The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the
installation, operation, maintenance, and retirement of grinder pumps
and any associated low-pressure sewer systems and laterals.
A.
Each owner of a property served by a grinder pump shall bear full
responsibility for providing, installing, using, operating, maintaining,
servicing, repairing and replacing the grinder pump and any associated
low-pressure sewer system and lateral, unless otherwise set forth
in this article or by agreement with the Authority. BCWSA offers a
maintenance program for a fee for private gravity lines and grinder
pumps; details can be found on the BCWSA website (www.BCWSA.net).
B.
Each owner of a property served by a grinder pump shall have full
responsibility for using the grinder pump consistent with the manufacturer's
instructions and shall avoid introducing into the sewer system materials
that may damage the grinder pump.
C.
The Authority shall bear no responsibility for the purchase, installation,
use, operation, maintenance, service, repair, or replacement of a
grinder pump and any associated low-pressure sewer system and lateral,
except as otherwise set forth in this article or by agreement with
the property owner.
D.
The Authority shall require each property owner proposing to install
or who has installed a grinder pump or associated low-pressure sewer
system or lateral to assure the short- and long-term operation and
maintenance, use, service, repair or replacement of such systems.
A.
The connection of a property to an existing or proposed sanitary
sewer system through the use of a grinder pump and associated low-pressure
sewer systems and laterals shall occur only after the property owner
receives the required approvals from the Township, the Authority,
the Department of Environmental Protection, and other agencies as
applicable, such approvals to include sewage facilities planning under
the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537, as amended).
B.
The property owner is responsible for obtaining any required permits
and approvals for the installation or modification of a grinder pump
and any associated low-pressure sewer systems and laterals.
C.
All grinder pumps and associated low-pressure sewer systems and laterals
shall be installed, used, operated, maintained, serviced, repaired
and replaced in full compliance with the rules and regulations of
the Authority in effect from time to time.
D.
The owner of a property serviced by a grinder pump shall provide
an adequate supply of electrical power with the proper phase, frequency
and voltage as recommended by the equipment manufacturers of the various
components of the system.
E.
All control panels for individual grinder pump units shall have a
permanently attached phenolic label stating the following: "All maintenance
costs for grinder pump systems are the property owner's responsibility."
F.
All off-site low-pressure sewers and service connections shall be
dedicated to the Authority in accordance with the Authority's
regulations and procedures.
G.
Maintenance of grinder pumps and low-pressure sewer systems, not
dedicated to and accepted by the Authority, shall be performed by
the property owner in accordance with this article.
H.
The Authority will not issue a permit for the installation of a grinder
pump until evidence is presented that all approvals have been obtained
as required by this section.
A.
Each owner of a grinder pump and its associated low-pressure sewer
system and lateral shall implement an inspection and maintenance program
for the pump that includes, at a minimum, the manufacturers'
recommended services and inspections for each separate component of
the pump and system.
B.
After the first month of operation of a grinder pump, and annually
thereafter, or more frequently if the manufacturer of any component
parts recommends more-frequent servicing, the property owner shall
have the grinder pump inspected and certified by a qualified individual
to confirm that it is operating properly. The property owner shall
obtain and maintain a report signed by the inspector certifying that
the grinder pump is operating in accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications and recommendations. The property owner shall provide
the Authority with a copy of the certified report upon request by
the Authority.
C.
The owner of each property served by a grinder pump shall close the
associated low-pressure sewer system or lateral and cease operations
during any period when the grinder pump and/or low-pressure sewer
system or lateral serving the property is inoperable.
D.
All existing improved properties containing a grinder pump prior
to the enactment of this article shall comply with the operations
and maintenance requirements of this article within six months of
the date of enactment.
A.
A property owner proposing to install a grinder pump and associated
low-pressure sewer system or lateral shall prepare an operation and
maintenance plan for the grinder pump and execute and record a declaration
of covenants, easements, and restrictions with respect to the operation
and maintenance of the grinder pump and associated facilities in a
form satisfactory to the Authority Solicitor. The declaration shall
acknowledge, among other things, that the property owner is aware
of and will comply with this article and will assure the short- and
long-term operation, maintenance, service, repair and replacement
of the grinder pump and any associated low-pressure sewer system and
lateral. Further, the declaration shall permit and empower the Authority,
at and within its sole discretion, to take any and all steps necessary
to enforce the property owners' obligations under this article
and the declaration and to enter judgment and lien the subject property
for reimbursement of all costs and expenses related thereto. The Authority
will not issue installation permits until evidence is presented that
the declaration has been recorded in the Office for the Recording
of Deeds, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
B.
Where a low-pressure sewer system or lateral is shared between property
owners, they shall submit to the Township a declaration of covenants,
easements, and restrictions in recordable form setting forth the agreement
of each benefitted property owner with respect to the installation,
use, operation, maintenance, service, repair and replacement of the
low-pressure sewer system or lateral, which agreement shall bind all
future property owners. Following the approval of the low-pressure
system by all applicable agencies, the Township will issue installation
permits after evidence is presented that the declaration has been
recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania.
C.
The owner of a property served by a grinder pump shall obtain and
maintain at the property, and make available to the Authority as requested,
the following information with respect to the grinder pump:
(1)
Written operation and maintenance instructions.
(2)
Annual inspection reports for the past three years.
(3)
A detailed drawing showing the location, size, material type, and
depth of all components of the grinder pump and any associated low-pressure
sewer system and lateral, including provision of a caution notice
regarding disturbance near and within the grinder pump and associated
facilities.
(4)
A written description of any automatic alarm system with the grinder
pump and any associated low-pressure system, and who to contact in
the event the alarm would be activated.
D.
Upon the sale or transfer of a property served by a grinder pump
or low-pressure sewer system or lateral, the seller/grantor shall
provide the buyer/grantee prior to settlement all information regarding
the grinder pump system installed. The information provided shall
include all information and documents required to be maintained at
the property, recording information for all recorded documents, manufacturer
and distributor identity and contact information, operating instructions,
warranties, and maintenance schedule.
E.
The seller/grantor shall inform the buyer/grantee about the requirements
of this article and any recorded document with respect to the grinder
pump and associated facilities.
F.
All existing improved properties containing a grinder pump prior
to the enactment of this article shall comply with the grinder pump
documentation requirements of this article within six months of the
date of enactment. However, the execution and recordation of a declaration
is not required.
The owner of each property served by a grinder pump and associated
low-pressure sewer system and lateral shall retire the grinder pump,
disconnect the property from the low-pressure system, and connect
the property to a gravity sanitary sewer system at the direction of
the Authority when a gravity sanitary sewer collection system is constructed
in a location abutting any boundary line of the property or within
150 feet of any occupied structure situated on the property and the
Township Engineer or the operator determines that it is reasonably
feasible to connect the property to the gravity system.
A.
In addition to the enforcement remedies specified in this chapter,
in the event of a property owner's failure to perform under this
article or any subsequent resulting agreements, the Authority shall
have the right to pursue whatever legal or equitable remedy it shall
deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, bringing an action
for specific performance against the property owner to compel compliance
with this article or any subsequent resulting agreement.
B.
In the event the Authority elects to perform the property owner's
obligations contained in this article, or in any declarations or agreements
entered into by the property owner, because the property owner has
failed to do so, the Authority may charge the property owner the cost
incurred by the Authority in performing any of the property owner's
obligations, and the property owner shall reimburse the Authority
for all such costs within 30 days after such costs are billed. The
Authority shall have the right to file a lien against the property
to secure to the Authority any reimbursement of costs due to it.
