A.
No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or
opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance
thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the Department
of Public Works. No property, or portion of a property, located outside
the sewer service area shall be allowed to extend or construct a sanitary
sewer. There must be sufficient available capacity to accommodate
the proposed expansion. Any person proposing a new discharge into
the system or a substantial change in the volume or character of pollutants
that are being discharged into the system shall notify the Department
at least 45 days prior to the proposed change or connection. (See
Appendix F, Forms.)
B.
Connection permits. There shall be three classes of building sewer
permits: 1) single-family residential, 2) multifamily and commercial,
and 3) industrial. In each case, the owner or his agent shall make
application on a special form furnished by the Town and shall meet
all conditions of said permit as detailed on the form (see Appendix
F, Forms). The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans,
specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgment
of the Commissioners. Approval of commercial and industrial permits
must be obtained from the Commissioners of either Leominster or Fitchburg,
after review and recommendation by the Commission, before a permit
can be issued.
C.
Application to connect or reconnect to the sewer must be made in
person by the installing contractor representing the property owner.
Any application for a sewer connection to a commercial or industrial
building must be accompanied by a sewer clearance plan showing the
following:
(1)
All invert elevations of proposed connections at building and
street.
(2)
Street center line elevation.
(3)
Building sill elevation.
(4)
Plan stamped by a registered professional engineer with Massachusetts
certification.
(5)
All connections showing any water, sewer, drainage connections.
(6)
Building location on lot.
(7)
All wetlands shown, if applicable. If not applicable, submit
written statement noting that no wetlands exist on lot.
(8)
Building setback distances shown from each lot line.
(9)
Driveway location center-line grades indicating pitch of driveway.
(10)
Scale: one inch equals 40 feet. Plan size 8 1/2 by 11 only.
(11)
Any drainage connections that may be required must be shown.
Any perimeter drain is not allowed to transit, by any means, water
onto Town streets. It must be shown on the clearance plan where the
perimeter drain will discharge.
(12)
Water pressure which will service the building must be designated
on the plan.
(13)
Sewer flow calculation must be shown on all commercial and industrial
connections based on Title V regulations.
D.
Extensions.
(1)
All
sewer extensions to the existing main must be approved by the Commission.
Any proposed extension in excess of 1,000 linear feet must be submitted
to the DEP for approval.
(2)
Any
proposed extension of the sewer main that lies outside the sewer service
area entirely or in part requires approval of the Commission as well
as a Town Meeting vote to extend the sewer service area and, if applicable,
the DEP as described herein.
E.
Sewer connection permits associated with new construction/additions.
Permits issued hereunder shall terminate upon expiration of the building
permit.
A.
Connection costs.
(1)
All costs and expenses incidental to the installation and connection
of the building sewer, except where originally installed by the Town,
shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the Town from
any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by
the installation of the building sewer.
(2)
Prior to beginning construction, all applicable permits and
fees must be submitted, including but not limited to road opening,
drain layer, trench permit, and required insurance amounts, inclusive
of workers' compensation.
B.
Connections to different buildings. A separate and independent building
sewer shall be provided for every building.
C.
Owner responsibility. The property owner is responsible for maintenance
and repair of the building sewer from the inside foundation wall to
the common sewer, including the "T" connection.
D.
Old and new sewer service connections.
(1)
When
there is a connection or reconnection to an existing building, PVC
piping must be used to connect the building from the plane of the
foundation to the street. Old sewer service connections may be used
in connection with new sewer service connections only when they are
PVC and found, on examination and test by the Department, to meet
all requirements of these regulations. Any costs involved in examinations
and tests shall be paid by the person making the application for a
permit.
(2)
For
new construction only. Prior to applying for a sewer connection permit,
the applicant must demonstrate that the lot is determined buildable
by the Building Commissioner and conforms to the current zoning requirements.
Building Commissioner sign-off is required on the permit application.
An application for permit to connect for each unit to be constructed
must be submitted, approved and the appropriate permit fee paid before
the Sewer Commission representative signs off on the building permit
checklist, issued by the Building Department.
E.
Inspection and supervision by Department.
