[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Fair Lawn 9-9-1986 by Ord. No. 1353-86. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 85.
Schedule of Fees — See Ch. 94, Art. VI.
Land development — See Ch. 125.
Public health nuisances — See Ch. 173.
Water — See Ch. 241.
Whenever used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
FLOTABLE OIL
Oil, fat or grease in a physical state such that it will separate by gravity from wastewater by treatment in an approved pretreatment facility. A wastewater shall be considered free of flotable fat if it is properly pretreated and the wastewater does not interfere with the collection system.
HOUSE LATERAL
A pipe connection extending from the foundation of the building to the sewer lateral at the curbline and/or edge of pavement and shall be used solely for the conveyance of wastewater.
NATURAL OUTLET
An outlet, including storm sewers and combined sewer overflows, into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface water or groundwater, including the Passaic River or any of its tributaries.
OWNER
Any person, firm, corporation or association actually owning the property.
SANITARY SEWER
A sewer that carries liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions, together with minor quantities of groundwater, stormwater and surface waters that are not admitted intentionally.
SANITARY WASTE
Waste derived principally from dwellings, office buildings and sanitary conveniences; when segregated from industrial wastes, may come from industrial plants or commercial enterprises.
SEWAGE
The spent water of a community. The preferred term is "wastewater."
SEWER
A pipe or conduit that carries wastewater or drainage water.
SEWER LATERAL
A pipe connected to the sanitary sewer main and extending to the curbline and/or the edge of pavement and shall be used solely for the conveyance of wastewater.
STORM DRAIN (sometimes called "STORM SEWER")
A drain or sewer for conveying water, groundwater, subsurface water or unpolluted water from any source.
STRENGTH OF WASTE
A measurement of suspended solids and/or biochemical oxygen demand and/or chemical oxygen demand and/or any other parameter determined by Passaic Valley Sewage Commission as a fair indicator of the relative use, other than volumetric, of Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission facilities by industrial wastes.
No person shall connect to the sanitary sewer system of the borough except in accordance with the provisions herein set forth.
A. 
Application for the right to connect shall be made on forms provided by the Superintendent of Public Works and upon payment of a connection fee as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council,[1] which shall be considered to be a privilege charge for use of the sewer.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 94, Fees, Art. VI, Schedule of Fees.
B. 
The applicant shall construct the sewer from the main in the center of the street to the house, furnishing all material and labor necessary and backfilling the trench at his/her own expense. A road opening permit must be obtained from the proper authority.
C. 
Borough and county roadways.
(1) 
Borough roadways: Permits shall be obtained from the Fair Lawn Department of Public Works. The fee for said permit shall be as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 94, Fees, Art. VI, Schedule of Fees.
(2) 
County roadways: Permits shall be obtained from the Bergen County Department of Public Works.
D. 
All sewers shall be constructed of a material approved by the Borough Engineer.
E. 
No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, disturb or tamper with any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a permit from the appropriate borough official.
F. 
In cases were the sewer lateral now exists, the owner shall construct or reconstruct the house lateral as required. The owner shall obtain a permit and pay a fee as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 94, Fees, Art. VI, Schedule of Fees.
G. 
Installation.
(1) 
All connections shall be air and water tight.
(2) 
Cleanouts shall be installed at:
(a) 
Between the curb and sidewalk or off the edge of pavement.
(b) 
On the outside of the building foundation.
(c) 
At each change of direction in the lateral greater than 45º.
(3) 
Slope shall be not less than 1/8 inch per foot.
(4) 
House laterals shall have a minimum diameter of four inches.
(5) 
The applicant for the sewer permit shall notify the Department of Public Works when the house lateral is ready to be inspected and connection to the sewer lateral. The owner shall notify the Department of Public Works a minimum of 24 hours in advance. No connection shall be made except under the supervision of the Department of Public Works.
[Amended 8-16-2011 by Ord. No. 2223-2011]
Maintenance of sewer and house laterals shall be as follows:
A. 
House stoppages.
(1) 
House laterals shall no longer be maintained by the Borough of Fair Lawn from the foundation of the home to the curb/edge of pavement.
B. 
The homeowner shall maintain the sewer laterals from the foundation of the home to the curb/edge of pavement.
C. 
