[Added 5-16-1979 by Ord. No. 18-79]
A. 
There is hereby established within the Township of Jefferson a Department of Utilities. The Department shall, in its operation, not incur any cost or expense which shall not be satisfied from the anticipated fees and revenues to be generated from the services rendered or from other anticipated income or funding.
B. 
Within the Department of Utilities there shall be a Director, who shall be the head of the Department and who shall be qualified by training or experience, or a combination thereof, for the duties of his office.
C. 
This Department shall consist of the following divisions:
(1) 
Division of Water.
(2) 
Division of Sewers.
D. 
The Business Administrator of the Township of Jefferson may also serve as the Director of the Department of Utilities, if he shall be so appointed thereto by the Mayor of the Township, with the advice and consent of the Township Council. Said appointment thereto may be upon such terms and conditions as so set forth in the appointment, and any additional salary, if any, shall be set and determined by the Council of the Township of Jefferson.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
For the purpose of this article or any rules or regulations adopted in conjunction therewith and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
[Amended 6-25-1980 by Ord. No. 18-80]
AGENT
In the absence of instructions to the contrary from the owner of any property or premises or his duly authorized agent, the occupant of any property or premises, insofar as the owner's relations to the Township may be concerned with respect to water and any sanitary sewer uses and existing services.
[Amended 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
ATTORNEY or COUNSEL
The duly appointed Attorney for the Township.
COMMERCIAL CONCERN
Any concern engaged in service, trade, traffic or commerce in general, including concerns which provide recreational and municipal services. (Industrial concerns are excluded.)
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Utilities.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE
The Jefferson Township Department of Health and Welfare.[1]
DEVELOPER
Any person, firm, association or corporation desiring to construct an extension or an addition or a new water distribution and/or wastewater system within the Township and shall include the owner of the fee title, mortgage and other persons having an interest, legal or equitable, in the property.
DIRECTOR
The duly appointed Director of the Department.
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
A system of pipes and their appurtenances by which a primary water supply is distributed to consumers.
HYDRANT
A device connected to a water main and provided with the necessary valves and outlets to which a fire hose may be attached for discharging water at a high rate for the purpose of extinguishing fires, washing down streets or flushing out the water mains.
INDUSTRIAL CONCERN
Any concern engaged primarily in a manufacturing or processing operation or in research and development activities.
INSPECTOR
A duly designated person assigned by the Department of Utilities to issue connection permits and/or check upon the construction of house connections, sanitary sewers, water mains, service pipes and such other duties as may be determined pursuant to this chapter or duly promulgated rules and regulations of the Department.
INSTITUTE
Any charitable, hospital, relief, training, correctional, reformatory or public institution.
LAND USE BOARD
The Jefferson Township Land Use Board.
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-28]
MAIN (MAINS)
Shall be construed either in the singular or plural to mean all pipes other than service pipes and used for conveying water to or distributing water in the Township.
METER RATES
Rates or charges to be assessed for water based on the quantity consumed as measured by an approved meter.
OWNER
Any person, persons, firm, corporation or association actually owning any property or premises, or his or their duly authorized agent, which is or can be prospectively supplied with water or sanitary or sewer services.
[Amended 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
PERSON
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.
PRIVATE HYDRANT
A privately owned hydrant that is not owned by the Township or other public agency.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
A person licensed to practice professional engineering in the State of New Jersey.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
All those rules and regulations contained herein and as hereinafter promulgated from time to time and any additions or changes thereto.
SERVICE PIPE
A pipe connected to the main and extending thence to and including the curb cock or valve at the curbline of the street.
SEWER
A pipe or conduit carrying or intended to carry wastewater.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
SEWER SYSTEM
All Township pipe, conduits, manholes, siphons, pumping and ejecting facilities, force mains, treatment plant or plants and other appurtenances installed in public roads or a part of a public property, rights-of-way, easement or private property by consent of the owner within the boundaries of the Township of Jefferson for the express purpose of collecting wastewater and maintained by the Department of Utilities or its authorized agents. It also includes any such system installed by any private individual, firm, corporation, partnership or public agency within the boundaries of the Township of Jefferson where the provisions of this chapter are applicable by reason of the valid consent of the owner or operator of said system or any such system installed or maintained by the Township of Jefferson where the provisions of this chapter are applicable by reasons of a valid consent.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
In fire protection, a network of overhead piping provided with systematically spaced sprinkler heads and connected to a suitable water supply, arranged so that the actuation of fusible elements in the heads or other heat-sensitive devices cause the system to discharge water over a fire starting at any point.
