[Amended by Ord. No. 89-35; Ord. No. 97-34; Ord. No. 12-09]
The Wisconsin State Plumbing Code, § SPS 305.90 and
Chs. SPS 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386 and 387, Wis. Adm. Code, so
far as applicable, is adopted by reference and made a part of this
chapter. A violation of such chapters shall be a violation of this
chapter.
No person shall engage in or work at plumbing as defined in
§ 145.01(10), Wis. Stats., without being licensed as required
in § 145.06, Wis. Stats.
The Plumbing Inspector shall prepare suitable forms for the
application for permits required, keep in his office a proper daily
record of all transactions of his office, and file a monthly report
covering the same with the Common Council.
[Amended by Ord. No. 85-4; Ord. No. 91-27; Ord. No. 91-44]
A. Permit to do plumbing.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30]
(1) No person shall install or cause to be installed any plumbing or drainage system, or establish or permit to be established, replace or permit to be replaced any water lateral or sanitary sewer lateral as defined in Chapter
512 of this Code, unless a permit therefor has been granted by the Plumbing Inspector, and no plumbing, including water laterals and/or sanitary sewer laterals, shall be used until it has been inspected and approved by the Plumbing Inspector.
(2) No permit shall be granted to any licensed person who is to install
any plumbing or drainage system which has been reviewed by the State
of Wisconsin, Department of Safety and Professional Services, unless
a copy of those plans is submitted to the Plumbing Inspector for his
records.
[Amended by Ord. No. 12-09]
B. Fees. The schedule of permit fees shall be as set by the Common Council
and provided under separate fee schedule.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; Ord. No. 06-18]
(1) Permit and minimum inspection fee applies to the inspection of rough-in of all soil, waste, vent and water supply piping, including water laterals and sanitary sewer laterals as defined in Chapter
512 of this Code, private sewage disposal systems, yard catch basins, and building, sanitary and storm drains.
(2) Additional fees are based on drain or water connections and administrative
fees. Failure to take out a permit before work is started: doubled
fee.
(3) There shall be no inspection fee or fixture fee for the replacement
of any part of the plumbing system within a building if the location
of such plumbing has not changed, with the exception of water heaters
used to heat domestic hot water, which will require a plumbing permit.
A minimum inspection fee, but no fixture fee, shall be applicable.
C. Permit restrictions. No permit shall be issued to any licensed plumber
who has failed to renew such license or who has not otherwise complied
with the provisions of this chapter regulating such license. No permit
shall be issued to any plumber against whom an order issued by the
Plumbing Inspector for corrections or additions to work previously
improperly installed is pending or who is incompetent to make a plumbing
installation. No permit shall be issued to any master plumber during
the time that he shall fail to remedy any defective work after written
notification by the Plumbing Inspector.
D. Expiration of permit. All permits are issued for a period of 12 months
from the date of issue, after which time the permit may be renewed
for additional 12 months by payment of 1/2 of the administration fee.
When a permit expires and is not renewed, all plumbing work will cease,
and it will not continue until a new permit is issued upon receipt
of full payment to the City.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30]
E. A permit shall be required of an owner or any agent when engaged in the laying of water laterals and/or sanitary sewer laterals pursuant to Chapter
512 of this Code as set forth herein in this chapter. For the purposes of this subsection, the City of Watertown Water Department is deemed an agent of the owner in laying said water laterals and/or sanitary sewer laterals and a permit is required thereunder. No permit shall be required of a contractor or his employees while engaged in laying water mains and service pipes while under a written contract with the City of Watertown or of persons employed by the City for such purpose and when such work is performed by the City of Watertown or its agents at its own expense for its own beneficial use exclusive of the requirements contained in Chapter
512 of this Code.
[Amended by Ord. No. 91-45]
[Amended by Ord. No. 88-44; Ord. No. 89-34]
A. Sewer improvement tax. No person shall be allowed to connect with
the public sewage system in any manner unless a sewer improvement
tax has been duly made to or paid on the frontage of the property
to which sewer connection is to be installed, except when permission
to do so has been duly given by the Common Council.
