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BUILDING ADJACENT TO A SEWER

A Sewer Line Removes Sewage From A Building To The Main
Sewer Line By Means Of Gravity.

At times the sewer could be of the negative pressure type or low pressure type. The diameter of the main
sewer pipe can vary from 150mm to 300mm.

Though a sewer is thought of as something unhygienic it plays a vital part in keeping our towns and cities clean and unpolluted.

Damage to a sewer line will cause a lot of problems to the neighborhood. To prevent this from happening
local building authorities have guidelines when construction work has to be done adjacent to sewer lines.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF A SEWER SYSTEM:

A sewer system contains many parts such as:

Gravity sewer mains, vacuum sewer mains, sewer rising units, sewer tunnels, manholes, lamp holes, dead ends, and vent shafts to name a few. These parts are vital to the sewage system as a whole.

To protect them from any damage due to construction, prior permission is required from the local authority.

Gravity Sewer Mains:

Sewage Is Removed From A Property By Means Of The Sewer Main
Then The Sewage Is Sent To The Pumping And Treatment Stations.

This type of sewage system depends on gravity.

To make maintenance and access easier local council or the water board lays the sewer lines within easements.

Vacuum Sewer Mains:

This system uses a vacuum pressure generated at the pumping station. It all starts from home then the
sewage flows to a valve pit.

When the sewer pit fills, the valve opens and, the sewage goes into the mains by the vacuum caused.

From here, the sewage goes to the vacuum station, and is sent via the gravity mains to the treatment plant.

Low Pressure Sewer Main:

It uses low pressure to pump the sewage to the treatment station.

These Mains Transport The Sewage From The Pumping Station
By Using Pressure.

Sewer mains may be located on public or private property. If it is located on private property, then it will be
on an easement.

Sewer Tunnels:

There will be a number of tunnels in a sewer system. These tunnels can transport a large volume of waste
 to the pumping stations or treatment plants.

Remember, some of them may be located under private property. They may included Sewer Manholes,
Lamp holes, Dead Ends and Vent Shaft:

Whenever the sewer changes direction i.e. from horizontal to vertical or vice versa; then a manhole or lamp hole is located at this point.

This structure is about 1m in diameter and will be made of concrete.

The sewer main dead end is the end of the sewer main. Access to the dead end is vital for cleaning and maintenance.

A sewer vent shaft is a structure which maintains the pressure in the sewer within acceptable limits, by allowing air to enter or leave the system.

CAN A SEWER ADJACENT TO A PRIVATE PROPERTY AFFECT DEVELOPMENT:

As I said before there are different parts to a sewage system. Each has rules governing how construction
can be built in the vicinity of it.

The Effect Of A Sewage Line On The Development Of A Private Property
Will Depend On The Following Factors:

* Size and type of pipeline.

* Location of pipeline with respect to the development.

* The depth of the pipeline in or near the property.

* Slope of the property.

SOME GUIDELINES THAT COVER CONSTRUCTION ADJACENT TO SEWER:

* Relocation of a sewer for development:

Is It possible to relocate a sewer to another place on the property.

The relocation would depend on slope of the land, depth of the sewer and the ability to maintain sufficient gradient at the new location.

Prior approval is required from the local council or the water board.

* Building Over A Sewer Main:

Some types of construction may be permitted It depends on the zone of influence and, is subject to
certain conditions.

* Building Over A Sewer Rising Main:

This will not be permitted.

However, local council or the water board may allow certain type of construction adjacent to the easement, subject to fulfilling certain conditions.

* Building Over A Sewer Manhole Or Lamp hole:

This will not be permitted as a manhole or lamp hole has to be accessible at all times. Any structure built
adjacent to a manhole or lamp hole has to be at least 1.5m away.

* Building Over A Sewer Main Dead End:

This will not be permitted. Any structure must be at least 1m away.

* Building Over A Sewer Junction:

This will be permitted subject to the condition that a new sewer junction is created, clear of the proposed construction.

* Local council or the water board may permit this type of construction an example might be, swimming pools being built over sewers subject to certain conditions.

This might require a concrete casing to be put in place so to protect the sewer.

In addition to the above, there are rules governing every aspect of construction adjacent to a sewer. Prior permission is required before any work can start.

Remember, all the costs involved have to be borne by the applicant. In some cases, the work has to be inspected and certified by the council engineer or a water board inspector.

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