STREET
Any and all streets, avenues, highways and roads, whether or not publicly used, dedicated or accepted by the municipality.
TOWNSHIP
Jefferson Township, in the County of Morris, State of New Jersey.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
The duly appointed Township Engineer, consulting engineer or other engineer duly employed by the Township.
WASTEWATER
A combination of water-carried waste from residences, commercial buildings, institutions, industrial establishments and other buildings or places.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Any arrangement of devices or structures used for the treating of wastewater in and/or outside of the Township.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
WATER CONNECTION
The extension of the service pipe from the curb cock to the meter on the premises of the property owner.
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM MASTER PLAN and WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN
The plans for the water supply system and wastewater of the Township prepared by the Township Engineer or the Township Consulting Engineer, together with any supplements, amendments, alterations or additions thereto as hereafter in existence as adopted by the Township of Jefferson.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Word usage.
(1) 
"May" is permissive; "shall" is mandatory.
(2) 
The singular shall include the plural; the masculine shall include the feminine; and the term "it" shall include any person.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
The fees for the water services to be rendered by the Jefferson Township Department of Utilities shall be consistent with the provisions of this article. The Department is hereby specifically authorized to prepare schedules of such water rates for posting, publication and/or distribution as it deems appropriate.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
There shall be established by the Township Council rules and regulations for the operation of the Department which shall set forth the means for the public to make application for and use of water and sewers within the Township of Jefferson and to provide for the standard of construction, maintenance and operation of the water supply, its distribution system and sewer system or any additions thereto.
[Amended 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
B. 
Standards for construction of extensions and alterations. The construction of all extensions and alterations to the Township water system shall be in accordance with the standards which shall be set forth in the rules and regulations of the Department and which shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Township Engineer, his representative or any superior governmental agency having jurisdiction.
[Added 9-5-2001 by Ord. No. 24-01]
There is hereby established in the Township of Jefferson a Water Supply Master Plan entitled "Water Supply Master Plan 2000-2010," dated January 2001, prepared by Elam Associates, which Water Supply Master Plan is on file with the Municipal Clerk of the Township and may be examined during regular business hours. The Water Supply Master Plan hereby establishes policies for the Township of Jefferson as to its water system and sets forth anticipated improvements and extensions of the water service within the Township of Jefferson through the year 2010.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Agreement with Township. No permit shall be issued for the construction or installation of any main by a private individual, firm or corporation unless there is an enforceable agreement on the part of the person, firm or corporation constructing said main, upon completion of said main, to turn the same over to the Township to become part of the Township water system and unless such agreement also grants to the Township a permanent easement of at least 15 feet in width for the purpose of maintaining, operating, repairing and restoring said main in a form approved by the Township Attorney.
B. 
Supervision by the Township Engineer. All mains and service lines to be constructed within the Township of Jefferson shall be constructed under the supervision of the Township Engineer or his representative. The design, materials and workmanship shall be the same as those set forth under § 7-112 herein. The Township Engineer shall be provided not less than 24 hours' notice for any required supervision or inspection.
C. 
Approval of plans and specifications; approval of construction. No work shall be started upon the construction of any mains or service lines designed to become part of the Township water system until complete plans, specifications and profiles for the same have been submitted to and approved by the Department of Utilities. Upon completion and before acceptance by the Township of Jefferson of the new construction, the Department must be furnished with an as-built map of all water improvements, including mains, hydrants, valves, curb box and stops and services. All appurtenances to the water system shall be referenced to a permanent structure, and all measurements shall be certified by a licensed land surveyor.
D. 
Inspection; fee. All mains and service lines shall be constructed under the supervision of the Township Engineer or a properly appointed representative. This supervision shall be continuous during the course of the construction. An inspection fee, as set forth in § 7-124, shall be paid to the Department during construction to offset the cost of said supervision and inspection.
E. 
Tests. All mains, service lines and house connections shall be tested in accordance with provisions of § 7-112 herein.
F. 
