The Belle city council voted on October 12, 2021, to pass ordinance 615, implementing the Inflow and Infiltration Remediation Program (I&I).
While it is the city’s responsibility to maintain public components of the infrastructure, maintaining private components of the infrastructure are the responsibility of each private property or business owner hooked to the system. Upon adoption of the ordinance, the city of Belle shall enforce the following policies beginning January 1, 2022:
Adding water to the city’s sanitary sewer system during wet weather events has a significant environmental impact to the community and surrounding area, and adds unnecessary strain on sewer infrastructure. Per Ordinance 615, dumping storm water in the sewer drains is prohibited.
All properties linked to the sewer system shall be inspected by an inspector from the city of Belle. Each property owner shall grant access to their property/properties to allow authorized inspectors from the city of Belle to inspect components hooked to the sanitary sewer system.
Upon completion of inspection, a notice of deficiencies found during that inspection shall be given to the property owner. The property owner is responsible to have the items repaired. Repairs shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner.
Final inspection must be completed prior to Dec. 1, 2022. Failure to comply will result in a monthly user assessment fee schedule. Fees will be compounded annually as follows:
- Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023, will be assessed a $10 monthly fee on the water and sewer bill.
- Jan. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024, will be assessed $15 plus the $10 assessment from the year before for a total $25 monthly fee.
- Jan. 1, 2025 – Dec. 31, 2025, will be assessed an additional $20 plus $25 from the year before for a total of $45 assessment fee.
- Jan. 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 will be assessed an additional $30 month plus the $45 from the year before for a total $75 will be assessment fee.
For further questions, contact Public Works Director, Tony Baretich.