[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Morrisville
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Commission — See Ch. 76.
Building and construction codes — See Ch. 129.
Floodplain management — See Ch. 195.
Sewers — See Ch. 345.
Solid waste — See Ch. 360.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 370.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 376.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 390.
Swimming pools — See Ch. 398.
Zoning — See Ch. 465.
[Adopted 5-13-1948]
[Amended 4-22-1954; 12-19-1974
by Ord. No. 685; 9-14-1976 by Ord.
No. 704]
All water rents for metered service shall be due and payable quarterly
at the end of each period of three months for which the water is furnished.
Charges for private fire protection services shall be due and payable annually
in advance. An additional charge of 5% of the amount of the unpaid bill will
be added as a penalty to a bill not paid within 30 days of the date issued.
If bills are paid by mail, the date of receipt, and not the date of the postmark,
will be considered the date of payment. Service may be discontinued by the
Borough for nonpayment of a bill after five days' written notice to the user
when a bill remains unpaid for 35 days following the date of issue. Service
will not be restored until the delinquent amount plus the amount of $5 to
cover the costs of service restoration shall have been paid.
Service connections will be made and water will be furnished after issuance
of a water permit which can be secured upon written application by the prospective
owner, or his properly authorized agent, to such officer of the Borough as
may be designated by Town Council, and, after the approval of such application
by the said officer as designated by the issuance of the said water permit.
The application for service must state fully and completely all purposes
for which the said water is required and no subsequent alterations or additions
shall be made by any person without permission being first obtained in writing
from the officer of the Borough who has charge of such water permits at that
time.
The Borough will do all work necessary to make all connections to its
mains, furnish, install and maintain all such lines from the mains to and
including the curb cock and box, which shall be placed from one to two feet
inside the curb line, all of which service line shall be the property of the
Borough and shall be at the expense of the owner and shall be paid prior to
the issuance of a water permit and no water permit shall be issued until such
costs are so paid by the owner, or his agent.
[Amended 5-10-1956; 2-13-1968
by Ord. No. 605; 12-19-1974 by Ord.
No. 685]
The cost of such water permit, in addition to the costs set forth in § 445-4, shall be as follows:
B.
For streets improved with macadam surfacing there shall
be an additional charge of $35 for the cost of restoration and replacement
of the macadam surface.
C.
For streets improved with concrete surfacing there shall
be an additional charge of $40 for the cost of replacing and resurfacing the
same.
D.
In such places as the service connection shall exceed
20 feet in length, the Borough shall make an additional charge of $3 per foot
for the additional length of service exceeding the aforesaid twenty-foot length.
All service lines from the curb to the house shall be installed by the
owner at his expense and shall be of pipe approved by the Borough, laid at
least four feet below the surface of the ground and kept in good repair at
the expense of the said owner.
No service pipe shall be laid in the same trench as a gas pipe, sewer
pipe or other facility of a public service company nor within three feet of
any open excavation or vault.
There shall be placed in the service pipe within the walls of the building
supplied and so located as to drain all of the pipes in the building, as well
as the meter, if any, a brass stop and waste cock easily accessible to the
occupants for their protection in enabling them to turn off the water in the
case of leaks and to drain the pipes to prevent freezing.
A corporation cock will be inserted in the street main and service pipe laid within the curb line and a stop cock attached to a valve box within the curb line at the expense of the owner of said property, as set forth in § 445-6, as soon as the required permit has been paid for and issued as hereinbefore provided.
Only persons authorized by Town Council shall be permitted to make connections with the main, or distribution pipes, but in no case shall a connection be made until a water permit, as mentioned in § 445-2, stating size of cock and location of same, is granted to the owner desiring so to be connected. Any such permit shall be authority for connecting house pipes with the street service, laying pipe under sidewalk and doing all plumbing work for which the permit was granted, subject to the rules and regulations governing the same.
From and after the passage of this article all installations or reinstallations of service lines shall supply only one property through one service pipe. Where more than one property is now supplied through one service pipe and under the control of one curb cock, any violation of this Chapter 445 by either or any of the persons so supplied shall be deemed a violation as to all and the said Borough may take such action as could be taken against a single owner, except that such action shall not be taken until the innocent consumer, who is not in violation of the rules and regulations set forth in this chapter, has been given a reasonable opportunity to attach his service pipe to a separately controlled service connection according to the preceding sections. Where a service pipe has been used for two or more properties held in one ownership and there is division of such ownership, whether by sale or otherwise, each property thereafter will have its own service pipe properly installed as hereinbefore set forth.