Street openings. Where opening of streets is required for installation of new mains and/or services, there shall be compliance with Chapter 429, Article III, Road Excavations, and all other applicable ordinances of the Township at the owner's expense.
G. 
Mandatory connections required for new construction.
[Added 9-5-2001 by Ord. No. 24-01]
(1) 
Obligation to connect.
(a) 
Whenever there shall be new construction consisting of residential or nonresidential construction, whether or not said construction is incidental to a site plan and/or subdivision approval, the new development shall be connected to the Township water supply, if the water supply is available, at the time of actual need for the water service within the distance set forth below measured from the nearest property line upon which the new construction is erected or, in the case of a development, from the nearest property line of the entire tract. Said measurements shall be based upon the number of dwelling units or equivalent dwelling units (EDU's) of the construction or development as set forth in the Township ordinances.
Number of Units
Distance
(feet)
1
200
2
400
3
600
4
800
5
1,000
6 to 10
2,000
11 to 15
3,000
16 to 20
4,000
21 to 25
5,000
(b) 
For developments in excess of 25 units/EDU's which are located more than 5,000 feet from the water supply, the obligation to connect shall be determined on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the density of the development, costs and water availability.
(c) 
The developer of the property shall be responsible for the full cost of making the connection to the Township's water supply system or shall reimburse the Township for the reasonable cost of said connection should the Township decide to construct the actual connection.
(d) 
The obligation to connect hereunder shall only apply to totally new construction and shall not apply to additions or remodeling.
(2) 
If any development falls outside the range stated in Subsection G(1) above, then the Township, in its sole discretion, may elect to extend the water supply system to the distances set forth in the chart provided in Subsection G(1), which would then require the developer to connect to the water supply system at its own cost.
(3) 
If a public water supply system is not available as defined in Subsection G(1) above and the Township does not elect to make it available at the time the development is built, but a source will be provided to the area within a six-year period, as indicated in the Township Water Master Plan, the installation of a capped system (dry lines with service hookups) will be required for the development at the sole cost of the developer.
(4) 
Flow rates will be determined utilizing data listed in Appendix A,[1] Chapter 7, of this Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this chapter.
(5) 
The cost for connection of the water main shall be borne by the contractor and shall be in addition to the capacity charge listed in § 7-124C.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Approval for house connection; application for water service. Before any house connection may be connected to the service line, the main and such service line shall have been approved and accepted by the Township. In addition the owner or his authorized representative shall make application to the Department in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department, and such application shall be accompanied by fees required in § 7-124.
B. 
Water service connection required.
(1) 
The owners of all houses, buildings, public buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, not having an available supply of potable water and requiring potable water, and situated within the Township and abutting on or having a permanent right-of-way access to any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public water main, are hereby required, at their expense, to connect all facilities for potable water directly with the public water main in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within 60 days after date of official notice from the Township of Jefferson to do so, provided that said public water main is within 100 feet of any property line or right-of-way access.
(2) 
Said owners may maintain a separate, private water supply system, unconnectable to the potable water system, for nonpotable water requirements, such as lawn sprinkling systems, industrial machinery and other uses involving a closed system of distribution not available for drinking purposes, and provided further that a written notice of the construction or existence of the same is promptly supplied to the Department of Utilities and a review of the proposed system or inspection of the completed system is conducted by an inspector.
C. 
Application must be made by the owner of the subdivision to the Department for each water service to be installed in said subdivision. A service fee, as set forth in § 7-124B, must be paid to the Department for each service, and all service connections and meter installations must be approved by the Department. No service, other than as provided for with a temporary permit, shall be permitted to be turned on prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Township.
D. 
Meters and meter fees. Not more than one building shall be supplied from the same house service line, except by special permission and under such restrictions as may be imposed by the Department. If more than one meter is to be installed on any house service line, such meter or meters will be installed and maintained by the Department in the location or locations provided by the owner. Meters shall be installed in any new building before a permanent certificate of occupancy can be obtained. Meter fees shall be as set forth in § 7-124.
E. 
Temporary permits. A temporary permit for the use of water taken from Township mains for construction purposes will be provided only upon written application by the contractor or owner to the Department, accompanied by a temporary service charge as set forth in § 7-124B(1). The temporary permit for use of water hereinabove provided may be revoked at any time if it is determined by the Department that water is being wasted or used unnecessarily. Fire hydrants may not be used by anyone, other than authorized Township personnel, as a temporary source of water for construction or other purposes without the written approval of the Department.
