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West Haven council adopts tougher penalties for illegal sewer hookups
Summary
The City Council approved amendments to Chapter 191 (sewers) that reorganize the code, update statutory references and add penalties including a $100-per-day fine and immediate disconnection for connections made without a permit.
The West Haven City Council on March 9 adopted amendments to Chapter 191, Article 10 of the city code to reorganize existing sections, update references to state law and add new penalties for illegal sewer hookups and unpermitted repairs.
The changes, presented during legislative matters and approved by the full council, add a new penalty provision that would fine any person or entity found to have violated Section 191-42 at $100 per day from the date the illegal activity first occurred until the violation is abated. The amendment also authorizes the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) to immediately disconnect any connection made without a permit issued by the superintendent, and it references monetary penalties and forfeiture under Connecticut General Statutes §22a-38 for certain violations.
The ordinance text as read to the committee and council included a clause authorizing arrest under a charge of disorderly conduct for violations of the cited section; council members discussed that the revisions reorganize and consolidate the sewers chapter and clarify enforcement mechanisms. The legislative matters committee recommended approval and the council carried the motion on a voice vote.
Mayor Dorinda Boer and committee members said the updates were needed to eliminate redundancies and modernize references to state statutes that have changed since the chapter was last revised.
The ordinance will be filed with the city clerk and become part of the City of West Haven code; the council did not set a separate effective date in the meeting record.
