CHAPTER 184
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
ESTABLISHING BASIC PLUMBING PRINCIPLES IN KENT COUNTY
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE BY AUTHORIZING THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH REGULATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS AND TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS IN KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE, OF BASIC PLUMBING PRINCIPLES; DEFINITION OF PRINCIPLES; PLUMBING SYSTEM; FIXTURES; CROSS CONNECTIONS; POLLUTION OF WATER AND SEWAGE; ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY AND HOT WATER TANKS; SEWER CONNECTIONS; FAMILY WATER CLOSETS; PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANTS; HOT WATER TANK AND BOILERS; FIXTURES; TRAPS--REFRIGERATOR TRAPS; PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SEWERS; PROVIDING FOR A PLUMBING INSPECTOR AND THE REGISTRATION OF ALL PLUMBERS CARRYING ON BUSINESS IN KENT COUNTY; AND PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES OF THIS ACT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly met:
Section 1. To Establish Basic Plumbing Principles:--There is hereby created and established basic plumbing principles which shall act as the basis for the formation of all detailed plumbing regulations adopted by the State Board of Health, Local or District Boards of Health or City Councils.
Section 2. Definition of Plumbing:--Plumbing is the art of installing in buildings the pipes, fixtures and other apparatus for bringing in the water supply and removing liquid and water-carried wastes.
Section 3. Definition of Plumbing System:--The plumbing system of a building includes the water supply distributing pipes; the fixtures and fixture traps; the soil, waste, and vent pipes;
the house drain and house sewer; the storm water drainage; with their devices, appurtenances and connections all within or adjacent to the building.
Section 4. Definition of Plumbing Fixtures :--Plumbing fixtures are receptacles intended to receive and discharge water, liquid, or water-carried wastes into a drainage system with which they are connected.
Section 5. Safe Water Supply:--All premises intended for human habitation or occupancy shall be provided with a supply of pure and wholesome water.
Section 6. Cross Connection:--Cross connections between safe and unsafe water supply distributing systems shall not be permitted unless such connections have the written approval of the State Board of Health.
Section 7. Pollution of Water Supply by Sewage:--No plumbing, fixture, construction, valves, fitting, device, apparatus, or connection that will provide a cross connection between a safe water supply and a sewage system or will permit or make possible the back flow of sewage or waste into a water supply system shall be installed.
Section 8. Adequate Water Supply :--Buildings in which water closets and other plumbing fixtures exist shall be provided with a supply of water adequate in volume and pressure for flushing purposes.
Section 9. Size of Water Supply:--The pipes conveying water to water closets shall be of sufficient size to supply the water at a rate required for adequate flushing without unduly reducing the pressure at other fixtures.
Section 10. Hot Water Tanks or Boilers:--Devices for heating water and storing it in "boilers," or hot water tanks, shall be so designed and installed as to prevent all danger of explosion and also prevent a back flow of hot water through a meter connected with a public water supply.
Section 11. Separate Sewer Connections:--Every building
intended for human habitation or occupancy on premises abutting on a street in which there is a public sewer shall have a separate connection.
Section 12. Family Private Water Closet:--In multiple dwellings provided with a house drainage system, there shall be for each family at least one private water closet.
Section 13. Plumbing Fixture Materials:--Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth non-absorbent material, shall be free from concealed fouling surfaces, and shall be set free of inclosures.
Section 14. House Drainage System. (Design, Construction and Maintenance). The entire house drainage system shall be so designed, constructed and maintained as to conduct the waste water or sewage quickly from the fixture to the place of disposal with velocities which will guard against fouling and the deposit of solids and will prevent clogging.
Section 15. Drainage Pipes--Utility and Service:--The drainage pipes shall be so designed and constructed as to be proof, for a reasonable life of the building, against leakage of water or drain air due to defective materials, imperfect connections, corrosions, settlements, vibrations of the ground or building, temperature changes, freezing, or other causes.
Section 16. Accessible Drainage Systems:--The Drainage System shall be provided with an adequate number of cleanouts so arranged that in case of stoppage the pipes may be readily accessible.
Section 17. Fixture Traps:--Each fixture or combination fixture shall be provided with a separate, accessible, self-scouring, reliable water-sealed trap placed as near to the fixture as possible.
Section 18. Air Circulation Assured:--The house drainage system shall be so designed that there will be an adequate circulation of air in all pipes and no danger of siphonage, aspiration, or forcing of trap seals under conditions of ordinary use.
Section 19. Roof Terminals, Soil or Waste Stacks:--The soil stack shall extend full size upward through the roof and have a free opening, the roof terminal being so located that there will be no danger of air passing from it to any window and no danger of dogging of the pipe by the frost or by articles being thrown into it or of roof water draining into it.
Section 20. Water or Air-pressure Test:--The plumbing system shall be subjected to a water or air pressure test and to a final test in such manner as to disclose all leaks and imperfections in the work.