B. Record of drain junctions. The Public Works Director/City Engineer
and Plumbing Inspector shall keep a record and make maps showing the
location of all house sewer connections and position of all house
drains, connections, junctions and other data necessary for the efficient
service of the Water and Wastewater Department.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
C. Location of drain junctions. No person but a licensed plumber as
herein provided shall be permitted to tap or make connection with
the main sewerage system or any part thereof. Such information as
the City Clerk or Public Works Director/City Engineer may have regarding
the location of the sewer junctions or slants will be furnished to
the plumbers, the City of Watertown assuming no risk as to the accuracy
of the same. When in accordance with the measurements furnished by
the Public Works Director/City Engineer and Plumbing Inspector the
junction is not found, a slant connection and 1/8 bend shall be used,
and such connections shall be made under the direction of the Plumbing
Inspector. This subsection shall not apply to any sewer contractor
or his employees while engaged in construction or repairing any sewer
under any contract with the City, nor shall this subsection apply
to any person lawfully employed by the City or other duly qualified
officer or officers on behalf of the City to do any of the acts herein
referred to.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
D. Drain for each building. Whenever practicable, the sewer drainage
system of every house or building in the City must be separately and
independently connected with the street sewer or main sewer, except
that where a building stands in the rear of another on the same lot,
the house sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear
building, private garage or barn, and the whole will be considered
as one house sewer or main drain.
E. Sizes and materials for house sewers. The house sewer extending from
the main in the street to the property line shall be constructed of
one of the following: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ASTM designation D2665
or D1785 commonly referred to as schedule 40; acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS), ASTM designation D1527 or D2661 or F628 commonly referred
to as schedule 40; cast iron, ASTM designation A74 or CISPI 301; concrete,
ASTM designation C14 or C76. All schedule 40 pipe shall be bedded
with a minimum of three inches of sand, pea gravel or a graded stone
which is capable of passing through a three-fourths-inch sieve. Initial
backfill on the sides of the pipe and to a height of 12 inches over
the top of the pipe shall be commensurate with the bedding. In no
case shall the size of the pipe be less than four inches in size.
[Amended by Ord. No. 89-36]
F. Defective or inferior pipes prohibited.
(1) No person shall lay or connect with any public or private sewer,
either storm or sanitary sewer, a pipe that is cracked or of inferior
make or quality. Should any property owner or agent thereof furnish
pipe of inferior make or quality for laying or connecting the same
to any sewer, either public or private, the plumber shall refuse to
lay or connect the same.
(2) No person shall connect, permit or allow any person to connect collecting
lines to a house drain, house sewer or storm sewer when such house
drain, house sewer or storm sewer is known or found to be defective
or of inferior quality or is too small to serve the purpose for which
it is intended.
G. Grade or pitch of drains. A house sewer or house drain must have
a grade of 1/4 inch or more if possible, and in no case shall the
grade be less than 1/8 inch per foot. In cases where the main sewer
in the street has sufficient depth or where a lot is three feet or
more above the grade line, the grade between the curbline and lot
line may receive much greater inclination as in the judgment of the
Public Works Director/City Engineer or Plumbing Inspector may be deemed
necessary.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
H. Depth of house sewers and house drains.
(1) Where the depth of the main sewer in streets or alleys or other disposal
terminals, including private sewage disposal systems, within the City
permit, the house sewer or main drain shall be laid not less than
six feet below the surface after the street or lot is brought to grade,
but in no case shall the depth of the house sewer or main drain be
less than five feet below the finished grade.
(2) All house drains shall be installed at least 12 inches below the
ground level, but where such depths cannot be maintained, the depth
of the house drain shall not be less than four inches below the ground
level, measurements to be taken from the top of horizontal house drain
to graded ground level.
I. Drain ends and connections guarded. The ends of all sewer and drain
pipes not immediately connected shall be securely closed so as to
prevent the introduction of sand or earth, and where the ends of a
sewer or drain pipe are connected with a temporary catch basin for
draining foundations during the erection of any building or for other
purposes, the plumber shall guard the same against the introduction
of sand or earth.
J. Construction of joints.
(1) Joints in vitrified clay sewer pipe shall by Type III compression
joints meeting all the requirements of the ASTM C425-60T specifications.
In repairing vitrified pipe, joints shall be made of either a mortar
or a jointing compound. In joining vitrified clay pipe, the spigot
of one pipe must be carefully centered into the bell of the next pipe.
