From: Kody Van Dyk Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 2:09 PM To: Carrie Logan; Scot Campbell Cc: Maree Peck; Bruce Robertson; Shannon Syth Subject: Sewer Service Repair/Replacement A Sandpoint property owner has requested the city to relieve him of having to replace his sewer service following failure of a SLIP inspection. In effect, granting this request would have the City assuming ownership of sewer service connections within Sandpoint. Below are citations from the City of Sandpoint City Code, City of Coeur d Alene, City of Seattle, City of Hayden, City of Spokane and the City of Priest River regarding ownership of sewer services. Some entities call sewer services side sewers, sewer laterals, sewer connections, etc. There likely are entities that own sewer connections, but I am not aware of any. Ownership, maintenance and repair of sewer connections are the responsibility of property owners. This includes replacement when the sewer connection fails a Sewer Lateral Inspection (SLIP) and must be replaced. There is not a law against the city assuming ownership and maintenance of sewer service connections, but the cost of doing so would have to be borne by all users of the sewer system. Sewer service connection replacement costs are variable due to depth, location, constraints, etc. Some services are under other buildings, some are in alleys, some are in highways. Costs we have seen in the SLIP program to replace a sewer service range from under $2000 to over $15,000. By assuming ownership of sewer service connections the city would alienate those that have maintained their sewer connection or those that have paid for a replacement. In addition, sewer fees in Sandpoint are already high due to recent upgrades to maintain the treatment plant and I/I projects. Assuming ownership of sewer services would increase monthly sewer fees significantly. Kody Van Dyk, P.E. Public Works Director City Code citations from various small, medium and large cities on ownership of sewer service connections: City of Sandpoint Municipal Code 7 7 4: OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OF FACILITIES: A. City Facilities: All sewer mains and trunk sewers located in public right of way or dedicated easements to the city for such purposes shall be public sewers. These sewers shall be owned, operated and maintained by the city. Service lines and service taps shall be installed, owned and maintained by customers. Construction to install or repair a service line and/or tap within any public right of way may be performed by the city, or
the city's authorized representative, at the customer's expense. New sewers shall become public sewers upon formal acceptance by the city. From the City of Coeur d Alene Website: The city owns and maintains the mains in the streets, alleyways, and those lines that are sometimes buried across "open" fields. The sewer connection from these mains to the homes or businesses is called a service lateral and is the responsibility of the lot owner. This includes the portion of service lateral beneath the sidewalk, curb, or street. City of Seattle Side Sewer Permit What Is It? A side sewer is a pipe system that carries wastewater and/or drainage water from the plumbing and downspouts of your building to the public sewer system or outlet. This includes the pipe system up to, but not including, the connection to the public main. A side sewer includes all the piping located outside the building footprint. The entire side sewer is owned and maintained by the property owner. City of Hayden, Idaho C. Ownership And Operation Of Facilities; Policy: It shall be the basic policy of the city of Hayden that all liftstations, sewer mains and trunk sewers located in public rights of way or dedicated easements to the city for such purposes shall be public sewerage facilities. These sewerage facilities shall, if the same are accepted in writing by the city, be owned, operated, and maintained by the city. Building sewers, service lines, service stubs, and individual pump stations shall be installed, owned, and maintained by individual users, except at the option of the city. The city shall be granted an easement for access and the repair, replacement, and operation of the individual pump stations if the same are accepted in writing by the city. New sewers in public rights of way or easements shall become public sewers when accepted by the city. (Ord. 349, 9 17 2003) City of Spokane Municipal Code Section 13.03.0187 Side Sewer Side sewer is a sewer, not directly controlled or maintained by a public authority, which begins two feet outside the outer face of a structure wall or foundation, conveying wastewater from the building drain to a public sewer or private sewer. City of Priest River 8 5 4: MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY: A sewer lateral, which shall be an extension from the owner's building sewer drain to the city sewer, including the sewer main line tap, shall be owned and maintained by the owner of the premises upon which the building is located, and the city shall not be responsible in any manner for its maintenance or repair. (Ord. 482, 6 5 2006)
From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Bruce Robertson Monday, September 29, 2014 3:54 PM Melissa Ward Maree Peck; Kody Van Dyk RE: Sewer Lateral issue at 520 Pine Street pine street 520 (1).pdf Melissa, On August 5 th, 2014, I failed the sewer lateral at 520 Pine under the Sewer Lateral Improvement Program (SLIP) ordinance (7 7 4, D.) A copy of Mr. Middleton s SLIP paperwork is attached. Per the definitions in code section 7 7 3, a PRIVATE SEWER LATERAL: The privately owned sewer pipe which connects points of use such as drains and toilets from a house or business to the sewer main in the public right of way. It is the responsibility of the private owner to maintain the lateral in good working order from the connection at the main to their house or business. So far in 2014, I have failed 28 lateral inspections. It is an exception that I fail a lateral and do not require the section of pipe nearest the main line to be replaced. Prior to the SLIP ordinance, laterals were often repaired in a yard but not under a paved street because of fewer tree roots and higher costs. Therefore, some of the oldest pipes are under the street. For the SLIP program to be effective in controlling ground water infiltration, some means of inspecting and repairing sewer laterals from the back of curb to the main line is critical. Previous council action has made this necessary work the responsibility of the adjacent property owner through the code sections noted above. Please let me know if you need further information. Bruce From: Melissa Ward Sent: Monday, September 29, 2014 2:50 PM To: Bruce Robertson Cc: Maree Peck Subject: Sewer Lateral issue at 520 Pine Street Hi, Bruce. Rich Middleton, 520 Pine Street property owner, has asked to be included on the October 15 City Council meeting agenda in order to request an amendment to City Code that would change the policy that requires property owners to repair sewer under City street/hwy. He has requested Maree s signature on the form in order to authorize placement on the agenda. Would you email us some information, please, regarding the issue at this address? Thanks. Melissa Ward Deputy City Clerk City of Sandpoint 1123 Lake St., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 (208) 263 3317 email: clerksoffice@ci.sandpoint.id.us City website: www.cityofsandpoint.com The City of Sandpoint and USDA are equal opportunity providers and employers. 1