§ 27-145. Building sewers and connections.

(a)

Scope of permit requirements. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance without first obtaining a written connection permit from the director.

(b)

Duties of owner. The owner shall be required to obtain the necessary connection permits for residential, commercial and industrial sewerage service.

(c)

Responsibility for costs, expenses, damages. All expenses for the installation and connection of the building sewer to the public sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the parish for any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.

(d)

Systems to be independent; exception. A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building except where one (1) building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, courtyard, driveway. In such cases, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one (1) building sewer at the discretion of the director.

(e)

Use of old building sewers. Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and testing by the department, to meet all requirements of this section. The owner of the property is responsible for all examinations and testing costs in connection therewith.

(f)

Installation standards. The size, slope, alignment, materials and construction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe jointing, testing, and backfilling shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code and other applicable rules and regulations of the parish.

(g)

Elevation of sewer at building; use of artificial lift. Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged into the building sewer.

(h)

Prohibited connections. No person shall connect 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.

(i)

Connection standards. The connection of the building into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code and other applicable rules and regulations of the parish. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the director before installation.

(j)

Notice to inspect; supervision of connection. The applicant for a connection permit shall notify the director when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the director.

(k)

Protection at excavations; restoration of public property. All excavations for building sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights to protect the public from hazards. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the parish. The applicant shall indemnify the parish and defend all claims in connection therewith.

(Ord. No. 18587, § 4, 9-2-92)