All owners, or other persons, using water shall keep their own service
pipes, as well as cocks, meters, if any, and apparatus in good repair and
protect it from the frost and prevent all waste of water.
No owner, or tenant, of any premises supplied by water from the Water
Department of the Borough will be allowed to furnish water to any other person
or families except by written permission being first had and obtained from
the municipal officer then having charge of the issuance of water permits.
All persons are forbidden to open or otherwise operate any fire hydrant
or to use any water therefrom for building or other purposes without permission
in writing from the municipal officer currently having charge of the issuance
of the water permits, except in case of fire.
All leaks in service lines from the curb cock to, in and upon the premises
supplied shall be promptly repaired by the owner at his expense; on failure
to make such repairs within a reasonable time the Water Department of the
Borough may turn off the water and it will not be again turned on until all
proper and necessary expenses incurred in shutting off and turning on the
water are paid in full.
The Borough shall not be responsible for maintenance of, or for damage
done, by water escaping from the service pipe or any other pipe or fixture
on the outlet side of the curb cock and the owner shall at all times comply
with all state and municipal regulations in reference thereto and shall make
any changes thereon required on account of change of grade, relocation of
mains or otherwise.
Any person as may be designated by Borough Council shall be authorized
to enter and to have free access, at all reasonable hours, to premises being
supplied with water by the Water Department of the Borough to ascertain the
location and condition of the pipes and the number of fixtures attached to
the same.
Owners of premises using water or tenants occupying the said premises
and making such changes, shall, within 24 hours, after having set up any pipes,
water cocks or other fixtures or after having made any additions, removals
or alterations to any pipe, water cock or fixture already set up, make a correct
report to the person currently having charge of the water bills, or any other
person as may be designated by Town Council from time to time, of such work,
in writing, stating the alterations, additions or removals made as well as
the ordinary and special uses for which the water is to be used in order that
proper knowledge of the amount of water used upon the premises may be obtained
therefrom.
The use of water service by an owner, or tenant, shall, in general,
be in accordance with the class, scope and type of use and the purpose stated
in the owner's application for a water permit; an owner shall not use, or
allow use by others, of water service through his service facilities for other
or other purposes than covered in his application for a water permit; a new
application for a water permit will make service for other purposes or character
of use available.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough reserves the right to at all times turn off the water for
repairs or other necessary purposes of the Borough water system, if one hour's
notice has been given to all consumers within the district so to be turned
off, except in cases of emergency in which event the water shall be turned
off without notice. The Borough further reserves the right to make restrictions
in the use of water whenever any emergency may so require.
All owners, or their agents, making an application for a water permit shall in doing the same agree to make the property to be so supplied liable for a lien for the payment of all water rents and other charges remaining unpaid and the application for such permit shall also carry it with the consent by the applicant to be governed by the rules and regulations set forth in this Chapter 445 or hereinafter to be enacted.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The owner of an industrial plant, a hotel, a store or other public building
which is supplied with water by the Borough Water Department may cause an
oversized pipe to be connected to a main and may secure or obtain a hydrant
or hose coupling to be used in case of fire, provided that proper application
shall have been made by the owner or his authorized agent to the Borough and
approval of same shall have been granted. All costs of installation, maintenance
and usage of any oversized pipe, fire hydrant or hose coupling shall be paid
by the applicant or user.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough Water Department may after public notice restrict the use of water as it shall deem necessary. Such restrictions shall include, but not be limited to, the hours and purposes of water usage. Violations of restrictions as to use shall be sufficient cause for discontinuance of water service or shall subject violators to penalties or both for violation of rules and regulations as provided in this Chapter 445.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough Water Department will supply water for new building purposes during construction of improvements, provided that a water permit has been applied for and issued for the premises to be improved. Provisions for such service may be on a temporary basis, but a meter shall be determined in accordance with the schedule of metered rates provided in this Chapter 445.
No continuous flow of water as a precaution against freezing or any
other purpose will be allowed, except by special permit issued by the Borough
and by paying extra for the same.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
No mistake or oversight in billing shall relieve any owner or occupant
of a premises served from paying water rents.
