Township of Forks, PA Article VI Sewer Use

[Adopted 12-17-1981 by Ord. No. 158]

§ 150-46 Connection to public sewers required.

A. It is required that all residential, commercial and industrial properties containing sanitary facilities or generating acceptable liquid waste, to which the sewer system is reasonably accessible, be connected to the sewer system. The term "reasonably accessible" is defined as being 150 feet or less from the nearest line.

B. Connection to the sewer line must be made within 60 days of notice to do so in the case of existing improved properties.

C. In the case of new construction, connection to the sewer and final inspection of that connection must be completed before occupancy of the improved property.

§ 150-47 Permit required for sewer construction.

Prior to any construction, a permit to connect the proposed building sewer to the sewer system must be obtained from the municipality. The permit for residential or commercial sewer connections shall include:

A. The name of the property owners.

B. The exact location of the property.

C. The name of the firm or persons employed to construct the building sewer.

D. A list of the number and types of plumbing fixtures to be connected.

E. The owners agreement to abide by all pertinent laws, ordinances and regulations, and to install and maintain the proposed building sewer at his own expense.

§ 150-48 Independently sewered properties.

Improved properties connected to the sewer system must have independent building sewers. In some cases, exception to this requirement will be allowed, but only by prior permitted approval of the municipality.

§ 150-49 Responsibility for building sewer construction.

A. It is the property owner's responsibility for the proper installation of the building sewer. The installation must be inspected by the Building Inspector prior to its use.

B. In some cases where installation of the building sewer entails excavation through or under a street or sidewalk, the applicant for a permit may be required to deposit cash or an acceptable surety bond to guarantee proper execution and completion of the work without damage to the municipality.

§ 150-50 Application and/or inspection fee.

A permit application fee may be set and charged by the municipality to cover costs incidental to the processing of building sewer applications and inspection of connections.

§ 150-51 Reuse of existing building sewers.

The use of an existing building sewer where a new building or plumbing system replaces an old one is allowed, if the existing building sewer is found after inspection by the Building Inspector to conform to all requirements of this article.

§ 150-52 Minimum grades and sizes of building sewers.

A. Minimum grade on building sewers shall be 1/4 inch per foot.

B. Minimum size of all new residential and commercial building sewers shall be four inches to the property or right-of-way line and six inches from the property or right-of-way line to the sewer main. Size of industrial building sewers is dependent on the type and quantity of the wastewater discharged, but in no case shall the size or slope be less than the residential and commercial requirements.

C. In some cases, exception to these requirements will be considered by prior approval of the municipality.

§ 150-53 Building sewer materials.

A. Building sewers must be constructed using standard materials of proven fitness. Types of materials used will be subject to the municipality's approval taking local conditions into account.

B. Building sewers will generally be required to be made of clay and/or cast-iron pipe conforming to the following specifications:

(1) Clay pipe:

(a) ASTM specifications.

[1] C13-57T clay pipe, standard strength.

[2] C462-60T clay pipe, standard strength ceramic glazed.

[3] C261-60T clay pipe, standard strength, unglazed.

[4] C200-59T clay pipe, extra strength.

[5] C453-60T clay pipe, extra strength, ceramic glazed.

[6] C278-60T clay pipe, extra strength, unglazed.

[7] C479-61T vitrified clay liner plates.

[8] C425-60T vitrified clay pipe joints using materials having resident properties.

(b) Federal specifications: SS-P-361 pipe; clay, sewer.

(2) Cast-iron pipe:

(a) ASTM specifications.

[1] A74-72 cast-iron soil pipe and fittings.

[2] A377-57 cast-iron pressure pipe.

(b) ASTM specifications.

[1] WW-P-356 pipe; cast-iron, drainage, vent and waste (threaded).

[2] WW-P-401 pipe and pipe-fittings; soil, cast-iron.

[3] WW-P-491 pipe-fittings; cast-iron, drainage.

(3) General codes, testing and installation:

(a) ASTM C301-60T methods of testing clay pipe.

[1] C13-58T recommended practice for installing vitrified clay sewer pipe.

[2] National Plumbing Code, ASA A40.801955 (ASA, ASME and APHA).

[3] Manual of Practice No. 9, Design and Construction of Sanitary and Storm Sewers (WPCF and ASCE).

[4] Clay Pipe Engineering Manual. (Clay Products Association).

[5] Concrete Pipe Lines. (American Concrete Pipe Association).

[6] Concrete Pipe Field Manual. (American Concrete Pipe Association).

§ 150-54 Building sewer construction.

A. Building sewers shall be constructed in such a manner that results in the building sewer meeting all local and state requirements.

B. Installation of the building sewer shall be in accordance with the following standards and all other practices to ensure a quality installation:

(1) Bedding. All pipe used for building sewers is to be laid on proper bedding. This bedding shall consist of crushed stone laid to a minimum depth of six inches under clay pipe. No stone bedding is required under cast-iron pipe unless subsurface conditions such as rock are encountered. In these cases, proper bedding is required. No slag will be allowed as bedding or fill in building sewers.

(2) Joints. All pipe joints used in building sewers must be in accordance with ASTM standards utilizing resilient materials. Every joint must be watertight so as to not allow groundwater infiltration.

(3) Connection to public sewer mains.

(a) Connection of building sewers to the public sewer mains will be made by utilizing existing wye fittings or laterals which were installed and plugged during construction where they exist.

(b) Connection of building sewers to public sewer mains where no wye or lateral exists will be done by means of cutting the main line and installing a wye fitting whenever feasible.

(c) Where it is not feasible to install a wye fitting in the existing main line, it may be necessary to tap into the main line. These tapped connections are frequent sources of future trouble and consequently must be made with the utmost care. Supervision of tapping procedures may be required by the Building Inspector.

(4) Location of potable waterlines relating to building sewers.

(a) Potable waterlines are to be laid in a separate trench from the building sewer whenever feasible.

(b) If the potable waterline must be laid in the same trench as the building sewer, the waterline must be laid as far as possible above the elevation of nearby sewers.

(5) Clean select backfill only must be used and is to be properly placed over pipes in such a manner so as not to cause damage or potential damage to them. Backfill will be tamped to minimize settling. The surface will be returned to its original or satisfactory condition.

§ 150-55 Access.

The Easton Area Joint Sewer Authority shall have the right of access at all times to any part of any improved property served by the treatment works as shall be required for purposes of inspection, measurement, sampling and testing and for performance of other functions relating to service rendered by the Easton Area Joint Sewer Authority through the treatment works.

§ 150-56 Adoption of additional rules and regulations.

The Authority shall have the right to adopt, from time to time, such additional rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary and proper in connecting with use and operation of the treatment works, which rules and regulations shall become effective as though set forth herein.

§ 150-57 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 3-14-1999 by Ord. No. 250]

Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding, shall pay a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this article. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of the determination of the violation by the District Justice and/or Court. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.

§ 150-58 Purpose.

It is declared that enactment of this article is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of inhabitants of the Authority service area.

§ 150-59 Construal of provisions.

When the provisions herein specified for health, safety and welfare are more restrictive than other applicable ordinances or regulations, this article shall control; but in any case, the most rigid requirements of either this article or other applicable ordinances or regulations shall apply whenever they may be in conflict.