[Amended 8-10-1994]
There shall be no tapping into any public sewer system unless a permit is granted therefor by the Water Pollution Control Authority.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Ridgefield as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-5-1974 as §§ 12-2, 12-3 and 12-4 of the 1974 Code]
After a person has obtained a permit, the tapping into any public sewer system shall be under the supervision of the Town Sewer Maintenance Official or Building Official, and only at such point or points as shall be designated by said officials.
No surface water will be permitted to enter any public sewer. Water from roofs, automobile wash stands and cellars is strictly prohibited from entering any public sewer.
[Adopted 7-31-1974 (Ch. 12, Art. II of the 1974 Code)]
In order to assure the proper disposal of sewage and wastewaters and the proper operation and maintenance of the public sewers, sewage treatment plant and other sewage works within the Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and to provide an adequate record of sewers, drains, appurtenances and connections thereto, the following regulations are enacted by the Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, under the authority of C.G.S. Ch. 103, § 7-246, as amended.
[Amended 10-5-1983; 8-10-1994]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in these regulations shall be as follows. "Shall" is mandatory; "may" is permissive.
Includes any device which attaches to the faucet which breaks up into fine droplets and entrains air into the water which flows from that faucet.
Includes all pipes together with all other structures or equipment appurtenant thereto provided to carry water, either subsoil drainage or otherwise, from the floor of the lowest level of a structure.
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20° C., expressed in milligrams per liter by weight.
That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a building drainage system that receives the discharge from the soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five feet outside the inner face of the building wall.
The amount of chlorine which must be added to water or waste to produce a residual chlorine content of at least 1/10 milligram per liter after a minimum contact time of 10 minutes.
Includes the wastewater from air-conditioning, industrial cooling, condensing and hydraulically powered equipment or similar apparatus.
A person appointed by the Sewer Authority to represent the Authority in the field.
Either an individual, partnership or corporation to whom or to which the Sewer Authority of the Town of Ridgefield has issued a certificate to install, alter or repair sewers, sewer connections, house connections, etc., during the period when such certificate is valid, and the proper agents and representatives of such drain layer.
Includes any device that limits the amount of flow possible through a fully opened spigot or shower head to no more than four gallons per minute at a pressure of 35 pounds per square inch.
Solid wastes from the preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food and from handling, storage, and sale of produce. "Properly shredded garbage" shall mean garbage which has been shredded so that no garbage particles will be greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension.
Any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface or ground water.
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation, or group.
The logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
Wastewater or water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments. Sewage shall be further classified as follows:
DOMESTIC OR SANITARY SEWAGEThe solid and liquid wastes from toilet and lavatory fixtures, kitchens, laundries, bathtubs, shower baths, or equivalent plumbing fixtures as discharged from dwellings and business and industrial buildings.
INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE OR WASTESThe water-carried wastes of any industrial process as distinct from domestic or sanitary sewage. All substances carried in industrial wastes, whether dissolved, in suspension, or mechanically carried by water, shall be considered as industrial wastes.
Any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.
The pipe, together with manholes and other structures or equipment appurtenant thereto, provided to carry sewage. Sewers shall be further classified as follows:
PUBLIC SEWERA trunk, main or lateral sewer up to and including the "Y" branch or tee provided for connection thereto and to which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights and which is controlled by public authority. The public sewer does not include the building or house sewer, or the building connection lateral after it is connected with a building sewer.
SANITARY SEWERA sewer which carries only sanitary sewage and to which stormwater, subsoil drainage, and cooling water are not intentionally admitted.
BUILDING OR HOUSE SEWERThe extension from the building drain to the public sewer.
BUILDING OR HOUSE CONNECTION LATERALThe pipe laid incidental to the original construction of a public sewer from said public sewer up to some point at the side of the street, highway, or similar location, and there capped, having been provided and intended for extension and for use at some time thereafter as part of a building or house sewer connection.
All facilities for collecting, pumping, treating, and disposing of sewage or wastewater.
The Water Pollution Control Authority of the Town of Ridgefield.
That area within the Town of Ridgefield which is now or may in the future be served by public sewers.
Any discharge of water, sewage, or industrial waste which in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer than 15 minutes more than five times the average twenty-four-hour concentration or flow during normal operation.
A pipeline carrying stormwater, subsoil drainage, acceptable cooling water or other reasonably clean waters, but excluding sewage and polluted industrial wastes.
Includes the runoff or discharge of rain and melted snow or other water from roofs, surfaces of public or private lands, or elsewhere. Stormwater shall also include subsoil drainage as defined in this section.
