CHAPTER 8
CONNECTIONS
Section 3801. (previously 3065). Connections at Manholes.
No connection shall be made to existing manholes except as approved and directed by authorized District representative. Where a connection to the sewer system is to be made in an existing manhole, the contractor shall make the connection by breaking through the manhole base wall and forming a new channel in accordance with the Standard Manhole Drawing No. 20. When the connection is to be made by constructing a new manhole on an existing sewer, the connection and manhole shall conform to the details shown on Standard Drawing No. 13.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 52, 08-05-75)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 138, 07-01-05)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
Section 3802. (previously 3066). Wye Branches and Tees.
Wye branches and tees shall be installed of the same material into the main to serve the property fronting on the sewer. Video testing may be required at the District’s discretion. The end of each wye branch for which a building sewer is to be constructed shall be closed with a stopper or cover until the building sewer is constructed. The cover shall be of such type as to be tight enough to withstand the test as set forth in Section 3411 of this Code but can be removed without injury to the pipe.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 138, 07-01-05)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
Section 3803. (previously 3067). Building Sewers.
Building sewers shall be constructed of approved pipe and shall have an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the building drain, but in no case less than four inches. In the event the building sewer slope is less than one-fourth inch per foot, the pipe size shall be increased in the following ratio: four inches to six inches, six inches to eight inches, and eight inches to 10 inches. Building sewers shall conform to the details shown on Standard Drawing No. 9.
In no event shall the slope of the building sewer be less than one-eighth inch per foot.
The upper end of each building sewer shall be at a depth sufficient to provide adequate coverage for the property served. Cast or ductile iron pipe shall be used whenever the depth of a building sewer is less than four feet below curb grade, surface of the street or other areas subject to vehicular traffic or less than two feet below ground surface at any point on private property not subject to vehicular traffic. VCP and HDPE SDR-17 may be used in all other instances. Each building sewer that is not connected to a building shall have a clean-out placed as near the property line as possible and shall be capped.
For sewer service to three or less lots, use four-inch diameter pipe laterals in a common trench rather than a collector sewer (except where further extension of the sewer can be anticipated). Minimum width of 12 inches clear separation between laterals in a common trench.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 52, 08-05-75)
(Amended, §12, Ord. 60, 11-06-78)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 138, 07-01-05)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
Section 3804. (previously 3069). Tap Connections to Existing Sewers.
Connections to existing sewers shall be made by means of a “Perry Tap,” as installed by the Tap-Tite Company, Oakland, California, or approved equal. No fragments of pipe or mortar shall be left in the main sewer. The use of taps employing core drilling techniques and specially designed fittings for connection to sewer mains is acceptable. The District Inspection Staff must witness the tap procedure. If the sewer main is damaged during tapping operation, the contractor shall remove the damaged section and install a branch fitting or repair the damage as directed by an authorized District representative.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 52, 08-05-75)
(Amended, §11, Ord. 57, 08-02-77)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 138, 07-01-05)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
Section 3805. (previously 3070). Separate Connections.
Except as provided for in Section 4115 of this Code, every single-family dwelling must be separately and individually connected with the public sewer. Individually owned units located within a single building must be separately and individually connected to the public sewer unless otherwise approved by the District.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §12, Ord. 57, 08-02-77)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 183, 09-03-19)
Section 3806. (previously 3071). Roof Leaders and Surface Drains.
No leaders from roofs and no surface drains for rain water shall be connected to any building sewer, nor shall any surface or subsurface drainage, nor any rain water, storm water or seepage, or unpolluted industrial process waters, be permitted to enter any building sewer by any device or method whatsoever.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
Section 3807. (previously 3072, 3074). Backwater Prevention System.
The backwater prevention system (BPS) consists of a check valve, a two-way clean-out, and an overflow device installed on the clean-out. The backwater prevention system shall be constructed as follows: a check valve shall be installed immediately downstream of the building sewer clean-out and shall be the same inside diameter as the building sewer pipe. The backwater prevention system shall be maintained by the property owner per the manufacturer’s recommendations and regularly checked to ensure it is in good working order.
