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SECTION 4 - SERVICE SEWERS

4.1       SEWER TAPPING - GENERAL

4.2       SERVICE SEWER CONSTRUCTION

4.3       FRESH AIR VENTS

4.4       INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEWER TAPPING

4.1      SEWER TAPPING - GENERAL

In cases where a lateral or wye exists in the main sewer line, under no circumstances or conditions is the plug (or cap) which closes the lateral from the main sewer, to be removed, unless it can be presented with all broken particles to a representative of the Authority  and placed on the side of the trench for inspection.  All fragments of the plug or cap must be removed from the line.  If it is found that there is no lateral or wye in the main sewer line, this line must not be tapped, or disturbed by anyone but the Authority's  representative, who has equipment specially suited for tapping the line. (See Paragraphs 4.4 and 4.5 for Instructions for Sewer Tapping).  The cost of tapping the Authority's transmission line or manhole is determined by the Authority at the time the sewer permit is issued.  All connections and/or taps to any manhole if collector line, interceptor trunk, or other facility used for transmission purposes must be made by the Authority's personnel or their authorized representative.

4.2      SERVICE SEWER CONSTRUCTION

4.2.1      Materials of construction shall conform with the standards set for under Section 1 and 2 of these specifications.  In general, service sewers shall be constructed of PVC Pipe, SDR-35, or ABS Schedule 40, four (4) or six (6) inches in diameter (as applicable).

4.2.2      The bottom of all trenches shall be undercut a minimum of six (6) inches below the invert grade of the proposed pipe.  The undercut area shall then be filled with sand, granulated slag, or pea gravel conforming to the requirements for "Small" concrete aggregate.  The cradle material shall be adequately and compactly tamped in place, taking care not to heave, misalign, crack or otherwise injure the pipe or joints.

4.2.3      Where muck, quicksand, soft clay, swampy or other material is encountered in the trench bottom, which in the opinion of the Authority's representative is unsuitable for foundation sub-grade or backfill, such material shall be removed by undercut to a depth satisfactory to the Authority's representative.  The trench shall be backfilled to grade with acceptable material, placed in four (4) inch maximum lifts (compacted density).

4.2.4      Pipe shall be laid to grade, with a minimum fall of 0.125 inches per foot (for 6-inch) and 0.25 inches per foot (for 4-inch).  No acute turns of less than 45 degrees will be permitted.  Bell holes shall be excavated at proper intervals so that the barrel of the pipe will rest for its entire length upon the foundation material, and that the weight of the overburden is on the barrel of the pipe and not on the hub.

4.2.5      Should the Contractor excavate below the grade, or disturb the foundation materials, either by blasting or in the use of power shovels, or other heavy equipment moved about resulting in loose, shattered, disturbed or spongy areas, said over-breakage, disturbed or spongy areas shall be completely removed to solid ground by the Contractor and shall be refilled to sub-grade as directed by the Authority's representative.

4.2.6      No connections to roof drainage or footer drainage systems shall be permitted.  No tees or wyes will be permitted except where specifically authorized.

4.2.7      In service sewers, a "Tee" must be placed in the line between the fresh air vent and the Authority's transmission line in a manner commonly referred to as a "Tee on its back" defined as the run of the "Tee" being in a horizontal position, the side opening on the "Tee" to be extended three (3) inches above the surface of the ground in a vertical position, and properly capped to prevent the escapement of sewer gas.  Clean-outs shall be spaced in conformance with the standard drawing entitled "Building Sewer and Lateral Sewer Detail".

4.2.8      For existing houses, connections shall be made between the house and the septic tank.  In order to avoid difficulty in securing proper fall, the Contractor shall be expected to open a ditch on the house side of the septic tank, exposing the house drain, and also make an opening at the lateral.  In this manner there should be no difficulty in determining proper fall.

4.2.9      The Authority shall be notified when all pipes are installed, including the trap, and prior to any backfilling, so that the entire installation may be inspected.  If backfill is placed prior to inspection, it will be necessary for the Contractor to re-open all areas that have been backfilled.  Notification must be made at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the desired inspection date.

