Texas Administrative Code
Title 30 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Part 1 - TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 217 - DESIGN CRITERIA FOR DOMESTIC WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
Subchapter C - CONVENTIONAL COLLECTION SYSTEMS
Section 217.55 - Manholes and Related Structures
Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) An owner must include manholes in a collection system at:
(b) Manholes placed at the end of a collection system pipe that may be extended in the future must include pipe stub outs with plugs.
(c) A cleanout with watertight plugs may be installed in lieu of a manhole at the end of a collection system pipe if no extensions are anticipated.
(d) Cleanout installations must pass all applicable testing requirements outlined for gravity collection pipes in § 217.57 of this title (relating to Testing Requirements for Installation of Gravity Collection System Pipes).
(e) A manhole must be made of monolithic, cast-in-place concrete, fiberglass, pre-cast concrete, high-density polyethylene, polymer concrete, or other material designed to withstand the anticipated live and static loads.
(f) The use of bricks to adjust a manhole cover to grade or construct a manhole is prohibited. Adjustment rings used to adjust a manhole cover to grade must be constructed of concrete, high density polyethylene, or other material that is designed to withstand the anticipated live and static loads.
(g) Manholes may not be spaced farther apart than the distances specified in the following table for a wastewater collection system with straight alignment and uniform grades. The executive director may approve different distances, in writing, if the owner has equipment that can clean longer distances.
(h) Tunnels are exempt from manhole spacing requirements.
(i) A manhole must not be located in a stream bed or other area that prevents access to the manhole.
(j) The inside diameter of a manhole must be no less than 48 inches. A manhole diameter must be sufficient to allow personnel and equipment to enter, exit, and work in the manhole, and to allow proper joining of the collection system pipes in the manhole wall.
(k) Manholes must meet the following requirements for covers, inlets, and bases.
(l) Steps are prohibited in a manhole.
(m) Connections. A manhole-pipe connection must use watertight, size-on-size resilient connectors that allow for differential settlement and must conform to American Society for Testing and Materials C 923.
(n) Venting.
(o) Cleanouts. A cleanout diameter must be at least equal to the diameter of the pipe to which it is attached.