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<br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />February 9, 2009 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Ron Moorse, City Administrator <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />An Ordinance Amending Chapter 10, Section 1010.10 of the Arden <br />Hills City Code to Provide for the Inspection of Illegal Connections to <br />the Sanitary Sewer System <br /> <br />Background <br />The discharge of water from any surface, groundwater sump pump, roof, yard, lawn, street, alley, <br />footing tile, or other natural precipitation into the City sanitary sewer system [infiltration and <br />inflow (1&1)] contributes to the flooding and overloading of the sanitary sewer system. Such <br />overloading of the sanitary sewer system may result in sewage flowing into lower levels of City <br />residences and businesses, creating hazardous public health conditions and significant damage to <br />properties. <br /> <br />These discharges also result in substantially increased treatment costs charged by the <br />Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), and additional surcharges by the MCES <br />for excessive discharges, which are passed on to all users of the system. The City is currently <br />subject to a $101,100.00 per year surcharge from the MCES, which the City has taken the option <br />of spending to reduce the amount of 1&1 into the sanitary sewer system. <br /> <br />The City has used the MCES surcharge funds to identify and reduce sources of 1&1, particularly <br />through the rehabilitation of leaking manholes in the City's sanitary sewer system. Another <br />source of 1&1 is discharges from sump pumps that are illegally connected to the City's sanitary <br />sewer system. The attached ordinance provides for the inspection of properties to determine <br />illegal connections to the sanitary sewer system, to provide for certain reimbursements to <br />property owners of expenses related to compliance with connection requirements, and to provide <br />for a surcharge for non-compliance with inspection and connection requirements. <br /> <br />Discussion <br />The Council reviewed this ordinance at its December 15 work session, and provided direction <br />regarding a number of revisions to the ordinance. The revisions have been made, and are <br />reflected in the attached ordinance. <br />