§ 298-13. Standards for building sewers and connections., Article II. Use of Public Sewers, Chapter 298. Sewers, Part II. General Legislation, Code of Ordinances, Ridgefield

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

All excavations for building sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard.

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.