1. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the Superintendent. The application for the permit shall set forth the location and description of the property to be connected with the sewer system and the purpose for which the sewer is to be used, and shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent. The permit shall require the owner to complete construction and connection of the building sewer to the public sewer within thirty (30) days after the issuance of the permit, except that when a property owner makes sufficient showing that due to conditions beyond the owner’s control or peculiar hardship, such time period is inequitable or unfair, an extension of time within which to comply with the provisions herein may be granted. Any sewer connection permit may be revoked at any time for a violation of these chapters.
Before a permit may be issued for excavating for plumbing in any public street, way or alley, the person applying for such permit shall have executed unto the City of Cascade and deposited with the City Clerk a corporate surety in the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) conditioned that the applicant will perform faithfully all work with due care and skill, and in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations established under the authority of any Ordinances of the City of Cascade pertaining to plumbing. This bond shall state that the person will indemnify and save harmless the City of Cascade and the owner of the premises against all damages, costs, expenses, outlay and claims of every nature and kind arising out of unskillfulness or negligence on the applicant's part in connection with plumbing or excavating for plumbing as prescribed in this Ordinance. Such bond shall remain in force and must be executed for a period of two (2) years except that on such expiration it shall remain in force as to all penalties, claims and demands that may have accrued thereunder prior to such expiration. In lieu of a surety bond, a cash deposit of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) may be filed with the City.
3. All cost and expense incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.
4. A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except where (1) one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private 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; and (2) the properties served are in a planned development, with zero setbacks such as a condominium or multi-family units and is approved in advance by the City Council. In the case of any shared services, proof of a joint maintenance agreement must be recorded on the property and provided to the City on all impacted properties, so as to outline all responsibilities of maintenance costs prior to any connection taking place.
5. Old building sewers may be used in connection with new building sewers only when they are found, upon examination and testing by the Superintendent, to meet all requirements of this Ordinance. The Superintendent may require that the old sewer be excavated for the purpose of facilitating inspection. No old cesspool or septic tank shall be connected to any portion of a building sewer that is also connected to the public sewer. Cesspools and septic tanks shall be located, and drained in a manner approved by the Superintendent and removed or filled with sand, crushed rock or any other solid material approved by the Superintendent, except as exempted by the Superintendent.
6. The building sewer shall be constructed in accordance with applicable portions of the last published (State Plumbing Code of Iowa), applicable specifications of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and applicable portions of the Water Pollution Control Federation (WPCF) Manual of Practice No. 9."
a. Each connection to the public sewer shall be made to the fittings designated for that property. If a fitting in the public sewer is not available for the designated property, the connection shall then be made under the direct supervision of the Superintendent. Connections to the public sewer not made to an existing wye or tee shall be made by a hole cutter or careful chisel cutting. The connection shall be rendered water and gas tight, by use of rubber gaskets. The building sewer shall not protrude into the public sewer.
b. All building sewers shall be constructed of the following materials conforming to the indicated standards. In absence of provisions or in amplification thereof, the materials and procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the A.S.T.M. and W.P.C.F. Manual of Practice No. 9 shall apply.
Vitrified Clay Pipe VCP
(1) Pipe and Fittings -ASTM C-700 "Standard Specification or Vitrified Clay Pipe, Extra Strength, Standard Strength and Perforated."
(2) Coupling and Joints -ASTM C-425 "Standard Specification for Compression Joints for Vitrified Clay Pipe and Fittings".
Extra Heavy Cast Iron Soil Pipe
(1) Pipe and Fittings -ASTM A-74 "Standard Specification for Cast Iron Soil Pipe and Fittings."
(2) Joints -ASTM C-564 "Standard Specification for Rubber Gaskets for Cast Iron Soil Pipe and Fittings."
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and joints shall be installed according to the manufacturers' recommendations and shall conform to:
(1) Pipe -A.S.T.M. D-3034, "Type P.S.M. Poly (PVC) and Fittings."
Minimum wall thickness:
4" - 0.125"
6" - 0.180"
8" - 0.240"
10" -0.300"
(2) Joints -A.S.T.M. D-1869, A.S.T.M. D-1312, "Flexible Elastomeric Seals."
(3) Minimum velocity: 2.50 feet per second with sewer half full.
(4) Deviations: any deviation in alignment or grade shall be made only with written approval of the Superintendent and shall be made only with properly curved pipe and fittings.
Pipe Specifications. Building sewer pipe shall be free from flaws, splits or breaks. Materials shall be as specified in Division 4 of the State Building Code or the City plumbing regulations.
Jointing. Fittings, type of joint and jointing material shall be commensurate with the type of pipe used, subject to the approval of the Superintendent.
Unstable Soil. No sewer connection shall be laid so that it is exposed when crossing any watercourse. Where an old watercourse must of necessity be crossed or where there is any danger of undermining or settlement, cast iron soil pipe or verified clay sewer pipe thoroughly encased in concrete shall be required for such crossings. Such encasement shall extend at least six (6) inches on all sides of the pipe. The cast iron pipe or encased clay pipe shall rest on firm, solid material at either end.