Includes water from the soil percolating into subsoil drains and through foundation walls, basement floors, or underground pipes.
Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids and which are removable by filtering as prescribed in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water, Sewage and Industrial Waste, American Public Health Association.
The Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut.
A channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
[Amended 10-5-1983]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the Sewer District of the Town of Ridgefield any human or animal excrement, garbage, or other objectionable waste.
B.
It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet or storm sewer within the Town of Ridgefield any sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of these regulations.
C.
The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose situated within the Sewer District of the Town of Ridgefield is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of these regulations within 60 days after date of official notice from the Sewer Authority, in writing, to do so, provided that said public sewer is located or may in the future be located in any street, alley or right-of-way within 200 feet of the property line.
D.
Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage within the Sewer District.
E.
All new structures that are to be connected to the sewer system, or additions to existing structures already connected to the sewer system, shall be equipped with the following:
(1)
Toilets that are limited to a flush volume of no more than 3.5 gallons of water per flush.
(2)
Lavatory and kitchen faucets that limit the delivery rate to no more than 4.0 gallons per minute and are equipped with aerators.
(3)
Shower fixtures that are equipped with either flow restrictors or shower heads that limit water usage to no more than three gallons per minute.
A.
Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of § 298-6C, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the regulations of the Health Department of the Town of Ridgefield.
B.
At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage system, as provided in § 298-6C, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with these regulations, and any septic tank, cesspool, and similar private sewage disposal facility shall be abandoned.
[Amended 10-5-1983; 1-8-1992]
A.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into any public sewer of the Town of Ridgefield any waste other than domestic or sanitary sewage without first obtaining a permit to do so from the Sewer Authority.
B.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any compressed air, steam, storm, stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, cooling water, air-conditioning and refrigerating wastewaters, unpolluted industrial process waters, sump pump discharges or basement floor drain to any sanitary sewer.
C.
Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewer:
(1)
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150° F.
(2)
Any water or waste which may contain more than 100 milligrams per liter by weight of fat, oil, wax or grease or containing other substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32° and 150° F.
(3)
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, alcohol, tar, fuel, oil, or any other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, gas or vapor.
(4)
Any garbage except properly shredded garbage. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of 3/4 horsepower or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the Sewer Authority.
(5)
Any ashes, cinders, stones, sand, mud, straw, grass clippings, shavings, sawdust, metal, sticks, coarse rubbish, glass, rags, feathers, plastics, waste rubber, wood, paunch manure, animal guts or tissues, entrails, blood, hair or hides, or other substance likely to damage, destroy or cause an obstruction to the flow in any sewer or which may interfere with the proper operation of the sewage works.
(6)
Any waters, sewage or wastes having a pH lower than five or higher than 9.5 or having any other corrosive or detrimental property capable of causing damage or hazard to the sewage works or personnel.
(7)
Any waters or wastes containing a toxic, poisonous or radioactive substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process or to constitute a hazard to humans, animals or marine life or to create any hazard in the receiving waters.
(a)
The following toxic or poisonous substances shall not be present in any appreciable quantity of industrial or commercial process discharges in excess of the following limits in milligrams per liter by weight. Should the federal or state government promulgate pretreatment standards on toxic, poisonous and hazardous materials that differ from the Town limitations, the more stringent of the limitations shall apply.
(b)
Radioactive wastes or materials may be discharged into a public sewer if Conditions I and II below are met and if either Condition III or IV is also met, provided that such discharges are in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations:
[1]
Condition I. Such wastes must be readily soluble or dispersible in water.
[2]
Condition II. The gross quantity of all radioactive materials so discharged must not exceed one curie per year.
[3]
Condition III. The daily quantity of any radioactive material, if diluted by the average daily volume of sewage discharged into the system from the installation, must not exceed the maximum concentrations allowed by regulations of the United States Atomic Energy Commission.
[4]
Condition IV. Daily quantities of radioactive materials up to the maximum permitted by the United States Atomic Energy Commission may be so discharged provided that the total monthly quantities, if diluted by the average monthly volume of sewage discharged from the installation, do not exceed the concentrations permissible under Condition III above.
(8)
Any noxious, malodorous or taste-producing gas, vapor or substance, such as phenols, capable of creating a public or private nuisance or which may prove toxic to sewage treatment processes or which may exceed acceptable limits for discharge to receiving waters.
(9)
Materials which exert or cause:
(a)
Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, Fullers earth, lime slurries, and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate).