(1)
The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the
Department when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection
to the public sewer. The sewer connection shall be made under the
supervision of the Department or its representative.
(2)
Field inspections will be done by the Director of Public Works
or his agent. The Department should be given a minimum of 48 hours'
notice prior to the start of the sewer connection.
F.
Abandonment of septic systems. Septic systems must be abandoned in
accordance with the Title V State Sanitary Code and Board of Health
regulations.
I.
Sewer Commission development policy. A guiding principle of the Sewer
Commission is to determine the most effective method of providing
service to existing and new developments where alternate, on-site
solutions are not able to meet local and state health and environmental
requirements. It is not the intention or goal of the Commission to
control or enable development.
A.
Conformity to regulations. The size, slope, alignment, materials
of construction of a building sewer and the methods to be used in
excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, testing and backfilling
the trench shall all conform to the requirements of the Building and
Plumbing Code or other applicable rules and regulations. The connection
of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements
of the Building and Plumbing Code or other applicable rules and regulations
of the Town. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight.
Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be
approved by the Department before installation.
(1)
At the discretion of the Department, an applicant may be required
to provide video documentation of the installed condition of the sewers;
and to provide pressure testing of the lines and vacuum testing of
the manholes prior to acceptance to document watertightness.
B.
Gravity flow not possible. In all buildings in which any building
drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, wastewater
carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means
and discharged to the building sewer.
C.
Prohibited connections. No person shall make connection of sump pumps,
roof drains, 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 sewer.
D.
Safety requirements. All excavations for building sewer installations
shall be adequately guarded by the applicant and barricades and lights
so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways
and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall
be restored in a manner satisfactory to the Town.
E.
Design of future connections. Future connections to facilities constructed
by the Town shall be designed according to criteria established by
the Commissioners and constructed by the person desiring the additional
connection after review and approval of the plans and specifications
by the Commission and the Commissioners.
F.
Drain layers.
(1)
Licenses to install building sewers and make connections to
the common sewers will be issued to contractors. An initial fee of
$100 must accompany all notarized applications for drain layers' licenses.
Licenses can be renewed for each calendar year (with a fee of $100)
without notarization.
(2)
In order for a contractor to do work in the Town of Lunenburg,
he must submit a certificate of insurance. A valid insurance certificate
shall remain on file with Department of Public Works. In cases of
a privately funded project, the Town shall be named as an additional
insured on the contractor's certificate of insurance and shall be
copied on the completion bond covering the value of the project between
the contractor and those funding the project. Drain layers doing work
hereunder shall maintain minimum insurance coverage as follows:
(3)
A separate road opening permit (administered by the Department)
will be required if the proposed excavation extends into the paved
way and will require the posting of an amount equal to the cost of
the estimated damage to the public way as cash surety, guaranteed
for one year from the completion of the project. This requirement
may only be waived by the Inspector.
(4)
Procedures.
(a)
Indemnification. The contractor will indemnify and hold harmless
the Town of Lunenburg, its agents and employees from and against all
claims, damages, losses and expenses, including attorney's fees, arising
out of or resulting from the performance or work.
[1]
The contractor shall make good, without cost to the property
owner or the Town, any defects in the work or parts of the work furnished
by him and any damage due to faulty workmanship on his part or due
to faulty or imperfect material or equipment furnished by him. The
contractor will be held liable for all work done for a period of one
year from the date of completion.
[2]
It is the responsibility of the contractor to contact "Dig Safe"
and present the number issued by "Dig Safe" at the time of application.
[3]
All applicable fees are to be paid prior to beginning work.
[4]
Between November 1 and April 1, no road opening permits will
be issued within this period without permission of the Inspector.
[5]
No contractor will be allowed to work on Saturdays, Sundays,
or holidays without permission of the Inspector.
[6]
All construction must be inspected by the Inspector, and approval
must be given before backfilling of trenches. If the Inspector deems
any work unacceptable, the contractor shall immediately correct the
problem at his own expense. If a contractor backfills a trench that
has not been inspected, the Inspector reserves the right to make the
contractor uncover the work at his own expense. If the contractor
is notified to maintain his trench and fails to do so, the Town will
seek remuneration. These repairs must be completed before any future
permits are issued to the contractor.
