RC sewer pipe
RC sewer pipe
(OP)
Hi all !
Im doing a project at the moment where part of the works involve cleaning (i.e remove top and soft soil about 6 to 8 inches) and backfilling with crushed rock (about 12inches) to make a hardstand area so used for car parking and general small to medium parcel express trucks.
Part of the property is on an easement with a 2 ft Reinforced concrete sewer main (about 40 years old) of which the Water authority has rights over. It has a cover of about 3 feet. Apparently the main is in pretty bad condition according to the authority and their very nervous about letting me do anything at all over the pipe, apparently even increasing the cover.
Has anyone any experience in matters like this ? Any points both from a legal view and from a practical view would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Im doing a project at the moment where part of the works involve cleaning (i.e remove top and soft soil about 6 to 8 inches) and backfilling with crushed rock (about 12inches) to make a hardstand area so used for car parking and general small to medium parcel express trucks.
Part of the property is on an easement with a 2 ft Reinforced concrete sewer main (about 40 years old) of which the Water authority has rights over. It has a cover of about 3 feet. Apparently the main is in pretty bad condition according to the authority and their very nervous about letting me do anything at all over the pipe, apparently even increasing the cover.
Has anyone any experience in matters like this ? Any points both from a legal view and from a practical view would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!





RE: RC sewer pipe
RE: RC sewer pipe
Encasement well again I think they just dont want to go near it and I think their philosophy is, let sleeping dogs lay. Great for them but not so great for the Property owner who wants to use his land as efficiently as possible.
Actually the main is about 3 foot in diameter ( 1m) with the same cover mentioned above.
Any further ideas?
RE: RC sewer pipe
RE: RC sewer pipe
A trench was excavated over the pipe (not sure how deep) but to have a place for a compressible fill. I'd expect the tench probably was almost to the pipe.
The fill was corn stalks in that trench.
The area then had a concrete slab built over the area and off to each side. You can see that slab also has to extend far enough sideways to avoid placing added stress on the pipe. Obviously the slab had to be designed to carry the fill, like a bridge. Fill was at least 10 feet, probably much higher over that slab.
This general concept was first proposed many years ago by an engineer professor at Iowa State U. by the name of Marston. I think, but if not, by his successor, Spangler, and it is called the"Imperfect Trench".
I know of another job like this, but not as big a fill, with a building sitting over a force main, again carrying sewage.
Sounds silly, but it works.
RE: RC sewer pipe
RE: RC sewer pipe
The way these people approach the problem is on a daily basis. Ive spoken to them before on this and the guy at the counter told me a few beuties which I didn't bother auguing. Said that if a truck or semi trailer were to cause damage to the pipe the owner would bear the cost. Sure I thought but what would the courts decide. I have a meeting with a person higher up in the new year and want to sit down and calmly find a solution to the problem. The owner is prepared to do anything reasonable consistant with the occupiers and the Water Authority, but if they have a sewer main thats badly corroded then it also becomes their problem and a solution is not to just stay away (and force the owners to do likewise!).
Any further tips on how to approach them would be appreciated on this !
Thanks!
RE: RC sewer pipe
RE: RC sewer pipe
http://www.hobaspipe.com/
RE: RC sewer pipe
You may want to consult with a local real estate expert / attorney to find out what your (client's) rights are with respect to using his property near the easement before you go into your meeting next month.
RE: RC sewer pipe
RE: RC sewer pipe
Whats more if the main were to fail it would become a hazaed as it carries corrosive chemicals from a petrochemical plant upstream which have apparently caused the corrosion in the first place.
That being said they have rights over the property but so to does the owner who paid big bucks for the land and is aware of the sewer main but only to that extent.
I think some legal advise on this issue would be in order.
Thanks all, you have given me some very good points.
RE: RC sewer pipe
RE: RC sewer pipe
I think a carefully drafted letter from the land owner taking in account legal advise would be more appropriate than a meeting.