Chapter 12.04 SEWER SYSTEM--CONNECTIONS

A. All new structures and uses required by law to have toilet facilities or water closets shall be connected to the city’s sewerage system, as long as the new structure or use is located on a parcel of property that is within two hundred feet of a sewer line or lateral.
B. All existing development and structures required by law to have toilet facilities or water closets shall be connected to the city’s sewerage system, as long as the new structure or use is located on a parcel of property that is within two hundred feet of a sewer line or lateral.
C. All buildings or areas for public use, including, but not limited to, schools, hospitals, apartments, hotels, cabin or auto courts, motels and trailer courts, shall be connected to the city’s sewerage system, as long as the building or area for public use is located on a parcel of property that is within five hundred feet of a sewer line or lateral.
D. In those areas annexed to the city, all existing occupied buildings or structures required by law to have toilet facilities or water closets shall have six years after the effective date of the annexation to connect to the city’s sewerage systems, as long as the existing occupied buildings or structures are within the proximity to a sewer line or lateral described in subsections B and C herein, for the particular type of structure or use. (Ord. 1109 § 5, 2002; Ord. 864 § 1, 1994: Ord. 440 § 2 (part), 1956).

The deadline for property owners to connect to the city’s sewerage system shall be as follows:
A. New Structures or Uses. For all new structures or uses identified in KMC Section 12.04.010(A) above, the structure or use shall be connected to the city’s sewerage system on or before the date the city issues a certificate of occupancy for the structure or use.
B. Existing Structures or Uses. For all existing structure or uses identified in KMC Section 12.04.010(B), (C) or (D), the structure or use shall be connected to the city’s sewerage system within sixty days after the city issues a written notice to the property owner, informing the property owner of the requirement to connect. Until the city issues such written notice to the property owner, the property owner does not need to obtain a connection to the city’s sewerage system. (Ord. 1109 § 6, 2002: Ord. 912 § 1, 1995: Ord. 864 § 2, 1994: Ord. 440 § 2 (part), 1956).

A. All existing occupied buildings or structures required to have sanitation facilities annexed into the city subsequent to the passage of the ordinance codified in this section shall have six years from the date of completion of annexation to comply with the provisions hereof unless the existing sanitation system is creating a health hazard, as determined by the Kalama director of public works with the concurrence of the Cowlitz County health district in which event the building owner/property owner shall connect to the Kalama sewerage system within sixty days of being notified of such health hazard.
B. A request for exception to subsection A of this section may be submitted to the city clerk-treasurer for review by the director of public works and building official of the city.
1. Any request for exception shall included documentation verifying the age and condition of the on-site septic system.
C. An exception may be granted if the city finds:
1. Connection to the city sewage system would create an extreme financial hardship; and
2. The annexed property is served by an on-site system less than twenty years old.
D. 1. All systems approved for exception will require verification every five years to be in good condition by a licensed system designer. Said verification will be at the property owner’s expense.
2. Systems approved for exception must be verified as in good condition at the time of sale or exchange of the property or at the time of any remodeling that would increase the size of the home or add bedrooms.
E. 1. Should an on-site system previously granted an exception under this section fail at anytime during the twenty-year period connection to the city sewer system will be mandatory.
2. After twenty years of service by an on-site system, connection to the city sewage system will be mandatory.
F. Industrial areas inside the city limits not within five hundred feet of a sewer line may submit an exception request and each will be considered on a case by case basis.
G. An exception will not be granted on any property included in short subdivision, subdivision, or small lot development applications. (Ord. 1193 § 2, 2007).

12.04.030 Exceptions to connection requirement--No sewer line or lateral shown in city’s recent sewer comprehensive plan.

