sewer infrastructure services...(determined by cctv inspection on council records) and in the...

ORANGE CITY COUNCIL All policies can be reviewed or revoked by a resolution of Council, at any time.

Sewerage Infrastructure Services V1_14 Next Review – May 2015 of 1

SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES ST130 F22

OBJECTIVES To provide the City with sustainable and efficient sewerage services via infrastructure that is operated and maintained in accordance with Council’s adopted Sewer Asset Management Plan.

APPLICABILITY This Policy applies to all sewerage services infrastructure within the Orange City Council Local Government Area.

GENERAL Council will provide residents with a portfolio of sewerage assets that are serviced and maintained to a level which reflects the community’s expectations, and operates in a manner that is both functional and cost effective, but also meets industry standards. This Policy should be read in conjunction with Council’s adopted Sewer Asset Management Plan, and the Sewerage Infrastructure Services Operational Policy.

PROCEDURE Council has developed a Sewerage Infrastructure Services Operational Policy to guide how Council staff will implement this Policy, and Council’s Sewer Asset Management Plan.

RELATED POLICIES/DOCUMENTS

Sewer Asset Management Plan

Sewer Infrastructure Services Operational Policy Responsible Area – Technical Services

REVISION

DATE RESOLUTION DATE RESOLUTION

1 May 2014 14/190 3

2 4

All policies can be reviewed or revoked by resolution of Council, at any time.

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS Amendment Date Section/Reference and Amendment

April 2014 Incorporation of Strategic Policies ST072 – Responsibilities for Sewer Mains; ST075 – Sewerage Service Installation; ST048 Lucknow and Spring Hill Connections to Sewerage System from Outside Village Boundary; ST009 – Building over or adjacent to sewer

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ORANGE CITY COUNCIL

SEWERAGE INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

OPERATIONAL POLICY


Sewerage Infrastructure Services Operational Policy V1_14 Next Review – March 2015 Page 2 of 18

SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES OPERATIONAL POLICY

1 RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SEWER MAINS 1.1 Orange City Council operates and maintains the treatment plants, pipes and pumping

stations that transport sewage from households in the Orange area to the treatment facilities. Council is responsible for the sewer main up to and including the first junction which is usually inside the property boundary.

1.2 Property owners are responsible for any pipes and fittings (if the main is outside their

property from the first joint past their boundary or if the main is within their boundary from the first joint off the main) on their side of the connection point including the inspection shaft/boundary trap on shallow and deep connections. This means any repairs, replacement or maintenance costs associated with these pipes and fittings are the responsibility of the property owner.

1.3 If there is a blockage present on a premise, where possible, the property owner should

inspect the inspection shaft to see if it full or empty, if it is full or overflowing, ring Council first. And if it is empty, the property owner need to ring a private plumber as the blockage may be on the property owner’s side of the boundary shaft. If in doubt, ring Council first on 6393 8000 (business hours) or 1300 650 511 (after hours).

1.4 Council staff may need to access the property owner’s inspection shaft/boundary trap

in order to find where the blockage is in the sewer line. 1.5 If Council are constantly called back several times to clear a blockage and it continues to

be the same problem (e.g. tree roots from private property), then Council will charge the property owners a fee for unblocking their sewer pipes.

1.6 If damage has resulted from a surcharge or if there is the potential for damage to occur

and the property owner have insurance cover, Orange City Council suggest the property owner contact their insurance company and ask for an assessor to visit immediately. If a private property owner’s tree causes damage to a public asset outside their property boundary, they can also be held liable for the damaged caused.



1.7 The location of our sewer mains and

the property owner’s pipelines can be hard to identify without plans, look for the inspection shaft/boundary trap cover somewhere in the yard. It is the property owner’s responsibility for the plumber to obtain the property’s drainage diagram from Council if unsure as to where your drainage system is located at.

Council’s sewer main can

be located either inside

or outside the property

boundary, this includes

shallow and deep

connections.

