City Council Adopts Policy for Public Water and Sanitary Sewer Extensions

City Council Repeals City Code Sections Requiring Connections

Dublin City Council on December 7, 2015 adopted a new policy regarding public water and sanitary sewer utility extensions to areas that do not currently have access to these public services.

The policy outlines a process by which the City will identify, prioritize, program and implement the design and construction of public utility service extensions.

The City has developed a conceptual 15-year plan for extending water and sewer lines to developed properties within City limits.

The process to extend public sanitary sewer and water services to an Extension Area may be initiated either by the City or by the property owners within an Extension Area as follows:

1. City’s Five-Year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Planned Extensions
2. Petition for Extension by Property Owners

Petition Process

Affected property owners may request City Council to extend public utilities to and within an Extension Area. The request shall be initiated by the Petition Representative submitting a signed Utility Extension Application to the City Manager.

Affected Property Owners may submit a Utility Extension Application to the City Manager no later than March 1 of each year for consideration and possible inclusion in the City’s next update of the five year CIP, which is generally adopted in September of each year. The completed Utility Extension Application must include:

• A cover letter outlining the request for the public utility extension
• A completed Utility Extension Petition supporting the request, signed by no less than 85% of the Affected Property Owners
• A properly executed affidavit by the petition representative indicating the Affected Property Owners’ commitments to connect to the utilities as well as donate, at no expense to the City, all necessary easements for the placement of the public water and/or sanitary sewer utility services
• Identification of the Extension Area desiring extension of public utility services with a list of all Affected Property addresses; and
• An indication whether an extension of public water or sanitary sewer services is requested, or both.

City of Dublin Water and Sewer Extension Application
City of Dublin Water and Sewer Extension Petition
City of Dublin Water and Sewer Extension Affidavit of Petition Representative

City Council also repealed sections 51.40 Use of Public Sewers Required and 52.00 Use of Public Water System Required of the Codified Ordinance of the City of Dublin. Property owners will not be required to connect to the public water system in the future. Franklin County Public Health is responsible for the inspection and permitting of household sewage treatment systems and has the authority under the Ohio Administrative Code to require connection to the public sanitary sewer system.

Dublin will work with Franklin County Public Health to require residents to connect to the nearest accessible public sanitary sewer system when:

• a household sewage treatment system (HSTS) is inoperable or malfunctioning and a public sewer system is accessible within 200 feet of the structure
• an application for a permit to install a new HSTS is submitted to FCPH and a public sewer system is accessible within 200 feet of the structure.

Policy as adopted by Dublin City Council on December 7, 2015 | Presentation

The important issue of public water utility and sanitary sewer utility extensions to areas that do not have access to these public services has been the subject of ongoing discussions and designated a priority by City Council.
“It’s an issue that’s important to the City. It’s important for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of our residents; it protects our groundwater resources and it protects our waterways,” Mayor Michael Keenan.

Process for tapping and connecting to a public sanitary sewer

The process for tapping and connecting to a public sanitary sewer is as follows:

1. Apply for a sanitary sewer tap permit at the City of Dublin’s Department of Development, Building Standards Division (614.410.4600). The 2015 permit fee is $5,404 based on a ¾ inch water tap. If water is coming from a well, ¾ inch tap will be assumed. Monies collected help cover the following: costs associated with maintaining the sanitary sewer system within Dublin ($2,210); inspection services provided by the City of Dublin that relate to the installation of your sewer lateral ($150); services provided by the City of Columbus associated with conveying and treating sewage ($3,044).
2. At this point you must hire a contractor to install the service line that extends from your home to the sanitary sewer main. Our Building Standards Division can provide a list of contractors licensed with the City to perform this work. Before the contractor you select is permitted to begin working, you must first obtain a City of Dublin Right-of-Way permit by contacting Mark Grady at 614.410.4624. The 2015 ROW permit fee is $50 for residential and $400 for Commercial. During the ROW permit review process our staff will review your contractor’s plans for accomplishing the work to make sure that the work is performed in accordance with all applicable standards and specifications. If the sanitary sewer main is on the opposite side of the road from your property, a portion of the sewer service will need to be constructed beneath the road. We will require your contractor to use directional drilling for this portion of your service as a means to avoid open cutting the road. This construction technique is commonly employed by many contractors within our area and is not expected to add unnecessary project costs.
3. You or your contractor is responsible for coordinating the work with inspectors from the City of Dublin and the Franklin County Health Department. Inspections are required to ensure that the sewer service line is correctly installed and that the septic system is abandoned properly. Gary Young of the Health Department should be contacted at 614.525.3909 to obtain additional information and proper procedures regarding septic system abandonment.

*Note: All fees listed are valid only for 2015. Fees may be adjusted in the future.

Process for tapping and connecting to a public water

The process for tapping and connecting to a public water supply is as follows:

1. Apply for a water line tapping permit at the City of Dublin’s Department of Development, Building Standards Division 5800 Shier Rings Road (614.410.4600). The 2015 Dublin permit fee is $1,890 for a ¾ inch tap. Fees collected are used to offset costs associated with maintaining and repairing the fire hydrant system within Dublin.
2. After obtaining receipt from the Building Standards Division that Dublin’s portion of the tapping permit fee has been paid, apply in person at the City of Columbus, Division of Water 910 Dublin Road (614.645.7330) to pay the Columbus portion of the tapping permit fee. The 2014 Columbus tap fee is $1,749 for a ¾ inch tap. These monies are used to defray the cost of treating and pumping water from the Columbus water treatment plant to your neighborhood. An additional $304 (2014) must also be paid to obtain a water meter.
3. At this point you must hire a contractor to install the service line that extends from your home to the water main. Our Building Standards Division can provide a list of contractors licensed with the City to perform this work. Before the contractor you select is permitted to begin working, you must first obtain a City of Dublin Right-of-Way permit by contacting Mark Grady at 614.410.4624. The 2015 ROW permit fee is $50 for residential and $400 for Commercial. During the ROW permit review process our staff will review your contractor’s plans for accomplishing the work to make sure that the work is performed in accordance with all applicable standards and specifications. If the water main is on the opposite side of the road from your property, a portion of the water service will need to be constructed beneath the road. We will require your contractor to use directional drilling for this portion of your service as a means to avoid open cutting the road. This construction technique is commonly employed by many contractors within our area and is not expected to add unnecessary project costs.
4. You or your contractor is responsible for coordinating the work with inspectors from the City of Dublin, City of Columbus, and the Franklin County Health Department. Inspections are required to ensure that the water meter and service line are correctly installed and that back flow prevention devices are installed if you should decide to continue to use your well system. If you wish to abandon your well system, you must obtain a well sealing permit. Gary Young of the Health Department may be contacted at 614.462.3909 to obtain additional information regarding well abandonment.

*Note: All fees listed are valid only for the year listed. Fees may be adjusted in the future. City of Columbus fees are listed for reference only. Contact City of Columbus to obtain current fees.

Download the Map | 2014 Connection Charges | Water and Sewer Fee Schedule A 2015