Borough of Clifton Heights, PA Sewer Connections

[Amended 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 682]

It shall be unlawful to do or to cause to be done any of the following acts, except as hereinafter provided, viz:

To uncover the public sewer for any purpose, or to make connection therewith, or to uncover or open any manhole, flush tank, or any other appendage of the public sewer, except with the written consent of the Sewer Committee or its duly authorized agent, or to do or cause to be done any injury of any kind to any part of the public sewer.

To make or cause to be made, for the removal of sewage from any premises, any connection with the public gutters or other stormwater drains of the Borough or with any stream or watercourse within the limits of said Borough.

To make or cause to be made, either directly or indirectly, any connection with the public sewer, except by permit of the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent, which permit shall be issued by the Secretary of Council under the regulations of this article, in the form adopted by the Sewer Committee, and, for each such permit, the applicant shall pay the sum as established from time to time by the Borough Council at the time of the issuance thereof.

To make or cause to be made such connection by any other person than a mechanic duly licensed to do such work by the Borough Council; or to make such connection in any other manner than as follows, to wit:

(1)

Every pipe connection with the sewer, from a point four feet outside the foundation walls of the building, must be either of heavy cast iron or of salt-glazed vitrified earthenware; must be sound and impervious in all its parts; must be solidly laid on a true grade and as nearly as possible in a straight line; all changes in direction must be made with properly curved pipe; must be joined in the best manner and covered to a depth of at least one foot with well-rammed earth, entirely free from stone and rubbish. Within 48 hours after the backfilling of the trench is completed, the paving or ballast must be replaced and the street left in the best condition to the satisfaction of the Highway Committee or its agent.

(2)

In all cases, gaskets must be used to prevent cement or lead from running into the pipes.

(3)

No drain connected with the public sewer shall be laid with a less inclination or grade than one in 60, without permission of the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent.

(4)

All drains connected with the public sewer shall be at least four inches in interior diameter and shall be of vitrified earthenware pipe with extra-deep and -wide sockets. If in any instance a house drain must unavoidably be laid on the public street with a covering of less than two feet, the Sewer Committee, or its authorized agent, may, at its discretion, require heavy cast-iron pipe to be used in place of earthenware pipe.

(5)

No more than one building shall be connected with the public sewer through one house connection without a special permit signed by the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent.

(6)

In opening trenches on any street or public way, the paving or ballast must be removed with care; the sides of the trench must be sheeted or braced when directed and in the manner directed by the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent. The earth thrown from the trench must be placed so as not to obstruct the gutter and so as to cause the least obstruction to public travel. Gas and water pipes must be protected from injury and the trench enclosed and lighted at night and every precaution taken to prevent injury to person or property during the progress of the work.

(7)

Any settlement over a drain or any street or public way occurring within 90 days shall be repaired at the expense of the owner of the property from which such drain has been laid.

(8)

Notice must be given to the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent 24 hours prior to the beginning of any work upon a house connection, and no material shall be used or work covered until inspected and approved by the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent.

(9)

Permits to make connections with the public sewer will be issued only when the plumbing in the house or building to be connected is in accordance with the rules for plumbing prescribed by this article or other regulations of the Borough not inconsistent herewith.

(10)

All outside sewer vents shall be protected by a safety vent cover satisfactory to the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent.

(11)

All soil pipes and house connections with the public sewer must be fully four inches in internal diameter at every point.

(12)

No trap nor any manner of obstructions to the free flow of air through the whole course of the drain and soil pipe will be allowed without written permission of the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent.

(13)

The work of constructing house drain connections with the public sewer shall not be covered up until the same shall have been inspected and approved by the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent, and the actual connection with the sewer and the construction of the drain for a distance of four feet from the sewer shall not be made or done except in the presence and with the approval of the Sewer Committee or its authorized agent.

(14)

Under no circumstances can any mechanic doing the work of plumbing or house drainage or any employee of such mechanic occupy the position of a sanitary inspector for the Borough.

(15)

Every plumber or mechanic, whether person, firm or corporation, who shall make connections with the public sewer shall first take out such a license as may be prescribed by the Borough Council and at the same time shall file a bond to be approved by the Borough Council in the sum of $500, conditioned for the proper performance of their work and to indemnify the Borough of Clifton Heights against all damage arising from any neglect in such performance.

It shall be unlawful to allow any surface water or rainwater from the ground or roofs of houses or buildings to enter any pipe or drain or any vessel or slop stone connected with any pipe or drain connected with the public sewer, or to admit any drainage water from any cellar into such pipe or drain without obtaining permission from the Borough Council.

It shall be unlawful to throw or deposit or cause to be thrown or deposited in any vessel or receptacle connected with the public sewer anything whatsoever, except feces, urine, the necessary water closet paper and liquid house slops, or to allow any house drain to be connected with any privy vault or cesspool, or underground drain or with any other channel conveying water or filth, except the soil pipes and plumbing work of the house or building as hereinbefore provided.