Appendix 1: Procedure for Council Sewer Main and Property Services



2 Sewerage Service Installation

2.1 The installation of a sewerage service will be at the owner’s expense including the

current headworks charge. Any connection works to Council’s main will be in accordance with Council Policy (ST125).

2.2 All works to be the subject of an approval under the Local Government Act 1993 and

carried out in accordance with the approval, Local Government (General) Regulation 2005, Australian Standard 3500, NSW Code of Practice – Plumbing and Drainage.

2.3 Each residential property is permitted a single 150mm sewerage service. Council will be

responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the sewerage service from the sewer main in accordance with Council Policy (ST072).

2.4 Industrial and Commercial properties will only have a single sewerage service installed

unless otherwise approved by the Director Technical Services. 3 Lucknow and Spring Hill 3.1 Council will consider applications to connect to the Orange City Council sewer system

outside the Village boundary of Lucknow and Spring Hill, within the following parameters:

a The property is within 74m of the nearest point to the existing sewerage system b The connection can be made by direct gravity flow c Adequate spare capacity can be retained to ensure service to existing useable

vacant land within the village boundary. 4 Building Over and/or Adjacent to Sewer Infrastructure

4.1 DEFINITIONS Unenclosed lightweight structure – Structures such as pergolas, shade structures, carports (including “grande” carports constructed of timber with brick piers) which are open on at least two sides and can have one side attached to a permanent structure. Must be relatively simple to dismantle.

Semi-permanent structures – Lightweight prefabricated structures assembled using bolts and screws which facilitate easy disassembly and having a maximum floor area of 60m2 can be fully enclosed but not habitable, eg colour-bond garage, garden sheds.

Structures with greater than 60m2 floor area are subject to individual consideration.

Permanent structure – These structures are typically constructed from masonry, brick, steel, timber and concrete and it is neither reasonable nor practical to remove or dismantle the structure for the purpose of carrying out sewer repairs or refurbishment, (e.g. houses, brick garage, factories, school demountable and on-site cabins).



4.2 Unenclosed Lightweight Structures a Unenclosed lightweight structures cannot be constructed within any easement

other than where the easement is specifically noted to permit the encroachment. b May be erected over any sewer where there are no existing easements and

provided that access to the sewer and any access chambers, inspection shafts etc is unrestricted. Floor may be paved, concreted, etc, provided that access chambers, shafts etc are accessible.

4.3 Semi-Permanent Structures

a Semi-permanent structure cannot be constructed within an easement other than

where the easement is specially noted to permit the encroachment. b May be erected over sewers where there are no existing easements provided

that: i The sewer is 150mm or less in diameter and is in good condition

(determined by CCTV inspection on Council records) and in the section to be covered does not include any access chambers, risers, inspection shafts, boundary shafts, sidelines or other fittings.

ii Where the sewer is found to be in poor condition it must be renewed as per

Clauses 4 – Construction Details – Renewal/Diversion, below. Note: The Developer/Applicant should be aware of contribution costs

involved as per Council’s current Delivery/Operational Plan, regardless of the age and condition of the sewer.

c Semi-permanent structures cannot be erected either over or adjacent to a sewer

with an external wall parallel to and within 1 metre of the centreline of the sewer.

d Piering of the foundations of a semi-permanent structure constructed adjacent to

the sewer is not required. The design of the floor slab shall be authorised by a structural engineer.

4.4 Permanent Structures

a Permanent structures cannot be constructed over a sewer where it is reasonably

possible to divert the sewer around the structure. b Permanent structures cannot be erected over any access chamber, junction, riser,

inspection shaft, boundary shaft, “live” fitting or sideline.

c Permanent structure cannot be erected over sewers where the sewer is located 2.0 metres or less from a boundary and generally parallel to the boundary.



d Permanent structures cannot be erected either over or adjacent to a sewer with an external wall parallel to and within 1 metre of the centreline of the sewer.

e Permanent structures cannot be constructed within an easement other than where the easement is specially noted to permit the encroachment and provided that Clause 4, Construction Details, of this Policy, is complied with. Private house sewer and stormwater drains cannot encroach into easements unless they are direct connections to the service within the easement.

f Proposals to construct structures over sewers larger than 150mm will not be allowed.

