Sanitary Sewer Capacity Reservation

Sanitary sewer is managed by Sewer Engineering. Address: 100 St. Ferdinand Street, Room 404 in Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Phone: (225) 389-5623.

Developers or engineers interested in submitting a request to the City-Parish to verify available sewer capacity please use the following link at: www.brprojects.com/capacityassurance/

Public versus Private

All improved premises within 300 feet of an established, constructed and operating sanitary sewerage system shall be tied to and connected with the system. (City Code 1951, Title 2, § 303; Parish Code 1962, Title 2, § 303)

All collection lines on a site must be either private or public.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals must approve all sanitary sewer facilities.

Determining Public or Private Collection and Treatment

 

Developments >300’ from Public Collection Line

Developments <300’ from Public Collection Line1

 

Gated Community

Non-Gated Community

Treatment

Private

Public

Public

Pump Station2
(if required)

Private

Private
if inside gate

Public
if outside gate

Private

Public

Public

Collection Lines

Private

Private

Private

Public

1. If capacity does not exist, as determined by DPW, the development may utilize a private community treatment system with the understanding that it will eventually be required to tie to the public system when capacity becomes available. If the public system will not be available within five years of completion of construction of the private system, the application for private treatment system will be denied. All components of the private system, such as pump stations and collection lines, must comply with public standards before connecting to the public system.

2. Pump station must be public if connecting to a public force main line.

Required Submittals

For Developments tying to Public Treatment:

  • Submit capacity analysis to Sewer Engineering at the time of application for:
    • Preliminary plat for subdivisions.
    • Site plan approval for site plans.
    • Development plan for SPUDs.
    • Final development plan for PUDs.
    • Specific implementation plan for TNDs.
  • Applications shall be submitted through the Sewer Engineering Capacity Reservation website at www.brprojects.com/capacityassurance/.
  • Include the latest version of the standard plans and specifications in the construction plans. (Contact Sewer Engineering for the latest version)

For Developments tying to a Force Main Line:

  • Submit analysis request to Sewer Engineering prior to construction plan submittal in order to obtain pump curves.

Individual Private Sewage Treatment Systems

The following may have effluent from an approved individual private sewage treatment system draining to open effluent ditches, provided such open effluent ditches are predominant in the area and are at least 24 inches deeper than the grade at the building site:

  • Subdivisions of 5 lots or less, with each lot at least 22,500 sf with at least 100 feet of frontage
  • Subdivisions of 5 to 50 lots of 250 feet with minimum depth of 300 feet

Any other development must have community sewer collection lines tying either to a public system or an approved private community treatment system.

Standard Specifications

Public Collection Lines

  • Minimum size: 8 inches
  • Minimum cover: 4 feet
  • Minimum public servitude: 15 foot immediately adjacent to but outside of the street right-of-way
  • Only, but at least, one main line sewer wye per lot
  • Minimum manhole depth: 6 feet
  • At least one manhole every 300 feet

Public Pump Stations

  • Minimum size: 100 gpm
  • Minimum force main size: 4” diameter
  • Minimum force main cover: 3 feet
  • Shop drawing review at construction plan review
  • Locate on an individual site no less than 50 feet by 50 feet
  • Provide site with a gravel or paved public access

Sewer Impact Fees

All new or expanded connections to the public sanitary sewer system must pay a sewer impact fee prior to temporary cut-in of utilities. The fee is per connection based on meter size for residential and commercial development.

Sewer Impact Fee Schedule

Meter Size (inches)

Residential Fee

Commercial Fee

5/8

$2,150

$3,890

3/4

$4,300

$5,038

1

$5,844

$6,964

1-1/2

$13,636

$27,280

2

$56,868

$56,868

3

$60,800

$60,799

4

$147,434

$147,443

6

$343,876

$313,781

8

$898,645

$898,645

Sewer Wye Permit

Any development wishing to tie into an existing public sanitary sewer line must obtain a sewer wye permit, which is issued on a case-by-case basis by the Subdivision Office. Sewer wye permits are free of charge and are issued only to plumbers and contractors licensed by the Louisiana State Contractors Licensing Board.

The licensed professional must call the Wastewater Collection Division at (225) 389-4858 at least 24 hours in advance of beginning work to schedule an inspection. Prior to installation of the sewer wye, the contractor shall contact Louisiana One Call for location of any utilities.

Traffic control is not generally required for this type of permit; however, if the Subdivision Office deems it necessary, the applicant may be required to obtain a street closure permit from the Traffic Engineering Division prior to the issuance of a sewer wye permit.