The sanitary sewers of the Township of Pohatcong shall be operated as a self-liquidating utility and charges for sewer service shall be imposed upon users thereof. The revenue derived therefrom shall be dedicated to the purposes of such service as a self-liquidating utility.
[Amended 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-10]
In areas where public sanitary sewers are not physically available and operational, but are intended to be the means of wastewater management according to the adopted water quality management plan applicable to an area, interim use of individual subsurface sewage disposal systems (ISSDSs) by existing and proposed development is allowed. However, at such time as the sanitary sewers are made available and operational, connection of buildings or structures served by ISSDSs to the sewers is required in accordance with this article.
A. 
Connection required. Except as otherwise provided by this article, an owner of a building or structure equipped with an ISSDS located on a property abutting any street or sewage easement in which a gravity sanitary sewer line is operational and available shall promptly connect thereto in a manner complying with the National Standard Plumbing Code and N.J.A.C. 7:14A and cause all sewage on such premises to be discharged into said sanitary sewer, provided that the building or structure is located within the adopted sewer service area of the wastewater treatment facility to which the sanitary sewer line is connected, and discontinue use of the ISSDS.
B. 
Exceptions. This article shall not apply to buildings or structures for which a sanitary sewer line is considered not to be available in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.6(e) as amended or supplemented or is not operational in accordance with a valid treatment works approval. Sanitary sewers which are considered not available or not operational for the purpose of this article include:
(1) 
Those connections to the sanitary sewer line that cannot be accomplished without requiring the installation of a pumping station; blasting of bedrock; the acquisition of an easement or right-of-way to cross an adjoining property; or the crossing of a watercourse, railway, major highway or other significant obstacle;
(2) 
Where the sanitary sewer line is located 100 feet or more from the building or structure to be served;
(3) 
Where the sanitary sewer has received a Stage II "construction only" treatment works approval in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-22.9 and has not yet received a Stage III treatment works approval, which is an approval to operate the treatment works in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-22.10, until such time as the Stage III treatment works approval is approved; or
(4) 
Where the sanitary sewer line or receiving sewage treatment plant is subject to a sewer connection ban in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-22.17, until such time as the sewer connection ban is lifted.
C. 
Time limit of connection. Such connection shall be accomplished on or before the expiration of 90 days following the date the sanitary sewer becomes available and operational or the effective date of this article, whichever shall occur later.
D. 
Pumping and filling of septic tank upon connection to sanitary sewer. Upon connecting to the sanitary sewer, the ISSDS shall be pumped and all its contents removed by a licensed septic cleaner. The lid of the septic tank and/or cesspool shall then be broken or removed and the tank and/or cesspool backfilled with clean fill.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 220-3, Connection of buildings subsequently constructed, was repealed 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-10.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 220-4, Connection to commercial buildings, was repealed 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-10.
[Amended 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-10]
If the owner of any house, building or structure referred to in § 220-2 of this chapter shall fail to make any installation or connection required by this chapter within the time herein required, the Township may proceed to make such installation or connection, or cause the same to be made, and assess the cost thereof as a lien against such house, building or structure, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:63-52 to 40:63-64, inclusive.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: N.J.S.A. 40:63-52 to 40:63-64 were repealed by L. 1991, c. 53, § 1, (§ 40A:26A-22), eff. 1-1-1992.
[Amended 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-10]
The installations and connections required to be made pursuant to the provisions of § 220-2 this chapter shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Township, which rules and regulations shall be kept on file in the office of the Township.
The Township Council shall have the authority to establish, by resolution, a schedule of quarterly sewer service charges for residential, commercial and industrial users, and may compute the sewer service charges on the basis of water usage as determined by actual water meter reading or by minimum and maximum quarterly sewerage service charges.
A. 
All sewer rental billings are on a quarterly charge basis.
B. 
In the event of nonpayment of all or any part of the service or rental charge herein prescribed and provided for as due, such service charge or rentals shall bear interest at the rate equal to that which is set by the Township of Pohatcong for delinquent municipal taxes. Unpaid service or rental charges shall be a lien on real property and subject to collection and enforcement of such liens as are provided by law.
[Added 9-5-2006 by Ord. No. 06-20; amended 3-18-2008 by Ord. No. 08-4]
Following the effective date of this section, if there is any change in ownership of a property located within the Pohatcong Township sewer service area upon which a private water well is located and for which a community water supply system is available, said property shall be subject to the following provisions:
A. 
The owner of any such property shall install and maintain a water meter thereon and shall connect to a community water supply system, both at the owner’s expense, within 60 days of assuming ownership of the property, with the exception of those property owners in the Borough of Alpha water district, who shall have 120 days following assumption of ownership of the property. If the owner shall fail to do so, the Township Council of Pohatcong may, by resolution, provide for the installation of such meter and add the cost thereof to the user charge levied under this chapter.
B. 
No new on-site well shall be permitted to be constructed on any property located within the Pohatcong sewer service area and for which a community water supply system is available.
[Amended 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-10]
In the event of noncompliance with the terms of this article, the Council of the Township of Pohatcong is authorized to order such connection by written notice signed by the Mayor and served either upon the owner(s) personally or by mail. If, following service of such an order in the manner described above, the owner(s) should fail to connect within 30 days of receipt of the aforesaid order, the owner(s) shall be subject to a fine in accordance with Chapter 153, General Penalty.
No individual, partnership, corporation or other entity shall uncover, connect with, make any opening into or use, alter or disturb in any manner any sewer or the sanitary sewer system of Pohatcong Township without first obtaining a written permit from the township's authorized agent. Such permit shall be issued upon approval by the Township Engineer and payment of a connection fee based upon the number of equivalent dwelling units which are to be connected to the sanitary sewer system. The amount of the connection fee shall be in accordance with Chapter 45, Land Use Procedures, of the Pohatcong Code. One equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) is equal to a sewage discharge of 13,000 gallons per quarter of a year (90 days).
All the costs and expenses of connection of a sewer line serving an existing house, building or structure to the sewer main shall be borne by the owner of the unit to be connected, and such owner shall indemnify and save harmless the Township from all loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly as a result of construction or connection.
No person shall make or cause to be made a connection of any improved property with a sewer until such person shall have given the Township Engineer at least 48 hours' notice of the time which such connection will be made, so that said Engineer or the Township's authorized agent may supervise and inspect the work of connection and the installation from the foundation line of the improvement to the connection point, said connection point being at the curbline of said property.
The connection unit which shall be located under highways, roads, streets and rights-of-way shall be installed by the owner of the property affected through a registered plumber at the sole cost and expense of the owner.
The connection unit between the main sanitary sewer line and the property affected shall be repaired, replaced and cleaned by the owner of the property affected at the sole cost and expense of the owner.
Openings in the pavement or roadway shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 241, Street Openings, of the Pohatcong Township Code.