4.5 Construction Details a Where the sewer cannot be diverted or relocated in accordance with Clause 3.1

above, the structure may be erected over the sewer provided that: The sewer is renewed within the subject property from boundary to boundary on

each side of the proposed structure using pipe materials of the appropriate size and pressure rating as approved by Council.

b Council states that the developer/applicant must pay for all works associated

with the relocation of proposed buildings, existing assets and costs associated with any strengthening works or foundation enhancements.

c Relocating the sewer following approval is required before construction of the

proposed building/structure can commence. Any relocation works needs to ensure all required design standards (cover, grade, position) are still met and that the capacity/functionality of the assets are not reduced. All costs associated with the relocation of assets are to be funded by the developer/applicant.

4.6 The sewer diversion or in-situ renewal shall be constructed to the requirements of the

Department of Public Works and Services, Manual of Practice – Sewer Design and Council’s Development and Subdivision Code.

4.7 Engineering plans for the work shall be presented to Council for approval prior to the issue of a Construction Certificate.

4.8 The work shall be carried out by a contractor approved by Council.

4.9 The work shall be carried out to the appropriate Work Health & Safety and environmental requirements.

4.10 The work shall be inspected by Council officers after excavation and completion of the bedding, laying and placement of side support to the pipes prior to back filling.

4.11 A work-as-executed plan of the completed work shall be provided by a Registered Surveyor prior to the issue of an Occupation Certificate.



4.12 All access chambers and inspection shafts shall be directly accessible and have formal legal access granted from within the property on which they are located, or via easement over adjacent private property or via adjacent public property.

4.13 Where a permanent structure is erected either over and/or adjacent to a sewer, the foundations must comply with minimum clearance requirements (both horizontal and vertical) to the sewer. A structure cannot be erected with a foundation parallel to and directly over the top of a sewer.

4.14 Private house sewer drains and stormwater drains cannot encroach into easements

unless they are direct connections to the service within the easement.

4.15 Where easements have not been created, the minimum clearance between the closes

wall of the structure and a sewer is to be as per the following table.

4.16 Zone Influence

A zone influence is an area either side of a buried pipe where it is considered that a

structure may impose a load through the ground on to the pipe, or where settlement or

excavation of the sewer or water trench may cause damage to a structure.



APPENDIX 1

Procedure for Council Sewer Main

and Property Services



Who is Responsible? Orange City Council maintains and repairs the treatment plants, pipes and pumping stations that convey the sewage from households to the treatment plant in the Orange area. Council is responsible for the sewer main up to the first pipe joint within the property. Property owners are responsible for any pipes and fittings on their side of the connection point including the inspection shaft/boundary trap on shallow and deep connections. This means any repairs, replacement or maintenance costs associated with these pipes and fittings are the responsibility of the property owner.

What if there is a Sewer Blockage? A Council team will attend and check the property owner’s inspection shaft/ boundary shaft to determine if the blockage is located in Council’s sewage network or the property owner’s sanitary drain. In the event that the property owner’s sewer service is damaged by Council during this process, Council will repair as necessary at no cost to the property owner. If the blockage is in the shaft, Council may plunge or eel the shaft. If the blockage is in the Council’s sewer main, Council may use the flusher to clear choke/blockage. However, if Council needs to clear a blockage several times and it continues to be the same problem (and that it is determined to be tree roots on private property), then Council will charge the property owners a fee for unblocking their sewer pipes.

The property owner is responsible to phone a licensed plumber to clear or repair the internal sanitary drains. The location of our sewer mains and the property owner’s pipelines can be hard to identify without plans, look for the boundary shaft cover somewhere in the yard. It is the property owner’s responsibility or for the plumber to obtain the property’s drainage diagram from Council if unsure as to where the property drainage system is located at. If damage has resulted from a surcharge or if there is the potential for damage to occur and the property owner has insurance cover, Orange City Council suggest the property owner contact their insurance company and ask for an assessor to visit immediately. If a tree from the property owner’s side causes damage to a public asset outside the property boundary, the property owner can also be held liable for the damage caused. Council’s sewer main can be located either inside or outside the property boundaries, this includes shallow and deep connections.