(b)
Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions).
(c)
Unusual BOD, suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment works.
(d)
Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting slugs as defined herein.
(10)
Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.
D.
If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in Subsection C and which in the judgment of the Sewer Authority may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the Sewer Authority may:
(1)
Reject the wastes;
(2)
Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;
(3)
Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or
(4)
Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges.
E.
Determination of exclusion of wastes. In determining whether any waste discharged or proposed to be discharged into any public sewer is to be excluded, consideration will be given to the quantity, time or times, rate and manner of discharge, dilution and character of the waste in question, the size of the sewer into which the waste is to be discharged, the probable quantity of sewage or other wastes likely in said sewer, and other pertinent facts. Minute quantities of a waste which would be objectionable in larger quantity may be accepted if sufficiently diluted when and as discharged, or if the quantity discharged is small as compared with the flow in the receiving sewer, but any permission to discharge minute quantities of an otherwise excluded waste shall be revocable at any time by the Sewer Authority.
F.
Pretreatment facilities. At all premises where wastes or substances specified to be excluded from public sewers by these regulations are present and liable to be discharged directly or indirectly into said sewers, suitable and sufficient piping layouts, oil, grease, sand and flammable waste traps, or absolute grease separators, screens, settling tanks, diluting devices, storage or regulating chambers, treatment, cooling or other equipment and devices shall be provided. These shall be maintained and properly operated by the owner of the premises or his agent at his expense to ensure that no waste or substance is discharged in violation of these regulations.
(1)
On premises where any of the wastes or substances as described in this Subsection C of this section are present, the Sewer Authority may require the owner to provide, operate and maintain at his (the owner's) expense a sampling well or wells, flow measuring devices, manholes or other appurtenances, all readily accessible, on the building sewer or drain from said premises near the point where said sewer or drain connects to the public sewer. By means of said sampling well or wells, flow measuring devices, or other appurtenances, the owner, occupants of said premises, the Sewer Authority's designated agent, or any public officer having legal jurisdiction may secure samples of or examine the wastes being discharged into the public sewer for the purpose of determining compliance or noncompliance with the requirements of these regulations. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected.
(2)
If the Sewer Authority permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the Sewer Authority and of any and all state regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until said approvals are obtained in writing.
(3)
On premises where pretreatment plants and equipment are to be installed, the Sewer Authority may require the owner to provide a control valve to permit prohibited discharges to be diverted away from the public sewer in the event of a malfunction of such pretreatment facilities. The control valve will be under the sole jurisdiction of the Sewer Authority and no person other than the Sewer Authority's designated agent will be permitted its use.
G.
The Sewer Authority's designated agent shall have the right to enter and inspect any part of the premises served by public sewers upon which there may be reason to believe that violations of the requirements of these regulations have occurred or are likely to occur, for the purpose of ascertaining the facts as to such violation or suspected violation, or of obtaining samples of wastes, or of inspecting flow-measuring devices or treatment facilities provided to prevent prohibited discharges, or of regulating discharges through control valves.
H.
All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of water and wastes to which reference is made in this section shall be determined in accordance with the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Sewage, published by the American Public Health Association.
I.
No statement contained in this section shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the Sewer Authority and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength of character may be accepted by the Sewer Authority for treatment, subject to payment therefor by the industrial concern, provided that such agreements do not contravene any requirements of existing federal laws and are compatible with any user charge and industrial cost recovery system in effect.
[Amended 10-5-1983]
A.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into any public sewer, either directly or indirectly, any overflow or effluent from a septic tank, cesspool, subsurface drainage trench, bed or filter, or other receptacle storing organic waste.
B.
The contents of privy vaults, septic tanks, or cesspools will be accepted and processed only at the municipal sewage treatment plant on South Street, unless otherwise allowed by the Authority, provided that:
(1)
Such contents were accumulated and located on property within the Town of Ridgefield.
(2)
Such contents consist only of domestic or commercial wastes, excluding any industrial wastes or substances specified to be excluded from public sewers by these regulations.
(3)
Such contents are transported in sanitary, watertight vehicles, equipped with a suitable valve outlet, and meeting such requirements as may be stipulated by local or state health agencies.
(4)
A permit is issued by the Sewer Authority for the discharge of such contents. A permit fee may be set by the Sewer Authority for each tank load of such wastes.
(5)
Delivery of such contents is made to the sewage treatment plant site on weekdays during hours approved by the Sewer Authority.
