BUILDING SEWER

Philadelphia Code Subcode P, § 703

in effect

SECTION 703 BUILDING SEWER P-703.1 Building sewer pipe near the water service. The proximity of a sewer to a water service distribution shall comply with Section P-603.2. P-703.2 Drainage pipe in filled ground. Where a building sewer or building drain is installed on filled or unstable ground, the drainage pipe shall conform to one of the standards for ABS plastic pipe, cast-iron pipe, copper or copper-alloy tubing, PVC plastic pipe or polypropylene plastic pipe or stainless steel drainage systems, Type 304 and 316L as indicated in Table P-702.3. When drainage is installed in filled or unstable ground, it shall be of cast iron or hard temper copper tube of a weight not less than type “L” or stainless steel drainage systems, Type 304 and 316L. Pipe shall be supported on concrete piers with spacing consistent with Table 308.5, or a constant bed of concrete or clevis hangers attached to reinforcing rods in the concrete floor above the piping. * * * 703.4 Existing building sewers and building drains. Where the entire sanitary drainage system of an existing building is replaced, existing building drains under concrete slabs and existing building sewers that will serve the new system shall be internally examined to verify that the piping is sloping in the correct direction, is not broken, is not obstructed and is sized for the drainage load of the new plumbing drainage system to be installed. P-703.4.1 Connections to existing private building sewers. Where connections are made to existing private building sewers, all provisions of 703.4 shall apply including confirmation and acceptance of condition and sizing by a registered design professional. P-703.4.1.1 Extension of existing private building sewers. Extension of existing private building sewers is prohibited. * * * P-703.6 Combined sanitary and storm public sewer. Where the public sewer is a combined system for both sanitary and storm water, the sanitary sewer shall be connected independently to the public sewer lateral, unless otherwise approved by the Philadelphia Water Department. Exception: The repair or replacement of an existing combined building sewer as of the initial adoption date of this code. The size of such replacements shall comply with section 1109.2. P-703.6.1 Separation. Storm water shall not be drained into sewers that are intended only for sanitary sewage. Sanitary waste shall not be drained into sewers that are intended only for storm water. * * *

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-312313Fetched: 10/27/2026