West Covina Municipal Code § 23-129 Same—Testing in sections

The following requirements shall apply to existing house connection sewers:

(a) If the construction of a new house connection sewer is to include any portion of an existing drain to a cesspool, septic tank or other means of disposal, such construction shall be included and accepted only when it meets all the requirements for new house connection sewers as defined herein, except that the materials of construction of the existing portions, used and undisturbed, may not be rejected because they are not new.

(b) If an existing house connection sewer is added to, or altered because of a change of use, such sewer shall be made to conform to the requirements of this article which apply to new construction.

(c) No inspection and test shall be required for the undisturbed existing portion of a house connection sewer constructed under permit from the office of the city engineer, but any additions thereto, or alterations or extensions thereof, shall in all respects conform to the requirements of this article.

(Code 1960, § 5205)

All house sewer connections, industrial connection sewers and appurtenances thereto between the mainline public sanitary sewer and the facility being served, now existing or hereafter constructed, shall be maintained by the owner of the property served in a safe and sanitary condition, and all devices or safeguards which are required by this article for the operation thereof shall be maintained in good working order by the owner of the property served.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that it is verified by the city that damage or blockage of that portion of a house sewer connection between the public mainline and the street right-of-way (within a public street and/or parkway) occurred due to a city authorized and owned tree, the city will assume the cost of repairs for that portion of the house sewer connection. If repairs are necessary on the other portion of the house sewer connection between the street right-of-way line and the house being served, the owner of the property served is responsible for the total cost of the repairs for that other portion of the house sewer connection.

(Code 1960, § 5207; Ord. No. 1953, § 1, 1-17-95; Ord. No. 2042, § 1, 10-5-99; Ord. No. 2055, § 1, 5-2-00)

Any person requiring a permit to connect a house connection sewer to any public sewer which has been constructed at no cost to the abutting property, shall make a written application to the city engineer giving a description of the lot or parcel to be served by the connection and such other information as the city engineer may require on printed forms to be furnished for that purpose.

(Code 1960, § 5214)

(a) The city engineer may issue a permit to connect a house connection sewer to a public sewer upon payment of the appropriate fees as indicated in the schedule of fees as set from time to time by resolution of the city council and, in addition thereto, all of the appropriate use charges as indicated in the schedule of fees as set from time to time by resolution of the city council to the extent that the same are applicable.

(b) Nothing in paragraph (a) of this section shall be deemed or construed to apply to the issuing of a permit for the construction of a house connection sewer or an industrial connection sewer which has been constructed at no cost to the abutting property, has been duly assessed under special assessment proceedings for a public sewer unless the sewer connection required provides benefit in addition to the benefit received from the sewer for which the property was previously assessed.

(Code 1960, §§ 5214.1, 5214.7)

If the shape of a lot or parcel is other than the usual rectangular shape or unusual in area and the strict adherence to the schedule of fees referred to in section 23-116(a) would require a property owner to pay an amount not commensurate with the benefits to be received, the amount to be charged may be modified as determined by the city engineer to obtain an amount commensurate with the benefits received.

(Code 1960, § 5214.2)

In the event any lot or parcel specifically described in the application required under section 23-115 is not currently being assessed for sewer maintenance, the property owner shall pay to the city in addition to the charges provided in accordance with section 23-116(a), the maintenance charge as indicated in the schedule of fees as set from time to time by resolution of the city council, for each lot or parcel pending the levy of a special assessment for maintenance, under any special assessment statute of the state.

(Code 1960, § 5214.3)

If only a portion of an abutting parcel is to be benefited by a sewer connection referred to in section 23-116(a), the city engineer may issue a permit for such a portion described in the written application in addition to the description of the entire parcel, with a statement that prior to the time that sewer service is extended to an additional portion of the parcel, a written application describing such additional portion will be submitted to the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 5214.4)

The fees for a permit to make a sewer connection referred to in section 23-116(a) shall be those provided in the schedule of fees as set from time to time by resolution of the city council, calculated on the frontage of the portion of the parcel for which the permit is issued.

(Code 1960, § 5214.5)

The payment of the charges presently prescribed in accordance with section 23-116(a) shall be made in advance of the application for permit under section 23-170.

(Code 1960, § 5214.6)

In the event the lot or parcel specifically described in the application required under section 23-115 received additional benefit from any public or trunk sewer, section 23-116(a) shall not relieve the property owner from future payment of connection charges as provided in the schedule of fees as set from time to time by resolution of the city council, nor shall the property be relieved from the levy of a special assessment under any special assessment statute of the state for such additional benefit.

(Code 1974, § 5214.8)

The city engineer shall keep a permanent record of all applications received under section 23-115.

(Code 1960, § 5214.9)

Cleanouts shall be placed in every house connection sewer at the junction with the soil pipe at the building; at the junction with the main line sewer, or at the junction of the reducer and the four (4) inch pipe at the property line; at all changes in alignment and grade, above or below the point of change; and at intervals of not to exceed one hundred (100) feet in straight runs. Cleanouts in straight runs longer than one hundred (100) feet shall be uniformly spaced.

(Code 1960, § 5248; Ord. No. 1366, § 1, 12-27-77)

The cleanout in a vitrified clay pipe house connection sewer shall be made by inserting either a "T" or "Y" branch in the line with the cleanout hub placed vertically above the flow line of the pipe. A cap of the same material shall be tightly sealed in the bell of the access or vertical outlet.

(Code 1960, § 5248.1)

(a) A cleanout in a cast iron soil pipe house connection sewer shall be made by inserting a single cast iron soil pipe standard "T" or "Y" branch in the line with the cleanout hub placed vertically above the flow line of the pipe.

