PROCEDURES OF INSTALLATION OF SEWER SERVICE CONNECTIONS
Rules & Regulations
Permit Requirements
Permits to connect to the public sewer system are required by the Carroll Township Authority before any service line shall be installed or connected to the public sewer lines. The permits can be obtained upon application and payment of the Tap-In fee. * The application can be obtained at the Authority Office, Carroll Township Municipal Building, 130 Baird Street, upon proof of payment of the Tap-In fee.
NOTE: Regulations of the Carroll Township Board of Supervisors and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection require a sewer permit be acquired prior to any building permits being issued.
Point of Connection to Main Sewer
A lateral or wye from the main sewer has been provided for all building existing at the time of the main sewer construction. Approximate locations of the end and depth of each lateral or wye is reference on the drawings on record with the Carroll Township Authority. THE OWNER IS CAUTIONED TO USE EXTREME CARE N EXCAVATING IN THE VICINITY OF THE MAIN LINE OR LATERAL, AS HE WILL BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES INFLICTED. In the event that no lateral or wye has been installed for your property, a special application will have to be made to the Carroll Township Authority. UNDER NO CONDITIONS IS IT IN NEW CONSTRUCTION, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT GRADE (2%) FROM A PROPOSED BASEMENT TO THE AUTHROITY MAIN LINE SEWER.
Lateral Location
It is the responsibility of the owner to insure that the lateral location selected to serve their property does not lie within private property owned by another party. In all situations where the owner chooses to run the service line outside of the public right-ofway or owner’s property, a legal binding right-of-way must first be obtained by the owner in writing.
NOTE: All depths, grade, and distances supplied by the Authority are to be considered approximate. All locations should be verified by excavation prior to construction of the building sewer.
Use of Existing House Drains
The existing house drain from the building to the septic tank or other sewage disposal system cannot be used. A new service connection line must be installed from the building to the lateral.
Pipe Size
The minimum inside pipe diameter permitted is four (4) inches for single dwellings. Commercial and multi-dwelling buildings require a minimum of six (6) inches.
Pipe Material
Only the following pipe material are approved for service lines;
(a) Pipe used for the building service connection, sewer and sewer shall be: 1. Cast iron soil pipe (medium, heavy or coated spun cast service weight) conforming with ASTM A-74 with rubber ring compression. 2. Polyvinyl chloride pipe Schedule 40 (PVC) socket type joints, solvent cemented, as recommended by the manufacturer of this pipe, conforming to ASTM 1785 as revised. NO SCHEDULE 40 ABS WILL BE PERMITTED.
(b) Such pipe shall have permanently tight joints which shall prevent the admission of ground water.
Consult with Carroll Township Authroity Amendment to Rules and Regulations, Article IV, Tap-In Connections charges, to determine the Tap-In fee. All Tap-In connection charges are subject to change.
(c) It shall be laid at grade of one-fourth inch per foot with the best possible alignment and with a minimum of 4 feet of cover to protect the pipe from frost or crushing from surface activity.
(d) The minimum inside diameter of the above house connection pipes shall not be less than four (4) inches.
(e) No transformation from one pipe size to another or from one pipe material to another will be made without the use of manufactured adapters designed specifically for that purpose. All changes in direction will be made with pipe fittings and no fittings greater than 45 degrees will be permitted. Under certain conditions acceptable to the Authority, sweep 90 degree bends may be used.
Pipe Joints
All pipes must have a joint that is watertight and must pass a visual and Air test. Rubber gasket joints are acceptable for cast iron pipes; and the use of solvent cement is acceptable for plastic pipes. ONLY PVC GLVC IS PERMISSIBLE, NO ALL PURPOSE CEMENT MAY BE USED.
Transition Fittings
Where pipes or fixtures of two (2) different materials, sizes and/or joints are being used, approval of the Authority’s Inspectors must be obtained; and special transition fittings should be used to assure that the joint is watertight and that there is a smooth flow line from one pipe to the other. Transition between SCH, 40 PVC and ABS (interior plumbing) must be accomplished with a fernco adaptor.
Cleanouts, Traps, Air Vents & Test Tee
A “P” trap shall be installed as close as possible to the outside building well. An air intake pipe shall extend from the trap to 10 inches above ground with a mushroom cap to prevent the infiltration of water. A test tee shall be installed at the end of the Authority’s lateral; and clean-outs must be installed immediately downstream from the trap and at every change of direction of the connection line and ever 50 feet; including the riser height. All vents and risers should be plumb. All cleanout locations should be clearly marked on a diagram for future reference. It is recommended that a piece of steel re-bar be driven into the ground directly along side the dtand pipe so that it could be located with a metal detector if the need arises. Once final grade is achieved on lawn elevations, the assessable with little excavation required. No clean-out caps should be access to the cap. All risers on clean-outs must have a watertight screw type furrule or plug. (See drawing attached hereto) Upon completion of the Air Test, a riser pipe must be placed in the test “T” and brought up to grade with the ferruly plug. This inspection “T” must always be accessible, and never buried under driveways, sidewalks, or lawns.