F. 
Defects in house connection. The owner of any premises shall be responsible for all repairs to any house connections and shall be liable for all loss of water and damage resulting from any defect in a house connection. From the time any defect is discovered until the repair or replacement work is completed, the Department may shut off the water with or without notice, if necessary, and for as long as it may be deemed necessary. Leaks or damage in or to the house connection shall be promptly reported to the Department and repaired within a reasonable time. The Department shall determine the amount of water lost as a result of a leak in or damage to the house connections, using as a guide the size of the pipe and the pressure per square inch at the point of such leak and such other factors as may be applicable. The owner or consumer shall be charged for this loss at the prevailing rate for water consumed.
G. 
Installation of water meters. All water meters shall be installed by the Department or by a plumber licensed by the Township and shall be inspected and tested only by employees of the Department. All water meters shall be the property of the Department when installed, whether paid for by the Department or owner. Only an authorized representative of the Department shall be permitted to open, adjust, connect, disconnect or in any other way service any water meter.
H. 
Curb box maintenance. Curb boxes shall be kept in accessible condition by the owner of the premises. If it becomes necessary to reset, repair or replace any curb box, such work shall be done by and at the expense of the Department, unless such work is necessitated by construction or by other than natural damage, in which case the fee, as set forth in § 7-124B(2), shall be paid to the Department.
I. 
In the event that there is any defect in a house connection and the Township, in order to determine the nature and extent of any defect, must disturb any sidewalks, curbing or other Township improvements, and it is determined that the defect is in that portion of the waterline owned and maintained by the property owner, then the property owner shall be responsible to repair any curb and sidewalk or other Township improvements disturbed by the Township in order to make said repair or determine the source of any defect under the supervision of the Township Department of Public Works and within the time period set forth by said Department. In the alternative, any property owner may elect to pay the Township the reasonable cost of said repairs.
[Added 8-11-1999 by Ord. No. 26-99]
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Obstructions not permitted. Temporary or permanent obstructions which would prevent free access to any meter, curb box, valve or hydrant or other fixture required for the control or public use of water, in any of the streets, easements or other rights-of-way of the Township, are not permitted.
B. 
Free access to the Department. No person shall at any time obstruct or prevent free access to any meter, main, service line or house connection by any authorized employee or employees of the Department for the purpose of reading, testing, repairing or inspecting such meter, main, service line or house connections.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Curb stop shutoffs and turn-ons. The curb stop shall not be shut off or turned on except as authorized by the Department.
B. 
Fire hydrant operation. No person, other than members of the Department or Fire Department in cases of emergency, shall be permitted to open any fire hydrant. Only standard hydrant wrenches shall be used in opening or closing of fire hydrants.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Water bills; inaccessible meters.
(1) 
Charges for the use or consumption of water by the owner or occupier of any house, building, lot or premises, water rent or charges for work done or services provided shall be billed to the owner of the real estate quarterly each year.
(2) 
If after reasonable effort an authorized employee or official of the Department is unable to gain access to a meter in order to obtain a reading for billing purposes, he shall leave a form at the premises in which the meter is located. The owner or occupant then shall be responsible for entering the meter reading and other appropriate information on the form provided by the Department and for returning the same to the Department within five days of the date on which the form was left at the premises. If the form is not returned within this period, the owner shall be billed an estimated amount based on the amount of water used or consumed during the same quarter of the previous year or by averaging the amounts previously used in accordance with a formula promulgated by the Department.
B. 
Payments; penalties for nonpayment.
(1) 
Each user shall be billed quarterly. The Department shall have the right and authority to establish the quarterly period for each user, without regard to a calendar year, so as to provide a system of staggered billing procedure for the total number of users within the Department's system.
(2) 
Under ordinary conditions, continuous service meters shall be read quarterly. Meters installed for miscellaneous service may be read at the discretion of the Department.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(3) 
Unless the applicant for water service specifies otherwise, the bills will be mailed or delivered to the premises where water service is furnished. If the applicant desires, the Department will mail or deliver the bills to the business or home address of the applicant or his agent. Failure to receive bills or notices shall be no excuse of nonpayment of a water bill.