(b) A cast iron ferrule threaded for a three and one-half (3½) inch plug shall be lead jointed into the bell of the access or vertical outlet. A brass plug three and one-half (3½) inches in diameter having eight (8) threads per inch and weighing two (2) pounds eight (8) ounces shall be securely screwed into the ferrule.

(Code 1960, § 5248.2)

Where a cast iron pipe smaller than four (4) inch connects to the four (4) inch house connection sewer pipe a suitable adapter shall be inserted in the line.

(Code 1960, § 5249)

Every house connection sewer shall be tested before being approved, in that portion extending from the property line to the upper terminus thereof by a static water pressure test, which shall consist of filling the line or lines with water and carrying the level of the column of such water to a height sufficient to develop a pressure of two (2) pounds per square inch at the lower terminus thereof, and in no event to a height of less than four (4) inches above the top of the upper terminal end of such sewer; or, in lieu of such static water pressure test, by a pump test which shall consist of filling such line or lines with water, capping or sealing each upper terminus thereof, and applying an air pump at the property line in such a manner as to furnish an aggregate pressure of two (2) pounds per square inch in the sewer at the lower terminus.

(Code 1960, § 5251.1)

If by reason of excessive fall in any house connection sewer, the pressure in a static water pressure test exceeds four (4) pounds per square inch, such sewer may be tested in sections of such length that no such section nor any portion thereof, will be subjected to a pressure greater than four (4) pounds per square inch.

(Code 1960, § 5251.2)

In the event that any joints of any house connection sewer are cemented with Portland cement mortar no water test shall be made thereof until the expiration of not less than twenty-four (24) hours after such joints are made.

(Code 1960, § 5251.3)

No house connection sewer shall be approved if any portion thereof, including any fitting, material, work or construction, fails to withstand the test herein provided for by leaking at any point.

(Code 1960, § 5251.4)

All house connection sewer pipe shall be laid in accordance with the latest edition of the "Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction," adopted by the city council and on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Code 1960, § 5250)

Vitrified clay piping for house connection sewers shall not be placed closer than two (2) feet to the exterior wall of any building or closer than twelve (12) inches to the surface of the ground at any point in its course.

(Code 1960, § 5250.1)

Whenever a house connection sewer is connected directly to a trunk sewer, either through a "Y", "T", saddle, house lateral, or manhole thereof, a "side hand hole trap" or "running trap" shall be inserted at the point or points of connection to the house plumbing two (2) feet outside the building, and the required "T" cleanout shall be inserted in the line just below the trap.

(Code 1960, § 5250.2)

The alignment and grade of a house connection sewer shall be straight from the public sewer to the street property line and shall have a fall of not less than one (1) foot in fifty (50) feet towards the public sewer, except where otherwise permitted in writing by the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 5250.3)

All house connection sewers shall be laid on straight lines and uniform grades between cleanouts located as specified in section 23-124. Minimum grades of house connections shall be one-fourth (¼) inch per foot except where otherwise permitted in writing by the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 5250.4)

All house connection sewers shall be laid in the most direct feasible route free of pinched joints or unnecessary bends and fittings, and on a straight line and uniform grade between cleanouts located as specified in section 23-124.

(Code 1960, § 5250.5)

Where laid within the limits of a public thoroughfare, no house connection sewer shall be laid less than four (4) feet below the established grade of the same, or less than four (4) feet below the surface where no grade is established, except by special permission in writing from the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 5250.6)

When a house connection sewer line of any pipe other than cast iron is located under existing or proposed steam or electric railway tracks, existing or proposed manholes, storm drains, or other sewers, or large conduits, it shall be encased in Class "B" concrete, as shown on Standard Plan No. S-S-3, on file in the office of the city engineer. Pipe laid inside a steel casing jacked under such structures need not be encased.

(Code 1960, § 5250.11)

A person shall not walk upon or disturb a house connection sewer pipe in any manner after the joints have been made.

(Code 1960, § 5250.12)

(a) All cast iron pipe joints for house connection sewers shall be caulked and jointed with pig lead in accordance with section 306-1.2.6 of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction.

(b) Approved joint material for clay pipe shall be as specified in section 208-2 of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction.

(Code 1960, § 5250.14; Ord. No. 1487, § 6, 8-25-80; Ord. No. 1562, § 6, 10-25-82)

Whenever it becomes necessary to connect a house connection sewer to a public sewer at a point where no "Y" or "T" branch has been installed in the public sewer, the connection shall be made in accordance with this section by a licensed sewer contractor and in the presence of an inspector.

(Code 1960, § 5250.15)

The "Y" and "T" saddles shall be installed by cutting a hole in the main line sewer pipe and fitting the saddle snugly in place, with heavy (twelve gauge) galvanized asphalt painted iron wire bound around the main line pipe and the flange of the saddle. The "Y" saddle shall be placed in the side of the main line pipe with the "Y" branch upward at approximately forty-five (45) degrees from the horizontal and so pointed as to direct the flow from the house connection sewer downstream in the public sewer. The "T" saddle shall be placed in the top of the main line sewer pipe. "T" saddles shall be used only for the construction of chimney pipe.

(Code 1960, § 5250.16)

After the saddle referred to in section 23-143 is in place an inbedment of cement concrete shall be placed under and around the main line sewer pipe and saddle as required for a standard chimney pipe in accordance with Standard Plan No. SS-6, on file in the office of the city engineer. The inside of the joint between pipe and saddle shall be painted with 1:2 cement mortar.

(Code 1960, § 5250.17)