4. Conditions of connection

4.1 Application

4.1.1 Initial Application 

1. Every application for a wastewater service connection shall be made in Writing on the relevant standard Council form together with the prescribed charges. The applicant shall provide all the details required by the Council. An application shall be made whether or not a public sewer has already been laid up to the point of discharge.

Where an application has been accepted by the Council which requires a new public sewer connection to be constructed from the existing public sewer to the point of discharge, the Customer shall pay such charges as fixed by the Council for this work.

4.1.2 Trade Waste

Refer to the Matamata Piako District Council Trade Waste Bylaw 2011 and specific trade waste agreements.

4.2 Point of discharge

4.2.1 General

1. The point of discharge from a Customer shall be the point on the Public Sewer which marks the boundary of responsibility between the Customer and the Council, irrespective of property boundaries.
2. Unless otherwise approved there shall be one point of discharge only for each premises, and any Private Sewer shall not extend by pipe or any other means to serve another premises.

See Schedule 1 for typical examples.

4.2.2 Single Ownership

1. For single dwelling units the point of discharge shall be located at the boundary as shown in figure 1 and figure 2 or as close as possible where fences, walls or other permanent structures make it difficult to locate it at the required position. The approval of other positions must be by the Council and recorded on the sewarage plan.
2. Where a Private Sewer discharges into a Public Sewer on that same private property, the point of discharge shall be the upstream end of the pipe fitting which forms the junction with Public Sewer.
3. The approval of more than one point of discharge must be by the Council and also recorded on the sewerage plan.  

4.2.3 Multiple Ownership 

1. For company share/block scheme (body corporate) – as for single ownership;
2. For leasehold/tenancy in common scheme (cross lease), strata title, and unit title (body corporate). Where practicable each owner shall have an individual sewer with the point of discharge determined by agreement with the Council.
3. If not practicable there shall be a common Private Sewer which shall be incorporated as an additional provision in the lease agreement. In specific cases other arrangements will be acceptable subject to individual approval.
4. Each owner’s point of discharge must be approved by the Council and recorded on the sewerage plan. Other arrangements shall be considered only where there are advantages to the Council.
5. For multiple ownership connections prior to the coming into effect of these terms and conditions, the point of discharge shall be the arrangement existing at that time, or as determined by agreement with the Council for an individual case. If no arrangement is recorded then treat as for new connections.

4.2.4 Common Private Sewers

1. New common Private Sewers shall not be permitted except as provided in 4.2.3 (c).
2. For common Private Sewers installed prior to the coming into effect of these terms and conditions, the point of discharge shall be the arrangement existing at that time, or as determined by agreement with the Council for an individual case.

4.3 Levels of service

1. The Council shall provide Wastewater services in accordance with the level of service contained in the Long Term Community Council Plan.
2. The Council shall endeavour to meet the level of service requirements, but it shall not be liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience which the Customer (or any person within the premises) may sustain as a result of deficiencies in the Wastewater collection system.
3. Natural hazards (such as floods or earthquakes) or accidents beyond the control of the Council which result in disruptions to the ability of the Council to receive Wastewater, will be deemed an emergency, and exempted from the levels of service requirements.
4. During an emergency the Council may restrict or prohibit the discharge of Wastewater for any specified purpose, for any specified period and for any or all of its customers. Such restrictions shall be publicly notified. The decision to make and lift restrictions, and to enact additional penalties, shall be made by the Council, or where immediate action is required the officer of the Council authorised for that purpose subject to subsequent Council ratification.
5. Where it is not practical to notify the Customer of a maintenance interruption to the Point of Discharge before work commences, the Council may shutdown the Point of Discharge without notice, and the Customer shall be advised as soon as possible.

4.4 Protection of Public Sewer

Building over public sewer

1. No building shall be built over a public sewer and no building shall be built closer than the greater of: 
   1. 1.5 metres from the centreline of any public sewerage drain; or
   2. the total of the depth below ground of the centreline of the public drain, plus the diameter of the drain, plus 0.2 metres measured from the centre of that drain.
2. Subject to Approval, a building developer shall meet the cost of diverting the public sewerage drain (including any manholes) in accordance with Council standards and satisfy the requirements imposed by Council under section 451 of the Local Government Act 1974.
3. Where a), b) or c) above are found to be impracticable and the building cannot be sited elsewhere on the property or modified to conform to the above conditions, and it is essential for the proposed building to be built of that part of the property, Approval may be granted subject to the building developer:
4. providing engineering plans for the protection of the public sewerage drain from a Chartered Professional Engineer for consideration, condition and Approval by an Authorised Officer; and
5. protecting the public sewerage drain and trench from any loading as per the Approved design; and
6.  providing physical access to the public sewerage drain for maintenance and replacement without structural effect on the building; and
7. registering an Encumbrance on the property title for the public sewerage drain for the purpose of maintenance and access; and
8. indemnifying Council for any loss, damage or other liabilities as a result of a building being built over the public sewerage drain; and
9.  all works are undertaken to Approved Council standards.

4.5 Other restrictions

Following receipt of an application for works to be undertaken on or near a Sewerage System, and after consideration of the proposed work methods, depth of excavations, soil properties and other site specific information, the Council may apply other restrictions for the protection of a public sewerage system.

4.6 Buried Services

Any Person proposing to carry out excavation work shall view the as-built information as a guide to establishing whether or not Council services are located in the vicinity. Locating the actual position and depth of existing lines is the responsibility of the Person undertaking the work or their representative. When excavating and working around Buried Services, due care shall be taken to ensure the services are not damaged, and that bedding and backfill is reinstated in accordance with the appropriate Council specification.