[Amended 5-14-1985 by Ord. No. 800]
In addition to the rules and regulations hereinbefore set forth, it shall also be a violation of this Chapter 445 to:
A.
Use the Borough water, or permit to be used, for any
other purpose than that for which the owner pays water rent;
B.
Permit water pipes, or fixtures, to remain in a leaking
condition;
C.
Allow water fixtures to run when not in use for the purpose
intended;
D.
Open, turn or interfere with any fire hydrant (except
in case of fire), stop valve or stop cock belonging to the Water Department;
E.
Disturb, or damage, any buildings or other improvements
of the Water Department of the said Borough;
F.
Deface, or damage, any buildings or other improvements
of the Water Department of the said Borough;
G.
Or to disturb, or damage, any lawn, grassplot, flowers,
vines, bushes or trees belonging to the said Water Department.
[Amended 6-8-1971 by Ord. No. 640; 12-30-1975
by Ord. No. 694; 9-14-1976 by Ord.
No. 704; 7-30-1980 by Ord. No. 753-A; 6-25-1981
by Ord. No. 763; 9-29-1982 by Ord.
No. 775; 9-7-1983 by Ord. No. 781]
Water rates for private fire protection service shall be as follows:
|
Type
|
Per Annum
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Fire hydrant or hose connection
|
$43.56
| |
|
Sprinkler systems
| ||
|
4-inch connection
|
$91.64
| |
|
6-inch connection
|
$182.00
| |
|
8-inch connection
|
$365.96
| |
[Amended 5-10-1956; 11-13-1962
by Ord. No. 539; 6-26-1963; 12-21-1963
by Ord. No. 547; 6-29-1967 by Ord.
No. 595; 10-10-1967 by Ord. No. 598; 10-10-1967
by Ord. No. 599; 1-11-1972 by Ord.
No. 645; 12-30-1975 by Ord. No. 694; 9-14-1976
by Ord. No. 704; 7-10-1979 by Ord.
No. 742; 7-30-1980 by Ord. No. 753-A; 6-25-1981
by Ord. No. 763; 6-30-1982 by Ord.
No. 773; 9-29-1982 by Ord. No. 775; 9-19-1983
by Ord. No. 781]
A.
Water rates for metered service shall be as follows:
|
Meter Rates:
| ||
|
For the first 5,000 gallons per quarter
|
$2.38 per thousand
| |
|
For the next 20,000 gallons per quarter
|
$1.73 per thousand
| |
|
For the next 275,000 gallons per quarter
|
$1.38 per thousand
| |
|
For the next 300,000 gallons per quarter
|
$0.92 per thousand
| |
|
For the next 600,000 gallons per quarter
|
$0.73 per thousand
| |
B.
The minimum charge for metered service shall be $11.90
per quarter and shall include the first 5,000 gallons consumed per quarter.
C.
Multiple unit dwellings. The minimum charge for two or
more units supplied with water through a single connection and measured by
a single meter shall be $11.90 per quarter for each unit so connected and
metered and shall include a volume of water consumed per quarter equal to
5,000 gallons multiplied by the total number of units so connected and metered.
The charges in excess of such minimum shall be determined by i) subtracting
the volume of water included in the minimum charge (5,000 gallons multiplied
by the total number of units so connected and metered) from the total volume
of water consumed each quarter as measured by the single meter and ii) applying
the foregoing rate schedule to the difference, except that the volume included
in each block of the schedule shall be increased by 50% for each unit.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
A.
Except as otherwise provided in this article, water furnished
by the Borough Water Department shall be metered in order to measure the volume
of water consumed for the purpose of charging water rents. The Borough in
its sole discretion may determine that it is unreasonable, impractical or
impossible to install a meter or measuring device for a property to be served.
B.
In such event, the Borough may determine the total quantity
of water consumed by the premises in such manner and by such method as it
may prescribe and the quantity so determined to be consumed shall be used
to determine the water rents by applying the metered rate schedule provided
in this article.
C.
The size and type of meter to be installed will be determined
by the Borough Water Department. Meter cost, installation and maintenance
shall be at the expense of the property owner or occupant of the premises.
Meters shall be placed within the boundary lines of the premises served and
in a convenient location within a building, except where it is unreasonable,
impractical or impossible to place a meter within a building, a concrete or
brick pit with suitable cover shall be built inside the curb line at the expense
of the property owner or occupant of the premises. A stop and waste cock shall
be installed (at the owner's expense) and properly placed back of the meter
so as to drain the water in pipes when the water is shut off.