4.2.10    Fresh air vents must rise to a height of at least 3-1/2" above the ground level adjacent to the vent.  Where a service sewer is located in a driveway, the vent must be placed on either side of the driveway.  At the discretion of the Authority's representative, and in accordance with the provisions outlined under Item 3.3 of these specifications, fresh air vents may be permitted to be placed in a driveway area or between garage doors.  Refer to Item 3.3 for the specific requirements concerning this type of installation.

4.2.11    The trap must be filled with water before the job can be considered complete.

4.2.12    No job is to be started unless a connection permit has been issued.

4.2.13    All traps must be 4" x 4" x 4" or 6" x 6" x 4".  If a 6" x 6" x 4" trap is used, an adaptor must be installed from the four (4) inch house line to the six (6) inch opening in the trap.

4.2.14    Grease traps shall be installed where applicable.  The grease trap shall be in conformance with the Standard Drawing.  Sizing of the grease trap is subject to Authority approval.

4.2.15    No slip-seal pipe shall be permitted.

4.2.16    Where the Contractor lays service sewers across, along or through rights-of-way, roadways, streets or alleys, etc., belonging to the State, County or Township, the stipulation and regulations set up and required by those OWNERS shall be observed, and all work shall be in conformance with the requirements set forth by those OWNERS.  Any permits required for opening roadways or streets, shall be obtained by the Authority at the Contractor's expense unless the rights-of-way are obtained by an individual for the specific purpose of installing his/her service sewer  through private property.  In that event the individual desiring the right-of-way must negotiate for and in his behalf and pay all expenses attached thereto.  The cost of all inspection (s) required by those said OWNERS shall be borne by the Contractor or individual, as delineated above.

4.2.17    On all streets and roads, unless otherwise permitted, the Contractor shall maintain not less than one lane of traffic at all times, and to this end, will be permitted to open not more than 100 lineal feet of ditch along streets and roads.  The stipulations regarding traffic control, however, shall conform to the requirements of agency having jurisdiction over the highway in question.

4.2.18    The Contractor shall be responsible for all damage to utilities, private properties and structures, power lines, gas, oil and water lines, sewers, fences, landscape plantings, etc. that may result from his operation, and shall restore same to their original condition as soon as possible and prior to completion of his/her work.

4.2.19    The Contractor shall determine where his/her operations may interfere with existing underground utilities, to this end, the Contractor shall contact the OWNERS of the various utilities in the area, as required under PA ACT NO. 172 of 1986 (which amends previous PA Act No. 287) (HB-2543), prior to starting work, and also during construction, in order to ascertain the exact locations of any structures, mains or services that they may have along the route of his work, so that he may better locate and protect them.  The cost of rectifying any damages caused to existing utilities, structures or facilities, shall be borne by the Contractor.

4.3      FRESH AIR VENTS

4.3.1      Placement of fresh air vents in relation to dwellings, specifically garage doors and driveway areas, is subject to the following stipulations:

A.    The fresh air vent may be placed in front of a pier in the middle of a two car garage, provided two garage doors exist (not one single door), and provided the driveway slopes away from the house or vent and water, rain water, or the like cannot enter the vent in any way.

B.    In the case of a one car garage, or a two car garage having only one door, the fresh air vent will not be permitted to be placed in any portion of the driveway area which is trafficable by vehicle.  The fresh air vent must be placed at a minimum distance of one (1) foot from the bottom edge of either side of the garage door, on a horizontal line, and in an area where water, rain water, or the like cannot enter the vent in any way.

C.    Fresh air vents must be encased in concrete where specified by MTSA field inspectors. If the lateral and vent are four (4) inches in diameter, the encasement must extend six (6) inches below the receiving lateral to which the fresh air vent is attached.  If larger pipe is used, the concrete must extend to a point two (2) inches below the receiving lateral to which the fresh air vent is attached.  The base of the concrete encasement must be placed on virgin soil, or soil which has been compacted to the satisfaction of the Authority's representative.  The vertical sides of the concrete encasement must be at least four (4) inches thick as measured form the outside diameter of the fresh air vent to the outside edge of the encasement.  The concrete column in which the fresh air vent is encased must have square dimensions in plan and profile view of at least one (1) foot, and be extended approximately three (3) inches above finished grade.  If the fresh air vent is larger than four (4) inches in diameter or square section, the concrete encasement of cement must be increased proportionately in order to have sufficient thickness to prevent destruction by fracturing or other related damages to the concrete.  Refer to standard drawing entitled "Building Sewer and Lateral Sewer Detail".

