City of Houston

Design Manual

Chapter 6

UTILITY LOCATIONS

CITY OF HOUSTON DESIGN MANUAL Department of Public Works and Engineering Utility Locations

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Chapter 6

UTILITY LOCATIONS 6.01 CHAPTER INCLUDES

A. Location of utilities in rights-of-way and easements. 6.02 REFERENCES

A. Typical utility location in 10-foot-wide and 14-foot-wide easements in back-to-back lots and perimeter lots as detailed in the most current drawing prepared by the Uniform Color Code (UCC).

B. Typical utility locations within City rights-of-way.

6.03 DEFINITIONS

A. Easements - Areas set aside for installation and maintenance of utilities by public and private utility companies.

B Private Utilities Utilities belonging to, operated, and maintained by private entities. C. Public Utilities - Utilities belonging to, operated, and maintained by public entities D. Right-of-Way Public property dedicated or deeded to a municipality for the purpose of

public use. E. Storm Sewer Lines - Closed gravity (non-pressure) conduits designed to collect and transport

storm water from inlet locations to an open conduit outfall, ditch, creek, stream, bayou, river, holding pond, or bay. Inlets are surface mounted basins designed to collect and funnel storm water to the collection system. Storm sewers from the inlets to the collection system are usually defined as inlet leads.

F. Water Lines - Closed conduits designed to distribute potable water for human consumption

and to provide fire protection. Line size and fire protection accessory locations are dependent on distance from primary source and quantity demand.

G. Wastewater Sewer Lines - Closed conduits designed to collect and transport wastewater from

residential, commercial, and industrial sites to plants for treatment prior to discharge into open conduits. Wastewater lines may be designed as gravity (non-pressure) flow lines or force (pressure) mains. Gravity flow lines usually fall into three categories in ascending size from service line to lateral line to main line. Service lines (source of wastewater) may discharge into a lateral line or main line.

CITY OF HOUSTON DESIGN MANUAL Department of Public Works and Engineering Utility Locations

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6.04 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

A. Whenever practical, locate public storm sewer, wastewater collection lines, water mains, and appurtenances within public rights-of-way in the manner described by this and corresponding subject-specific chapters in this manual, as well as related details and specifications.

B. Research and resolve known conflicts of proposed utilities with existing utilities according to

subject-specific criteria developed by the utility owner(s). C. Locate back lot utilities in compliance with UCC recommendations.

D. Identify all existing and proposed utilities and related appurtenances in the manner

established by the subject-specific chapters in this manual.

6.05 SUBMITTALS

A. Submittals are to be made according to the criteria established by the utility owner(s).

6.06 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. All existing utilities must be shown on project drawings. Sources of data include survey, record drawings, graphical information systems, and field visits. Field visits must be made to verify the project drawings accurately portray the existing conditions.

6.07 DESIGN

A. Back Lot Utilities: Identify type of electrical service and select the appropriate width of the easement. For mixed overhead and underground service select the 14-foot-wide easement to provide versatility.

B. No Utilities Lines on City of Houston Bridges

No Utility lines shall be placed on or attached to a City of Houston bridge without approval of the City Engineer. Approval shall be based on submittal of study of all alternatives resulting in no viable option.

C. Water Lines.

1. Water lines may be located within a public right-of-way, within a permanent access easement with overlapping public utility easements, within a dedicated easement adjacent to and contiguous with the right-of-way, or within separate dedicated water line easements, to meet the requirements of this manual. Water lines and related

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appurtenances shall be as specified in the subject-specific chapter(s) in this manual, as well as related details and specifications.

2. Water lines shall not be located in combination easements without approval of the

Department of Public Works and Engineering. Water line easements shall not be combined with wastewater sewer easements.

3. Water lines, with the exception of transmission lines, shall be located within the right-

of-way between the property line and back of curb or in a dedicated easement adjacent to and contiguous with the right-of-way.

D. Wastewater Lines.

1. Wastewater lines shall be located in a public right-of-way, within a permanent access

easement with overlapping public utility easements or within a dedicated easement adjacent to the public right-of-way. Side lot easements may be used when required. Backlot easements shall not be utilized except in cases of pre-existing conditions and with approval of the City. Wastewater, force mains, and related appurtenances shall be as specified in the chapter (7, 8, and 9) in this manual, as well as related details and specifications.

2. Wastewater trunk or collector mains shall not be located in side lot easements without

approval of the City. 3. Wastewater gravity sewer trunks, collector mains, and force mains shall be generally

located on the opposite side of the right-of-way from the water main. 4. Wastewater force mains are generally located within the right-of-way between the

property line and the back of curb, or in a dedicated easement adjacent and contiguous with the right-of-way.

5. When wastewater or force mains are parallel to the storm sewer, they shall not be

constructed in the same theoretical trench widths.

E. Storm Water Lines.

1. Storm water lines shall be located within public rights-of-way, within a permanent access easements with overlapping public utility easements or approved easements. Approval of the location for storm water lines should be obtained from the Department of Public Works and Engineering prior to plan preparation.

2. Coordinate the proposed storm sewer alignment with water line location and future

pavement widening.

CITY OF HOUSTON DESIGN MANUAL Department of Public Works and Engineering Utility Locations

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F. Private Utility Lines.

1. A minimum of three (3)-feet horizontal clearance when parallel, and two (2)-feet vertical clearance when crossing, shall be observed between the exterior of all private utilities and public utilities, unless a greater clearance is required as stated in other portions of this design manual and/or related specifications or details.

2. Structures shall not be imbedded within sidewalks. 3. All proposed work must be coordinated with the City of Houston Capital

Improvement Program. 4. Above-ground utility structures and appurtenances shall have a minimum of three (3)-

feet horizontal clearance from the right-of-way.

END OF CHAPTER

CITY OF HOUSTON DESIGN MANUAL Department of Public Works and Engineering Utility Locations

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CITY OF HOUSTON DESIGN MANUALDepartment of Public Works & Engineering Street Paving Design Requirements

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Cover Sheet Cover LetterTable of ContentsList of FiguresList of TablesChapter 1 General RequirementsChapter 2 Survey RequirementsChapter 3 Graphic RequirementsChapter 4 Platting RequirementsChapter 5 Easement RequirementsChapter 6 Utility LocationsChapter 7 Water Line Design RequirementsChapter 8 Wastewater Collection System Design RequirementsChapter 9 Stormwater Design RequirementsChapter 10 Street Paving Design RequirementsChapter 11 Geotechnical and Environmental RequirementsChapter 12 Street Cut RequirementsChapter 13 Stormwater Quality Design RequirementsChapter 14 Facility Design RequirementsChapter 15 Traffic and Signal Design RequirementsChapter 16 Miscellaneous