[Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lake Mills 6-1-1999 by Ord. No. 824B (Title 4, Ch. 10, of the 2009 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose of these regulations is to prevent safety hazards
caused by inappropriate discharge of stormwater and to reduce the
unnecessary costs and burdens associated with the treatment of stormwater
by the Wastewater Utility. The City Council of the City of Lake Mills
finds that the discharge of stormwater from private properties onto
public rights-of-way creates a safety hazard to pedestrians and motorists.
The City Council also finds that the discharge of stormwater to the
sanitary sewers adds to the cost of treating sewerage and it detracts
from the available capacity of the wastewater treatment plant. Further,
the City Council declares that violations of this chapter regulating
stormwater shall constitute a public nuisance.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A discernible, confined and discrete conveyance of stormwater.
The point at which stormwater is discharged to the City storm
sewers, to the surface of the ground, or to any other collection system.
An individual, owner, operator, corporation, partnership,
association or entity.
Water runoff from downspouts, roofs, sump pumps, surface
water runoff and drainage, provided none of the foregoing is combined
with sewerage or other pollutants requiring treatment by the Wastewater
Utility.
A.
No person may discharge stormwater from an outfall by combining such
discharge with the sanitary sewer distribution or collection system
of the City.
B.
No person may discharge stormwater from an outfall in such a manner
that the discharge disperses directly onto the surface of any public
sidewalk or paved portion of any street.
C.
Persons may discharge stormwater directly to a storm sewer, provided
the manner of connection has been approved in writing by the Director
of Public Works.
D.
If no storm sewer exists adjacent to the property, storm sewer discharges
from roof downspouts may discharge directly to the paved portion of
the street, provided no obstruction to any public sidewalk is created,
and provided the outfall location and plan therefor are approved in
writing by the Director of Public Works and, if also required by law,
by the Plumbing Inspector.
E.
Property owners, whose properties are not adjacent to a storm sewer, may apply for compliance deferral relative to the requirements of Subsection B above. Such deferral shall be effective until October 1, 2000, provided such property owners have filed with the Director of Public Works a completed application on forms provided by the City Clerk by no later than October 1, 1999.
A.
The Director of Public Works is empowered to investigate any suspected
violations of this chapter through any lawful means.
B.
Upon finding a violation of this chapter, the Public Works Director
may issue a notice of noncompliance to the property owner. Such notice
shall state that the noncompliance is required to be corrected within
30 days of receipt of the notice, or within such longer time deemed
reasonable by the Director of Public Works, taking into consideration
such factors as the nature of the outfall, the weather conditions
which may interfere with any likely corrective measures, and any relevant
difficulties presented by the topography and configuration of the
property.
C.
Upon failure to correct the noncompliance within the time stated
in the notice, the Director of Public Works shall issue an order directing
the property owner to correct the violation within 30 days of receipt
of the notice or otherwise be subject to possible municipal citations
and forfeitures of up to $100 per violation per day, plus costs.
D.
In addition to the foregoing, or as an alternative in cases of immediate
hazard to public safety, the City Attorney may seek other lawful remedies
in an effort to abate a public nuisance.
