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Borough of Doylestown, PA
Bucks County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 201]
Unless a larger size is required in pursuance of this code, no building sewer shall be less than four inches in diameter.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 202]
All building sewers and service laterals shall be constructed by use of one of the following types of pipe:
1. 
Vitrified clay sewer pipe at least four inches in internal diameter, and conforming to ASTM C-200.
2. 
Asbestos cement building sewer pipe at least four inches in internal diameter and conforming to "Asbestos-Cement Non-Pressure Sewer Pipe" ASTM C-428, Type 11 and "Asbestos-Cement Non-Pressure Small Diameter Sewer Pipe," ASTM 644, Type 11.
3. 
Extra heavy cast iron soil pipe at least four inches in internal diameter conforming to "Cast Iron Soil Pipe and Fitting" ASTM A-74.
4. 
Jointing material for the various types of pipe shall be as follows:
A. 
Vitrified clay pipe shall be compression type joints conforming to ASTM C-425, Type 111, or any other ASTM C-425 pipe which is approved by the Borough.
B. 
Asbestos cement pipe shall have joints consisting of two rubber rings and an asbestos cement sleeve. Rubber rings shall conform to the requirements of "Rubber Rings for Asbestos-Cement Pipe," ASTM D-1869.
C. 
Cast iron pipe shall have leaded joints properly caulked, or push-on joints consisting of rubber gaskets conforming to the requirements of "Rubber Gaskets for Cast Iron Soil Pipe," ASTM 564.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 203]
Uniform bearing shall be provided along the entire length of a building sewer and all joints of a building sewer shall be water-tight and rust-proof. No cement mortar joints shall be used.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 204]
Where a building or buildings on an improved property, at the time of securing a permit under § 105 to connect to a sewer, shall be served by its own sewage disposal system, device, or other form of private sewage disposal, and where such building or buildings are required, pursuant to this code, to be connected to a collection sewer, the existing house sewer or building sewer shall be broken on the structure side of such existing sewage disposal system or device and an attachment shall be made, with proper fittings, to continue such house or building sewer line, as a building sewer undiminished in inside diameter, but not less than four inches, to the service lateral.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 205]
A building sewer which serves one improved property may occupy the same trench as a building sewer to serve the next adjoining improved property; and provided that such joint occupancy is by mutual agreement of the owners concerned.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 206]
It shall be the duty of every person constructing or owning any building sewer, house drain, soil pipe, waste pipe, vent pipe, plumbing fixtures, or any other passage or connection between a sewer and any grounds, buildings, erections, and in like manner it shall be the duty of the owners of all grounds, buildings, erections, and all parties interested therein or thereof, to cause and require that such building sewer, house drain, soil pipe, waste pipe, vent pipe, plumbing fixtures and every other passage or connection shall be adequate for its purpose, and at all times allow to pass freely all material that enters or should enter the same.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 207]
In order to change, alter or modify any building sewer, house drain, service lateral, vent pipe, waste pipe, soil pipe, plumbing fixtures or any other sewer passage or connection, written notice of such must be served on the Borough which must give its written approval before any changes, alterations or modifications shall be made.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 208]
Fittings in a building sewer shall conform to the type of pipe used in construction of such sewer.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 209]
Changes in direction in a building sewer must be made by use of "Y" branches or of 1/8 or 1/16 bends.
Only caulking of lead joints or alignment of self-sealing joints to angles of less than 1/16 bend equivalent are permitted.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 210]
Fittings or connections in a building sewer which have an enlargement, chamber or recess with a ledge, shoulder reduction of pipe area that shall offer any obstruction to flow, shall not be allowed.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 211]
1. 
Lead joints in case iron soil pipe in a building sewer shall be packed with oakum in the bell and spigot terminations and thereafter shall be filled with molten lead to a depth of at least one inch for pipes four-inch and six-inch diameter pipe and 1 1/4 for eight-inch and twelve-inch pipe and not to be depressed more than 1/8 inch below the rim of the hub. The lead then must be caulked in place. No paint, varnish or other coating shall be permitted on the jointing material until after the building sewer has been tested and approved as provided in §§ 317, 318, 319.
2. 
Material for hot-poured joints shall not soften sufficiently to destroy the effectiveness of the joint when subjected to a temperature of 160° F. nor be soluble in any of the wastes carried by the drainage system. The joint shall first be caulked tight with jute, hemp, or similar approved material.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 212]
1. 
Floor drains shall be permitted to be connected to the building sewer only where it can be shown to the satisfaction of the Borough that their connection is absolutely necessary. Where such drains are permitted, arrangements shall be made to maintain a permanent water-seal in the traps, and such drains shall be provided with check or back-water valves where warranted.
2. 
A permit shall be obtained from the Borough before any floor drain may be attached to the house drain.
3. 
No permit for a basement floor drain shall be granted until the owner of the building or his agent has executed, signed and filed a written agreement upon a form furnished by the Borough releasing the Borough from any damage that may result from the basement being flooded by the stoppage of sewers.
4. 
Sump pumps shall not be connected to, nor the discharge therefrom flow into any drain pipe which is connected to a building sewer.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 213]
Cleanouts shall be provided in each building sewer and at intervals to permit complete rodding with a one-hundred-foot long auger or tap. Cleanouts shall be required at all changes in direction of the building sewer. Cleanouts shall be constructed by using a "Y" fitting in the run of pipe with a 45° bend and riser to the ground surface. The riser pipe must be provided with a standard four-inch screw type ferrule with brass screw plug.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 214]
A building sewer shall be provided with a horizontal well compacted underground trap, known as an interceptor trap, of not less than four inches inside diameter, of cast iron equivalent to cast iron soil pipe. Such trap shall be provided with a mushroom vent and cleanout openings, each to be at a level equal to the finished grade level. Lines from such trap to such finished grade level shall be of the same size and material as the building sewer.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 215]
The interceptor trap described under § 214 shall be located at a point to be determined and approved by the Borough and in accordance with rules and regulations applicable thereto as adopted by Borough. Such trap and its vent shall be on the property side of the curb line or right-of-way line.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 216]
Wherever in the opinion of the Borough, the trenching conditions require either a specific type of pipe, jointing material or incasement in concrete, such materials as it may direct shall be installed to protect the property owner and/or the Borough for special conditions as follows:
1. 