D.
If a meter becomes inoperative or fails to register for
any reason, it shall be repaired or replaced promptly and the bill for water
furnished during the period that meter readings are not available will be
estimated on the basis of the average volume of water consumed in the preceding
four quarters.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough may discontinue water service to any premises for violations by the owner or occupant of any of the provisions of this Chapter 445 after five days' written notice to the owner or occupant of the violations and of the Borough's intention to discontinue such service, provided that such violation is continuing at the time that discontinuance may properly occur hereunder. Service discontinued for violations of this chapter will not be resumed until reasonable assurance is given that the owner or occupant will comply with its provisions and with the rules and regulations of the Borough Water Department and $5 is paid to the Borough to cover the cost of service restoration.
[Amended 11-3-1960 by Ord. No. 487]
If a property owner wishes to use the stop cock for the purpose of turning
off the water to make repairs, and it cannot be operated without opening the
ground to the same, the cost thereof shall be borne by such property owner.
[Amended 12-19-1974 by Ord. No. 685]
The Borough of Morrisville shall charge a fee of $5 for water certification
requested by an individual, partnership, corporation, title company, real
estate salesman or broker, or lending institution.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough reserves the right to, and may from time to time, promulgate,
adopt, revise, amend and readopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary
and proper for the use and operation of the Borough Water System and for compliance
with the tariff rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
in connection with the furnishing of water beyond the bounds of the Borough's
corporate limits.
From and after the passage of this chapter no person, persons, copartnership
or corporation shall use water which has been provided and furnished by the
Water Department of the Mayor and Borough Council of the Borough of Morrisville
in operating siphon pumps, water-driven washers or any other form of equipment
or machine which uses water as the source of power in operating the same.
[Amended 11-3-1960 by Ord. No. 487; 5-14-1985
by Ord. No. 800]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Chapter 445 shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300, together with costs of prosecution, or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Every day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[Adopted 5-12-1992 by Ord. No. 859]
No water shall be provided for internal or external use to any residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, governmental or public building or structure of any kind which is constructed or remodeled and in which plumbing, water piping or water fixtures are to be installed, extended or altered in any way, and for which a construction permit is required to be obtained from the Borough of Morrisville (or would be required but for an exemption from a permit requirement for public or governmental agencies) unless the new, extended or altered plumbing, water piping and other water using fixtures therein conform to the requirements and standards of § 445-38 of this article. The provisions of this article shall apply to any such building or structure for which such a building permit is issued, or would otherwise be required to be issued but for such an exemption on or after May 12, 1992.
A.
Water closets and associated flushing mechanisms. The
water consumption of water closets shall not exceed an average of 1.6 gallons
per flush cycle over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psi. The fixture
shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A112.19.2M
and ANSI A112.19.6M.
B.
Urinals and associated flushing mechanisms. Urinal water
consumption shall not exceed an average of 1.5 gallons per flush cycle over
a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psi. The fixtures shall perform in
accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A112.19.2M and ANSI A112.19.6M.
C.
Showerheads. Showerhead discharge rates shall not exceed
three gallons of water per minute over a range of test pressures from 20 to
80 psi. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements
of ANSI A112.18.1M.
D.
Faucets. Sink and lavatory faucet discharge rates shall
not exceed three gallons of water per minute over a range of test pressures
from 20 to 80 psi. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements
of ANSI A112.18.1M.
A.
Special purpose equipment. The performance standards of § 445-38 shall not apply to fixtures and fittings such as emergency showers, aspirator faucets and blowout fixtures that, in order to perform a specialized function, cannot meet the specified standards.
B.
Exemptions. Any person(s) may apply to the Borough of
Morrisville for an exemption to the terms of this article, which may be granted
by the Borough Council or its designated representatives upon proof that some
other device, system or procedure will save as much or more water as those
set forth herein or that those set forth herein cannot be complied with, without
undue hardship.
The Borough Council may, from time to time, modify, add to or remove
from the standards and restrictions herein.
It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to use or apply water within
the Borough of Morrisville contrary to or in violation of the restrictions
herein, and upon conviction thereof, such persons shall be punished by being
imprisoned in the county jail for not more than five days or by fine of not
more than $600 or by both such fine and imprisonment.
