Chapter 13.60
SIDE SEWER REGULATIONS
Sections:
13.60.010 Side sewer contractor requirements.
13.60.020 Costs to be borne by owner.
13.60.030 Side sewers – Minimum cover requirements.
13.60.040 Side sewers constructed at more than 100 percent grade.
13.60.060 Variances to standards.
13.60.070 Materials and standards.
13.60.080 Restoration to original condition.
13.60.010 Side sewer contractor requirements.
A. It is unlawful for anyone to construct, reconstruct or repair any side sewer in a public place unless he is a licensed side sewer contractor holding a current license under the city license code, or is an employee of the city engineer performing assigned duties.
B. No side sewer contractor’s license will be issued until the applicant has appeared before the city engineer and has been examined by him/her, by oral and/or written examination as to the applicant’s knowledge of side sewer construction work and the ordinances of the city regarding side sewers. The city engineer must deny the approval of any applicant that does not possess adequate experience or knowledge. Applicants for such examination by the city engineer must pay to the administrative services director the sum of $15.00 before taking the examination, and the receipt number is noted upon the examination and filed in the city engineer’s office.
C. Each side sewer contractor shall file with the city engineer a certificate of insurance from an insurance company licensed to do business in the state that the contractor carries public liability and property damage insurance in the sum of at least $50,000 for any one person killed or injured in any one accident or occurrence, and $100,000 for more than one person killed or injured in any one accident or occurrence, and at least $25,000 for all damage arising out of injury to or destruction of property. Such policy shall contain an endorsement naming the city as an additional insured and providing for not less than 10 days’ notice to the city of any change, cancellation or expiration of such policy.
D. A licensed side sewer contractor must secure his own permits, be responsible for all work accomplished under his permits and connect all plumbing outlets or drainage facilities in a complete manner, as required by the city engineer. A property owner or his employee may construct, reconstruct or repair a side sewer on private property. (Ord. 2022-007 § 4 (Exh. B); Ord. 270 § 5, 1973)
13.60.020 Costs to be borne by owner.
Costs and expense incidental to the installation, connection and maintenance of a side sewer shall be borne by the owner or occupant of the premises served by the side sewer. (Ord. 270 § 18, 1973)
13.60.030 Side sewers – Minimum cover requirements.
Side sewer shall be laid on not less than two percent nor more than 100 percent grade; shall be not less than 30 inches from any foundation wall of any building, and if there is no foundation wall, not less than 30 inches from the outer lines of any footings, pilings or building supports. Side sewers shall have not less than 60 inches of cover at the curb line, or in a public alley 30 inches of cover at the property line, and 18 inches of cover on the private property. Side sewers laid generally parallel to the curb or curb line shall not have less than 48 inches of cover between the curb or curb line and the sidewalk or sidewalk line nor less than 30 inches of cover between the sidewalk or sidewalk line and the property line. All cover measurements shall be based on the established grade, or on existing improvements, or shall be determined by the city engineer. (Ord. 270 § 22, 1973)
13.60.040 Side sewers constructed at more than 100 percent grade.
A. If a side sewer is to be constructed at more than 100 percent grade, or with less than the required minimum cover prescribed in this chapter, the city engineer may require special plans for the construction to be submitted for his approval, and he may require the use of cast iron pipe or asbestos-cement pipe or other material before approving the plan of construction. The wall thickness of the pipe to be used, and whether or not it should be encased in concrete or concrete with reinforcing steel shall be determined by the city engineer.
B. Six inches shall be the minimum diameter of pipe for gravity-flow side sewers in street areas.
C. Not more than one building shall be connected to a side sewer except by permission of, and in accordance with, rules and regulations of the city engineer.
D. Any one single-family dwelling shall be connected with not less than four-inch diameter pipe on private property; provided, that where a dual connection of two single-family dwellings, or a multiple dwelling or commercial building with a single-family dwelling is permitted by the city engineer, such connection shall be made with not less than six-inch diameter pipe below the point of dual connection
E. Any multiple dwelling, industrial or commercial building shall be connected with not less than six-inch diameter pipe on private property; provided, with the permission of the city engineer, three or less two-inch downspouts or one motel unit may be connected with four-inch diameter pipe on private property.