(6)
One or more copies of the permit form for the discharge of such contents are surrendered to the sewage treatment plant operator or his agent and such operator or his agent accepts the delivery as containing no substances or wastes known to be harmful to the sewage treatment plant or its treatment processes.
C.
Permits issued under this section shall be void after 30 days from date of issuance. All permits are subject to cancellation, revocation, or suspension by the Sewer Authority when such action is deemed necessary to safeguard the sewage works.
[Amended 10-5-1983]
A.
Connections, alterations, or repairs to any public sewer, or the manholes or other appurtenances of said sewer system under the jurisdiction of the Sewer Authority, shall not be made by any person without a permit issued by the Sewer Authority. Any person proposing a new discharge into the system or a substantial change in the volume or character of pollutants that are being discharged into the system shall notify the Sewer Authority at least 45 days prior to the proposed change or connection.
B.
No unauthorized person shall open the cover of, enter, or alter any manhole or other appurtenance of any public sewer; no person shall place or insert in any public sewer or its appurtenances any foreign material which said sewer or its appurtenances were not intended to receive; nor shall any person damage, destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper in any way with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the sewage works. Any person violating this provision of these regulations shall be subject to arrest under a charge of disorderly conduct.
[Amended 10-5-1983]
A.
There shall be two classes of building sewer permits: Class A for residential and commercial service and Class B for service to industrial establishments. In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the Sewer Authority. The permit application shall be supplemented by plans and specifications of the proposed building sewer. A permit and inspection fee, as determined by the Sewer Authority, for each Class A permit and each Class B permit shall be paid to the Sewer Authority, Town of Ridgefield, at the time the application is filed. These fees are described on the application.
B.
All costs and expense incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. All building sewers shall be maintained by the owner of the property served. When a building connection lateral has been connected with a building sewer, the lateral shall become and thereafter be a part of such building connection and shall be maintained at the expense of the owner or owners of the property served.
C.
A permit for excavating any street shall be obtained from the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Ridgefield, and in the event such street excavation is within the limits of any state highway, a permit shall be obtained from the State of Connecticut Highway Department, and said permit or permits must accompany the application for a building sewer permit.
D.
No person, other than those working for and under the direction of the Sewer Authority, shall excavate, construct, install, lay, repair, alter, or remove any building sewer of any appurtenance thereof, if such sewer is connected or is intended at some future time to be connected, directly or indirectly, into any public sewer until said person has a permit secured by the owner or his agent of the property in question for doing such work and further provided that said person performs such work under the stipulation and requirements of § 298-12 of these regulations.
E.
Any permit may be suspended, revoked or terminated by the Sewer Authority on written notice to the permittee for violation of the conditions thereof, or for any violation of the requirements of these regulations, or for other reasons in the public interest.
[Amended 10-5-1983]
A.
Only persons licensed through the state, having a permit and having paid the required permit fee may construct, repair, alter or remove building sewers or make connections to a public sewer. The state license shall be as defined in the Health Department office, Town of Ridgefield. Plumbers and others may work on pipes within and not more than five feet outside the walls of any structure, provided that no connection to a public sewer shall be made by such persons without a permit from the Sewer Authority, irrespective of the distance of said public sewer to the structure in question. All drains and fixtures within structures shall be connected by plumbers and others in conformity with the requirements of these regulations as to what may or what shall not be discharged into public sewers.
B.
The following regulations shall apply to certified drain layers:
(1)
Any person desiring to be certified as a drain layer in the Sewer District of the Town of Ridgefield shall file an application in writing with the Sewer Authority, furnishing such information as the Sewer Authority may require with respect to his qualifications and the qualifications of his personnel. The fee for a drain layer's certificate shall be as provided in Chapter 170, Fees, § 170-2, which shall be paid before any certificate is granted. Within a period of 30 days after the filing of an application, and after making such investigation as the Sewer Authority deems necessary, a certificate will be issued by the Sewer Authority to any applicant who is deemed to be qualified on the basis of experience and training.
(3)
The Sewer Authority may at any time revoke the certificate of a drain layer for any violation of these regulations.
(4)
Any person certified as a drain layer shall give personal attention to the work performed and shall employ only competent persons who are familiar with these regulations.
(5)
Each certified drain layer shall file with the Sewer Authority a performance and guaranty bond, which shall remain in full force for at least 13 months from date of application, in the amount of not less than $2,000 in form and with surety satisfactory to the Sewer Authority. Such surety shall include that the applicant shall indemnify the Town of Ridgefield for any negligence or omission of the applicant or his agents while operating under the certificate granted by the Sewer Authority; that the applicant shall reimburse the Town of Ridgefield for any expense to said Town arising from any injury or damage to any sewer or other property of said Town, or by reason of any violation by the applicant or his agents of any requirement of these regulations; that the applicant shall faithfully execute all work required under the certificate as granted; that the applicant shall restore that portion of any street or public place in which the applicant may have made an excavation incidental to his work to as good a condition as it was prior to said work and also shall maintain said street or public place in like good condition to the satisfaction of said municipality for a period of six months after said restoration; that the applicant shall reimburse the Town of Ridgefield or the state for the expense of repairs to any street or public place made necessary by reason of any excavation made by the applicant; and that the applicant shall comply with all rules, regulations, laws, ordinances, etc., relative to work in public streets and public places.
(6)
Each certified drain layer shall file with the Sewer Authority a certificate or certificates of public liability and property damage insurance, which shall remain in full force for at least 13 months from the date of application, in an amount of not less than $100,000 for injuries, including accidental death, to any one person and, subject to the same limit for each person, in an amount not less than $100,000 on account of any one accident, and property damage insurance in an amount not less than $10,000. The Town of Ridgefield and the Sewer Authority shall be included as an assured, or, in lieu thereof, the drain layer shall file with the Sewer Authority an owner's protective liability and property damage insurance policy in the same limits as aforementioned. Each insurance certificate and policy shall contain a statement by the insurance carrier that it will not cancel the policy or policies except upon 15 days' notice to the Town of Ridgefield and the Sewer Authority.
(7)
Each certified drain layer shall file with the Sewer Authority a certificate of policy covering workmen's compensation insurance, which shall remain in full force for at least 13 months from date of application.
The following requirements of this section shall apply to any person certified by the Sewer Authority to do sewer work and who has a building or house sewer permit to do such sewer work, as provided in §§ 298-11 and 298-12 of these regulations.
A.
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.
B.
Old building sewers may be used and connected to a public sewer only when they are found on examination or test by the Sewer Authority's designated agent to meet all requirements of this section. The Sewer Authority may require, where indicated, the uncovering of old sewers for inspection.
C.
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except that, when two or more buildings are so situated that separate and independent building sewers for each building would be impractical or impose unnecessary hardship, the Sewer Authority may authorize a single building sewer connection to the public sewer, subject to such terms and conditions as to easement, design and construction as the Sewer Authority may require.
D.
No building shall be connected to a public sewer unless the plumbing system of said building has a soil vent pipe extended to a point above the roof. The Sewer Authority may require that no running trap, main house trap, or other device which might prevent the free flow of air throughout the whole course of the building sewer, house drain and said soil vent pipe will be allowed.
E.
The building sewer shall be cast-iron soil pipe, vitrified clay sewer pipe, asbestos-cement sewer pipe, or plastic pipe of the type known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sewer pipe, Type I, Grade 1, or equal. Any material other than those listed must have the approval of the Sewer Authority. All pipe materials shall conform to the latest standard specification of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Wherever possible, water service and house sewer pipes shall be laid in separate trenches. Where laid in the same trench, the water pipe shall be laid on a bench at least 12 inches above the top of the sewer pipe and at least 12 inches and preferably 18 inches from the side of the sewer trench. Cast-iron pipe with leaded joints may be required by the Sewer Authority 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 Sewer Authority. No building sewer shall be located within five feet of a cellar drain or groundwater drain unless pipe is of cast iron with leaded joints.
F.
The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject to the approval of the Sewer Authority, but in no event shall the pipe diameter be less than four inches, nor shall the slope of such building sewer be less than 1/8 inch per foot.
G.
In all buildings where the building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sewage or other wastewaters carried by such drain shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building or house connection lateral through a cast-iron force main or asbestos-cement pressure pipe. All joints, including that with the building sewer, shall be made gastight and watertight by a method approved by the Sewer Authority.
H.
All excavations required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the Sewer Authority. In every case work shall proceed from the house connection lateral or "Y" branch to the structure involved, and pipe laying shall start at said building or house connection lateral or "Y" branch and proceed toward the structure to be served. In no event shall pipe laying start at the building or structure involved and proceed toward the public sewer.
I.
