me to directly pump my sump pump into the sanitary system in my basement for a few months during the winter. My sump pwnp has failed during heavy rains and I have installed a new one. The plwnbers that have been to my house at various times have remarked that I need a hack-up system at the very least. I have purchased one and am waiting to have that installed. At the time of the installation, I would like to have the opportunity and permit to install a valve or some sort of bypass system that would allow me to pump this constantly running swnp into the sanitary system during the winter months. The reason is that I so far have had many close calls in'trying to thaw my outside pipe during the winter months. It always fi'eezes. I have tried to wrap it with insulation, shield it with a barrier and pipe thawing coils. I have thawed it with hot water and various methods but it remains a continuous problem and me that would have dire consequences if it fails that I cannot get it thawed or am not around to thaw it when it fi'eezes. Nothing seems to keep this pipe fi'ee offi'ost. The plumbers that I have spoken with mly know of the bypass that would help me so I am asking your assistance in obtaining a variance. I am very concerned as our basement is finished and with one failure already and water this sununer, I am trying to be proactive and not face a similar problem this winla'. This pump pwnps a huge amount of Water. The plumbers have commented that I must be sitting on some underwater source. In looking at various maps that the city has made available fur various open meetings that we have attended, my husband and I agree that this is prohably the case. It would appear that there is a planned drainage system of water via our property maybe even a natural spring source, we aren't sure. We pwnp the majority of water because of this, much more than our neighbors. I understand per our conversation that we may need to estimate or meter the amount of water that is therefore pumped into the sanitary system. We are willing to allow that if the variance can be obtained. Then we would know what the cost of that sanitizing that amount of water would cost us. I appreciate your help in this matter. Please let me know what the outcome of this is with the city attorney and when I should be ready to attend the council meeting if this should go to them. Sincerely, i /k~'-j F 77u./LÀ. ""V Måry P. Minear © Copyrighted. Municipal Code Corp., affiliated Municipality. 2000. Page 1 of2 CODE OF ORDINANCES City of CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA Codified thro\!gh Ord. No. 299, adcm1ed~ CITY CODE; Chapter 19 WATER, SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL ARTICLE III. MUNICIPAL SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM" Sec. 19-44. Prohibited discharges into san¡ta~er system. Sec. 19-44. Prohibited discharges into sanitary sewer system. (a) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any substance not requiring treatment or any substance not acceptable for discharge, as determined by the city or the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, into the sanitary sewer system. Only sanitary sewage from approved plumbing fixtures may be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. (b) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged, directly or indirectly, any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, or cooling water to any sanitary sewer. Any person having a roof drain, sump pump, unauthorized swimming pool discharge, cistern overflow pipe or surface drain connected and/or discharging into the sanitary sewer shall disconnect and remove any piping or system conveying such water to the sanitary sewer system by May 1, 1994. (c) All construction involving the installation of clear water sump pits shall include a sump pump with minimum size one and one-half (1'/2) diameter discharge pipe. The pipe attachment must be a rigid permanent type plumbing such as PVC or ASS plastic pipe with glued fittings, copper or galvanized pipe. All discharge piping shall be installed in accordance with the plumbing code. Discharge piping shall start at the sump pit and extend through the exterior of the building and terminate with not less than six (6) inches of exposed pipe. The discharge pipe shall be provided for all clearwater sump installations with no regard as to whether the pump is actually installed. Sump pump discharge location and flow shall be consistent with the approved development drainage plan for the lot. The discharge may not be pumped directly onto any public right-of-way unless approved by the city engineer or his designee. Any disconnects or openings in the sanitary sewer shall be closed and repaired in compliance with applicable codes. (d) Every person owning improved real estate that discharges into the city's sanitary sewer system shall allow inspection by authorized city employees or its agents of all properties or structures connected to the sanitary sewer system to confirm there is no sump pump or other prohibited discharge into the sanitary sewer system. Any persons refusing to allow their property to be inspected shall immediately become subject to the surcharge as described in section (g) hereinafter. (e) Any owner of any property found to be in violation of this section shall make the necessary changes to comply with this section and such change shall be verified by authorized city employees or its agents. Any property or structure not inspected or not in compliance by May 1, 1994, shall, following notification from the city, comply within fourteen (14) caiendar days or be subject to the surcharge as provided in subsection (g) hereinafter. (f) Upon verified compliance with this section, the city reserves the right to reinspect such property or structure at ieast annually to confirm continued compliance. Any property found not to be in compliance upon reinspection or any person refusing to allow their property to be reinspected shall, following notification from the city, comply within fourteen (14) calendar days or be subject to the surcharge hereinafter provided for. (g) A surcharge of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per month is hereby imposed and shall be added to every sewer billing, to property owners who are found not in compliance with this section. The surcharge shall be added every month until the property is verified to be in compliance through the city's inspection program. ...10m isapi.dll?advquery= 19-44&infobase= 11914.nfo&record= {4E98} &softpage=Document42&U20/00 © Copyrighted. Municipal Code Corp., affiliated Municipality. 2000. Page 2 of2 (h) The city council, upon recommendation of the city engineer, shall hear and decide requests for temporary waivers from the provisions of this section where strict enforcement would cause a threat to public safety because of circumstances unique to the individual property under consideration. Any request for a temporary waiver shall be submitted to the city engineer in writing. Upon approval of a temporary waiver from the provisions of this section, the property owner shall agree to pay an additional fee for sanitary sewer services based on the number of gallons discharged into the sanitary sewer system as estimated by the city engineer. (i) Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and each day that the violation continues is a separately prosecutable offense. The imposition of the surcharge shall not limit the city's authority to prosecute the criminal violations, seek an injunction in district court ordering the person to disconnect the nonconforming connection to the sanitary sewer, or for the city to correct the violation and certify the costs of connection as an assessment against the property on which the connection was made. (Ord. No.5, § 1.05, 3-11-85; Ord. No. 168, § 9, 4-27-92; Ord. No. 205, § 1, 5-9-94) Sec. 19-45. Connection charges. (a) No permit shall be issued to connect with the sanitary sewer system of the city either directly or indirectly from any lot or tract of land unless the city clerk shall have certified: (1) That the lot or tract of land, or portion of the lot or tract, to be served by such connection has been assessed for the cost of construction of the sanitary sewer lateral with which the connection is made; or (2) If no assessment has been levied for said construction cost, that proceedings for levying such assessment have been or will be commenced in due course; or ... ...10m isapi.dll?advquery= 19-44&infobase= 11914.nfo&record= f 4E98} &softpage=Document42 9/20/00