Chapter 13.20 SANITARY SEWERS

This chapter is declared to be an exercise of the police power of the state of Washington and the City of Mountlake Terrace to promote the public health, safety and welfare, and its provisions shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of that purpose. (Ord. 158 § 1, 1959).

13.20.020 Definitions.

Words and phrases used herein, unless the same shall be contrary to or inconsistent with the context, shall mean as follows:

A. “City Manager” includes and means the Public Works Director, City Engineer, Superintendent of Water or Sewer Departments, Sewer Inspector, or any other person acting under the authority of the City Manager.

B. “Sanitary sewer system” means that system of pipes, manholes and pumping stations as part of an integral municipal sewer system which has been authorized pursuant to ordinances enacted during the years 1958 and 1959.

C. “Service lateral” or “service lateral sewer” means that sewer pipe which extends from a public sewer main to the property line, there to be connected with a side sewer pipe to serve buildings or residences. The “service lateral” or “service lateral sewer” includes the connection to the public sewer main.

D. “Side sewer” means that sewer pipe which extends from the point of connection to the service lateral to the point of connection to the plumbing from a building or residence, said point of connection to the plumbing not to exceed 30 inches from the foundation.

E. “Repair and maintenance” means the opening of any sewer line for the purpose of cleaning, replacement, or repair of the line.

F. “Public sewer main” means a sewer owned, operated, and maintained by the City that collects sewage from service lateral sewers. (Ord. 2759 § 20, 2019; Ord. 158 § 2, 1959).

13.20.030 Unlawful to interfere with public sewer.

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make any connection with, or in any way obstruct or interfere with any public sewer except as hereinafter provided. (Ord. 158 § 3, 1959).

13.20.040 Connection required when.

Every dwelling house, hotel, apartment, tenement, factory, store, or other building in which plumbing arrangements have been or are to be placed, shall be connected with the municipal sanitary sewerage system within 90 days after written notice that sewer service is available to said building; and provided, that any such building or part of building shall be located within 200 feet of a sewer main or a street where a sewer main is located; and provided further, that if any such building is constructed after sewer service is available to the property upon which it is located, then the connection shall be made immediately as an integral part of the construction; and provided further, that these properties annexed into the City by the provisions of RCW 35A.14.295 through 35A.14.299, or newly provided sewer service, shall be allowed to delay connection to the Mountlake Terrace sewer system for a period of up to three years following the date of notification provided:

A. There shall be an annual filing with the City of certification by the Snohomish County Health District that there is a properly functioning septic tank

B. There is confirmation that the septic tank has been pumped at least every three years.

C. There is no further development of the property on which the dwelling exists.

Sewer fees at 50 percent of the base rate shall be billed and paid to offset capital and service costs for the sanitary sewer utility. (Ord. 1838, 1989; Ord. 158 § 4, 1959).

13.20.050 City Manager – Duty to compel connection.

The City Manager is hereby empowered, and it is hereby made his duty in all cases where sewer service is available within the distances of a building prescribed in the preceding section, to compel every owner or occupant of land, buildings or premises situated within such distance to connect or cause to be connected by a sufficient sewer in the manner hereinafter required, which shall connect such lands, buildings or premises with such nearest accessible public sewer. (Ord. 158 § 5, 1959).

13.20.060 Notice to connect.

Prior to completion of construction of the sanitary sewer system, whenever any land, buildings or premises is required to be connected with the public sewer as provided in this chapter, the City Manager shall serve upon the owner, agent or occupant of said land, buildings or premises a notice in writing specifying the time within which such connection must be made, which time shall be not more than 90 days from the date of delivery of such notice. Service of such notice shall be deemed sufficient if mailed to the occupant of the premises, or left at the premises in a visible and conspicuous place. (Ord. 158 § 6, 1959).

13.20.070 Connection authorized by City Manager.

If any owner, agent, or occupant shall fail and neglect or refuse to connect said lands, buildings or premises with the public sewer within the time specified in the preceding section, the City Manager may cause such connection to be made and the cost thereof shall be charged to the owner or occupant, and a bill showing the amount thereof mailed or delivered to him, or posted upon the premises in a conspicuous and visible place. If said charge is not paid within 10 days of the mailing, delivery or posting of the bill as aforesaid, the same shall be deemed to be delinquent, and subject to a penalty charge in the amount of five percent of said bill. The entire amount, including penalties, shall draw interest at the rate of six percent per annum from the date of rendering the bill until paid. Any such delinquent charge shall constitute a lien upon the premises, which said lien shall be filed and enforced in the manner prescribed by the laws of the state of Washington. (Ord. 158 § 7, 1959).

13.20.080 Connection charge – Delinquency.

Repealed by Ord. 2759. (Ord. 158 § 10, 1959).

13.20.090 Responsibility for maintenance.

Property owners are responsible for keeping side sewer and service lateral sewers unclogged and free flowing at all times at their sole expense. All expense and liability for loss or damage related to side sewers or service sewer laterals which are not maintained in an unclogged and free flowing condition shall be the responsibility of the property owner(s).

The City shall be responsible for repair and/or replacement of service lateral sewers. (Ord. 2759 § 22, 2019; Ord. 158 § 11, 1959).

13.20.100 Service lateral sewer – Connection/ construction – License required.

No connection shall be made with, nor shall any opening be made into, a public sewer, nor shall any service lateral sewer be constructed by any person, firm or corporation which does not hold a valid license as a side sewer contractor under the ordinances of the City of Mountlake Terrace. (Ord. 158 § 12, 1959).

