Public Main Extensions (Form 2241)

Basic Service Policy

The District's basic service policy requires a separate side sewer for each property with an Assessor's Parcel Number. Each side sewer must connect directly to a public (District-maintained) sewer. If a public sewer is not adjacent to a property, a public sewer main must be extended in order for that property to receive service. The cost to extend a public sewer is borne by the property owner needing service.

The Main Extension Procedure below describes the means whereby a property owner can have the needed public sewer installed. All public main extensions must be constructed in accordance with District-approved construction plans prepared by a qualified, registered civil engineer. These plans must be prepared in compliance with the District Standard Specifications and the District Code. A list of civil engineers practicing in the area is available at the District's permit counter.

Main Extension Procedure

I. Preliminary Investigation Work

1. Review location of existing sewers with District personnel.
   
2. Investigate whether property must be annexed.
   
3. Review the need for sewer rights-of-way with District personnel.
   
4. Retain a licensed civil engineer to prepare plans and handle technical matters.
   
5. Investigate required bonds and agreements.
   
6. Investigate District charges for plan review, inspection, and connection fees. The civil engineer preparing the construction plans can provide an estimate of these fees, or the estimate can be obtained at the District's permit counter.
   
7. Inquire with the local jurisdiction regarding encroachment permit requirements for work in the road right-of-way.

II. Design and Preliminary Plan Review

The civil engineer must prepare sewer plans in accordance with the District's Standard Specifications. The plans must then be submitted to the District for preliminary review. The following must be submitted:

1. Two sets of sewer plans with 100' and 600' scale system maps
   
2. Right-of-way documents
   
3. Sewer plan sepia
   
4. Plan review fees

At the conclusion of the preliminary review by the District, one set of sewer plans will be returned to the civil engineer. Required plan revisions will be noted on the plans. Generally, two or more preliminary reviews are required. Once all the required changes are made, the plan review process proceeds to the construction approval phase.

III.. Construction Plan Approval

1. Four sets of construction plans and one additional copy of the system map sheet.
   
2. A full set of mylar duplicates of the construction plans.
   
3. Cut sheets for sewer line staking.
   
4. A copy of the recorded subdivision map or executed Irrevocable Offers of Dedication.
   
5. An engineer's estimate or contract price to establish the project's improvement security amount.
   
6. Signed "Owner's Sewer Improvement Agreement" (download agreement, pdf) and project improvement security for 100% of the construction cost of the public sanitary sewer work in one of the following acceptable forms:
   
   1. Cashier's check in the amount of 100% of construction cost payable to Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. No interest is payable.
      
   2. Two (2) Certificate(s) of Deposit (CD) - 90% & 10% of the construction cost payable to Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. Note: The CD for 90% of construction cost should mature upon project completion; the 10% CD one year later. Interest earned by BOTH CDs is payable to owner.
      
   3. Corporate Surety Bond - 100% of construction cost (download form, pdf).
      
7. Inspection fees.

IV. Construction Permit

All construction under the "Main Extension Procedure" must be done by a licensed contractor who is approved by the District (list available at the District's permit counter). All work done is subject to inspection by the District's construction inspectors. The property owner must hire the contractor and pay all costs associated with the sewer construction.

The contractor must be issued a permit and have an approved set of construction plans in order to begin work. Once the construction plans have been approved and inspection fees paid, the contractor can pick up the job permit and a set of construction plans at the District's permit counter.

V. Inspection of Work

All notifications to the District regarding inspection of sewer work must be initiated by the contractor to whom the sewer permit is issued. The contractor is expected to give the District Inspection Section 24-hour notice regarding the following routine matters:

1. Commencement of work. No sewer work or trenching is to begin before the day of the scheduled inspection.
   
2. Temporary halt of ongoing sewer construction work.
   
3. Recommencement of sewer construction work following a temporary halt.

1. Removing pipe from trenches
   
2. Backfilling of trenches
   
3. Removing backfill to expose installed pipe

VI. Acceptance of Work

Requirements for project acceptance are the completion of all improvements as shown on the approved plans, including final roadway paving; no deficiencies noted on the TV inspection report; the sewer contractor's request for a final inspection of the project; the completion of the final inspection; and the correction of all punch list items.

Upon project acceptance by the Sanitary District's Board of Directors, 90% of the security will be returned to the owner if a Cashier's Check or Certificate of Deposit was submitted. The remaining 10% of the security will be retained for the one-year maintenance period of the project and will be returned once an inspection of the project has been made on the one-year anniversary date of the project acceptance, assuming no deficiencies are noted. Bonds must remain in effect until exonerated in writing by the Sanitary District at the end of the one-year maintenance period.

VII. Connection of Buildings

The construction approval for a main extension does not provide approval for connection of buildings to the public sewer. The connection of buildings to the public main must be separately permitted by the District, and appropriate connection fees must be paid. Fees related to the connection of buildings to the system are in addition to the fees which were previously paid. The building connection permit will not be issued until the main extension construction is accepted by the District and all building connection fees are paid.

VIII. Reimbursement for Costs of Public Main Extensions

In certain instances, some of the cost to extend the public sewer line may be recovered by the installer (property owner) funding the extension. Additional information on potential reimbursement of costs (rebates) is available at the following links:

• Reimbursements: Installer 
• Reimbursements: Non-Installer 

IX. Appeal of District Requirements for Public Main Extension or Other Sewer Related Requirements

If during the preliminary design and plan review phase, the property owner believes that the District's staff requirements are unjustified and/or inequitable, the property owner may appeal the requirements imposed to the District's Board of Directors.

The person appealing shall file a written notice of appeal with the Secretary of the District within thirty (30) days of the action appealed. Upon receiving the notice of appeal, the Secretary will set the matter for hearing at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors and shall give the person appealing written notice of the time and place of hearing at least ten (10) days before the hearing. The Board of Directors shall hold the hearing within sixty (60) days of the date that the notice of appeal is filed. This time may be extended by agreement. The decision of the Board after the appellant has had an opportunity to be heard is final and conclusive.