Section 21. Substances Not to Enter House Drainage System:--No substance which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixtures, or destroy the pipes or their joints, shall be allowed to enter the house drainage system.
Section 22. Refrigerator Wastes:--Refrigerators, ice boxes, or receptacles for storing food shall not be connected directly with the drainage system.
Section 23. Light and Ventilation:--No water closet or urinal shall be located in a room or compartment which is not properly lighted and ventilated to the outer air.
Section 24. Private Sewage Treatment and Disposal System:--If water closets or other plumbing fixtures exist in buildings where there is no sewer within reasonable distance, suitable provision shall be made for the disposing of the house sewage by some method of sewage treatment and disposal satisfactory to the health authority having jurisdiction.
Section 25. Back Flow of Sewage:--Where a house drainage system may be subjected to back flow of sewage suitable provision shall be made to prevent its overflow in the building.
Section 26. Storm water from roofs and paved areas, yards, courts, and courtyards, shall be drained into a storm water sewerage system or a combined sewerage system but not into a sanitary sewerage system intended for sewage only. inside roof leaders, downspouts, and storm water house drains shall be designed and constructed as are other drainage pipes.
Section 27. Privy Vaults:--Privy Vaults or cesspools shall not be permitted on premises accessible to a public sewer.
Section 28. Private Water Supply:--Dug wells, or other sources of private water supply shall not be permitted on premises accessible to a public water supply unless said private water supply has been approved in writing by the State Board of Health.
Section 29. Sanitary Maintenance: -- Plumbing systems shall be maintained in a sanitary condition.
Section 30. All Plumbing to Conform with Basic Principles:--All plumbing hereafter installed throughout the State shall conform to the basic plumbing principles herein provided.
Section 31. Detailed Regulations:--The State Board of Health shall adopt and enforce detailed plumbing code in conformity with the basic plumbing principles herein provided and may revise the code when necessary.
Section 32. Local or City Regulations:--Every City, Town or other subdivision in Kent County having a water supply or a sewerage system shall enforce the detailed plumbing code of the Delaware State Board of Health or adopt and enforce its own plumbing regulations which shall not be in conflict with the basic plumbing principles and be subject to the approval of the Delaware State Board of Health.
Section 33. State Board To Register Plumbers; Adopt Rules and Regulations:--The Delaware State Board of Health to provide for the health of the citizens of the State of Delaware, residing in Kent County, shall have power, and is hereby authorized and directed to adopt and promulgate suitable rules and regulations for the construction of water and sewer systems, building and house drainage systems, and to provide for the registration of plumbers and persons engaged in the business of plumbing in the State of Delaware, and for the enforcement of such rules and regulations; to make provision for the punishment of any person or persons, firm, association or corporation who shall violate or assist in the violation or refuse to comply with the same.
Section 34. Inspection and Inspectors:--The said Delaware State Board of Health shall by rules and regulations also establish a system of inspection and supervision over all water and sewer systems, building and house drainage systems and ventilation of the same. And appoint such inspectors as may be necessary, at such compensation as may be approved by said Delaware State Board of Health, and make provision for payment of same.
The compensation of said plumbing inspectors shall be fixed by the State Board of Health. All Plumbing Inspectors must be practical plumbers with at least 10 years' experience and skilled and well trained in matters pertaining to plumbing and sanitation generally. All Plumbing Inspectors shall, as far as may be necessary for the performance of their duties and the maintenance of the health of the citizens of Kent County, shall have the right to enter any building or premises in the said County. They have the right to inspect and order the removal of any plumbing fixture, soil, drain, waste, vent pipe or pipes, cesspools, septic tanks and privies when they, in their sole discretion, are deemed in an unsanitary condition.
Section 35. Independent Sections:--The invalidity of any section or part thereof, of this Act shall not, affect the validity of any other section, or part thereof, which can be given effect without such invalid part.
Section 36. Additional Regulations:--Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the State Board of Health, Councils of Cities, or Sanitary Bodies of Communities, from making further and additional regulations not in conflict with any of the provisions contained in this Act.
Section 37. Act Not to Apply:--The provisions of this Act shall not apply to the construction or erection of any building, or to any addition thereto, or alteration thereof, the contract for which construction, erection or equipment has been entered into prior to the date at which this Act takes effect.
Section 38. Penalty:--Any person or persons, firm, association or corporation, who shall violate or assist in the violation of the provisions of this Act or any order, code, or regulation
issued hereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than sixty days or both for each and every violation thereof.
Section 39. Appropriation:--An appropriation in the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) shall be made for the fiscal year 19494950 and for each fiscal year thereafter to be paid to the State Board of Health to carry into effect the provisions of this Act.
Section 40. This Bill shall be known as a Supplementary Appropriation Bill, and the funds hereby appropriated shall be paid out of monies in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated.