Borough of Pleasant Hills, PA Article III Sewer and Solid Waste Rates and Charges

[Adopted 12-20-1999 by Ord. No. 773; amended in its entirety 1-16-2006 by Ord. No. 858]

§ 298-20 Sewer rents.

[Amended 1-15-2007 by Ord. No. 872; 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 884; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 896; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 911; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 930; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 944; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 954; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 965; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 990; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 1033; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 1039; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1045]

A. For the use of the sanitary sewer system and treatment plant, as well as for the maintenance and support of said system and its rentals, debt service and costs, there is hereby imposed and levied upon owners, tenants and occupiers of such property served by the sanitary sewer system of the Borough of Pleasant Hills, except for owners of such property as set forth in § 298-2 below a sewer rental charge for calendar year 2023 as follows:

(1) One hundred sixty dollars per year which will be billed at $13.34 per month; plus.

(2) A use charge of $0.996 per 100 gallons of actual use.

B. For the purpose of paying the sewer rental charges as hereby imposed, the charge shall be calculated, in part, by the quantity of water flowing into each separate dwelling, apartment, business, commercial or manufacturing use or occupancy on the premises of any property abutting said sanitary sewer system. It is also recognized that certain business and/or dwelling units (having five or less separate dwelling units) may be serviced by less than one water meter per individual business and/or dwelling unit. If this situation shall occur, each individual business and/or dwelling unit shall be assessed as set forth in Subsection A(1) plus its proportionate share of Subsection A(2).

§ 298-21 Sewer rents for apartment buildings, hotels and motels with six or more units.

[Amended 1-15-2007 by Ord. No. 872; 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 884; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 896; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 911; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 930; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 944; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 954; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 965; 2-17-2014 by Ord. No. 967; 3-17-2014 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 1033; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 1039; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1045]

Owners of apartment buildings, hotels and/or motels, having at least six separate dwelling units, will be assessed as follows:

A. Whenever an apartment building, hotel or motel, having a least six separate dwelling units, is served by the sanitary sewer system, the owner of such apartment building, hotel and/or motel shall be charged the rate of $80.16 per year billed at $6.67 per month for each individual dwelling unit thereof.

B. In addition to the charge of $6.67 per month per individual dwelling unit, each owner of such apartment building, hotel and/or motel, having at least six separate dwelling units and equipped with separate water meters, will be charged $0.996 per 100 gallons actually used.

C. It is recognized that some buildings are serviced by less than one water meter per individual apartment or dwelling unit. If this situation should occur, the owner of the building shall be assessed as follows:

(1) The owner shall be assessed $6.67 per month per individual apartment or dwelling unit; plus

(2) In addition to the monthly assessment, the owner shall be assessed the charge of $0.996 per 100 gallons of actual use for the entire building.

D. Whenever any property owner both lives in a building and also conducts their own business from the same building, such property shall only be charged one sewer rental charge. However, the owner will be assessed $13.34 per month for each business unit.

E. An unoccupied dwelling will be assessed the charge of $13.34 per month, as well as the charge of $0.996 per 100 gallons of actual use. Relief from this charge can only be obtained by the removal of the water meter by the water company and the delivery to the Borough of a letter from the water company stating the date the water meter was removed. Relief from assessments will commence beginning the quarter subsequent to the removal of the water meter. The owner of the premises shall be solely responsible for contacting the water company to remove the meter.

F. Where water is furnished to any user as herein provided by a utility company or Authority, the flow of water measured by meter or flat rate of said utility company or Authority shall be considered and deemed to be the basis of measuring the rate of actual use.

§ 298-22 Solid waste charges. [1]

[Amended 1-15-2007 by Ord. No. 872; 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 884; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 896; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 911; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 930; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 944; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 954; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 965; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 990; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026]

A. For the collection of garbage, rubbish, recycling materials and other waste materials, there is hereby imposed and levied upon owners, tenants and occupiers of residential dwelling units, a charge of $204.76 for the year. This charge will be billed at the rate of $51.19 per quarter.

B. In any area wherein there are apartment buildings or multiple dwelling units and/or business units, each individual apartment, dwelling or business unit shall be considered to be a separate property for purposes of the charge herein made.

[1] Editor’s Note: For additional provisions, see also Ch. 308, Solid Waste.

§ 298-23 Manner of billing; delinquent billings; penalty.

[Amended 3-20-2006 by Ord. No. 862; 1-15-2007 by Ord. No. 872; 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 884; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 896; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 911; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 930; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 944; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 944; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 954; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 965; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 1033; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 1039; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1045]

Borough Council shall determine who shall bill the sewer rental charges and the manner of such billing; provided, however, that every property owner shall have a minimum of 30 days in which to pay such bill before it incurs any late charges or penalties. In the event that the bills are not paid by the due date set forth on the bill, the same shall become delinquent and subject to interest at the rate of 10% per annum, and a penalty of 10%.

§ 298-24 Liens.

[Amended 1-15-2007 by Ord. No. 872; 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 884; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 896; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 911; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 930; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 954; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 965; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 1033; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 1039; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1045]

All sewer waste fees, charges and assessments shall be a lien upon the property charged with the payment thereof until the same is paid. The Borough Solicitor is hereby empowered to lien and to enforce collection of any delinquent charges or assessments in accordance with the law. Additional charges shall be applied to the balance due as set forth in the Borough Fee Resolution,[1] as may be amended from time to time, and the contract the Borough has with Legal Tax Services for the collection of delinquent accounts.

[1] Editor's Note: The current Fees Resolution is on file in the office of the Borough Secretary, where it may be examined during regular office hours.

§ 298-25 Facilities and personnel.

[Amended 1-15-2007 by Ord. No. 872; 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 884; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 896; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 911; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 930; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 944; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 954; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 965; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 1033; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 1039; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1045]

The Borough Council shall provide the facilities and personnel necessary for the administration and application of this article, and for the collection of the rentals, charges and assessments hereunder.

§ 298-26 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 1-15-2007 by Ord. No. 872; 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 884; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 896; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 911; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 930; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 944; 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 954; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 965; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 1033; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 1039; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1045]

A. Any person who shall fail, neglect or refuse to pay the sewer rental charge or assessment as herein provided shall, upon conviction before the District Justice for the Borough, be subject to a fine of not more than $500 and costs. The failure to pay any quarterly rental charge or assessment shall constitute a separate offense.

B. The penalty provided in this section shall not relieve the owner, tenant or occupier from the payment of the sewer rental, charge or assessment and any penalty or interest thereon.

§ 298-27 Irrigation systems.

[Amended 5-18-2009 by Ord. No. 902[1]]

Residents with irrigation systems may contact the water company to have a separate meter installed for the limited purpose of measuring water use for the irrigation system. It shall be the resident's responsibility to contact the water company to complete arrangements for the installation of a separate meter and pay all fees/charges related to same. The water company shall establish the costs of the separate meter and the Borough shall not incur any cost associated with the installation of a separate meter. The cost of the separate meter shall be determined solely by the water company and may be substantial. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to contact the water company and to decide if the owner wishes to pursue the option of having a separate meter installed. This option is provided to residents on the basis that the Borough recognizes that water from irrigation systems will not enter the sanitary sewage system. Nothing contained in this provision shall relieve the owner from incurring the charges for water use described above. The quantity of water so measured by the meter installed for irrigation systems measured by the second meter shall thereafter be excluded in computing the sewage services charges to be paid by the resident. The charge, if any, for reading both meters shall be added to the quarterly sewer rate.

[1] Editor's Note: Section 2 of this ordinance provided as follows: "It shall be the responsibility of the person wishing a separate meter for an irrigation system to contact the Pennsylvania American Water Company prior to having a separate water line and meter installed. Such arrangements shall be at the property owners' cost, and the owner shall be responsible to contact the water company for reading of the meter and the billing procedures. A permit from the Borough of Pleasant Hills is not required for an irrigation water line or meter nor is the Borough responsible for the installation or maintenance of such meters."

§ 298-27.1 Owner responsibility for payment of bills.

[Added 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 977; amended 12-19-2016 by Ord. No. 1001; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 1007; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 1018; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1026; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 1033; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No. 1039; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1045]

A. Any sewage bills shall be sent to and shall be payable by the party to whom the water bills are addressed. Notification that sewage bills have become delinquent shall be sent to and shall be payable by the record owner of the property. Regardless of the name on the bill, or if there is an absence of the record owner's address on file, the sewage fees and charges are owed, jointly and severally, by the occupant(s) of the premises and by the record owner(s) of the real property.

B. It shall be the duty of the record owner of all real property to make provisions to ensure that any occupant of the real property pays the sewage fees, charges and/or assessments when due. All unpaid sewage fees, charges and/or assessments, together with penalty and interest, and cost shall become a lien on the real property.

C. As a condition precedent for the Pleasant Hills authority to provide sewer usage services to a residential dwelling or units, if either the water bills or the sanitary usage fee bills are addressed to one who is not the owner of the real property, then the record owner of said real property must notify the designated collector of sewage usage bills for the Authority of the following information:

(1) Notice of addresses for real property where the occupants who are not the owner of the real property are receiving water and/or sanitary sewage bills in their name;

(2) The identity of the owner of the real property and the address where notice of delinquent bills should be sent to the owner.

D. The record owner of residential real property shall provide updated information, as appropriate, and keep the above information current. Thereafter, the collector of the sewage usage fees, by first-class mail, will notify the tenant and the owner within 30 days after the tenant's bill becomes delinquent at the address provided by the owner to the collector for the sewage bills. The failure of the owner of residential real property to register and provide the requisite information or to keep the requisite information current will act as an absolute waiver of the defense that the owner did not receive the notice that the tenant owed a bill within 30 days from the date the bill became delinquent.