Where the trench is over 12 feet deep, extra strength V.C. pipe or Class 3300 A.C. pipe or cast iron pipe shall be used.
2. 
Where the trench is less than four feet deep in a traveled roadway, special bedding, consisting of crushed stone or concrete cradle, as directed by the Borough shall be used.
3. 
Service laterals and building sewer for all service stations, garages, or other establishments storing, using, or dispensing gasoline, kerosene, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas, or similar solvents shall be constructed of cast iron pipe with leaded joints.
4. 
Where lines are laid in fill or within 18 inches of potable water lines, cast iron soil pipe with caulked and lead gasket joints shall be used.
5. 
Where water, excessive amounts of wet backfill or marshy ground exists, the use of cast iron pipe will be required.
6. 
Where foundation conditions are poor due to ground water, or subsurface materials, the building sewer shall be laid on a base of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation No. 2B crushed stone at least six inches in depth.
7. 
Backfilling of pipe trenches on Borough roads and right-of-ways shall be made with loose earth, free of rock and stones, and carefully tamped about and over the pipe in six inch layer for a depth of two feet above the pipe, when coarser materials may be backfilled and the trench brought to its original condition. Backfilling of pipe trenches on State roads and right-of-way shall conform to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications, Form 408-REV and Form 945B-REV.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 217]
The slope or grade of a building sewer shall be no less than 1/4 inch per foot of length and shall be sloped downward in the direction of flow.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 218]
1. 
The Borough or the consulting engineer shall observe all testing of a building sewer. All equipment and material required for testing shall be furnished by the owner of the improved property to be connected to a sewer.
2. 
In the event a building sewer is not approved by the Borough further test or tests shall be made following completion of necessary corrections. A fee of $25 will be charged by the Borough for observation of each test subsequent to the initial test.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 219]
No building sewer shall be covered until it has been inspected, tested, as provided in § 218, and approved. If any part of a building sewer is covered before being inspected, tested and accepted, it shall be uncovered for inspection and testing at the cost and expense of the owner of the improved property.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 220]
Every building sewer of any improved property shall be maintained in a sanitary and safe operating condition by the owner.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 221]
Every excavation for a building sewer or service lateral shall be guarded adequately with barricades and lights to protect all persons from damage and injury. Streets, sidewalks and other public property disturbed in the course of installation of a building sewer or service lateral shall be restored, at the cost and expense of the owner of the improved property being connected, in a manner satisfactory to the Borough.
[Ord. 222, 10/17/1977, § 222]
Wherever the surface of any public street, sidewalk or cartway is disturbed by construction of the service laterals, the surfacing material must be restored in kind and maintained to the satisfaction of the Borough. Any and all construction in a public street of the Borough shall be in compliance with the ordinances of the Borough and any and all construction in a State Highway shall be in compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requirements and specifications. All permits shall be obtained before construction is commenced, including the permits required for opening or disturbing the surface of streets controlled by the Borough and State. All Pennsylvania Department of Transportation permits will be obtained by the Borough. All permits issued for construction will require that streets or roads under construction remain passable for vehicular traffic during the period of construction.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 223]
The construction of service laterals and building sewers shall, at all times, be subject to supervision and inspection by the Borough or its representative and shall conform to the Borough specifications. The service laterals and building sewer shall not be covered until permitted by the Borough and all backfilling of trenches shall be under their supervision and shall be compacted according to § 216.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 224]
Connections with sewers where same are run through private property shall in all respects be governed by this code.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 225]
1. 
In all cases where collection sewers are not available either in the street or in easements accessible to any property for which subdivision is requested or intended, the developer shall be responsible to install sewer service laterals, and building sewers to connect with each dwelling unit and the collector sewers, but such sewer shall be capped at the appropriate points until the Borough sewers become available. In such event the owner shall install on-site disposal units in each case, in accordance with the regulations of the Bucks County Health Department.
2. 
All capped sewers shall be designed, installed, accepted and dedicated to the Borough in accordance with this code.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 226]
Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the Borough, to meet all requirements of this code.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 227]
No building sewer shall be laid parallel to or within three feet of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened. The depth shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 228]
In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the collection sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such drain shall be lifted by artificial means approved by the Borough and discharged to the building sewer.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 229]
All excavations required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the Borough in writing.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 230]
1. 
Every building sewer shall be tested by filling the same with water, completely, so that every section shall be tested with not less than a ten-foot head of water. Water shall be kept in the building sewer for 15 minutes before inspection starts and no leakage shall be observable at the time of inspection.
2. 
Upon approval of the test of a building sewer by the Borough a certificate of approval will be issued to the owner of the improved property.
3. 
The applicant for the building sewer connection permit shall notify the Borough when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The removal of the stopper in or tapping of the public sewer shall be made under the supervision of the Borough or its representatives.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 231]
In the event of the demolition of any building, the owner of the building shall be responsible for plugging the existing building sanitary sewer connection at the property line. Any re-use of such connection shall require a building sewer connection permit and connection fee.
[Ord. 1977-12, 10/17/1977, § 232]
No service lateral shall be constructed, laid and connected except in a manner and type approved by the Borough which shall supervise and control the construction of the same.