A. The public works director may approve an exception to the connection requirements of KMC Sections 12.04.010 and 12.04.020 above to address the on-site sewer needs of individual lots if all of the following limited circumstances exist:
1. The subject lot is not located in an area planned to be served by the city’s sewer system, as shown in the most current versions of the city’s six year capital improvement plan and sewer comprehensive plan; and
2. The alternative system proposed by the property owner will serve no more than one dwelling unit on the lot meeting the criteria of this subsection; and
3. The property owner agrees to record a notice against the lot, in a form approved by the city attorney, providing notice to all subsequent purchasers that the city’s approval of an alternative system under these procedures will not affect the city’s ability to enforce KMC Section 12.04.010 or 12.04.020 (or any subsequent amendment to the same) to require a connection to the city’s sewerage system at any time in the future.
B. Alternative Systems. An application for an exception shall be submitted by the property owner, which shall include an inspection fee and information regarding all of the following factors:
1. Whether the alternative system involves connection to the city’s sewerage system (the exception process shall not be used to obtain a connection to the city’s sewerage system while a moratorium on sewer connections is in effect);
2. Whether the property owner has obtained all necessary approvals and permits from agencies with jurisdiction for the alternative system;
3. The efficacy of the alternative system; and
4. The duration of time that the alternative system will be in effect.
C. Appeals. The public works director’s decision to grant to deny an exception shall be appealable within fifteen days of issuance, under the procedures set forth in KMC Sections 12.20.070 and 12.20.080. (Ord. 1109 § 7, 2002: Ord. 440 § 2 (part), 1959)

From time to time, the city may adopt moratoria on additional connections to the sewer system. If the city has adopted an ordinance imposing a moratorium on additional connections to the sewerage system, and a property owner seeking to obtain the necessary permits to develop the property is prohibited from obtaining a sewer connection because of the moratorium, the public works director may consider an exception under KMC Section 12.04.030 under this section. The public work director shall substitute the existence of a sewer moratorium for the criterion in KMC Section 12.04.030(A)(1), but in order to approve the exception, the director must still find that all of the other criteria in KMC Section 12.04.030(A) exist. (Ord. 1109 § 8, 2002)

If any such connection is not made within the time herein provided, the director of public works or such other employee of the city as the council may hereafter designate is authorized and directed to cause the same to be made and to file a statement of the cost thereof with the city clerk-treasurer, which cost shall in no event be less than one hundred dollars, and thereupon a warrant shall be issued under the direction of the city council by the city clerk-treasurer and against the water and sewer revenue fund created by Ordinance 433 for the payment of such cost. Such amount, together with a penalty of ten percent plus interest at the rate of six percent per year upon the total amount of such cost and penalty shall be assessed against the property upon which the said building or structure is situated, and shall become a lien thereon as herein provided. Such total amount, when collected, shall be paid into the water and sewer revenue fund. (Ord. 1090 § 4, 2002: Ord. 440 § 2 (part), 1956).

No connection with any sewer line or lateral or other part of the sewerage system of the city shall be made by any person or persons, firm, association or corporation except those regularly licensed to perform that class of work or those approved by the director of public works, and such connection shall then only be made on the condition that the person or persons, firm, association, or corporation, making such connection, will indemnify and hold harmless the city from all suits, claims, accidents and damages, occasioned by any opening in the streets, alleys or public places by him, them, or it, or any person or persons, in his, their, or its employ, for making any connection with any public or private sewer, or for any other purposes, or objects whatsoever, and that he, they, or it, will also replace such street, alley, or public place, over such opening to the satisfaction and approval of the engineer in charge of the sewerage department. (Ord. 1090 § 5, 2002: Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1962: Ord. 440 § 3 (part), 1956).

If the connection of any subdivision or development sewer laterals or mains to the city’s sewage disposal system involves additions or alterations to the city’s then existing system, or disposal plant, the cost of such additions or alterations shall be borne by the subdivider or developer; provided, however, if, in the sole discretion of the city council, such additions or alterations to the then existing city’s system or wastewater treatment plant result in special benefit to property and/or users served by the then existing city’s system, the council may provide for sharing the costs of such additions and/or alterations made to its then existing system with the subdivider or developer, on such basis and terms, and to such extent or degree as the council, in its sole discretion, shall determine. (Ord. 1090 § 6, 2002: Ord. 465 § 1 (part), 1962: Ord. 440 § 3 (part), 1956).

A. Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided by the owner of all hospitals, deep-fry and fast food restaurants and garages. Such interceptors shall also be provided in other business establishments when it becomes apparent, due to any damage or obstruction of the sewer system, that such interceptors are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand and other harmful ingredients; except that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters of dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the supervisor of public works and building inspector, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be inspected by the city sewer department on a semiannual basis.
B. Grease and oil interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature. They shall be of substantial construction, watertight and equipped with easily removable covers which when bolted in place shall be gastight and watertight. (Ord. 715A (part), 1985).