(b)
Excavation. The contractor shall make all excavations in an
approved manner to the established line and grade without damaging
any existing pipes or structures. All existing pipes and structures
shall be carefully supported and protected. The contractor must notify
the Inspector immediately in the case of damage to existing utilities
and obtain approval of the method of repair. In the event of a utility
conflict, a pipe or structure will not be adjusted until the Inspector
has given approval.
(c)
Ledge. When making excavations in rock, a minimum of 12 inches
of screened material or crushed stone must be placed in the trench
prior to the laying of the pipe. Pipe laid on rock is not acceptable.
(d)
Backfilling and compaction. Under paved areas, suitable material
shall be compacted in one-foot lifts at the discretion of the Inspector,
and shall contain no stones larger than three inches. The top surface
shall be Type I bituminous concrete. Compaction under grassy private
areas will be at the discretion of the Inspector.
(e)
Restoration of paved surfaces. When excavations are to be made
in paved surfaces, or will affect pavement, the pavement shall be
cut with pneumatic tools or saw cut to prevent damage to surrounding
surfaces. The contractor shall replace all surface material, and restore
pavement to a condition equal to the condition before the work began.
Permanent patch will consist of Type I bituminous concrete and will
be compacted in lifts not to exceed two inches. Trenches extending
into the paved way and left temporarily must be patched with either
Type I or QPR. Excavation of temporary patch will be at the discretion
of the Inspector. The Town may require the need to use flowable fill
and/or infrared treatment for the repair of trench work (particularly
applicable when work occurs in any recently overlaid road). The contractor
shall be responsible for replacing any traffic paint lines covered
by the overlay, and any damage caused to public or private property
shall be repaired at the contractor's expense. The person or persons
applying for a permit shall be responsible for one year after completion
of the surface, to the satisfaction of the DPW Director.
(f)
Clean-up. All ledge, boulders or other debris left from construction
shall be removed from within the roadway layout by the contractor
before a project is accepted by the Town of Lunenburg.
(g)
As-built. Any installation will require the complete as-built
information, with appropriate ties to all structures and connections,
supplied by the contractor to the Town and the homeowner (see Appendix
F, Forms). This form must be completed prior to any further permits
being issued or before any pending permits are exercised.
(h)
Materials. All sewer pipes shall be SDR-35 or equal. Sewer pipe
for services must be equal in diameter to the pipe at the main line
"stub."
(i)
Groundwater. No floor drains or perimeter drains shall be connected
to the sanitary sewer.
(j)
General. No pipe will be installed under water or in mud or
any unstable bedding. Excavations must be kept dry and stable until
all work is completed. All water pumped or drained shall be disposed
of in a suitable manner. The contractor will dispose of all surplus
excavated material, as well as all unsuitable materials upon completion
of work. Septic tanks will be pumped, filled, crushed or otherwise
made inoperable upon completion of the sewer lateral. All sources
of gray water must be redirected into the sanitary sewer.
(k)
Mechanics of installation. All laterals should be aligned and
graded using the appropriate instruments. Line and grade are the responsibility
of the contractor. No bends shall be laid consecutively. Any bend
in excess of 22 1/2° will be installed at the discretion
of the Inspector. No 90° bends or double 45° bends will be
allowed. When a turn in the line of 90° is necessary, the Inspector
will determine whether a 90° sweep, vertical cleanout, or manhole
shall be installed. Nonstructural (concrete well tile or high-density
polyethylene structure) manholes with built or formed inverts are
acceptable in non-traffic areas and covers may be buried or brought
to grade. Where manholes must be used in driveways or other areas
subject to vehicular traffic, structural manholes will be required.
In the case of laterals that extend in excess of 50 feet from the
foundation a vertical cleanout or manhole may be required.
(l)
Septic system abandonment. Upon connection to the municipal
sewer, the septic system must be abandoned in accordance with Lunenburg
Board of Health regulations (see Appendix F, Forms). Such abandonment
must be witnessed by an agent of the Board of Health.
G.
All requirements for construction of a building sewer as described
herein shall also apply to private sewer extensions (see Appendix
D[1]).
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix D is included as an attachment to this chapter.