(4) 
All bills for water rendered shall be due within 30 days of the first day of the quarter and shall bear interest from the time they become due at the rate set by the Township Council for the first $1,000 of delinquent taxes.
(5) 
If any bill for water charges or rents or for work done or services provided shall be and remain unpaid for a period of 15 days from the due date thereof, the Department shall send a notice to the owner of the premises addressed to his dwelling house or usual place of abode, by ordinary mail, informing him that if the bill is not paid within 15 days of the date of the notice, the water supply to the premises, with respect to which the bill has been rendered, will be discontinued and a shutoff fee, as provided in § 7-118C, charged to the owner. If the bill remains unpaid for 15 days from the date of the notice mailed to the owner, as provided herein, the Department shall turn off the water supply to the premises to which the bill relates and charge a shutoff fee to the owner.
(6) 
If the water supply to any premises has been discontinued under the provisions of this section, the Department shall not turn on and restore the water supply until the owner pays in full the bill and all accrued interest and penalties, together with the shutoff fee charged in accordance with this section and a turn-on fee, as provided in § 7-124B(3), for restoration of service.
(7) 
Unpaid water charges or rents and other costs, expenses, penalties and interest thereon shall be a lien upon the house, building, lot or premises to which they relate. If any bill for the consumption of water, water rent or charge for work done or services provided shall remain in arrears after the 11th day of the 11th month in the fiscal year when the same became in arrears, the water charges or rent shall become a lien upon the real estate in the municipality and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the same manner as liens for taxes. When beginning the annual tax sale process, the Tax Collector shall ask the officer or employee of the Department charged with the duty of collection to file with the Tax Collector a statement showing the arrearages to be included in the tax sale.
[Amended 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 28-04]
(8) 
All charges, interest and fees shall be payable to the Department of Utilities, Jefferson Township, by mail or in person at the office of the Department. The Director of the Department shall designate such persons within the Department or such other municipal officials who shall be authorized to accept or give a receipt for moneys due the Department.
C. 
Turn-ons and shutoffs. Except in the case of the initial installation of water service and meter, no new consumer shall be served with water unless an application, on a form to be furnished by the Department, shall have been completed by the consumer and filed with the Department. Such application shall be accompanied by payment of a turn-on fee, as set forth in § 7-124B(3). An application signed by a tenant shall also be signed by the owner. Consumers changing their place of residence within the Township shall also be required to execute the application and file the same with the Department, but without payment of the fee. Water may be shut off by the Department on receipt of a written request by a consumer of the Department. A shutoff and turn-on charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(3), however, shall be made for each turning off and each restoration of the service. If a house is vacant, no deduction from the minimum charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(3), shall be made as long as the curb stop shall remain open. Where a curb stop is closed at the request of the owner or occupant, there shall be a standby charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(3)(b).
D. 
Meter tests; adjustments. The consumer shall report promptly any meter thought to be defective or out of order. The Department will promptly comply with a request to test such meters. Should such test disclose that the meter is not defective or out of order, a charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(4), will be made for the test. Meters found to be defective or out of order during the course of such tests will be replaced or repaired, and the test fee will be waived. Water charges for the quarter in which the meter is found to be defective or out of order shall be based on the water consumed during the same quarter of the previous year or on an average of the meter readings for the four quarters preceding that in which the meter was found to be defective or out of order.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
A. 
Sewer bills. The provisions of § 7-118B, entitled "Payments; penalties for nonpayment," and more particularly Subsection B(1), (3), (4), (7) and (8) of the present Administrative Code of the Township of Jefferson are hereby adopted for application regarding the charges and penalties for nonpayment of sewer services.
B. 
Sewer usage fees.
[Amended 1-22-1992 by Ord. No. 2-92; 12-2-1992 by Ord. No. 13-92; 11-28-1994 by Ord. No. 11-94; 4-14-1999 by Ord. No. 16-99; 6-14-2000 by Ord. No. 16-00; 5-18-2005 by Ord. No. 13-05; 5-5-2010 by Ord. No. 4-10; 8-1-2015 by Ord. No. 17-15]
(1) 
Residential. Commencing January 1, 2016, the annual sewer residential property rate for sewer usage shall be $900 per annum, payable $225 per quarter. The residential rate beginning January 1, 2018, shall be $945 per annum, payable $236.25 per quarter, and the rate beginning January 1, 2020, and forward, shall be $990 per annum, payable $247.50 per quarter.
