Security zone sewage

Forbidden zone - this inscription on the plate met, perhaps, everyone. But not everyone knows that such a territory is not only private ownership and conservation areas, but also the area around the sewage system. And the point here is not that the work carried out here can harm communications. The security zone of the sewage system is needed first of all in order not to harm human health and harm the environment. This is what this article will be about.

General information

Any sewage system carries a potential hazard to the environment and human health. This is due to sewage, which contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms. To minimize these risks, a protected area should be allocated around any object associated with the sewerage system.

In such territories, according to the current rules and regulations, certain actions should be limited. For example, in a protected area it is prohibited:

• Plant trees and other large green spaces.
• Conduct earthworks (dig holes and trenches). Of course, this rule does not apply to the organization’s serving sewer communication.
• You can not arrange warehouses and store any values ​​(building materials, fuel, and especially food).
• Construction of any buildings, especially residential, is not allowed.
• It is impossible to carry out any work with the use of percussion mechanisms, closer than 15 m from the sewer.
• It is forbidden to make changes in the level of the soil, the construction of dams, embankments, roads, etc. There are rules according to which it is forbidden to lay the subway at a distance closer than 20 m from the existing sewer. Of course, this applies only to large cities, but this requirement speaks of the importance for the environment and human health of maintaining the integrity of sewage pipelines.
• Also, you can not build anything that could interfere with access to communications service companies.

Tip! The decision on the allocation of areas under the protected zone is made by a representative of the relevant authorities. The decision must be communicated with a special resolution. The size and location of such areas can be obtained from local organizations that carry out maintenance of sewer communications.

The size of such areas depends on various factors. Among them, the depth of laying and the size of sewer pipes, terrain features and purpose of communications (household or industrial sewage).

What threatens to violate the requirements

According to the current legislation, organizations laying underground power lines or a water supply system should designate security zones. But this rule does not apply to sewer pipelines. As a result of this non-matching of cases of breakthroughs of such communications as a result of land works, it is much more than in the case of electrical lines and water supply.

But the problems with such a breakthrough will be no less. And it’s not even the case that an organization operating a sewage system will have to spend resources on repairs. The breakthrough of such pipelines threatens to cause great harm to the environment, and, therefore, to human health.

Since the installation of a sign on the sewer security zone is not necessary, the responsibility for damage to communications will be borne by:

• The organization that maintains the sewer system in the absence of a mark.
• The organization that conducted the work, in case the sign was installed and ignored. The same applies to individuals.

Tip! According to current regulations, for violations of the requirements prescribed by the protected sewage zone, the perpetrator is administratively liable. But do not think that if the sewer pipe is damaged, you will only face a fine. If the sewage spill brought great harm to the environment, the punishment will be much stricter.

If you decide to carry out any construction or earthworks, then it is better to find out in advance with the organizations that maintain the sewage system that there are no protected areas in the work area. You will spend some time searching for truth, but you will save yourself from possible large material losses in the form of a fine and compensation for damage.

Compliance with the rules

The sewage system ensures the normal functioning of the settlement. In addition, such communications are potentially dangerous to the health of citizens and the environment. In this regard, when working in a protected area, you must comply with the following requirements:

• strictly comply with all the requirements specified in the applicable regulations and rules;
• when performing any (permitted by the operating company) work in the protected area, to ensure all measures to preserve the integrity and safety of sewage pipelines and systems;
• monitor the safety of all elements of communication;
• to provide free access to the sewer pipeline (to remove snow, garbage, etc.).

Tip! If any work is required in the protected sewage zone, then permission is required. Reconciliation takes place in the operating company. After completion of all the required work, a special commission is invited. She examines the security zone and gives permission to surrender the work performed.

The size of the protected area

In order not to violate the existing legislation and not to conduct work or construction in a protected sewage zone, it is worth knowing their dimensions. Such information will be useful not only for organizations, but also for individuals.

Tip! Many owners of country houses do autonomous sewer systems on their plots. According to SNIP (building codes and regulations) and these structures are subject to the requirements of the protected area. If your neighbor has built an autonomous system, then you cannot build a structure near it.

And what are the sizes of such zones? According to current regulations on pressure sewage system, the protected area must be at least 5 m on each side of the side walls of the pipeline. The same rules apply to self-flowing systems.

But these SNIP requirements apply to normal conditions. In some cases, the distance from the pipeline to the end of the protected area can be changed:

• If the temperature of the ambient air or soil in the region is below the standard indicators (this applies to the northern regions of our country).
• There is an increased risk of seismic activity. In this case, the zone is enlarged. In case of aftershocks, there is a high probability of rupture of the pipeline and sewage runoff into the environment.
• If the soil is weak or very moist. In sandy soil or in swampy areas, a breakthrough of sewage lines can cause more damage, as the drains can penetrate deeper and farther from the pipe.

As a rule, if one of these conditions is fulfilled according to the characteristics of the terrain, then the protected area is doubled. In such regions, nothing can be done within 10 m on each side of the walls of the sewer pipe. But in each case it is better to find out more precisely from local authorities and organizations operating the pipeline.

Tip! Exactly such rules apply to the storm sewer system. Despite the fact that such systems are designed to collect conditionally clean drains from precipitation, the norms for them are the same. The protection zone must be at least 5 m on each side of the pipeline.

In addition, the laying of the sewage system must meet the standards relating to water protection zones. Since sewage can cause great harm to the environment, and especially biological life and the purity of water bodies, it is not allowed to locate them near water protected areas. Thus, in accordance with the applicable building codes and regulations, the following distances must be observed:

• from sources of groundwater (well, well, etc.) - not less than 50 m;
• from the shore of a lake, pond or other non-flowing water body - not less than 100 m;
• from the edge of the water of rivers and streams - not less than 250 m.

In addition, special attention should be paid when laying water supply systems in close proximity to sewer communications. According to existing regulations, in this case it is necessary to observe certain distances. So, if the pipe section of the plumbing system does not exceed 1 m, then they can be laid no closer than 10 m from the sewer lines. It should take into account the features of the soil.

Tip! If the soil is wet or weak, then the distance between the water supply and sewage systems should not be less than 50 m, regardless of the diameter of the pipes used.

When laying a sewage system (including an autonomous system serving a private house) in the zone of protection of water bodies, it is better to take the existing standards with a margin. For example, to retreat from the shore of the lake is not 100 m, but 110. The fact is that very often there are discrepancies between the markings of protective zones of water bodies in nature and their schematic plan of location.

Video

You can learn about the secrets of laying sewer pipes if you watch the footage: