Whenever the council shall deem it necessary for the public health, they may require the owners and occupants of lots and premises to construct private drains therefrom to connect with some public sewer or drain, and thereby to drain such lots and premises; and to keep such private drains in repair and free from obstruction and nuisance; and if such private drains are not constructed and maintained according to such requirement, the council may cause the work to be done at the expense of such owner or occupant, and the amount of such expense shall be a lien upon the premises drained, and may be collected by special assessment to be levied thereon in the manner hereinafter provided for the levying and collecting of special assessments.