(2) 
Commercial. Commencing January 1, 2016, the commercial property rate shall be $9.70 per every 1,000 gallons of usage, payable quarterly, with a minimum of not less than $1,072 per annum. Beginning January 1, 2018, the rate shall be $10.15 per every 1,000 gallons of usage, payable quarterly, with a minimum of not less than $1,125 per annum. Beginning January 1, 2020, and forward, the rate shall be $10.60 per every 1,000 gallons of usage, payable quarterly, with a minimum of not less than $1,175 per annum.
C. 
Standby sewer charges. Whenever any user of the municipal sewerage system desires to discontinue service but not disconnect sewerage service, the user may do so by notifying the Township Municipal Utilities Department and by paying, in lieu of the fixed sewer use charge, a standby fee of $25 per quarter year, payable the same as the sewer service fee if the sewer was in operation. Failure to pay this fee may result in the user or any subsequent owner of the property paying a sewer hookup fee in accordance with § 7-124D of the Administrative Code.
[Added 4-3-1985 by Ord. No. 4-85]
D. 
Notwithstanding the above language, for any multifamily nonprofit government-subsidized housing which is connected to any municipal sewer facility, the sewer usage fee is $600 per annum for said use per dwelling unit, payable quarterly.
[Added 9-20-2006 by Ord. No. 25-06]
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Emergency shutdown. The Department shall be diligent and exercise all reasonable care to provide a continuous supply of potable water. However, in the event of breakage, mechanical failure, power failure, accident or shutting off for extension or repair or whenever, in the judgment of the Department, an emergency exists, the Department may, with or without notice, discontinue the supply for as long as it may deem necessary to make repairs or correct the difficulty. The Township shall not be liable to any consumer for any damage or loss resulting from such temporary cessation of service.
B. 
Restriction of water usage.
(1) 
If, in the opinion of the Mayor of the Township of Jefferson, restrictions should be placed upon the use of water for the watering of lawns and/or filling of swimming pools during periods of drought and/or low rainfall, the Mayor is hereby authorized to adopt rules and regulations governing the time, place and amount of lawn sprinkling or filling of swimming pools which can occur, in order to conserve the water reserves of the Township of Jefferson.
(2) 
Said rules and regulations, when adopted, shall be published once in the legal newspaper of the Township of Jefferson and shall be posted in at least three public places within the Township at least three days prior to the effective date of said rules and regulations.
(3) 
Any person or persons violating said rules and regulations shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $50.
(4) 
The provisions of this chapter are applicable to the public water system of the Township of Jefferson and all individual sections thereof, as well as to all other water systems in the Township of Jefferson which have been constructed pursuant to an approved major subdivision to be a public improvement thereof and which water systems have been completed and are serving three or more residences within any such major subdivision, notwithstanding the fact that the Township has not yet formally accepted said water systems. The exercise of any of these regulations upon any water system which has not yet been formally accepted by Jefferson Township shall not be deemed to represent, directly or indirectly, the approval, acceptance or intention to accept any such water system.
C. 
Swimming pools. Before any tank or swimming pool having a capacity in excess of 2,500 gallons is filled or refilled with water drawn from the system, notice of filling or refilling such tank or swimming pool shall first be furnished to the Department. The Department shall consider the demand on the system and may, if necessary, limit the time of day, the rate of flow and number of hours when such withdrawals will be permitted. The Township shall not be liable to any consumer for any damage or loss resulting from the denial or limitation of service hereunder.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Fire hydrants will be maintained by the Department. Fire hydrants shall be tested at least once annually.
[Amended 12-6-2017 by Ord. No. 17-25]
B. 
There is hereby adopted by the Township of Jefferson, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing the uniform marking of fire hydrants, those recommendations known as the Uniform Marking of Fire Hydrants recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, being particularly the 1935 Edition thereof and the whole thereof, of which recommendations not less than three copies have been and now are filed in the office of the Clerk of the Township of Jefferson, and the same are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and from the date on which this chapter shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the Township of Jefferson.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
No person shall do any plumbing work in connection with the installation and maintenance of a house connection, unless he is a plumber duly licensed in the Township or unless he is working under the direction of a plumber so licensed.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Compliance. All work done by or under the provisions of this article shall comply with all rules and regulations of the State Department of Health, the Township Division of Health and the ordinances of the Township of Jefferson and shall be performed under the supervision of the Department of Utilities.