Customers ring Customer Service Centre

Customer Service Centre (CSC) staff takes details

CSC ring the sewer crew

Entry is made into Customer Request Management (CRM) system

CSC must ring and speak to Car 9 if it is an overflow or surcharge and speak to someone

If CSC cannot contact Car 9 staff, must ring W/S Reticulation Supervisor to pass job on

Car 9 to attend as quickly as possible

Speak to owner on request, go to the address & speak to residents

Investigate choke, look at downstream & upstream manholes to check if in the main

Is it an Overflow?

Yes

Notify Supervisor and follow OCC SWI22050

No

If only in shaft, plunge shaft or eel shaft

If in the main, use flusher to clear choke, wear correct PPE, have

appropriate staff on hand

Once choke is cleared, clean up any surcharge or mess in yards

Speak to residents to tell them the staus of the job, if finished or have to

investigate further

Fill out paperwork and hand to supervisor



If the blockage is on Council’s side.

If the inspection shaft is full

Ring Council on 6393 8000

Take details and pass onto crew

Enter into the CRM System

Council will CCTV the drain

Determine where the blockage is

On the property owner's side

Advise property owner to contact a plumber

On Council side

What is the problem

Tree Roots

Contact CPO to inspect while clearing the blockage

Continue to clear the drain

Investigate where tree roots are coming from

Is it Council tree?

No

Advise property owner

Yes

Will this continue to be a problem?

No Yes

Recommend to remove the tree

Normal blockage

Continue to clear



If Inspection shaft is empty

Need to ring the plumber

The plumber will check the pipes

Determine what the problem is

Rubbish/Others

Clear the blockage

Tree Roots

Calls OCC - City Presentation Officer to inspect whilst tree

roots are being removed

Who owns the tree?

Property Owner

Clear the blockage & notify owner

Property Owner may need to remove the tree

Council Tree

Clear the blockage

Notify Tree Care Team Leader to determine the

tree's future

Matter referred to Manager City Presentation

If the blockage is on the property owner’s side



Scenario 1

Council sewer main is located either inside or outside the property boundaries, this includes shallow

and deep connections.

Whether the Council sewer main is located inside or outside the property boundary, Council is only

responsible from the sewer main up to and including the first junction joint.

Scenario 2

Previously, you used to insert a deep riser straight down into the Council sewer main from ground

level but now the Plumbing Code states that you need to cut-in at the side of the sewer main and

then put in your riser.



Scenario 3

Tree roots may get into the sewer pipes and cause blockages. Tree roots can invade even the smallest cracks in pipes. As the roots grow, so does the size of the cracks and this lets in rainwater. Cracked pipes have to be repaired or replaced.

If the tree

roots are situated in the blue section of the above diagram, it was the property owner’s responsibility. If Council is called out to clear the tree roots from the pipes, then Council should use an electric eel to clear the pipes. Council should then follow up with another inspection using CCTV to view the pipes to make sure that the tree roots are not growing back. The tree roots may be coming from Council’s reserve and causing blockages, the sewer crew should contact the Tree Care Team Leader in City Presentation branch and together an investigation should be undertaken. Then it depends on the degree of risk for Public Liability claims arising from repeat blockages. Generally a tree would be retained unless the risk is not accpetable. The Tree Care Team Leader may seek guidance from immediate supervisor or Line Manager. If found that the Council tree has been planted close to the water system, then the matter would be referred to the appropriate Council Officer for determination on the tree’s future. However, if the the tree had been planted within a matter of <3 metres from the sewer line (and the tree came after the sewer line construction), then 100% of cases, the tree would be retained as it would be failure on the property owner to maintain the sewer system in an appropriate condition. Tree roots are not known to enter pipes which are well maintained. If tree roots have entered a pipe this is usually the result of the roots seeking water that is available. Roots tap into soil moisture and nutrients. When these are not readily available, many species will detect the slightest leak or fault in the drainage system. Tree, vine and shrub roots are a major cause of pipe blockages. Once tree roots break into a sewer or stormwater pipe, they continue to grow and restrict the passage of water and sewage. In severe cases, the roots can break the pipe. As the maintenance of these pipes are the responsibility of property owner, it is their responsibility to repair.



