Fiscal Note
The increase in the permit fee from $100 to $200 will generate about $4,600 per year, assuming that all current permits will be renewed. The Utility estimates a cost of $202.57 for each permit issued, if the issuance of a permit requires only two site visits. Problem wells often require additional site visits that increase costs. This ordinance change will address some, but not all of the non-recovered costs related to program administration. These costs will be absorbed by the Utility. Funding for an LTE position to assist with, and essential to, meeting the needs of the private well program, has been continued in the Utility’s 2012 Adopted Operating Budget.
Title
Amending Sections 13.07 and 13.21 of the Madison General Ordinances to create a residential water service connection requirement and to update the well operation permit and well abandonment procedures and requirements.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This ordinance amends Sec. 13.07 of the Madison General Ordinances to create, pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 281.45, a requirement that all buildings used for human habitation and located on a lot near a water main must connect to the public water supply. This new requirement includes a procedure for a temporary exemption from this requirement for economic hardship or development related issues. The connection requirement will be applicable immediately to unpermitted private wells, within six months for annexed or attached lands, and, for permitted wells, will phase in beginning on Jan. 1, 2013 upon the permit’s expiration. This ordinance also makes significant changes and updates to the well operation permit and well abandonment procedures and requirements in Sec. 13.21. These changes more clearly detail the responsibilities of property owners and the Water Utility relating to the Utility’s permitting of private wells, and provides procedural due process protections that better address this ordinance than the default provisions of Sec. 9.49, w...
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