Pipe Grade
The pipe grade or slope that should be used is 2%, which is approximately onefourth inch per lineal foot. In certain instances, 1% will be acceptable. It is very important that, prior to laying any pipe, the end of the lateral and the building drain at that point of connection are exposed and the actual difference in the elevation and distance between these two (2) points be measured so that the required grade can be determined.
Pipe Alignment
All service pipe should be laid as straight as possible. Any change of direction shall be made with pipefittings not exceeding 45 degrees, unless the approval of the Chief Inspector is obtained. Pipe Laying And Backfilling A minimum of four (4) inches of stone bedding of No. 1-B coarse aggregate is required underneath the service connection. Pipe laying shall proceed up-grade with the pipes laid carefully, hubs upgrade, spigot ends fully entered into adjacent hubs, and true to line and grade. Each section of pipe shall rest upon the pipe bed for the full length of its barrel with recesses excavated to accommodate bells or couplings. Each pipe shall be firmly held in position so that the invert forms a continuous grade with the invert of the pipe previously placed. The interior of all pipe and the inside of the bell and outside of the spigot shall thoroughly cleaned of all foreign matter before being lowered into the trench and shall be kept clean during laying operations by means of plugs or other approved devises. Under no conditions shall pipe be laid in water or on sub grade containing frost; and no pipe shall be laid when trench conditions are unsuitable for such work.
After the connection has been installed, the owner shall call the Authority’s Inspectors to make the first Visual Inspection. AT LEAST 24 HOURS NOTICE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE INSPECTORS.
Upon passing the first inspection, the pipe shall be covered with 4 inches of the above stone and with two (2) feet of clean earth (NO ROCKS). Both ends of the line shall remain uncovered. The Inspectors shall again be called to perform the Air Test. After the passage of the air testing and final approval of the line, which will be noted on the permit over the signature of the Inspector, the owner may backfill the trench.
EXTREME CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ATHORITY’S LATERAL. The owner shall be responsible for any damages inflicted on the lateral or the main line. The backfilling in the area of the lateral shall be carefully performed to ensure the minimal settlement. The owner is liable to immediately repair and restore any settlement in the lateral area and prevent the collection of any pools of surface water in the area. The owner is responsible for any damage to public roads while installing the service line.
Prohibition of Surface and Ground Water Connection
Connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, cistern over-flows, drains, springs, storm water, or other sources of surface runoff or ground water to a service connection or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to the public sewer is strictly prohibited. Authority inspectors require verification of the foundation drains and downspout location. Small drains located at the foot of the outside basement stairs and driveways are strictly prohibited.
Inspections
The Authority Inspectors will inspect the service connection line and fixtures immediately after their installation and before they are covered. At the same time, they will inspect the facilities of the owner’s building, inside and outside, to determine that the facilities to be connected are in conformance with the Authority’s Rules and Regulations. After the first inspection is approved and the pipe is covered to a height of 2 feet, the Inspectors will then perform the air test on the lines in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in the specifications for the standards and procedures set for in the specifications for the construction of the public sewer lines. Arrangements for the inspections should be made with the Authority at 24 hours in advance. Additional charges will be made for rein-inspections. It is the responsibility of the owner to provide safe working locations for the Authority’s Inspector for perform their duties. Authority Inspectors are not permitted to enter any excavated trench that fails to comply with O.S.H.A. or Department of Labor Standards. The Carroll Township Authority will furnish the necessary air test equipment to perform the required testing.
Alterations/Additions
The Authority must inspect any alterations or addition to an existing building, home, or facility, which will involve repair, modification, or additions to the existing sanitary sewer service. Contact the Authority office prior to construction to notify the Authority of the work. Any residential additions will not involve any additional tap-in fees.
Commercial
Commercial additions may require additional sewer taps or sewer permits from the Authority and or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Contact the Authority office for specifics.
Utility Locations
Pennsylvania Act 289 (1974 requires three (3) working days notice from excavators who are about to dig, drill, blast, auger, bore, grade, trench, or demolish anywhere in the Commonwealth. Owners/Excavators should contact the Pennsylvania One Call System. At (1-800-242-1776).
Questions will be answered at the Authority Office at the Township Building, 130 Baird Street, Carroll Township, Pennsylvania. The telephone number of the Authority office is (724) 489-4493. Normal business hours are 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Inspectors will be performed between the hours of 7:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. No Inspections will be performed on Weekends or Holidays.
