WORKING WITH US
ENGINEERING
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN SEWER DISTRICT PUMP STATION AND COLLECTION SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARDS
The District’s Design Standards is generated for use by developers and engineering consultants to provide the District with consistent, functional, reliable, and user-friendly facilities. The goal is to provide standards to allow each project to meet the District’s requirements, yet allow the Design Engineer flexibility to design facilities that have unique and project specific requirements.
In addition to the District’s design standards, the project shall meet requirements set forth by the City of Fairfield / City of Suisun City / Solano County (as applicable). Standard specifications and details for design shall be obtained from the appropriate agencies.
For additional information about FSSD’s Design Standards please contact Irene O’Sullivan, Engineering Manager, at 707-429-8930 or submit a Customer Service Request.
For your convenience, standard details are listed below for ease of downloading. These details are not intended for Contractor use during construction, but rather for the Design Engineer.
WORKING NEAR FSSD FACILITIES
Damage prevention is a shared responsibility. The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District right-of-way easements must be treated with caution. Making contact with a pipeline can have severe consequences ranging from service disruption to environmental damage and personal injury. Any resulting delay can also have a large financial impact, directly affecting your bottom line.
CALL OR CLICK BEFORE YOU DIG
Before you begin any ground disturbance work, contact USA North, Call 811. If your proposed work is near our right-of way, an FSSD representative will call you back to discuss your proposed work and, if required, meet with you onsite to determine the exact location of the pipeline. The service is typically provided at no cost to you.
LOCATING THE PIPELINES
Our pipelines are found in the District’s easements or right-of-way, which are a narrow stretch of land that provides safe access for our pipeline monitoring and maintenance. Our pipelines are mostly identified with markers, which provide important safety information such as type of waste carried, type of pipe, and an Emergency Call Number. Although markers identify that a pipeline is in the area, they do not give the exact location or depth—only a qualified Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District employee can do so.
OTHER FSSD FACILITIES
The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District also has other facilities near the sewer lines and forcemains that may affect your project.
- Surge Tanks
- Valves and Vacuum/Pressure Relief Valves.
- Manholes and Vaults
- Cathodic Protection Rectifiers, Anode Wells, Electrical Junction Boxes, and Test Stations.
- Electrical Conduits
ACTIVITY REQUIRING A PERMIT
Any ground disturbance work within 10 feet of our pipeline right-of-way requires approval from FSSD. Activities that require approval include, but are not limited to:
- Road Construction
- Excavation
- Heavy Equipment Crossing
- Driving objects into the ground
- Drilling, digging, compacting, use of any equipment causing ground vibration, directional boring
- Stockpiling material
A notification and approval will be required for installing anything of a permanent nature within the pipeline right-of way.
GROUND DISTURBANCE
For any work within 10 feet of our pipeline you must adhere to the following:
- An FSSD Technician must be on site for any work within 10 feet of our pipe-line.
- Power operated equipment is allowed, with prior approval, within 10 feet of the pipe only after the pipeline has been exposed by hand in the presence of an Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District Technician.
- Hydrovac is an acceptable alternative to hand digging.
- Any work within 2 feet of our pipeline must be done by hand or hydrovac.
FSSD'S RESPONSIBILITIES
After receiving notification from USA North, the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District will:
- Respond to your USA North call ticket within 2 business days.
- If required, schedule an appointment to meet you onsite to mark the pipe-line and issue any required permits.
- Conduct a safety meeting to explain the ground disturbance guidelines and regulations.
- Conduct a review of the Overflow Emergency Response Plan (if required).
- Stay onsite for any work within 10 feet of our pipeline—including back-fill.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
If you accidentally come in contact with the pipeline, notify the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District immediately. Even seemingly minor damage can have a serious impact.
- Ensure all personnel on site are safe and accounted for.
- Immediately contact the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District.
- Protect all storm drain inlets and water-ways.
- Work with District staff to stop any leakage from the damaged pipeline and to repair the damage in a timely fashion.
YOUR SAFETY CHECKLIST
Contact your local USA North center.
- If required, schedule a field meeting with an FSSD technician.
- Always inform new workers of FSSD requirements.
- For work near forcemains, attend a Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District field meeting prior to starting work.
- Always have a valid USA North ticket on site.
- Ensure a Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District Technician is on site when work is within 10 feet of a pipeline.
- Ensure a Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District Technician is on site before backfilling.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact FSSD Engineering Department:
Phone: 707-429-8930
Call or Click Before You Dig:
USA North-One Call: 811
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if my project is delayed or the scope of work changes?
Regulations require you to have a valid USA North Ticket at your work site. If your project is delayed or the scope of work changes, you must contact both your local USA North center and the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District and provide details of the proposed changes. USA North tickets are valid for 30 days from date of issue.
What happens if the line markings are affected by the weather?
If the weather or anything else impacts the line locating markings or flags, please call the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District and request to have the pipeline remarked. Once the line is marked, you are responsible for ensuring that the markings are clearly visible and are not disturbed or moved.
How do I know if a Call to USA North has been made?
Permits, including having a valid USA North ticket, are required to be posted at the job site. If you are not sure if a USA North call has been placed, ask your foreman or supervisor to verify the call.
What do I do if we accidentally break a pipeline?
First make sure that everyone is safe. Call FSSD and give them your location. If it is a forcemain, they can turn off pumps to stop the flow. If it is a gravity sewer line, they can help contain the spill.
What if I do not see any markings?
Effective January 1, 2017, excavators are not allowed to begin excavations until they have received a response from all the known operators of subsurface installations within the delineated area of your dig site.