B. 
Report of violations. It shall be the duty of all employees of the Township to report any violations of these regulations to the Director of the Department. The Director shall report to the office of the Mayor all violations of this article and all of the rules and regulations of the Department which come to his knowledge or attention and the action taken.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80; amended 6-25-1980 by Ord. No. 18-80; 9-22-1982 by Ord. No. 15-82; 2-6-1985 by Ord. No. 1-85; 8-21-1985 by Ord. No. 8-85; 5-5-1993 by Ord. No. 7-93; 6-9-1993 by Ord. No. 10-93; 9-21-1994 by Ord. No. 14-93; 12-27-1995 by Ord. No. 20-95; 7-16-1997 by Ord. No. 13-97; 9-3-1997 by Ord. No. 21-97; 4-14-1999 by Ord. No. 15-99; 4-18-2001 by Ord. No. 12-01; 5-15-2002 by Ord. No. 19-02; 5-21-2003 by Ord. No. 15-03; 8-13-2003 by Ord. No. 25-03; 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 28-04; 9-20-2006 by Ord. No. 24-06; 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 16-08; 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2-12; 3-7-2012 by Ord. No. 4-12; 4-1-2015 by Ord. No. 10-15; 11-1-2017 by Ord. No. 17-23; 12-6-2017 by Ord. No. 17-25; 2-21-2024 by Ord. No. 24-01]
A. 
No person shall tamper with, interfere with or cause any water meter owned by the Township of Jefferson and used to measure the flow of water from the Township utility to not accurately measure or record the full amount of water supplied to such customer. The existence of a tampered meter shall be presumptive evidence that the person or persons to whom water is supplied through that meter did tamper or cause the tampering of said meter.
B. 
Any person violating this ordinance shall be fined not more than $500 with reference to the first violation and not more than $1,000 with reference to any subsequent violations.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A. 
Sections 1A-31B(3) and 1A-34 of Article VII, Department of Public Works, are hereby repealed.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: These sections refer to former sections of this chapter pertaining to the Division of Utilities within the Department of Public Works.
B. 
All other ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with this article are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
If any article, section, subsection, paragraph, phrase or sentence is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, said article, section, subsection, paragraph, phrase or sentence shall be deemed severable.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
This article is deemed by the Municipal Council of the Township of Jefferson to be an emergency measure and shall therefore immediately become effective upon publication and final passage by the Mayor.
[Added 3-6-1996 by Ord. No. 2-96]
A. 
There is hereby created in the Township of Jefferson a Utility Advisory Board, consisting of eight members, two of whom shall be ex officio, and six members to be appointed by the Township Council. The membership shall consist of the Director of Utilities for the Township, the Township Administrator, a member of the Jefferson Township Council appointed by it on a yearly basis, and five citizens of the Township, at least three of whom are members of households that are connected to either the Township water or sewer utility or both. The Board shall elect a Chairman from its members, who shall be one of the citizen members connected to one or both utility systems. The ex officio members shall serve during the term of their office. The citizen members shall be appointed for three-year terms. The existing members shall continue until their existing terms expire, at which time their positions shall be replaced. With reference to any vacant citizen positions, said membership shall not be replaced unless the total membership of the Board is less than eight members.
[Amended 12-20-2000 by Ord. No. 33-00; 2-18-2004 by Ord. No. 2-04; 12-7-2016 by Ord. No. 15-16]
B. 
Purpose. The purpose of the Utility Advisory Board shall be to advise and recommend to the Township Council and administration on matters relating to the operation, planning and rate structures of the utilities. In addition, the Board shall have the right to review plans for any development, and comment upon the same, if it involves the extension of municipal utilities. The Board shall have access to the records of the administration and the Department of Utilities dealing with the operation of the utility, the planning of the utility and the rate structure. Prior to the adoption of any ordinances affecting the operation, planning or rate structure of the Township utilities, the Township Council may refer such ordinances or proposed ordinances to the Board for its comment and the Board may issue written reports to the Council and administration.
C. 
Meetings. The Board shall hold a meeting quarterly, as needed; but no less than once per year.
[Amended 12-7-2016 by Ord. No. 15-16]