Preparation of Basement or Crawl Space. No connection for any residence, business or other structure with any sanitary sewer shall be made unless the basement floor is poured, or in the case of a building with a slab or crawl space, unless the ground floor is installed with the area adjacent to the foundation of such building cleared of debris and backfilled. The backfill shall be well compacted and graded so that the drainage is away from the foundation. Prior to the time the basement floor is poured, or the first floor is installed in buildings without basements, the sewer shall be plugged and the plug shall be sealed by the Superintendent. Any accumulation of water in any excavation or basement during construction and prior to connection to the sanitary sewer shall be removed by means other than drainage into the sanitary sewer.
INTERCEPTORS REQUIRED. Grease, oil, sludge and sand interceptors shall be provided by gas and service stations, convenience stores, car washes, garages, and other facilities when in the opinion of the Superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of such wastes that contain grease in excessive amounts or any flammable waste, sand or other harmful ingredients. Such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. When required, such interceptors shall be installed in accordance with the following:
Design and Location: All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity as provided by the Iowa Public Health Bulletin and Division 4 of the State Building Code, to be approved by the Superintendent, and shall be located so as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
Construction Standards. The interceptors shall be constructed of impervious material capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature. They shall be of substantial construction, watertight and equipped with easily removable covers that shall be gastight and watertight.
Maintenance. All such interceptors shall be maintained by the owner at the owner's expense and shall be kept in continuously efficient operations at all times.
Backflow Preventer Required. All new construction, repair or reconfiguration of the sanitary sewer system in a structure requires the installation of a sewer backflow preventer installed downstream of all drains.
Sewer Tap. Connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall be made at the "Y" branch, if such branch is available at a suitable location. If no properly located "Y" branch is available, a "Y" saddle shall be installed at the location specified by the Superintendent.
The public sewer shall be tapped with a tapping machine and a saddle appropriate to the type of public sewer shall be glued and attached with stainless steel clamps to the sewer. At no time shall a building sewer be constructed so as to enter a manhole unless special written permission is received from the Superintendent and in accordance with the Superintendent direction if such connection is approved.
c. No building sewer for residential or commercial buildings shall be less than four inches in diameter. No building sewer for industries or multiple dwellings shall be less than six inches in diameter.
d. Unless otherwise authorized, all building sewers shall have a grade of not less than one-eighth (1/8) inch per foot. A grade of one-fourth (1/4) inch per foot shall be used wherever practical.
e. All excavation shall be open trench work unless authorized by the Superintendent. The foundation in the trench shall be formed to prevent any subsequent settlement of the pipes. If the foundation is good firm earth, the earth shall be pared or molded to give a full support to the lower quadrant of each pipe. Bell holes shall be dug. Where the floor of the trench is of hard or rocky material, the trench shall be excavated to four inches below the pipe and brought back to the proper grade with gravel, course sand or similar material so as to provide a firm foundation and uniform support for the building sewer line. Backfilling shall be placed in layers and solidly tamped or packed up to two feet above the pipe. Back-filling shall not be done until final inspection is made by the Superintendent. Building sewers shall be laid straight at uniform grade between connections or fittings.
f. Cleanouts shall be provided for each change in direction or grade if the change exceeds 45 degrees and at least every 100 feet.
7. Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. The depth shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost. All excavations required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the said Superintendent. Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with A.S.T.M. Specification (Designation C12). No backfill shall be placed until the work has been inspected by the Superintendent or the Superintendent's representative. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer.
8. No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.
9. The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the Plumbing Code or other applicable rules and regulations of the City, or the procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the A.S.T.M. and the W.P.C.F. Manual of Practice No. 9. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the Superintendent before installation.
10. Each and every part of the building sewer shall be inspected and approved by the Superintendent before being concealed or back-filled. The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the Superintendent when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the Superintendent or the Superintendent's representative.
11. 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.
12. The City shall, in no event, be held responsible for claims made against it by reason of the breaking of any mains or service pipes, or by reason of any other interruption of the service caused by the breaking of machinery or stoppage for necessary repairs; and no person shall be entitled to damages nor have any portion of a payment refunded for any interruption.
12-1 Abatement of Violations. Construction or maintenance of building sewer lines whether located upon the private property of any owner or in the public right of way, which construction or maintenance is in violation of any of the requirements of this chapter, shall be corrected at the owner’s expense within thirty (30) days after date of official notice from the council of such violation. If not made within such time the council shall in addition to other penalties herein provided have the right to finish and correct the work and assess the cost thereof to the property owner. Such assessment shall be collected with and in the same manner as general property taxes.
13. The premises receiving sanitary sewer service, shall at all reasonable hours, be subject to inspection by duly authorized personnel of the City.
14. The Owner of the property served by a building sewer shall be responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, blockage, surface replacement, and any damage resulting from operation, maintenance repair and blockage of said building sewer, from the point of connection with the building drain to the Public Sewer.
15. Connection Charge. Before any permit is issued and connection made, a connection charge shall be paid to the City. The City may determine what connections will be made under this section and connections may be denied, or an additional connection fee negotiated, if the City makes a determination that the requested hookup will place an unreasonable burden on the water and/or sewer mains. A connection fee will be charged for each time a new connection is made to the sanitary sewer system regardless of whether the connection is made to a stubbed-out sewer lateral or sewer main. The connection fee will be established by Resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 01-22, passed 8-22-22; Ord. 07-22, passed 11-14-22)