Chapter 13.34
BUILDING SEWERS AND CONNECTIONS
Sections:
13.34.010 Connection permit required.
13.34.020 Separate connections.
13.34.040 Side sewer construction.
13.34.050 Side sewer pipe materials.
13.34.070 Registration of side sewer contractors.
13.34.010 Connection permit required.
A. It is unlawful to construct, extend, relay, repair, or to make connection to any public or side sewer without obtaining a permit from the public works director as provided in Chapter 13.30 TMC. The public works director may issue such permit to the owner or occupant of any property to construct, extend, relay, repair, or make connections to any side sewer, however, such owner or occupant shall comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter, except that he need not employ a registered side sewer contractor to do the work if he makes the installation himself.
B. Application for the permit required by this section shall be filed in the department of public works office, stating the name of the owner, the correct address and proper legal description of the property to be served, dimensions and locations of any buildings on the property, the whole course of the side sewer from the public sewer to its connection with the building or property to be served, and other such plans and information as may be required. The public works director may change or modify the plan and designate the manner and place in which such side sewers shall be connected with the public sewer. Sewer permit fees shall be established by resolution of the city council, as amended from time to time.
C. Upon approval of the application and issuance of the permit, it is unlawful to alter said permit or to perform any work other than is provided for in said permit.
D. It is unlawful to disconnect any side sewer or remove any portion of a side sewer without securing a permit to do so. The disconnected service shall be plugged at the property line to the satisfaction of the public works director.
E. No permit issued under the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be valid for a period longer than 180 days unless extended or renewed prior to the expiration of the same.
F. The permit required by the ordinance codified in this chapter must, at all times during the performance of the work and until the completion thereof, be posted in some conspicuous place at or near the work and must be readily and safely accessible to the public works director.
G. No side sewer contractor shall break, alter, or tamper with any public sewer, except that he may connect a wye or tee, which exists for that purpose under the supervision of the public works director. (Ord. 2020-07 § 1, 2020; Ord. 2017-01 § 1, 2017; Ord. B-102 Art. 4 § 1, 1978).
13.34.020 Separate connections.
A. In making all connections with the public sewer system, each property capable of title transfer and each residence or business located on any one property and not joined with other property thereon inseparable shall be considered as an individual consumer and each individual consumer shall be supplied through a separate service connection; provided, however, that in case of duplexes or businesses or apartments not being capable of separate title transfer, the owner thereof may nevertheless by arrangement with the public works director provide for the property multiple service connections to serve each of the various units located thereon. All buildings, although joined together by party wall or similar attachment, if capable of separate title transfer, shall have, for each divisible part thereof, separate service connections.
B. However, where more than one such building is located on a lot or parcel of land not larger than 50 feet in width and 150 feet in depth and all such buildings may be served by one sewer connection, only one connection for such building need be made.
C. If a building sewer is to serve more than one property by joint agreement of the owners, an approved document insuring that all properties involved shall have perpetual use of the side sewer, and having provisions for maintenance and for access for repair purposes, shall be signed by the recorded owner. This document shall be notarized and recorded with the public works director and shall be referred to as an “easement”. (Ord. B-102 Art. 4 § 2, 1978).
13.34.030 Inspection.
A. Any person performing work under permit pursuant to the provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall notify the public works director when the work will be ready for inspection. The public works director shall inspect all connections, including piping, valves, and other appurtenances connected thereto, and the premises served thereby, within 48 hours, if possible, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and/or at regular intervals and as often as necessary.
B. No side sewer trench shall be filled or any sewer covered until the work has been inspected and approved by the public works director.
C. If the public works director finds the work or materials used are not in accordance with previous approval or permit, the public works director shall notify the person doing the work and/or the owner or occupant of the premises by letter and posting of notice on the property.
D. If any work done under a permit granted as provided herein is not done in accordance with the provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter and the plans and specifications as approved by the public works director, or when any side sewer is constructed, laid, connected, or repaired and does not comply with the provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or where it is determined by the public works director that a side sewer is obstructed, broken or inadequate and is a menace to health, or is liable to cause damage to the sewer system, or subsection C of this section is violated, and then, after notice by the public works director, the contractor, owner, or person doing the work refuses to properly construct, repair, or complete such work within the time specified in such notice, the public works director may perform such work as may be necessary to comply with the ordinance codified in this chapter and the cost of such work so done shall be charged to the property owner, occupant, or contractor as the case may be, and shall become immediately payable to the city, upon written notice of such amount being delivered to such owner, occupant, or contractor. (Ord. B-102 Art. 4 § 3, 1978).
13.34.040 Side sewer construction.
A. All side sewers shall be laid on a minimum grade one-fourth inch per foot (two percent) for four-inch pipe and one-eighth inch per foot (one percent) for six-inch pipe or greater, and shall have a minimum of six inches of fall as measured to the crown (top) of the public sewer to the building drain.
B. The permittee shall be responsible for determining the available grade between building drain and public sewer.
C. In any case where the house or building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, the same shall be lifted by artificial means and discharged into the public sewer.
D. The requirements of subsection A of this section may be waived by the public works director, but in such cases the following requirements will be adhered to:
1. A backwater valve shall be installed on all side sewers below grade, as above prescribed, unless the requirement is waived by the public works director.
