SEWER SYSTEM DESIGN GUIDELINES

PART 1 GENERAL

1.1 GENERAL GUIDELINES

A. The following sewer system design guidelines are based on Federal, State and
Local health requirements, and the Berkeley County Water & Sanitation
engineering design criteria.
B. Design criteria not indicated herein shall comply with “Ten States Standards”
where applicable.
C. All installations are to meet the standards of the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) Standards for Wastewater
Facility Construction: R. 61-67, and in particular: Section 67.300 Construction
Permits.
D. No line extension shall be made from an existing line when the existing line
does not meet the minimum requirements outlined in this section.
E. Sewer services and plumbing connections thereto must conform to relevant
local plumbing codes or the National Plumbing Code.
F. No pressurized discharge to the gravity sewer system shall be allowed unless
specifically approved in writing by the BCWS.
G. These design guidelines are applicable to all developments including but not
limited to residential, commercial and industrial developments, subdivisions,
and/or parks requiring sanitary sewer service from BCWS.
H. The BCWS will approve plans for new systems, extensions, or replacement
sewers only where rain water from roofs, streets, and other areas, and ground
water from foundation drains are excluded.
I. Sewers shall not be constructed under street paving except for crossings.
J. Sewer systems should be designed for the estimated ultimate tributary
population, except in considering parts of the system that can be readily
increased in capacity. Similarly, consideration should be given to the maximum
anticipated capacity of institutions, industrial parks, etc.
1.2 BCWS MASTER PLAN

A. Sewer system design shall comply and be compatible with BCWS Wastewater
System Master Plan.

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 1.3 GENERAL DESIGN CRITERIA

A. In determining the required capacities of sanitary sewers the following factors

shall be considered:
1. Maximum hourly sewage flow.
2. Additional maximum sewage or waste flow from industrial plants.
3. Ground water infiltration.
4. Topography of area.
5. Location of the waste treatment plant.
6. Depth of excavation.
7. Pumping requirements.
8. Design flows shall accommodate the BCDCOG 20 year projected population
figures.
9. Additionally, where at least 30 percent of a drainage area is already
developed, a population density at least equal to that of the existing
development must be used for the entire drainage area.
1.4 SIZING OF SEWER FACILITIES

A. Average flow projections for all domestic wastewater facilities shall be based
on the type of facility to be served, as stated in R 61-67, Appendix A, unless
otherwise justified by the applicant and approved by the BCWS.
B. Peak hourly flow projections shall be at least two and one half (2.5) times the
average daily flow projection, unless otherwise justified by the applicant and
approved by the BCWS. Where actual data are available, the BCWS may
require its use in determining a peaking factor.
C. Sewer system components shall be designed to accommodate the maximum
anticipated tributary flow.
1.5 LOCATION OF SEWER LINES

A. All sewers shall be constructed with a minimum of three (3) feet of cover, unless
justified by the applicant and approved by the BCWS (e.g., use of ductile iron
pipe may have cover less than three (3) feet).
B. Sewer lines, manholes, pump stations, force mains, and wastewater treatment
facilities shall be located more than one hundred (100) feet from a public water
supply well. Sewer lines, manholes, pump stations, and force mains shall be
located at least twenty (20) feet from any other potable well, as defined in
Regulation 61-71. Wastewater treatment facilities shall be located at least one
hundred (100) feet from any other potable well, as defined in Regulation 61-71.