Joints shall be firmly packed with hemp, oakum or jute in such a manner
as not to disturb the alignment of the pipes, and in such a way as
to permit the joint compound to have the greatest unobstructed surface
for good pouring and adhesion. When mortar is used, it shall be composed
of equal parts of portland cement with clean sharp sand thoroughly
mixed with enough water added to give the proper consistency. Jointing
compounds shall be approved by the Plumbing Inspector or the Public
Works Director/City Engineer. Pipes before pouring shall be clean.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
(2) In joining cast-iron soil pipe to vitrified clay sewer pipe, proper reducers, increasers, bends or curves shall be used; the joint construction of cast-iron soil pipes to vitrified clay sewer pipe shall be made as specified in Subsection
J(1).
(3) All joints in cast-iron pipe shall be made by first inserting a roll
of oakum, hemp or jute and thoroughly caulking it into place, and
then followed with pure molten lead well-caulked not less than one
inch deep, lead to be brought to top of hub and faced.
(4) The use of cement mortar shall not be approved or accepted for the
construction of joints in any portion of the house sewer, house drain,
storm sewer or other drains.
K. Change in direction and alignment. All sewer and drain pipes are
to be laid carefully in a trench with perfect alignment where the
bottom is trimmed to a perfect grade, and any deviation or change
in direction from a straight line shall be made by the use of proper
curves, bends and Y's. No sewer or drain pipe shall be clipped where
proper fittings can be used for the change of direction.
L. Old pipe or drains.
(1) Whenever it is necessary to disturb a sewer or drain in actual use,
the same shall not be obstructed or disconnected without special permission
of the Public Works Director/City Engineer. Whenever such drains are
to be obstructed or disconnected, the person doing the work shall
notify the Plumbing Inspector, who shall thereupon thoroughly investigate
the same and report his findings to the Public Works Director/City
Engineer, who shall thereupon review the evidence presented and submit
his recommendation as to what shall be done.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
(2) No person shall permit or allow any person to make any connections
with or extension to any old sewers or drains without permission or
a permit.
M. Drains when obstructed. In all cases where the course of any sewer
or drain is obstructed by water, gas, steam or other pipes or conduits,
the question of passing over or under such obstructions or the raising
or lowering thereof so as to permit the construction and installation
of the sewer or drain shall be determined by the Public Works Director/City
Engineer.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
N. Permit to connect during freezing weather. No openings in the streets
will be permitted when the ground is frozen, except when in the judgment
of the Public Works Director/City Engineer such openings are absolutely
necessary, and if such permission is granted, the work shall be done
as directed by the Public Works Director/City Engineer granting such
permit. Said Public Works Director/City Engineer or the City of Watertown
shall in no way be responsible for any damage done to pipes of any
description due to freezing or other causes when such permits are
granted.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
O. Drains conveying industrial waste.
(1) No person shall connect either directly or indirectly any factory,
brewery, distillery, stockyard, slaughterhouse, tannery or other building
or establishment of any kind whatsoever by any drain sewer with the
main sewer through which it is intended or designed to discharge any
offal, garbage, filth or other solid refuse or through which substances
may be discharged into the main sewer, unless such sewers or drains
are provided with adequate and accepted intercepting or grinding appliances.
(2) No person shall permit or allow any liquids or solids to enter any
public or private sewer or drain which will interfere with the normal
process of sewage treatment purification.
P. Oil and gasoline separators.
(1) No person shall permit or allow the connection of any building, premises
or equipment in or outside of such building or premises with any sewer
or drain, either storm, sanitary or private, through which any obnoxious,
explosive, odorous or unhealthful liquids, gases or substances may
be discharged into such sewers.
(2) Every filling station which is equipped with a grease or wash rack
and which has a sewer connection, every public garage, every City-owned
garage, every cleaning or dyeing establishment, and every industrial
plant which has grease or oil waste shall be equipped with a suitable
grease or oil waste separator or gasoline separator, or both. The
size, efficiency, capacity and location thereof shall be approved
by the Plumbing Inspector before such equipment is installed.
Q. Domestic grease catch basins. All domestic grease traps or catch
basin installations and equipment shall be approved by the Plumbing
Inspector before being installed.
