                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS AND SEWER SYSTEM LATERALS (§ 56-265.19:1)

A. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the protection
of sewer system laterals and private sewer laterals shall be implemented as
provided in this section. When an excavation is to take place within a public
right-of-way or public sewer easement, the sewer system operator shall exercise
reasonable care to mark the approximate horizontal location of sewer system
laterals within the public right-of-way or public sewer easement as provided in
&#xA7; 56-265.19.

B. When (i) an excavation is to take place outside the public right-of-way or
public sewer easement, (ii) the excavation involves the installation or
maintenance of gas or electric utility lines by trenchless technology, (iii) the
potential for a conflict with a sewer lateral exists, and (iv) sewer system
laterals are located in the public right-of-way:

   1. The sewer system operator shall exercise reasonable care to mark the
   approximate horizontal location of sewer system laterals by:
   				a. Marking the location of the sewer system lateral where it meets the
   edge of the right-of-way or public sewer easement, if known; or
   				b. If the location described in subdivision B 1 a is unknown, marking the
   location where the sewer system lateral connects to the sewer system main.

   2. When the sewer system laterals have been marked in accordance with
   subdivision B 1 and the excavator reasonably concludes that a private sewer
   lateral may be impacted by the planned excavation based upon visual evidence,
   knowledge of the proposed excavation site, or other information available to
   the excavator, the excavator shall exercise reasonable care to protect the
   private sewer lateral. For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable care
   includes the following actions:
   				a. Reviewing information provided by the private sewer lateral owner;
   				b. Meeting with the sewer system operator on-site, if the sewer system
   operator has additional information to provide about the location of private
   sewer laterals; or
   				c. Conducting a visual inspection of the proposed excavation site in an
   effort to determine the probable path of the sewer lateral.

C. When (i) an excavation is to take place within or outside the public
right-of-way or public sewer easement, (ii) the excavation involves the
installation or maintenance of gas or electric utility lines by trenchless
technology, (iii) the potential for a conflict with a sewer lateral exists, and
(iv) private sewer laterals are located in the public right-of-way or easement:

   1. The sewer system operator shall assist the excavator by one of the
   following methods, unless the operator marks private sewer laterals in the
   manner required for its sewer system laterals under subsection B:
   				a. Provide copies of the best reasonably available records regarding the
   location of the private sewer laterals by electronic message, mail, facsimile,
   or other delivery method. If an excavation affects 25 or more private sewer
   laterals, the sewer system operator&#8217;s response shall be in accordance
   with the timelines set forth in &#xA7; 56-265.17:3. If the provision of
   records required by this subsection imposes an unreasonable burden or
   substantial cost upon a sewer system operator, the excavator and the sewer
   system operator shall endeavor in good faith to reach an agreement to provide
   the sewer system operator with additional time to provide the records or any
   other mutually agreeable accommodation.
   				b. Provide the best reasonably available records on the Internet or
   another readily accessible electronic system in order that the records may be
   retrieved by the excavator from a remote location. If the sewer system
   operator has implemented such a system, then the sewer system operator shall
   have no further obligations to provide records under subdivision C 1 a.
   				c. If the sewer system operator has no such records, but has additional
   information to provide about the location of private sewer laterals, then the
   sewer system operator shall notify the excavator of such information and, upon
   request, either meet with the excavator on-site or convey such information to
   the excavator.

   2. When the records have been made available in accordance with subdivision C
   1 and the excavator reasonably concludes that a private sewer lateral may be
   impacted by the planned excavation based upon visual evidence, knowledge of
   the proposed excavation site, or other information available to the excavator,
   the excavator shall exercise reasonable care to protect the private sewer
   lateral. For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable care includes the
   following actions:
   				a. Reviewing information provided by the sewer system operator;
   				b. Reviewing information provided by the private sewer lateral owner;
   				c. Meeting with the sewer system operator on-site if the sewer system
   operator has additional information to provide about the location of private
   sewer laterals; or
   				d. Conducting a visual inspection of the proposed excavation site in an
   effort to determine the probable path of the sewer lateral.

D. Sewer system operators shall mark utility lines, other than sewer system
laterals and private sewer laterals, as provided by other sections of this
chapter.

E. Water system operators shall mark water system utility lines as provided by
other sections of this chapter, except that a water system operator shall not be
responsible for marking private water laterals.

F. Records regarding the location of private sewer laterals provided on the
Internet or otherwise made accessible by an electronic system pursuant to
subdivision C 1 b shall also be accessible to other public utilities and cable
operators or excavators working on their behalf for purposes of compliance with
this chapter.

G. In all excavations, the excavator shall exercise reasonable care to protect
underground utility lines.

HISTORY: 2010, c. 205.