Construction of Sanitary Sewer Services, Extensions, and Appurtenances (January, 2002)

All sewer work requires a sewer permit, which can be obtained at the Engineer's Office at 166 Lincolnway.

The property owner is responsible for all construction, cleaning and/or maintenance of the sewer service line and appurtenances from the building served all the way to the sewer main and including the wye, tee or saddle connection at the main.

CONNECTION TO THE PUBLIC SEWER (where a service tap is not already provided)

When a properly installed service wye fitting is not available in the sewer main, the applicant shall, at his expense, install a wye service saddle to the main. The opening in the sewer main must be made with a core drill and the saddle shall utilize stainless steel bands to attach to the main. The saddle shall be installed in accordance to the directions given to the applicant by the Sewer Department Supervisor. The City's inspector shall witness the installation of the saddle fitting.

In some instances, with the approval of the Sewer Department Supervisor, a service wye fitting may be inserted into the main in lieu of using a saddle fitting. Such installations shall utilize mission couplings with rigid stainless steel sleeves and stainless steel bands.

The connection to the main shall be such that the service enters the main in the upper quadrant of the pipe. No sewer service shall be connected directly to a manhole.

CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

Excavation for all sewers shall be true to line and grade as designed. Excavations shall be kept dry and free from wet, sloppy conditions during the construction process. Any excavation in right-of-way must be backfilled with "B" borrow (as defined in the INDOT Standard Specifications) with the material compacted in lifts to at least 95% of maximum dry density. Excavation under or within 2' of pavement must be backfilled with No. 35 stone to the elevation of the pavement sub-grade.

No damaged materials shall be used in the construction of the system. Inspect all pipe and materials for damage prior to installation. Pipe shall be laid only in dry, stable trench bottoms. All sewer services shall be constructed at a depth that will provide protection from frost and, whenever possible, which will bring the sewer into the building at an elevation below the basement floor. The sewer service shall not be constructed parallel with and within 3' of any bearing wall which thereby might be weakened.

The pipe shall be bedded with care so as to provide the necessary lateral support required for the structural integrity of the pipe. Bedding shall be carefully carried to at least 12" above the top of the sewer pipe before the remainder of the trench is backfilled. Pipe sections shall be fully joined utilizing the joint materials, lubricants, etc. as required for the particular type of pipe being used. All sewer pipe shall be laid and joined on a uniform, true grade. Any pipe not found to be installed as per the standards shall be taken up and reconstructed at the contractor's expense.

The City of Valparaiso recommends using PVC pipe meeting the requirements of ASTM D 3034 and joints meeting the requirements of ASTM D 3212. In no event shall a new sewer service be less than 6 inches in diameter. The slope of the sewer connection shall not be less than 1/8 inch per foot (1 foot per 100 feet) and a greater slope is advised at bends. The City also recommends the installation of a tracer wire with any new service. The tracer wire shall be accessible at the clean out nearest the building served.

All new sewer services, and/or existing services being repaired, shall have a sewer clean out at a point 5 feet from the building's foundation. If the total service length is over 100 feet a second clean out shall be constructed midway from the building and the sewer main. Sewer services shall have a maximum distance of 100 feet between clean outs. A clean out is recommended to be installed immediately upstream of bends in any service and is required to be installed immediately upstream of any 90 degree bend in an existing 4" service unless a clean out already exists or is installed within 20' upstream of the bend.

Note that 90 degree pipe fittings are not allowed in the repair or construction of any sewer service. For a 90 degree bend in a 6" service, contractor shall use 2 - 45 degree fittings with a length (6" minimum) of straight pipe between the fittings. For a 90 degree bend in an existing 4" service, contractor shall use 4 - 22 1/2 degree fittings with a length (6" minimum) of straight pipe between each of the fittings. For a 45 degree bend in a 6" service a standard 45 degree fitting may be used. For a 45 degree bend in an existing 4" service, contractor shall use 2 - 22 1/2 degree fittings with a length (6" minimum) of straight pipe between the fittings.

In no case shall footing tiles, perimeter tiles, downspouts, roof drains, sump pump discharges or any other pipes which drain ground water, subsurface water or surface (run off) water, be connected to the sewer service.

If any sewer work is required in the street or alley right-of-way, then all work shall be performed by a contractor licensed and bonded in the City of Valparaiso and a city right-of-way cut permit is required.

Contractors shall thoroughly measure / locate all exposed portions of the sewer service from existing features on the site so that the service may be located in the field at some future date if necessary. A "Record Sketch" showing the service, building served, features, and all measurements shall be proved the sewer department inspector at the time of the final inspection of the work.

Contractor shall restore all disturbed walks, pavements, and / or other surfaces in the Right-of-Way.

INSPECTIONS REQUIRED

At least 24 hours prior to beginning construction or repair on any sewer service contractor shall notify the Sewer Department so that they can schedule an inspection. On the day the construction and / or repair is performed contractor shall notify the Sewer Department approximately one hour before the inspection is required. The sanitary service must remain exposed for the inspection and can be backfilled only upon acceptance of the work by the Sewer Department Staff Member conducting the inspection and from the contractor of an adequate "Record Sketch". NOTE that the Sewer Department is open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the Engineering Department is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.