All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.

(Prior Code 13-501; Code 2023)

A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building; EXCEPT where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.

(Prior Code 13-502; Code 2023)

Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found on examination and test by the Superintendent to meet all requirements of this article.

(Prior Code 13-503; Code 2023)

The building sewers may be cast iron soil pipe or vitrified clay sewer pipe. Joints shall be tight and waterproof. If installed in filled or unstable ground, the building sewer may be nonmetallic material if laid on a suitable concrete bed or cradle as approved by the Superintendent.

(Prior Code 13-504; Code 2023)

The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject to the approval of the Superintendent, but in no event shall the diameter be less than four inches (4”) for single residences, and six inches (6”) for multiple residences, commercial or industrial establishments, EXCEPT, where in the judgment of the Superintendent a four inch (4”) line is sufficient for certain industrial and commercial establishments. The slope of the pipe shall be not less than one-eighth inch (1/8”) per foot and should be one-fourth inch (1/4”) per foot where possible.

(Prior Code 13-505; Code 2023)

No building sewer shall be laid parallel to or within three feet (3’) of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened. The depth shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost. The building sewer shall be laid at uniform grade in straight alignment insofar as possible. Changes in direction shall be made only with properly curved pipe and fittings.

(Prior Code 13-506; Code 2023)

In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such drain shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building sewer.

(Prior Code 13-507; Code 2023)

All excavations required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the Superintendent. No backfill shall be placed until the work has been inspected by the Superintendent. ·

(Prior Code 13-508; Code 2023)

(a)   All joints and connections shall be made gastight and watertight.

(b)   Cast iron pipe joints shall be firmly packed with oakum or hemp and filled with molten lead. No paint, varnish or other coatings shall be permitted on the jointing material until after the joint has been tested and approved.

(c)   All joints in vitrified clay pipe, or between clay pipe and cast iron pipe, shall first be caulked tight with jute, hemp or similar approved material, then filled with approved asphaltum jointing compounds.

(d)   Other jointing materials and methods may be used only by approval of the Superintendent.

(Prior Code 13-509; Code 2023)

The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall be made at the wye branch if such wye branch is available at a suitable location. If the public sewer is twelve inches (12”) in diameter or less, and no properly located wye branch is available, the owner shall, at his own expense, install a wye branch or an approved saddle at the location specified by the Superintendent. Where permitted by the Superintendent, a neat hole may be cut into the public sewer to receive the building sewer with entry in the downstream direction at an angle of about forty-five (45) degrees. A forty-five (45) 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. The invert of the building sewer at the point of connection shall be at the same or a higher elevation than the invert of the public sewer. A smooth, neat joint shall be made, and the connection made secure and watertight by encasement in concrete.

(Prior Code 13-510; Code 2023)

The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the Superintendent when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the Superintendent or his representative.

(Prior Code 13-511; Code 2023)

All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Any person engaged in such work shall be personally liable for any damages or injuries to persons or property occasioned by his negligence. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the City.

(Prior Code 13-512; Code 2023)