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 Special designs may be considered which shall provide equivalent protection
to the well when this requirement is not achievable.
C. When sewers are proposed adjacent to any existing or proposed potable water
supply facilities, the following requirements apply:
1. Potable Water Supply Interconnections. There shall be no physical
connections between a public or private potable water supply system and a
sewer, or appurtenance thereto which may permit the passage of any
sewage or polluted water into the potable supply. No potable water pipe
shall pass through or come into contact with any part of a sewer manhole.
2. Horizontal and Vertical Separation from Potable Water Mains. Sewers shall
be laid at least ten (10) feet horizontally from any existing or proposed
potable water main. The distance shall be measured edge to edge. In cases
where it is not practical to maintain a ten (10) foot separation, the BCWS
may allow deviation on a case-by-case basis, if supported by data from the
design engineer. Such deviation may allow installation of the sewer closer
to a potable water main, provided that the potable water main is in a
separate trench or on an undisturbed earth shelf located on one side of the
sewer and at an elevation so the bottom of the potable water main is at least
eighteen (18) inches above the top of the sewer.
3. Pipe Crossings. Sewers crossing potable water mains shall be laid to
provide a minimum vertical separation of eighteen (18) inches between the
outside of the potable water main and the outside of the sewer. This shall
be the case where the potable water main is either above or below the
sewer. Whenever possible, the potable water main shall be located above
the sewer main. Where a new sewer line crosses a new potable water main,
a full length of pipe shall be used for both the sewer line and potable water
main and the crossing shall be arranged so that the joints of each line shall
be as far as possible from the point of crossing and each other. Where a
potable water main crosses under a sewer, adequate structural support
shall be provided for the sewer line to prevent damage to the potable water
main while maintaining line and grade.
4. Force Mains. There shall be at least a ten (10) foot horizontal separation
between sanitary sewer force mains and potable water mains. There shall
be an eighteen (18) inch vertical separation at crossing as required in
subsection 67.300.A.14.b and subsection 67.300.A.14.c.
5. Special Conditions. When it is impossible to obtain the distances specified
in subsection 67.300.A.14.b, subsection 67.300.A.14.c, and subsection
67.300.A.14.d the BCWS may allow an alternative design. Any alternative
design shall:
a. maximize the distances between the sewer line and the potable water main
and the joints of each;

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 b. use pipe materials which meet the requirements as specified in Regulation
61-58.4(D)(1) for the sewer line; and
c. Allow enough distance to make repairs to one of the lines without damaging
the other.
6. Sewer Manholes. No potable water pipe shall pass through or come into
contact with any part of a sewer manhole.
1.6 SURFACE WATER AND WETLAND CROSSINGS

A. Surface water and wetland crossing, whether over or under water, present
special problems. BCWS should be consulted before plans are prepared.
Sewer lines crossing surface waters must be adequately supported and
anchored, protected from damage and freezing, and be accessible for repair or
replacement [R.61-67]. Any support or anchoring system should be designed
to be corrosion resistant using concrete or 316 stainless steel. Sewer mains
crossing water courses which are greater than 15 feet in width, the following
must be provided.
1. The pipe material and joints shall be designed appropriately. ]
2. For forcemains valves must be located so that the section can be isolated
for testing or repair; the valves must be easily accessible, and not subject
to flooding.
3. For gravity sewer, manholes must be provided on each side of the wetland
crossing.
B. Berkeley County, being a designated coastal county, requires that a Coastal
Zone consistency review be provided by the SCDHEC’s Office of Ocean and
Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) as part of the wastewater
construction permit process; unless a general certification applicable to the
project from OCRM has already been provided. [R61-67.300 A.19.]

1.7 MATERIALS

A. Materials and installation for all gravity sewer lines and force mains shall
comply with commonly accepted design standards such as ASTM (American
Society for Testing and Materials), ANSI (American National Standard), AWWA
(American Water Works Association) or other design standards and as shown
in the BCWS Standard Specifications.

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 PART 2 GRAVITY SEWER LINES / COLLECTION SYSTEMS

1.1 GRAVITY SEWER LINES

A. Gravity sewer lines shall be constructed such that the internal angle of
deflection is equal to or greater than ninety (90) degrees, including connections
at manholes.
B. No gravity sewer line conveying raw sewage shall be less than eight (8) inches
in diameter. Wyes for services lines shall have a minimum branch size of six
inches.
C. All gravity sewers shall be designed and constructed to give mean velocities,
when flowing full, of not less than two (2) feet per second, based on Manning’s
formula using an “n” value of thirteen thousandths (0.013). Slopes slightly less
than those required for the two (2) feet per second velocity, when flowing full,
may be permitted. Such decreased slopes shall only be considered where the
depth of flow shall be three tenths (0.3) of the diameter or greater for average
flows. Whenever such decreased slopes are selected, the design engineer
shall furnish with the report design computations of the anticipated flow
velocities of average and peak flows. The report shall indicate the actual
velocity in the sewer lines at the proposed slope and the actual velocity at the
required slope in order to achieve two (2) feet per second, when flowing full.
The pipe diameter and slope shall be selected to obtain the greatest practical
velocities to minimize settling problems. Oversized sewers shall not be
approved to justify using flatter slopes. The operating authority of the sewer
system shall give written assurance to the BCWS that any additional sewer
maintenance required by reduced slopes shall be provided.
D. The BCWS preference for minimum slopes of various sewer pipe sizes
according to “Ten States Standards” is shown below.