The District’s standard regarding installation of a backwater prevention system is as follows:
(a) For new building sewers:
(1) Required on all new structures.
(b) For existing building sewers:
(1) Required on all existing structures where the lowest finish floor elevation is less than six inches above the upstream manhole cover (rim).
(2) Required on all existing structures when the building sewer requires more than 50 percent repair or replacement.
(3) Required on all existing structures when additional plumbing fixtures are to be installed and when the structure floor area is to be increased by more than 25 percent.
(4) Required on all existing structures that are damaged by a blockage in a sanitary sewer main and/or where a backup from the sanitary sewer main into the building has occurred.
(5) Required when a clean-out is installed or replaced near the building foundation.
(c) Notice of Code Violation. Should the homeowner fail to comply with the above within 90 days of being notified in writing from the District, the District may, at its sole discretion, send the property owner a letter by certified mail advising them of applicable code violations.
(d) Dwellings at risk of sewer backups/courtesy notice. From time to time, District personnel may identify certain structures that are likely at risk from sewer backups. The owners of those identified properties will be notified by certified letter explaining the benefits of retrofitting their building sewer with a BPS. Installation of a BPS under these circumstances is recommended, but not required.
(e) Acceptable backwater valves are as follows:
(1) If the top of the lateral is 18 inches or greater in depth from the finish surface, the check valve shall be a “clean check” extendable backwater valve, part No. EBV-A401 or approved equal.
(2) If the lateral is less than 18 inches in depth from the ground surface, the backwater check valve shall be N.D.S. 475 (ABS), or approved equal.
(f) Covers. The backwater check valve and clean-out shall be provided with a suitable box set to finished grade providing service accessibility. Boxes shall be stacked on top of each other if necessary, to provide protection to the check valve and overflow device. Box shall be Christy No. F08BOX and concrete lid manufactured for sidewalk areas. “SEWER” shall be written on lid. In areas subject to vehicular traffic use cast iron lid. Valves may be placed in one larger box Christy N36 box with B36 lid.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 119, 06-03-98)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 138, 07-01-05)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 183, 09-03-19)
Section 3808. (previously 3073). Gravity Flow.
In individual buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, and wastewater is lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building sewer, a gravity flow section of building sewer shall be constructed from the public sewer to the edge of the property as shown on District Standard Drawing No. 17.
(Added, §1 Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
Section 3809. (previously 3075). Joining Different Pipe Products.
When different pipe products are joined together, the joint shall be made in accordance with Section 3206 of this Code, manufacturer’s recommendations, and as approved by an authorized District representative.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
Section 3810. (previously 3076). Clean-Outs.
Each house or building (structure) shall be provided with a two-way clean-out. Clean-outs shall be placed a minimum of two feet from the foundation wall or where practicable and accessible and in accordance with Standard Drawing No. 9. The overflow device shall be a “sewer popper,” part No. S62-304 made by the Jones Stephens Company or approved equal.
Clean-outs shall also be provided at any vertical or horizontal angle turn of greater than 45 degrees or when necessary due to the length of the building sewer, at intervals not exceeding 100 feet.
Two-way clean-outs shall also be provided at the edge of property, public right-of-way, edge of pavement, or edge of easement or where practicable and accessible as determined by the District Inspection Staff.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 52, 08-05-75)
(Amended, §13, Ord. 60, 11-06-78)
(Amended, §3, Ord. 119, 06-03-98)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 138, 07-01-05)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 174, 11-07-17)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 183, 09-03-19)
Section 3811. (previously 3077). Use of Existing Building Sewers.
An existing building sewer may be reused for connection with new buildings only after the sewer is found on examination and testing to meet all requirements for new sewer construction. An existing building sewer that is reused will require a new connection permit.
(Added, §1, Ord. 35, 04-06-59)
(Amended, §14, Ord. 60, 11-06-78)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 150, 07-01-09)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 162, 07-01-14)
(Amended, §1, Ord. 169, 05-03-16)