F. Cast iron or asbestos-cement pipe shall be used for all side sewers over water mains for a distance of at least five feet from the center of the water main. Side sewer lines must be laid at least one-half foot below and one foot away from all water service lines or one and one-half feet below all water department main water lines, unless cast iron or asbestos-cement pipe is used for the side sewer. (Ord. 270 § 23, 1973)
13.60.050 Permit required.
A. Before a side sewer may be located on a building site other than the site being served by the side sewer, and before the city engineer issues a permit authorizing the laying of such a side sewer, the owner of the side sewer shall secure a written easement from the owner of the building site to be crossed. The easement shall be duly acknowledged, and shall grant the right to occupy the property for side sewer or utility purposes. The easement shall be recorded in the office of the Clallam County Auditor, by the owner of the side sewer, and the recording number exhibited to the city engineer.
B. Where a side sewer is to be connected in a public area to a side sewer which is owned by another and does not involve an easement, written permission for such connection shall be obtained from the owner of such side sewer and shall be filed with the city engineer before a permit authorizing such connection is issued. (Ord. 270 § 24, 1973)
13.60.060 Variances to standards.
If, in the opinion of the city engineer, physical conditions make compliance with the provisions of this division impracticable, the city engineer may issue a permit for installation of a side sewer requiring compliance with the provisions insofar as is reasonably possible, and such permit shall be issued only upon the condition that the property owner shall record with the Clallam County Auditor an instrument acceptable to the city engineer agreeing to save harmless and indemnify the city from any damage or injury resulting from such installation. Such instrument shall be upon a form approved by the city engineer. This section is not intended to be used to allow storm drainage connections to a sanitary sewer. (Ord. 270 § 25, 1973)
13.60.070 Materials and standards.
A. Materials and workmanship in connection with the installation of any side sewer or drain shall be as required by the “Standard Plans and Specifications” of the state chapter of APWA, and modifications specified by the city engineer.
B. Fittings, increasers, traps, etc., shall be of standard manufacture.
C. Changes in line or grade shall be made with wyes or 45-degree bends, or for slight changes in line or grade, by setting each pipe out of line slightly, within the deflection angle allowed by the pipe manufacturer’s specifications, or by using 10-degree, 22-1/2-degree or 30-degree bends supplied by pipe manufacturers.
D. When laying around a 90-degree corner, a wye and 45-degree bend combination shall be used with the end of the wye left as a cleanout.
E. Increasers or wyes shall be used when changing the sizes of pipe. Pipe size may also be changed at a manhole.
F. Grafts on four-inch, six-inch or eight-inch pipe shall not be allowed.
G. Rubber-type gaskets or flexible-joint pipe must be used in side sewers constructed of concrete, or asbestos-cement pipe; cast iron pipe must have flexible joints or caulked lead joints. Copper pipe must have soldered joints.
H. Cast iron fittings must conform to the requirements of the plumbing code of the city as to quality of materials and type of fitting or structure.
I. A bend must not be used adjacent to a tee or wye at the main sewer but may be used at a length of pipe or more away from the main sewer, unless the bend is manufactured as a part of the first length of pipe.
J. Whenever it becomes necessary to disturb pavement in connection with any work authorized under the ordinance codified in this division, the opening shall be not less than three feet square; provided, the city engineer may specify a size of opening and additional cuts to be made when needed to insure a proper backfill.
K. No excavation shall be made in any public area except at the times and in the manner prescribed by the city engineer.
L. Backfill of excavation and tunnels under concrete or asphalt roadway surfacing and the restoration of these surfaces in public areas shall be accomplished by the contractor as directed by the city engineer.
M. Tunnels or excavations under public sidewalks or under driveways in public places may be backfilled by a side sewer contractor; provided, that the material has been approved by the city engineer, and provided it is tamped in place with a mechanical tamper, in layers of not more than 12 inches loose thickness; except that, within two feet of finish grade the loose thickness layers shall not exceed six inches. The density of all such compaction shall be approved by the city engineer. (Ord. 270 § 26, 1973)
13.60.080 Restoration to original condition.
Streets, sidewalks, planting strips and other public areas except as mentioned in SMC 13.60.080, disturbed or altered in the course of any side sewer or drainage work, shall be restored by the licensed sewer contractor to the original surface condition as approved by the city engineer; and in the event of the failure of the contractor to so restore the area the city engineer may make such restoration and charge the cost thereof to the side sewer contractor who shall, upon receiving written notice of the amount thereof or upon posting of such notice at the area, make immediate payment thereof to the city treasurer. (Ord. 270 § 27, 1973)
13.60.090 Manholes required.
In any property served by a side sewer carrying industrial waste, the owner or the occupant shall install a manhole in the side sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the wastes, when required by the city engineer. Such manhole shall be accessible, safely located and shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the plans approved by the city engineer. The manhole shall be installed and maintained by the owner or occupant at his sole expense. (Ord. 270 § 31, 1973)