DIVISION 5. - MAIN AND BUILDING SEWER CONNECTIONS
Part of the Code of Ordinances of Narragansett, RI.
The text
Footnotes:
--- (6) --- Cross reference— Buildings and building regulations, ch. 10.
Sec. 78-321. - Permit.#
(a)
Required. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, repair, disconnect, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenances thereof and/or building sewers without first obtaining a written permit from the town.
(b)
Application.
(1)
The owner of any house, building or property wishing to obtain a sewer permit shall make application on the prescribed forms furnished by the town. The owner shall also submit any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgement of the town. The appropriate sewer permit and inspection fees, which shall be on file in the town clerk's office, shall be paid to the town at the time of application. Separate permit applications are required for main sanitary sewer extensions, and for each individual building sewer or connection line proposed. Such sewer permits are for the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section only; however, additional permits as described within division 6 of this article may apply prior to the actual use of any main or building sewer by any user.
(2)
Accompanying each application for a permit required by this division shall be a location plan showing the lot lines and dimensions, location of water pipes and other underground utilities or structures, location of permanent buildings and location of building sewers and storm drains.
(Code 1986, §§ 20-271, 20-272)
Sec. 78-322. - Drainlayers.#
(a)
Building sewers and connections shall be made only by drainlayers licensed to perform such work in the town or master plumbers licensed by the state. Application for a drainlayer's license shall be made to, and upon forms prescribed by, the town engineer or his designee. Upon approval by the town engineer or his designee, a five-year drainlayer's license shall be issued to the applicant. To obtain such a license approval each applicant, in addition to filing such application, shall:
(1)
Take and pass with a score of at least 70 percent an exam to be administered by the town engineer or his designee;
(2)
Pay to the wastewater division a licensing fee which is on file in the town clerk's office;
(3)
The responsibility for maintaining a valid license, and/or the renewal of same rests solely with the applicant.
(b)
A minimum of 48 hours shall be allowed for the processing of each application, and, upon approval, a license shall issue to the applicant. During the course of any work related to main or building sewers, the licensed drainlayer doing the work must have in his possession a valid drainlayer's license or master plumber's license. The licensed individual must be present at the site for all operations, unless otherwise released by the town's inspector.
(c)
An accurate record of all drainlayer's licenses shall be kept both at the engineering office and the office of the town clerk. Notice must be given to the wastewater division at least 48 hours prior to the beginning of any work on a sewer. No inspections will be scheduled until the permit application has been duly signed and returned to the town. All sewer permits shall be posted in a visible manner at the site of any and all sewer work. Such information as the town has with regard to the existence or location of main or building sewers will be furnished to drainlayers upon request, but at their risk as to the accuracy of the information. No materials shall be used or work covered until inspected and approved by the town engineer or his inspector, and the drainlayer's return portion of each building sewer connection permit shall be promptly returned to the wastewater division after the work has been thoroughly inspected and the return has been signed by the inspecting authority.
(d)
Failure to comply with any provisions of this article by the drainlayer or master plumber may result in the forfeiture of the right, as determined by the town engineer or his designee, to perform building or main sewer work within the town. The town also reserves the right to withhold the issuance of any sewer permits to any drainlayer or master plumber found in violation of any provisions of this article.
(Code 1986, § 20-273)
Sec. 78-323. - Liability of property owners and developers.#
(a)
Any settlement over the sewer in any town owned or maintained street or public way within two years after such sewer is laid or repaired shall be repaired at the expense of the developer, contractor, or owner of the property authorized to install or repair such sewer. The developer, contractor, or owner shall be held liable for any accident or damage which may occur in consequence of the laying or repairing of such sewer during the time the trench is open for such period of two years after the work has been completed. Any cost incurred by the town caused by the failure of the developer, contractor, or owner to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute a lien on the property to which the lateral has been extended.
(b)
Any settlement over the sewer in any state owned or maintained street, public way, or highway within five years after such sewer is laid or repaired shall be repaired at the expense of the developer, contractor, or owner of the property authorized to install or repair such sewer. The developer, contractor, or owner shall be held liable for any accident or damage which may occur in consequence of the laying or repairing of such sewer during the time the trench is open and for such period of five years after the work has been completed. Any cost incurred by the town caused by the failure of the developer, contractor, or owner to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute a lien on the property to which the lateral has been extended. The signing of any Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Application for Utility Permit by the town shall not convey any ownership, operation, or maintenance responsibilities to the Town of Narragansett, but shall rather be for the convenience of the applicant in obtaining said permit.