SLOPE RECOMMENDED BY TEN STATES STANDARDS

50 % Full 100 % Full
Slope Dia. V FLOW V FLOW
in fps gpm mgd fps gpm mgd
0.85% 4 2.01 39 0.057 2.01 79 0.113
0.50% 6 2.02 89 0.128 2.02 178 0.256
0.40% 8 2.19 171 0.247 2.19 343 0.494
0.28% 10 2.14 262 0.377 2.14 524 0.754
0.22% 12 2.12 374 0.539 2.12 749 1.079
0.15% 15 2.05 565 0.813 2.05 1129 1.626
0.14% 16 2.04 639 0.920 2.04 1277 1.839
0.12% 18 2.06 815 1.174 2.06 1630 2.348
0.10% 21 2.06 1111 1.600 2.06 2222 3.200

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 SLOPE RECOMMENDED BY TEN STATES STANDARDS
50 % Full 100 % Full
Slope Dia. V FLOW V FLOW
in fps gpm mgd fps gpm mgd
0.08% 24 2.04 1436 2.067 2.04 2871 4.135
0.067% 27 2.01 1795 2.585 2.01 3591 5.171
0.058% 30 2.01 2214 3.189 2.01 4429 6.377
0.052% 33 2.03 2706 3.897 2.03 5412 7.793
0.046% 36 2.02 3205 4.615 2.02 6409 9.229

E. Sewers shall be designed with a uniform slope between manholes.

F. Sewers on twenty (20) percent slopes or greater shall be anchored securely
with concrete anchors or equal, spaced as follows:
1. Not over thirty six (36) feet center-to-center on grades twenty (20) percent
and up to thirty five (35) percent;
2. Not over twenty four (24) feet center-to-center on grades thirty five (35)
percent and up to fifty (50) percent; and
3. Not over sixteen (16) feet center-to-center on grades exceeding fifty (50)
percent.
G. Sewers twenty four (24) inches or less in diameter shall be laid with straight
alignment between manholes.
H. All gravity sewers shall be designed and specified such that they will pass a
low pressure air test in accordance with ASTM F 1417 and UNI B-6-90 as per
BCWS Standard Specification 02731 – SANITARY GRAVITY SEWER LINE
TESTING.
1.2 MANHOLES

A. Manhole top elevations shall be greater than or equal to the fifty (50) year flood
elevation, unless watertight covers are provided.
B. Manholes shall be installed: at the end of each line; at all changes in grade,
size, or alignment; at all intersections of piping; and at distances not greater
than four hundred (400) feet for sewers fifteen (15) inches or less, and five
hundred (500) feet for sewers eighteen (18) inches to thirty (30) inches.
Cleanouts may be used only for special conditions and shall not be substituted
for manholes except when installed at the end of laterals not greater than one
hundred fifty (150) feet in length. A drop pipe shall be provided for a sewer
entering a manhole at an elevation of twenty four (24) inches or more above
the manhole invert. Where the difference in elevation between the incoming

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 sewer and the manhole invert is less than twenty four (24) inches, the invert
shall be filleted to prevent solids deposition.
C. The minimum inside diameter of manholes shall be forty eight (48) inches
unless using an inside drop connection where a minimum inside diameter of
sixty (60) inches shall be required for all new manholes. For modifications to
existing manholes, a minimum diameter of forty eight (48) inches, for inside
drop connections, may be provided if justified and approved by the BCWS. A
minimum manhole access diameter of twenty two (22) inches shall be provided.
D. Location of Manholes in relation to curbing or general roadside within newly
designed subdivisions should be at minimum 3’ away from back of curb or
roadway. This allows some room for maintenance around manhole as well as
minimizes conflicts with curb drains within roadway system. Manholes closer
than this would require BCWS approval and justification.
PART 3 PUMP STATIONS