R. Yard catch basins. All sewer and drain pipes which must be left open
to drain cellars, areas, yards, gardens or other places must be connected
with a suitable catch basin of brick, vitrified clay pipe, cement
or other suitable material and be of not less than 24 inches inside
diameter, and the bottom of said catch basin must not be less than
2 1/2 feet below the bottom of the inverted outlet pipe. Every
such catch basin or receptacle must be placed inside the lot line
of the lot or lots to be drained.
S. Steam or hot water blowoffs. Steam exhausts or blowoffs from steam
boilers, engines or steam equipment shall not be connected directly
with any drain or sewer but shall discharge into a catch basin of
suitable size and capacity as provided for in the Wisconsin State
Plumbing Code.
T. Adequate flushing of drains. No person shall connect any water closet
or other plumbing fixture with any drain or sewer unless means are
provided and employed for the abundant and adequate flushing of the
same with clear water every time it is used. Every such water closet
or other fixture shall be properly connected with the City or private
water supply system.
U. Draining of rain or surface water into sanitary sewer. No person
shall cause or permit groundwater, surface or rain water from any
building or premises owned or under the control of such person to
enter the City sanitary sewer system from drain tile, downspouts,
cistern overflow or by any other means. Persons owning or having control
of any property where downspouts from buildings now empty into a sanitary
sewer, or having a cistern which overflows into the sanitary system,
or having a sump from drain tile which overflows or empties in the
sanitary system, shall cause the same to be corrected in such a manner
as to prevent all groundwater, surface or rain water from entering
the sanitary sewer system from said property.
V. Storm sewers.
(1) Where a storm sewer is available, all cistern overflows, drain tile,
downspouts, roof leaders, surface or area drains shall be connected
to it.
(2) Where storm sewers are not available all cistern overflows, drain
tile, downspouts, roof leaders, surface or area drains or other clean
water shall be piped separately to the street curb or other place
of disposal.
(3) Where a sump pit is constructed for the collection of water from
drain tile, cistern overflows, downspouts, roof leaders, surface or
area drains, the inside diameter shall be at least 18 inches, and
the sump shall project a minimum of three inches above the highest
level of the basement floor. The discharge pipe from the sump pit
shall be rigid pipe with a minimum inside diameter of 1 1/4 inches.
W. Opening in plumbing systems. No persons shall cut, break or cause
a hole or opening to be made in any plumbing or drainage system unless
a proper fitting is inserted. The connection between the pipe and
fittings shall be made with a threaded, caulked or wiped joint or
other approved method.
X. Backflow valves. Where there is a danger of backflow or where backflows
have resulted from overloading of storm or sanitary sewers or drains,
a backflow valve shall be installed by the property owner. Every backflow
valve shall be approved by the Plumbing Inspector before being installed.
Y. Openings in soil, waste or vent pipes for future fixtures.
(1) When openings or fittings are left in soil, waste, vent or drain
pipes, to which fixtures will be connected at a later date, a cap,
plug or wiped joint or caulked blind ferrule or blind closet flange
with watertight gasket shall be used to close all openings. All such
openings shall be made watertight. In no case shall the use of wooden
plugs, putty, cement tar or like materials be used for the closing
of such openings.
(2) When openings or fittings are made or left or used in any soil, waste
or drain pipe into which plumbing fixtures will be connected, vent
pipes shall also be installed for the proper venting of all fixtures.
Z. Soil, waste and vent pipe fixture fittings. All soil, waste or vent
pipes shall be provided with correctly faced inlet fittings for fixture
connections.
AA. Prohibited connections. No main or back vent circuit or loop vent
above the highest installed fixture shall be used as a soil or waste
pipe.
BB. Ferrules. A ferrule shall be installed when lead, brass, copper or
iron waste or vent pipes are connected to soil, waste or vent pipe
hub fittings.
CC. Entire development distance of soil stack and collecting lines. When
the entire developed distance of a soil stack, including all offsets,
exceeds 50 feet from the roof terminal to the point where such pipe
enters the house drain, extra heavy pipe shall be used throughout
the entire drainage and venting system, except that galvanized iron,
brass, copper or lead pipe of standard weight may be used for connecting
individual fixture wastes to main soil or waste stacks, branches or
collecting lines.
DD. Roof terminal flashings. The roof terminal of any soil or vent stack
shall be made watertight by the use of copper, lead or cast iron plate
flashing.
EE. Traps required. Each fixture shall be separately trapped by a water
seal trap placed as close to the fixture as possible, except that
laundry trays or wash tubs may waste into a single trap.
FF. Cleanouts. All soil and waste stacks shall have full-size cleanouts
installed at their base. All house drain cleanouts shall be extended
two inches above the finished floor line, and the cleanout shall be
the same size as the house drain.
GG. Cleanouts in soil and waste pipes. Every horizontal soil, waste or
collecting line shall have sufficient cleanouts installed. Cleanouts
shall be so located and installed that every part of the horizontal
piping is accessible for the purpose of rodding or cleaning.
HH. Size of cleanouts.
(1) Pipe cleanouts shall be the same size as the pipe, up to four inches
in diameter and not less than four inches for larger pipe. Cleanouts
at the base of soil and waste pipes shall be placed in a vertical
position, so that access can be secured to the stack as well as the
house drain.
(2) The bottom of the clean-out opening in soil or waste stack shall
not be less than 28 to 30 inches above the finished floor.
II. Bar and soda fountain wastes. Waste pipes from bars or soda fountains
shall be connected to the traps serving them with a watertight slip
joint or union connection. A waste pipe from bars or soda fountains
shall not drain into an open trap, floor drain or other plumbing fixture
but shall be connected solid to the sewer and shall be properly trapped
and vented.
JJ. Beer drips. If beer drips are installed separate from the serving
bar, they shall be considered a plumbing fixture and shall be properly
trapped and vented.
KK. Water closet back vents. Two water closets with floor outlets located
on the same floor, discharging into a vented double Y or sanitary
tee cross or one water closet discharging into a vented Y or sanitary
tee, when no other closet is discharged in the same pipe above, need
not be back-vented, provided that the developed distance of the horizontal
branch extended with a grade of not less than 1/4 inch per foot does
not exceed the inside diameter of the soil branch and the vertical
leg between the horizontal soil branch and the vertical leg and the
trap water level does not exceed three feet.
LL. Back vents for fixtures other than water closets. Two fixtures other
than water closets discharging into a vented double Y or sanitary
tee cross or an individual fixture other than a water closet discharging
into a Y branch or sanitary tee, when no other fixture is discharged
in the same pipe above, need not be back-vented, provided that the
total fall of the waste pipe between the water level of the trap and
the vent pipe extended at a grade of not less than 1/4 inch per foot
does not exceed the inside diameter of the branch waste pipe.
MM. Circuit or loop vent. Circuit or loop vents shall be installed as
provided for in the Wisconsin State Plumbing Code, except that when
a single battery of plumbing fixtures is installed on a horizontal
soil or waste branch, the first two fixtures nearest the soil or waste
stack shall be individually vented, and when a double battery of plumbing
fixtures is installed on a soil or waste branch, the first two fixtures
of each battery nearest the soil or waste stack shall be individually
vented.
NN. Tapping of east side interceptor sanitary sewer.
(1) No person shall be allowed to tap in or make connection with the
east side twenty-four-inch interceptor sanitary sewer unless written
permission is obtained from the Public Works Director/City Engineer.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
(2) In the event written permission is obtained to tap into said interceptor
sanitary sewer, a fee as set by the Common Council and provided under
separate fee schedule shall first be paid to the City Clerk and said
tapping in or connection shall be inspected by the Public Works Director/City
Engineer.
[Amended by Ord. No. 98-30; 10-4-2016 by Ord. No.
16-18; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
(3) The applicant for said tap-in shall be liable for all damage which
may be sustained to said east side interceptor sanitary sewer by reason
of said tap-in.
[Amended by Ord. No. 88-97; Ord. No. 91-19; Ord. No. 92-13; Ord. No. 97-15; Ord. No. 06-18; Ord. No. 98-30; Ord. No. 99-19; 10-4-2016 by Ord. No.
16-18; 9-3-2019 by Ord. No. 19-15]
See §
457-6 of this Code.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to the penalty provided in §
1-4 of this Code. Each violation and each day a violation continues or occurs shall constitute a separate offense. This section shall not preclude the City from maintaining any appropriate action to prevent or remove a violation of this chapter.