(c)
The developer, contractor, or owner shall be required to give written notice of any and all remaining time for which he/she is liable for accidents, damages, maintenance, or repairs under this section to his/her successors, heirs, and assigns upon transfer of the property(ies) so affected.
(Code 1986, § 20-274; Ch. 867, § 1, 10-17-2005)
Sec. 78-324. - Costs and expenses of installation for building sewers.#
All costs and expenses incidental to the installation, connection and subsequent operation and maintenance of the building sewer, including any costs related to the existence or location of any sewer, shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the town from any loss or damage including, but not limited to, any loss or damage to any sewer or public sewer that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation, connection, operation and/or maintenance of the building sewer.
(Code 1986, § 20-275)
Sec. 78-325. - Separate sewer for each building; exception.#
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except where one building stands at the rear of another or at an interior landlocked lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, courtyard, or driveway, then the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer, subject to the approval of the town engineer or his designee. The owner of such rear or interior lot shall obtain a sewer easement from the front lot owner, and shall record the same in the land evidence records of the town prior to the town's issuance of a permit. Upon recommendation by the town engineering and subsequent approval by the town council, an exception may also be granted for contiguous lots where the surrounding properties adjacent to said lots are already serviced by sewers.
(Code 1986, § 20-276; Ch. 867, § 2, 10-17-2005)
Sec. 78-326. - Use of old building sewers.#
Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found on examination and test by the town to meet all requirements of this division. The costs of any such tests or examinations shall be borne by the applicant. Existing building sewers that are to be replaced or abandoned by virtue of a permit issued under this division shall be cut and capped, and the line either removed or filled with suitable material, as approved by the town.
(Code 1986, § 20-277; Ch. 867, § 3, 10-17-2005)
Sec. 78-327. - Standards for installation and connections; generally.#
(a)
The size, slope, alignment and materials of construction of a building or main sewer and the methods to be used in excavation, placing of pipe, jointing, testing and backfilling the trench shall all conform to the requirements of the Rhode Island State Building Code, the "Guides for the Design of Wastewater Treatment Works," (TR-16; latest version), as promulgated by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, or other applicable town standards and regulations. The provisions of the "Sanitary Sewer System General Specifications and Construction Installation Procedures" (January 1990; as amended), promulgated by the town engineering department shall also apply.
(b)
Minimum gravity building sewer size shall be four inches for single-family dwelling and six inches for multiple-family dwellings or other type of building. Minimum slope shall be 1.67 feet per 100 feet, or as required under subsection (a) of this section. Connection to sewers shall be made only with a Y branch, unless otherwise approved by the town. The minimum distance of a building sewer from a waterline shall be ten feet and from a public water supply well shall be 50 feet. Where sewer lines cross waterlines, they must be constructed of durable corrosion resistant materials with watertight joints, preferably below waterlines. Sewer lines crossing other pipes should have a minimum separation of 12 inches with a sand cushion or other approved bedding between the pipes. The minimum size for main line gravity extensions shall be eight inches, and all such extensions shall terminate with a manhole.
(c)
Connections to sewer force mains shall be permitted only under the conditions set forth within the current sewer policy as adopted by the town council.
(d)
Prior to commencing work in any public right-of-way or easement, the applicant shall secure the necessary road opening/road cut permits, or state department of transportation physical alterations permit, as applicable. Dig-Safe shall also be contacted, and any other utility companies shall also be notified by the installer. Backfilling and restoration operations shall conform to the standards of the agency having jurisdiction.
(e)
Main sewers and appurtenances, where approved in writing by the town engineer or his designee pursuant to the current sewer policy and/or the facilities plan for wastewater management, may be extended or constructed by developers, property owners, or other private organizations or entities, provided that the design and construction criteria conform to the standards for the same as developed by the town. The developers, property owners, or other private organizations or entities, by written agreement, shall dedicate, deed and transfer such main sewers and appurtenances to the town without qualification or condition, in which case, the town council may vote to accept the same. All easements for such main sewers and appurtenances shall be obtained by the applicant at no cost to the town, and shall in turn be dedicated to the town in a form approved by the town solicitor, in which case the town council may vote to accept the same.
