You must first file an “Application to Connect or Modify a Service Connection” with the Municipal Engineer. Fax: (902) 667-1352 (Attn: Director of Public Works); Mail: Director of Public Works, 1395 Blair Lake Rd, RR 6, Amherst, NS, B4H 3Y4; Shipping: E.D. Fullerton Municipal Building,1395 Blair Lake Rd, RR 6, Amherst, NS, B4H 3Y4
Where an existing building service connection does exist (from the main sewer to the property line):
If there is an existing service connection servicing a property, the owner may utilize this exiting service upon satisfactory pre-inspection by the Municipality. If you require a pre-inspection please call (902) 667-3029 to arrange for the pre-inspection of the existing building service connection by municipal staff. You may make connection upon notification from the Engineer that this is permissible. There is no cost associated with a pre-inspection.
Where no building service connection exists (from the main sewer to the property line):
The owner must place a stake at the edge of the NSDOT&PW right-of-way in the location where the proposed service will be installed. This stake shall be a minimum of 600mm high, brightly marked (fluorescent tape or paint) and labeled “Sanitary Connection” (black permanent marker is suitable for labeling). The service can be no closer than 3 meters from the side boundaries of the property and located entirely on the property to be serviced.
There are two possible courses of action where a building service connection has not been installed to the property line. They are as follows:
Upon payment of a flat connection fee as prescribed in the Municipality’s policy respecting “Building Service Connection Installation and Inspection Fees” the Municipality will undertake all work necessary for the installation of the line from the main sewer line to the edge of the property line. (Fee Schedule attached).Or
In lieu of the Municipality installing the building service connection the Owner of a property may contract these services privately provided the following conditions are met:
the Contractor submits to the Engineer a valid Letter of Good Standing issued by the Province of Nova Scotia Workers Compensation Board;
the Contractor provides documentation of related work experience in this field;
the Contractor obtains a “Breaking of Soils Permit” from the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Public Works and provides a copy to the Engineer;
the Contractor conducts all work in accordance with the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Public Works, Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour, Canadian Plumbing Code, Standard Specifications for Municipal Services, this by-law, and good engineering practices;
f.the Contractor gives one week written notice to the Engineer prior to the installation;
the Contractor indemnifies the Municipality from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building service connection;
h.the Contractor does not cover any portion of the installation without approval of the Engineer or his appointed representative; and
The Contractor completes all work within 14 days of the installation. The Municipality, at the Contractors expense, will conduct work not completed within this time frame as well as any work found to be unsatisfactory to the Engineer.
Upon satisfactory inspection of an existing connection or completion of a new connection, work may commence to connect the building to the building service connection located at the property line. The following describes the process:
This work shall be inspected by this department upon completion but prior to backfill. Call (902) 667-3029 to arrange for this inspection. The initial inspection for this portion of the work is free of charge.
This work can be backfilled upon written notice from the Engineer or his representative.
The owner will be charged $100 for incomplete of incorrect sewer installations inspected by the Municipality.
This service maybe utilized by two or more buildings if the following conditions have been met:
All buildings utilizing a common building service connection are located in whole on a single building lot.
Provisions have been made, that are satisfactory to the Engineer, to prevent backflow conditions in the buildings utilizing a common building service connection.
Provisions have been made, that are satisfactory to the Engineer, to allow for mechanical cleaning of the common building service connection.
Prior to installation, the owner must submit a scaled site plan including: property boundaries, easements, proposed and existing building locations, driveway(s), and other topographical features of the lot relevant to the installation as well as the proposed building service connection arrangement, proposed pipe sizes, slopes and connection details.
The owner must submit detailed “fixture unit” calculations as described in the current edition of the Canadian Plumbing Code for each building in a form acceptable to the Engineer.
The owner of a common building service connection is responsible for all repairs and maintenance of the entire building service connection up to the NSDOT&PW right of way.
All charges as described in this By-Law shall apply to all buildings utilizing a common building service connection as if each building had an independent building service connection.
Prior to subpiding a lot where two or more existing buildings utilize a common building service connection, the owner must install separate and independent building service connections for each proposed lot on which an existing building is located, and must acquire and record easements in compliance with sub-section (13) below for any portions of the building service connections not within the same lot as the building they service.
Public Works