The owner, at his/her expense, shall maintain the house lateral from the foundation of the house to the curb/edge of pavement.
D. 
Free access to the cleanout at the curb/edge of pavement shall be maintained by the owner.
E. 
All new/replaced house laterals shall have a cleanout cap installed at the curb/edge of pavement as directed by the Superintendent of Public Works or his designee.
F. 
The Borough of Fair Lawn shall maintain the sewer lateral from the curb/edge of pavement to the connection with the main line as long as a cleanout cap exists at the curb/edge of pavement.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described wastes or waters to any sanitary sewer:
A. 
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150º F.
B. 
Any water or waste which may contain more than 100 parts per million, by weight, of fat, oil or grease.
C. 
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, petroleum, hydrocarbon-based product or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
D. 
Any ashes, cinders, sand, wood, tar, plastics, metals, glass, rubbish or any other substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or with the proper operation of the sewage works.
E. 
Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 9.0 or having other corrosive properties capable of causing damage or hazards to structures, pipes, equipment and personnel.
F. 
Any waters or wastes containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewer operation or to create any hazard to humans or animals.
G. 
Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a public nuisance or interferes with the operation of the sewage system.
Grease interceptors and removal/retention equipment shall be installed on the process-discharge piping from all restaurants/fast food facilities as required and specified by the Borough of Fair Lawn and the National Standard Plumbing Code.
It shall be unlawful to discharge into any natural outlet within the municipality any wastewater or other polluted waters except where treatment has been provided and where a Natural Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit has been obtained from the appropriate governmental authority, where required.
A. 
No person shall make connection on roof downspouts, foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or drain, which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer, unless approved by the municipality for purpose of disposal of polluted surface drainage.
B. 
Illicit connection.
[Added 4-12-2005 by Ord. No. 2008-2005]
(1) 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DOMESTIC SEWAGE
Waste and wastewater from humans or household operations.
ILLICIT CONNECTION
Any physical or non-physical connection that discharges domestic sewage, non-contact cooling water, process wastewater, or other industrial waste (other than stormwater) to the municipal separate storm sewer system operated by the Borough of Fair Lawn, unless that discharge is authorized under a NJPDES permit other than the Tier A Municipal Stormwater General Permit (NJPDES Permit No. NJ0141852). Non-physical connections may include, but are not limited to, leaks, flows, or overflows into the municipal separate storm sewer system.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE
Nondomestic waste, including but not limited to, those pollutants regulated under Section 307(a), (b), or (c) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1317(a), (b), or (c).
MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4)
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) that is owned or operated by the Borough of Fair Lawn or other public body and is designed and used for collecting and conveying stormwater.
NJPDES PERMIT
A permit issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to implement the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) rules at N.J.A.C. 7:14A.
NON-CONTACT COOLING WATER
Water used to reduce temperature for the purpose of cooling. Such waters do not come into direct contact with any raw material, intermediate product (other than heat) or finished product. Non-contact cooling water may, however, contain algaecides, or biocides to control fouling of equipment such as heat exchangers, and/or corrosion inhibitors.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
PROCESS WASTEWATER
Any water which, during manufacturing or processing, comes into direct contact with or results from the production or use of any raw material, intermediate product, finished product, by-product, or waste product. Process wastewater includes, but is not limited to, leachate and cooling water other than non-contact cooling water.
STORMWATER
Water resulting from precipitation (including rain and snow) that runs off the land’s surface, is transmitted to the subsurface, is captured by separate storm sewers or other sewerage or drainage facilities, or is conveyed by snow removal equipment.
(2) 
Prohibited conduct. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged through an illicit connection to the municipal separate storm sewer system operated by the Borough of Fair Lawn any domestic sewage, non-contact cooling water, process wastewater, or other industrial waste (other than stormwater).
(3) 
Enforcement. This section shall be enforced by the Police Department and/or other municipal officials of the Borough of Fair Lawn.
All users of the wastewater facilities shall comply with the requirements of the written rules and regulations of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission which have been adopted and which from time to time shall have been adopted, which regulations shall become effective upon filing of certified copies in the office of the Municipal Clerk after the effective dates of this chapter.
The Superintendent of Public Works, Health Officer and other duly authorized agents and employees of the borough shall be permitted to enter upon all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurements, testing and sampling of the sanitary sewer system.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III.