1.1 PUMPS

A. At least two (2) pumps shall be provided for each pump station. If only two (2)
units are provided, they shall have the same capacity and each shall be
capable of handling the expected peak flow. Where three (3) or more units are
provided, they shall be designed to fit actual flow conditions and shall be of
such capacity that with any one unit out of service the remaining units shall
have capacity to handle peak sewage flows.
B. For domestic wastewaters and industrial wastewaters with solids which are
similar in size and nature to solids in domestic wastewater, pump openings
shall be capable of passing spheres of at least four (4) inches in diameter, for
raw, unscreened wastewater, and pump suction and discharge piping shall be
at least four (4) inches in diameter.
C. For pump stations with duplex pumps each pump shall be designed to operate
in a lead lag sequence and be on an alternating cycle. For pump stations with
more than two (2) pumps alternate designs may be considered.

1.2 STRUCTURES

A. The pump station wet well shall be ventilated. The vent (e.g., a screened
inverted “j” tube) shall be constructed of a weather durable material (e.g.,
stainless steel).
1.3 VALVES

A. A shutoff valve (e.g., plug valve) and a check valve shall be located on the
discharge line from each pump. The check valve shall be located between the
shutoff valve and the pump.

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 B. The shutoff valve(s) for the pump station shall be located outside of the wet
well, above grade.
C. The check valves for the pump station shall be located outside the wet well,
above grade.
1.4 ELECTRICAL

A. All work, equipment and materials furnished shall conform with the existing
rules, requirements and specifications of the Insurance Rating Organization
having jurisdiction, the serving electrical utility company, and the latest edition
of the National Electrical Code (NEC),
B. Electrical junction boxes shall be located outside of the wet well.
1.5 ALARM SYSTEM

A. Pump stations shall have SCADA communication connected to the BCWS

control center.
1.6 FENCING

A. Each pump station shall be fenced to prevent access by unauthorized persons.

The type of fencing or other means of controlling access shall be approved by
the BCWS.
1.7 EMERGENCY SIGN

A. A weather durable sign, approved by the BCWS, with a twenty four (24) hour
emergency telephone number, shall be located at a conspicuous point on the
fence.
1.8 FLOOD PROTECTION

A. Pump stations shall be designed to be fully operational during flooding to the

twenty five (25) year flood elevation unless the influent flow into the pump
station can be stopped. For example, industrial facilities may select to cease
operation during these periods in lieu of having the pump station fully
operational. Pump station structures and equipment shall be protected from
physical damage by flooding to the one hundred (100) year flood elevation. An
all weather access road shall be provided to the pump station.
1.9 EMERGENCY OPERATION

A. An emergency operation plan for the sewer pump station(s) shall be provided.

1. The plan shall include an on site standby generator with an automatic

switching feature.

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 PART 4 FORCEMAIN

1.1 SIZE, VELOCITY, BLOCKING, LEAKAGE

A. Force mains carrying raw domestic sewage shall be at least four (4) inches in
diameter.
B. Velocity in force mains shall be at least two (2) feet per second at design flow.
However, lower initial velocities may be permitted by the BCWS if provisions to
maintain a flushing velocity can be made, or if the wastewater does not contain
suspended solids.
C. Restraint joints shall be provided at all changes in alignment greater than or
equal to thirty (30) degrees.
D. Design and construction of force mains shall be such that they satisfy a leakage
test in accordance with American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard
C600 (DIP) or AWWA C-605 (PVC) as per BCWS Standard Specification
02734 – SANITARY SEWER FORCE MAIN TESTING.
1.2 AIR RELIEF

A. An automatic air relief valve shall be placed at high points in the force main
sewer to prevent air locking. Vacuum relief valves may be necessary to relieve
negative pressures on force mains. The BCWS may require alternative designs
in order to reduce possible odor problems from air relief valves located in highly
populated areas.
1.3 CONNECTION TO SEWER SYSTEM

A. Force mains tying onto manholes shall enter the manhole through a cored
opening which will allow the invert of the forcemain pipe to tie in smoothly with
the invert channel of the manhole.

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