Whenever possible the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. No building sewer shall be laid parallel to or within three feet of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened. The depth of the building sewer shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost and in general such depth shall not be less than 30 inches below the finished ground surface at all points. All building sewers shall be laid at uniform grade and in straight alignment insofar as possible. Changes in direction shall be made only with properly curved pipe and fittings. Building sewers shall be laid on firm, undisturbed soil or a suitable foundation; they shall be located at a sufficient distance from other parallel pipes to permit alterations or repairs to any such pipes or to the sewer pipe without disturbing the other; they shall be well cleaned inside after laying; and they shall conform to all reasonable requirements for good construction. Backfill placed over building sewers shall be done with hand tools to a depth of at least one foot over the pipe, using fine earth free from stones and rubbish. Backfill shall be well and carefully tamped over the sewer. The open ends of building sewers, building drains and building connection laterals shall be kept closed or protected during construction and during periods when work is suspended, in order to exclude from the public sewer all water or debris which might obstruct, damage or otherwise be detrimental to the public sewer or sewage works. Abandoned building sewers or drains shall be likewise promptly closed and sealed off from any public sewer at the expense of the owner of the property.
J.
Joints and connections.
(1)
All joints and connections for or between building sewers, building drains, and building connection laterals shall be made gastight and watertight:
(a)
Cast-iron pipe joints shall be firmly packed with oakum or hemp and filled with molten lead, federal specification QQ-L-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 jointing material until the joint has been tested and approved.
(b)
Joints on plastic sewer pipe shall be made with solvent cement consisting of a viscous, brushable solution of polyvinyl chloride in suitable active solvents, or rubber gaskets.
(c)
All joints in vitrified clay pipe, asbestos-cement pipe, or other approved pipe, or between such pipes and metals, shall be made with rubber or similar gaskets. Hot-poured jointing materials or cement mortar shall not be approved.
(2)
No jointing material other than those listed may be used without prior approval of the Sewer Authority.
K.
The connection of the building sewer to the public sewer shall be made at the curb fitting, if provided, or 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 owner shall at his expense install a "Y" branch in the public sewer at the location specified by the Sewer Authority and under the direct supervision of the Sewer Authority's designated agent. 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 at the location specified by the Sewer Authority and under the direct supervision of the Sewer Authority's designated agent. Entry shall be made in the downstream direction at an angle of about 45°. A forty-five-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. Where the public sewers are of asbestos-cement sewer pipe, the connection may be made with a cast-iron saddle, in the event no fitting is available on the public sewer. The invert of the building sewer at the point of connection of twelve-inch diameter sewers or larger shall be connected to either match the center lines of such sewers or be higher. 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 Sewer Authority.
L.
When excavation is to be made in a street or highway, work shall proceed in full accordance with the Town and/or state specifications for such work.
M.
When the building sewer trench has been excavated and the building sewer constructed, altered or repaired and is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer, the Sewer Authority shall be notified during regular working hours, not less than 12 hours in advance of the time when the connection to the public sewer is planned. The connection of the building sewer to the public sewer shall be made under the direct supervision of the Sewer Authority's designated agent, and a record of all said connections shall be kept by the Sewer Authority. Under no circumstances shall backfill be permitted around and over the pipe until the pipe, joints, lines, elevations and workmanship have been inspected and approved by the Sewer Authority's designated agent. If any person constructs, installs, alters or repairs any building sewer or drain connecting with a public sewer in the Town of Ridgefield in violation of any section of these regulations, or fails to give adequate notice to the Sewer Authority for an inspection of the work, said Sewer Authority may order all or any portion of said work to be uncovered for inspection and approval.
N.
All excavations for building sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard.
O.
If any person, after proper order or direction from the Sewer Authority, fails to remedy any violation of this section or of any other section of these regulations, the Sewer Authority may disconnect the building sewer of the property where the violation exists from the public sewer and may collect the cost of making such disconnection from any person or persons responsible for, or willfully concerned in, or who profited by such violation of the requirements of these regulations.
The Sewer Authority's designated agent or other duly authorized employees of the Town bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter upon all properties for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing, in accordance with the provisions of these regulations.
A.
Any person found to be violating any provision of these regulations, except § 298-10, shall be served by the Town of Ridgefield with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.
B.
Any person who shall violate any provision of these regulations shall be fined not more than $100. Each day that any violation of these regulations continues and each day that any person continues to discharge prohibited wastes or substances into any public sewer shall be deemed to be a separate offense for the purpose of applying the penalty provided in this subsection.
[Amended 3-17-2010]
C.
Any person violating any of the provisions of these regulations shall be liable to the Town of Ridgefield for any expense, loss or damage occasioned the municipality by reason of such violation.