Any connection with a public sanitary sewer must be made under the direct supervision of the Superintendent and in accordance with the following:
1. Old Building Sewers. Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test conducted by the owner and observed by the Superintendent, to meet all requirements of this chapter.
2. Separate Building Sewers. A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every occupied building; except where 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, court, yard, or driveway. In such cases the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.
3. Installation. The installation and connection of the building sewer to the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the State Plumbing Code and applicable rules and regulations of the City. 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.
4. Water Lines. When possible, building sewers should be laid at least 10 feet horizontally from a water service. The horizontal separation may be less, provided the water service line is located at one side and at least 12 inches above the top of the building sewer.
5. Size. Building sewers shall be sized for the peak expected sewage flow from the building with a minimum building sewer size of four inches.
6. Alignment and Grade. All building sewers shall be laid to a straight line to meet the following:
A. Recommended grade at one-fourth inch per foot.
B. Minimum grade of one-eighth inch per foot.
C. Minimum velocity of two feet per second with the sewer half full.
D. Any deviation in alignment or grade shall be made only with the written approval of the Superintendent and shall be made only with approved fittings.
7. Depth. Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. The depth of cover above the sewer shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost.
8. Sewage Lifts. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such drain shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building sewer.
9. Pipe Specifications. Building sewer pipe shall be free from flaws, splits, or breaks. Materials shall be as specified in the State Plumbing Code except that the building sewer pipe, from the property line to the public sewer, shall comply with the current edition of one of the following:
A. Clay sewer pipe – A.S.T.M. C-700 (extra strength).
B. Extra heavy cast iron soil pipe – A.S.T.M. A-74.
C. Ductile iron water pipe – A.W.W.A. C-151.
D. P.V.C. – SDR26 – A.S.T.M. D-3034.
10. Bearing Walls. No building sewer shall be laid parallel to, or within three feet of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened.
11. Jointing. Fittings, type of joint, and jointing material shall be compatible with the type of pipe used, subject to the approval of the Superintendent. Solvent-welded joints are not permitted.
12. 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 vitrified clay sewer pipe thoroughly encased in concrete shall be required for such crossings. Such encasement shall extend at least six inches on all sides of the pipe. The cast iron pipe or encased clay pipe shall rest on firm, solid material at either end.
13. 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 draining into the sanitary sewer.