D.    All fresh air vents shall extend three and one-half (3-1/2) inches above the finished grade regardless of the surface type (i.e. earth, concrete, bituminous or other material) as it appears at the location of the fresh air vent.

E.     Placement of curbing, channels or gutters which channel the flow of surface water towards the fresh air vent where it may enter the sewer through orifices purposely drilled or placed in the vertical air vent pipe is prohibited.

Implementation of any means or method by which storm water, rain water, or the like can gain entrance into the fresh air vent under any circumstances is prohibited.

4.4      INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEWER TAPPING

4.4.1      The ditch must be clean and afford sufficient working space for two men.  If fluid of any kind exists, it must be pumped out or removed.  The Contractor shall at all times provide and maintain in operation, suitable and adequate pumping and/or well point equipment for completely dewatering the excavations in such a manner as to permit the successful installation of the proposed improvements.  No pipe shall be permitted to be constructed in a trench in which water flows or in a trench in which water is pooled.

4.4.2      Sheeting, solid shoring and/or bracing shall be utilized in excavations, where necessary or required, to protect existing or proposed structures, pipe lines or other facilities, pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and where necessary or required to prevent injury to construction personnel and other persons and property. 

All systems of sheeting, shoring and bracing shall be designed and installed by the Contractor for materials and depths encountered and shall be adequate to withstand the loads to be imposed and superimposed.  Materials and design for the sheeting, shoring and/or bracing shall be in conformance with the regulations prescribed any Federal, State or local agency having jurisdiction over the work.  The Contractor shall be fully responsible for the adequacy of the system to withstand all loads thereon and shall save harmless the Authority and Engineer from any and all personal and property damages resulting from his failure to properly provide and maintain sufficient sheeting, shoring and bracing.

4.4.3      The main sewer line must be cleaned and exposed eight (8) to twelve (12) inches on all sides in order to properly apply and operate the tap machine.

4.4.4      There must be at least 1/2 cubic yard of granular material, preferably granulated slag, on hand on which to lay the starting sewer pipe sections.

4.4.5      Notice shall be given to the Authority at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the intended use of the tapping machine.

4.4.6      The Contractor is required to have a representative present when the tap is made.

4.4.7      In the past on many occasions, the ditch was not ready, slag was not on hand, or a representative of the Contractor was not present, which resulted in unnecessary delay of the Authority's personnel and equipment. Effective June 6, 1979, in the event all conditions as stipulated in Paragraphs 3.4.1 through 3.4.6, have not been complied with, the tap WILL NOT BE MADE.  This will result in an additional charge of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) over and above the original tapping machine charge (to be paid in advance), and the service call MUST BE RESCHEDULED.

4.4.8      These instructions are for the guidance of the Contractor.  If they are not followed, or are ignored, the responsibilities will be upon the Contractor.

4.5      DEMOLITION OF ABANDONED SERVICE SEWERS

4.5.1      The customer desiring termination of sanitary sewer service shall make written application for the termination of service on a form supplied by the Authority.  The Customers shall give the date and time when the capping of the tap will be made and available for inspection by Authority personnel prior to backfilling.  No application shall be submitted more than fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled capping of the sewage line.

4.5.2      There is hereby imposed an application and inspection fee of $25.00 for the termination of sanitary sewage service.

4.5.3      The work in general consists of:

A.    The location and excavation of the four (4)  inch or six (6) inch sewer lateral connections within three (3) to five (5) feet of the existing eight (8) inch or larger sanitary sewer main.

B.    Permanently plugging or capping of each location with a suitable and compatible material with the type of pipe existing to prevent inflow or infiltration into the sanitary sewer system.

C.    The excavation materials must be removed from the site and the trench must be backfilled with AASHTO 2-A limestone and compacted as it is installed to prevent any future settlement.

1.     All locations in roadways and berms are to be backfilled to grade level.

2.     Areas located out of these roadway and road edge areas are to be at least one-half (1/2) of the depth filled with 2-A limestone, again to prevent settlement, and then backfilled with topsoil and reseeded to prevent erosion.

4.5.4      A customer who has capped or plugged a sewer lateral  connection after application to do so and in accordance with these Rules and Regulations may reapply for sanitary sewer service for the same premises.