If tree roots are the problem, it needs to be investigated as to where the tree roots are coming from. The tree roots may be from the tree on Council’s reserve or from inside the property boundary. If the tree roots are from a Council tree on our side and is causing problems on the property owner’s side, then Council is responsible for clearing the blockage and taking steps so that it is not a recuring problem for the property owner. However, if the tree roots are from a private property tree and causing blockages, then it is the property owner’s responsibility to call the plumber and have the blockage cleared and to have the tree roots cut and removed so as to not cause any more blockage. If the plumber suspects that it may be a Council tree roots that are causing the blockage, he should contact Council’s City Presentation Officer who can inspect whilst the plumber is on site working to observe tree roots being removed from the pipes and to assist in identifying the appropriate location of intrusion. Depending on how much damage is caused by tree roots, and if the tree roots are always going to grow back and be a problem, it may be necessary for the tree to be removed.

Other Problems

Rubbish, children’s toys, tennis balls, nappies, clothing, sanitary pads, cooking waste, sand and other wastes entering the sewer system that are not intended for the sewer system

Pipes that have been crushed or flattened

Improperly laid pipes

Illegal connection of stormwater pipes or downpipes to the sewer causing them to overflow when it rains



Pressure Sewerage System

Pressures Sewerage Systems will only be permitted in special situations after approval by Council’s Director Technical Services. Pressure systems are normally used where normal systems which rely on gravity, are too expensive, will lead to either environmental constraints, or represents too much disturbance and inconvenience to existing residents. Pressure sewerage systems differ from conventional systems in that they are not dependent on gravity. A grinder pump is installed on the property to pump the household sewer into a Council reticulation main. The house sewer drainage discharges into a pump well. The pump well fills with wastewater up to a certain depth. At this point the pump automatically turns on and pumps until the water level falls to defined depth, and the pump then switches off. The pump will typically run for one to two minutes in the cycle, and the pump will operate several times each day. Sometimes the unit will turn on, but will cut out almost immediately. This happens when the pump detects that there is too much pressure in the system, because other pumping units are running already. The pump will try again in a few minutes, and will keep trying until the pressure drops to a level where it can run. If the pump fails to operate, the depth of wastewater will continue to increase until it reaches an “alarm” depth where both an audible and visual alarm will automatically be operated. This level is at about at the top of the pump. Alarms also may be activated as a result of a power returning after a power failure or due to sudden loading such as swimming pool backwashes or from large spas. In all cases the alarm will automatically shut off when the storage level drops below the alarm level. The alarm is in the small box that has been attached to the house and will be locked at all times. The storage vessel has a capacity in excess of 660 litres and when combined with the household drains should give in excess of 750 litres of total storage (around one day’s discharge for a normal household). With reasonable care, this means that no overflow should occur. Much of this storage capacity is above the alarm level activation point. If repairs are required to the reticulation, household pipelines or even to the pump itself then there is enough storage on the property to allow this to occur without fear of overflows on the residential property. Residents however should minimise the production of wastewater until these repairs are conducted.

The Council pressure main

The Council pressure main is made using the same materials as the house pressure line. The mains systems need to be carefully designed to make sure that the wastewater doesn’t cause blockages, and the water doesn’t become too septic in the lines. Because of this there is less capability for subdivisions than for a normal sewerage system.



