§ 36-23. Building sewers and connections.

(a)

Disturbing sewers; permit required. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any sewer of the public system or appurtenances thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the director of public works as provided in subsection 36-20(b) and, where applicable, permission of the state department of transportation.

(b)

Separate sewer to be provided for every building. A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building; except where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, courtyard or driveway, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.

(c)

Existing sewers. Existing building sewers may be used in connection with the new buildings when they are found, on examination and test by the director of public works, to meet all requirements of this article.

(d)

Specifications. The building sewer shall be cast iron pipe, ASTM Specifications A74; vitrified clay sewer pipe, ASTM Specifications C13; or, when approved by the director of public works, other materials permitted by the Standard Plumbing Code. Joints shall be tight and waterproof. Any part of the building sewer that is located within ten feet of a water service shall be constructed of cast iron soil pipe with leaded joints. Cast iron pipe with leaded joints may be required by the director of public works where the building sewer is exposed to damage by tree roots. If installed in filled or unstable ground, the building sewer shall be of cast iron soil pipe, except that nonmetallic material may be accepted if laid on a suitable concrete bed or cradle as approved by the director of public works.

(e)

Size and slope. The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject to the approval of the director of public works, but in no event shall the diameter be less than four inches. The slope of such four-inch pipe shall be not less than one-eighth inch per foot.

(f)

Grade and alignment. No building sewer shall be laid parallel to or within three feet of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened. The building sewer shall be laid at uniform grade and in straight alignment insofar as possible. Changes in direction shall be made only with properly curved pipes and fittings.

(g)

Artificial means permitted for gravity flow. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public system, sewage carried by such drain shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building sewer. Construction, maintenance and operation of such artificial means shall be at no cost to the town.

(h)

Excavations in general. All excavations required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the director of public works. Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with ASTM Specification C12; except that no backfill shall be placed until the work has been inspected.

(i)

Joints and connections. All joints and connections shall be made gastight and watertight for the pressure required by test. Material and methods of jointing and connecting shall comply with the requirements stated below and with the applicable provisions of the Standard Plumbing Code.

(1)

Cast iron pipe joints shall be firmly packed with oakum or hemp and filled with molten lead, Federal Specification QQL-156, not less than one inch deep. Lead shall be run in one pouring and caulked tight. No paint, varnish or other coatings shall be permitted on the joint material until after the joint has been tested and approved. Rubber joint cast iron pipe may be used as an alternate.

(2)

All joints in vitrified clay or between metal pipe and metals shall be made with approved hot-pouring jointing material, as specified below or by using rubber gaskets or preformed, factory-applied couplings having resilient properties in accordance with ASTM Specification C425-64 for vitrified clay pipe, or the latest revisions thereof.

(3)

Material for hot-poured joints shall not soften to such a degree as to destroy the effectiveness of the joint when subjected to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, nor be soluble in any of the wastes carried by the drainage system. The joint shall first be caulked tight with jute, hemp, or similar approved material.

(4)

Other jointing materials and methods may be used only by approval of the director of public works.

(j)

Location of connection into public system. The connection of the building sewer into the public system shall be made at the "Y" branch, if such branch is available at a suitable location. If the public sewer is 12 inches in diameter or less, and no properly located "Y" branch is available, the town will install a "Y" branch in the public sewer at the location specified by the director of public works. Where the public sewer is greater than 12 inches in diameter, and no properly located "Y" branch is available, a neat hole may be cut into the public sewer to receive the building sewer, with entry in the downstream direction at an angle of about 45 degrees. A 45 degree ell may be used to make such connection, with the spigot end cut so as not to extend past the inner surface of the public sewer. The invert of the building sewer at the point of connection shall be at the same or at a higher elevation than the invert of the public sewer. A smooth, neat joint shall be made, and the connection made secure and watertight by encasement in concrete. Special fittings may be used for the connection only when approved by the director of public works.

(k)

Director of public works to be notified when sewer ready for inspection and connection. The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the director of public works when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public system.

(l)

Excavations to be guarded with barricades and lights; restoration of public property. 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 director of public works and the state department of transportation.

(Code 1967, § 30-5; Code 1999, § 26-20; Ord. No. 02-17, § 1(Exh. A), 2-7-2017)