13.20.110 Side sewer – Connection/ construction – Owner or licensed contractor required.

No side sewer shall be constructed or connected to a service lateral by any person other than a licensed side sewer contractor, or the property owner upon whose property the side sewer is constructed. (Ord. 158 § 13, 1959).

13.20.120 Permit required.

No person shall connect with or open or penetrate any public sewer, construct, repair, or perform maintenance on any service lateral or side sewer without first obtaining a permit at the then current permit fee. The City shall keep record of all fees charged, giving the name of the person paying said fee, the amount charged, and stating the date and number of the permit.

Applications for such permits shall be obtained prior to starting any work; except, where repairs or maintenance of an emergency nature are required to be made during such hours that the City is closed, the application and permit shall be obtained during the next regular work day. (Ord. 2759 § 23, 2019; Ord. 702, 1969; Ord. 158 § 14, 1959).

13.20.130 Connection/sewer plan/as-built drawing.

Before any such permit is granted, the applicant must pay the City Manager such fees as are specified in other applicable ordinances or resolutions, and furnish a plan of the proposed connection or sewer in accordance with the then current permit application requirements, together with whatever other information is required on application forms furnished by the City to the applicant. Said plan shall show the course of the sewer from the connection with the street main or service lateral to its other terminus, with the location of all branches, clean outs, traps and fixtures to be connected therewith. Said plan shall be correct, and conform to the Engineering Details and Specifications of the City.

It shall be the responsibility of the contractor or owner to provide the City with an as-built drawing of all repair work including any changes made in the routing or materials of any side sewer or service lateral sewer or the relocation, deletion, or addition of any clean outs. (Ord. 2792 § 5, 2021; Ord. 2759 § 24, 2019; Ord. 702, 1969; Ord. 158 § 15, 1959).

13.20.140 Posting of permit card.

The permit card required by this chapter must be at all times during the performance of the work and until the completion thereof and approval of the City Manager posted in some conspicuous place at or near the work and must be readily and safely accessible to the City Manager. (Ord. 158 § 16, 1959).

13.20.145 Service lateral.

If in affecting the repair or maintenance of a side sewer or service lateral the contractor shall first notify the City, and if during such hours that the City offices are closed, notify Public Works on call personnel that such uncovering is required. Any contractor performing such work on any side sewer or service lateral shall be subject to the requirements set forth in this chapter as now or hereinafter amended. (Ord. 2759 § 25, 2019).

13.20.150 Work subject to City Manager approval.

All work done in pursuance of any permit granted as heretofore prescribed shall be under the inspection and subject to the approval and acceptance of the City Manager. The grade, materials, size of pipe, and manner of construction of any sewer or drain built under permit shall be subject to the approval or rejection of said City Manager. (Ord. 158 § 17, 1959).

13.20.160 Inspection.

Any person performing work under permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall notify the City Manager when the work will be ready for inspection, and shall specify in such notification the location of the premises by address and file number of the permit. If the City Manager finds the work or material used is not in accordance with this chapter, he shall notify the person doing the work, and also the owner of the premises, by posting a written notice on the permit card and such posted notice shall be all the notice that is required to be given of the defects in the work or materials found in such inspection. (Ord. 158 § 18, 1959).

13.20.170 Filling or covering after inspection.

No trench shall be filled nor any sewer covered until the work shall have been inspected and approved by the City Manager. (Ord. 158 § 19, 1959).

13.20.180 Construction standards.

All service laterals and side sewers shall be constructed in compliance with City standards. (Ord. 2759 § 26, 2019; Ord. 1145, 1977; Ord. 238, 1961; Ord. 158 §§ 20, 20-A, 20-B, 20-C, 20-D, 1959).

13.20.190 City Manager – Right to enter premises.

Repealed by Ord. 2759. (Ord. 158 § 21, 1959).

13.20.200 Unlawful activities.

Repealed by Ord. 2759. (Ord. 2381 § 14, 2005).

13.20.210 Violation – Penalties.

Violations of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties as set forth in MTMC 13.05.390. (Ord. 2759 § 28, 2019; Ord. 158 § 23, 1959).

13.20.220 Inspections – Side sewer or sewer service lateral.

The City shall be notified as to when the side sewer or sewer service lateral will be ready for inspection and no closure of any ditch, hole, or opening shall be performed until the inspector or the person acting under the authority of the City Manager has approved such installation or repair for cover. In those cases where a repair was of an emergency nature, done during the hours the City offices were closed, the ditch, hole, or opening shall be left open and properly protected by barricades or some other means until permit is obtained and repair approved. (Ord. 2759 § 29, 2019).

13.20.230 Restoration.

It shall be the contractor’s responsibility that care be taken in the removing of sod, shrubs, flowers, etc., so that these items can be replaced and the area left in as good or better condition than prior to the starting of the repair. (Ord. 2759 § 30, 2019).

13.20.240 Removal of trees and shrubs.

If, during or after the installation or repair, it is found that the problem was created by a tree, shrub, or some other growth, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner, upon notification by the City, to remove said tree, shrub, or growth to prevent reoccurrence. If the owner fails to do so, and damage results to property owned by others, or if the main sewer line is plugged or damaged as a result of such failure, the owner shall be in violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 13.05 MTMC. (Ord. 2759 § 31, 2019).