(Code 1986, § 20-278)
Sec. 78-328. - Procedure for removing sewage when drain is inadequate.#
In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow at the minimum slope to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such a building drain shall be lifted or pumped by an approved means by the owner and discharged to the building sewer. Where fixtures are installed in basements or in other areas close to the main sewer grade, approved backflow or check valves shall be installed at the owner's expense on the owner's sewer lateral. The owner shall secure the appropriate plumbing or sewer permits for such an installation.
(Code 1986, § 20-279)
Sec. 78-329. - Stormwater and groundwater connections.#
No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, basement sump pumps, areaway drains or other sources or surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer. Such connections as may exist at the time of adoption of this ordinance from which this section derives shall be disconnected from such sanitary sewers within three months of the date of such adoption, failing which, the penalties described in this article shall apply.
(Code 1986, § 20-280)
Sec. 78-330. - Inspections.#
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 78-322, the applicant for the building or main sewer permit required under the provisions of this division shall notify the wastewater division when the building or main sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. Any work that has not been inspected by the town shall be subject to removal and reinstallation for inspection purposes, at the owner's sole cost.
(Code 1986, § 20-281)
Sec. 78-331. - Barricades; replacement of excavations.#
All excavation for building or main sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with 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, pursuant to the provisions of section 78-327 and chapter 66 of this Code of Ordinances, or to the state department of transportation, as applicable.
(Code 1986, § 20-282)
Sec. 78-332. - Cleanouts.#
Cleanouts shall be installed when directed by the town, where the distance from the building to the main sewer is greater than 100 feet, or where bends greater than 45 degrees are used in the building sewer, and at each property line. Cleanouts shall be made by installing a Y and one-eighth bend of the same diameter as the building sewer. The cleanouts shall ordinarily be installed at the point of connection between the building sewer and the outside part of the house system, at curves on the building sewer and on straight part of house sewer to the main sewer. The cleanout shall be brought up from the building sewer to four inches below the ground and be properly capped. Locations of all cleanouts shall be recorded and turned over to the town.
(Code 1986, § 20-283)
Sec. 78-333. - Construction by private parties; cost recovery.#
(a)
All property owners who receive permission from the town to tie into a sewer line which has been constructed by a private party shall reimburse the private parties who have paid for the sewer line extension a pro rata share of the cost of construction of the sewer line and sewer laterals. The intent of this section is to require that all people and users of the system who connect to the system within ten years from the date of approval of the private party's request to construct the sewer line shall share equally in the cost of the installation of the sewer line and sewer laterals. For the purposes of this section, the term "sewer lateral" shall be defined as that portion of the building sewer between the main sewer and the property line.
(b)
The individuals constructing the sewer line and sewer laterals shall obtain all necessary permits from the engineering department, the department of public works, and any other federal, state, or local permits that may be required.
(c)
Upon completion of the sewer line and sewer laterals and upon inspection and acceptance of the sewer line and sewer laterals by the engineering department, the individuals constructing the sewer line and sewer laterals shall submit an executed deed of dedication to the town for the sewer lines and sewer laterals.
(d)
Upon acceptance of the sewer lines by the town, it shall be unlawful for any person, for a period of ten years from the date of the approval of the private party's request, to construct a sewer line or to tie into the sewer line, and the engineering department shall not issue sewer connection permits for such tie-ins, unless and until the person seeking to tie in to the line shall have paid his proportionate share of the cost of the installation to the person or persons who have constructed the sewer line and sewer laterals and provided written proof thereof to the engineering department.
(e)
For purposes of determining the pro rata share of the cost that shall be applied to individuals seeking to connect to the sewer line, the engineering department shall, prior to the commencement of construction, make a determination as to the number of additional units that may be eligible to connect to this sewer line. The proportionate share of each unit's cost shall then be determined by multiplying the total cost of the construction by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number one, and the denominator of which shall be the total number of units that may be eligible to tie in to the sewer line. The inclusion of a lot for purposes of this section and the determination of the proportionate share shall not in any way be construed to be a determination that the lot and/or unit is buildable.
(f)
In addition to payment of the pro rata share of the cost provided for in this section, all individuals seeking to connect to the sewer line shall also be required to pay the sewer lot development fee as provided for in the applicable provisions of this Code.
(Ch. 804, § 1, 1-16-2001; Ch. 1015, § 1, 2-16-2016)