The boundary kit

The ‘boundary kit’ is at the front boundary of the private property and marks out the boundary between your house service and Council’s pressure sewer main network. The boundary kit is in a black case marked ‘Pressure Sewer: Do Not Bury’. The boundary kit has three main parts:

An isolation valve, used to isolate your property service from the mains system. This is used to prevent your sewer pump from discharging into the sewer main if there is a problem in the system (eg a burst main)

A one-way valve, used to prevent wastewater from the Council’s pressure main from discharging back into your house pressure line.

An inspection/flushing point, used to inspect and clear the system if necessary.

Glossary for the Pressure Sewerage System

Balancing tank A tank used to store discharges from pool pumps etc and release to the house reticulation at a controlled rate.

Boundary kit A combination ball valve, one-way valve and inspection port located near the property boundary. Marked “Pressure Sewer: Do Not Bury”. Denotes the junction between the house sewerage system and the Council sewer mains.

Control box The box used to control the operation of the pressure pump. Also includes an alarm light, alarm siren and a silencing switch.

House sewer drainage The gravity drained part of the house sewer service lines, upstream of the pump well.

Owner The legal owner of the property.

Pressure service line The part of the house service line connecting the pump well to the boundary kit. This is owned by the property owner.

Pressure main Any lines downstream of the boundary kit. These are under Council ownership.

Pump well The fibreglass well which houses the pump and stores wastewater for pumping.

Owner’s responsibilities

As the owner, you are responsible for:

Maintaining the house’s sewer drainage to the standards in the NSW Plumbing Code

Making sure that no damage occurs to the pressure service line between the pump well and the boundary kit, and the boundary kit itself (Council will repair at your cost)

Making sure the system isn’t abused by discharging substances that damage the pump or are unsuitable for sewer

Keeping the vent on the top of the pump well clear

Ensuring that the pump well is accessible in case future maintenance is needed

Ensuring that no one attempts to access the pump well or control unit, unless authorised by Council

Providing electricity to operate the on-site pump



Council agrees to the following:

1. Council or Council’s contractors will install a pump well, pumps, associated controls and reticulation for the above property in accordance with the attached design, previously agreed by the property owner(s).

2. Council will provide operating manuals to the property owner(s) on commissioning of the pump.

3. After the system becomes operational, Council will respond within one hour to any faults with the pump unit or alarms. “Response” means Council will assess the problem over the telephone and ensure that staff are available to rectify the fault before there is a significant risk of overflow, or within 2 hours of the initial contact with Council, whichever the longer.

4. Expenses associated with responding to and rectifying faults are at Council’s cost, unless it is shown that the cause of the fault was related to a breach of this agreement.

The property owner(s) agree to:

5. Provide Council and its contractors reasonable access to the work site to allow installation of the system, and maintain the pump in the event of a fault.

6. Operate the system in compliance with the operating manual provided by Council, and to ensure that tenants or lessees comply with the operating manual.

7. Pay Council the standard sewer availability charges. This charge will be included on your rates notice.

8. Bear the cost of supplying electricity to operate the pump.

9. Ensure that Council is advised as soon as practicable if any fault is discovered with the pumping unit or associated equipment (eg the alarm activates, or the pump does not operate for some reason).

10. Ensure that the instructions of Council staff are followed in the event of a fault, to minimise the risk of overflow.

11. Ensure that they, or their agents, will not attempt to service any item contained in the pump well or electrical control box, inclusive of these items. Any attempt to do so will render the property owner(s) liable for the full repair cost.

12. Ensure that all future plumbing work will be completed in accordance with Council’s Sewer Policy of the time.

Following formal commissioning of the pump and associated equipment, asset ownership and responsibility will be as follows:

13. The property owner(s) own the service lines, being the gravity reticulation system and pressure line system up to and including the ‘boundary kit’. The ‘boundary kit’ is an arrangement of a one-way valve, tap, maintenance port and surround which is located between the pump unit and Council’s sewer main. Maintenance of these assets is at the property owner’s expense.

14. Council owns the pump, pump well and electrical control box. Maintenance of these assets is governed by this agreement.

15. Council owns any pressure reticulation mains (being pressure sewer lines downstream of the boundary kit) on the property.

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