2. The effective operation of any backwater valve shall be the responsibility of the owner of the side sewer.
3. No installation of any side sewer below grade, as above described, nor any installation of any backwater valve shall be approved by the public works director until a “grade release” agreeing to hold the city harmless from all damage resulting therefrom, has been delivered to the public works director.
E. Side sewers shall be laid out not less than 30 inches from any foundation wall, outer lines of any footings, pilings, or building supports.
F. Minimum cover for side sewers shall be three and one-half feet in outside parking strip, two feet in inside parking strip, two and one-half feet in a public alley at the property, two and one-half feet where side sewer crosses under a ditch, and 24 inches on private property.
G. All connections shall be made to the tee or stub out assigned at the time the permit is issued.
H. All side sewers servicing a single house shall be of four-inch pipe or larger. All side sewers servicing multiple dwellings, commercial establishments, schools, or any building other than single-family residences shall be of six-inch pipe or larger.
I. Any connections to a septic tank, cesspool, or privy vault shall be removed and direct connection made to the house or building drain; provided, however, that connection may be made through existing septic tanks or cesspools, but in such event cast iron pipe shall be used through such cesspool or septic tank. In all such cases, cesspool or septic tank shall be filled with suitable material.
J. In cases where a new or converted building or new installation replaces an old one, the use of any existing side sewer may be permitted by the public works director provided it conforms to all the requirements as set forth in the ordinance codified in this chapter. The public works director may require excavation for examination and testing.
K. No side sewer connection shall be made to the public sewer until that section of public sewer has been approved by the public works director for side sewer connections.
L. The side sewer contractor or other persons doing the work shall prevent any damage to the public sewer tee or stub out, and shall so conduct his trenching operations as to prevent the possibility of damage occurring.
M. In the event there is no suitable tee or stub out, a tap to the main will be permitted. All work of making the tap will be made in the presence of the public works director.
N. The bottom of the trench must be smooth and free of large rocks which may injure the side sewer pipe. Where unsuitable bedding is found as determined by the public works director, the side sewer contractor, or other persons doing the work, shall overexcavate and prepare a bedding as follows:
1. Soft Foundation. Overexcavate as directed by the public works director and install two and one-half inch maximum size rock or gravel, to a point three inches below the pipe. From this point to the pipe, install three-fourths inch maximum size rock or gravel and sand.
2. Hard Foundation. Overexcavate a minimum of three inches and install a bedding of three-fourths inch maximum size rock and gravel or sand.
O. Any unauthorized overexcavation below the pipe grade shall be filled with bedding material.
P. The side sewer contractor or other persons doing the work shall carefully remove the plug from stub and shall prevent the entrance of all foreign material into the public sewer pipe. The type of joint to be used for connecting the side sewer pipe to the stub shall be that for which the stub was designed. Rubber or plastic joint adapters shall be used as required to connect pipes of different materials or joint designs. Selected bedding material shall be hand tamped in a moist condition under and around the pipe and connection to the pipe or stub made so as to prevent any pressure on the stub. All sewers shall be laid true to grade with the bells upgrade. Pipe shall be firmly bedded for the full length of the barrel in the prepared trench bottom. Pipe shall be carefully centered prior to the joining. Joints shall be installed in strict compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Spigot and bell ends shall be thoroughly cleaned before jointing. After the section being laid has been carefully aligned, the joining shall be completed.
Q. The connection to the cast iron pipe at the building shall be suitable rubber gasket sleeve or adapter. Cement grout joints will not be allowed.
R. Backfill of the trench shall be done in a manner which will prevent damage to the pipe.
S. Parallel water and sewer lines shall be laid at least 10 feet apart horizontally. Wherever it is necessary for sewer and water lines to cross each other, the crossing shall be made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees and the sewer shall be located with 18-inch clearance below the water line.
T. All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city. (Ord. B-102 Art. 4 § 4, 1978).
13.34.050 Side sewer pipe materials.
The following side sewer pipe materials may be used:
A. PVC pipe, ASTM Specification D-3034, SDR-35;
B. Asbestos-cement pipe, ASTM Specification C-644 Class 24000, Type II;
C. All pipe joints shall be rubber ring gasket or coupling except PVC pipe which may be rubber ring or solvent welded joint. (Ord. B-219 § 1, 1982; Ord. B-102 Art. 4 § 5, 1978).
13.34.060 Testing.
All side sewers shall be tested for leakage in the presence of the public works director. Leakage shall not exceed five-tenths gallons per hour per 100 feet. (Ord. B-102 Art. 4 § 6, 1978).
13.34.070 Registration of side sewer contractors.
As a condition precedent to entering into contracts with the property owners in a public sewer service area for the installation of side sewers connecting with the public sewers and of soliciting said work, the contractors shall be registered with the public works director. Before registration will be granted, the side sewer contractor shall satisfy the following conditions:
A. The side sewer contractor shall be registered with the State Department of Labor and Industries under the requirements of the Specialty Contractor or General Contractor Registration Act.
B. If a registered side sewer contractor violates any provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter, registration of said side sewer contractor with the public works director shall be suspended immediately and shall be reinstated only by a review of the case by the city manager. Suspension of registration shall not exempt the side sewer contractor from any other penalties provided elsewhere in the ordinance codified in this chapter.
C. In addition to the foregoing provisions, the side sewer contractor shall comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations of the local, state, or federal government. (Ord. B-102 Art. 4 § 7, 1978).