[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of East Greenville as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sewer Authority — See Ch. 20.
Building construction — See Ch. 35.
Plumbing — See Ch. 67.
Sewers — See Ch. 78.
[Adopted 7-7-1997 by Ord. No. 8-97[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former Ch. 94, Water, adopted 9-6-1988 by Ord. No. 5-88.
A. 
Service connections will be made and water will be furnished upon written application by the prospective customer (or his/her properly authorized agent) on a form provided by the borough for this purpose and after approval of such application by the Borough Council. The application for service shall state clearly the class (R, C, I), scope and type of use to be made of the service, as well as the purpose for which it will be used.
B. 
The application and these rules and regulations constitute the contract between the customer and the borough; and each customer, by the taking of water, agrees to be bound thereby.
C. 
A new application must be made to and approved by the Borough Council upon any change in the identity of the contracting customer at a property or in the service as described in the application, and the Borough Council may, upon five days' notice, discontinue the water supply until such new application has been made and approved.
D. 
Each application for service shall be made in conformity with and shall state the basis of rates applicable to customers under the tariff provisions.
[Amended 1-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-2]
The Borough shall charge the hereinafter enumerated fees for each gallon per day of capacity (GPD) as hereinafter determined whenever the owner of any property, or his or her designated agent, connects such property with the Borough's public water system, or whenever said owner adds to or modifies property already connected to that system in such manner as to increase the GPD as hereinafter determined. The enumerated fees shall include:
A. 
Connection fee: a charge to reimburse the Borough for the cost of the waterline between the main in the street and the property line. This cost shall be based upon actual cost or average cost of previous similar connections. This fee shall include all road openings and restorations as well as permit fees and engineering fees in connection therewith.
(1) 
Prior to any work schedule being set for a new connection, or connections, to the Borough's water system, the property owner or his designated agent shall:
(a) 
Complete a written application requesting connection, or connections, on forms supplied by the Borough.
(b) 
Read and execute an agreement with the Borough on forms supplied by the Borough agreeing to pay to the Borough all actual costs related to said connection or connections.
(c) 
Pay in advance for the water connection or connections, $2,332 per connection.
The advanced payments referred to in Subsection A(1)(c) above shall in no instance be construed as being full payment. The property owner, or his designated agent, shall be responsible for all actual costs related to effect the water connection between the Borough mains and the established curbline of said property.
(2) 
The property owner, or his designated agent, shall receive a final cost bill to be computed from the particular job sheet as filed by the Borough's Maintenance Supervisor.
(3) 
The advanced payment shall be deducted from the total actual costs and the balance will represent the final cost bill. The final Borough invoice shall be forwarded within 15 days after the street surface has been properly restored and the said new service completed between the water main and the established curbline.
(4) 
In the event that the balance due the Borough is not paid in full within 15 days of the date of said final cost bill, said services may be made ineffective by shutting off the water supply. Before service will be restored, these additional costs plus 10%, an adjusted final cost bill, must be paid in full.
(5) 
The Borough reserves the right to adjust and/or waive required connection fees where their imposition would not be warranted. For example, if a property owner has entered a development agreement with the Borough and is undertaking construction of an on-site water system at his own expense, there may be no need for connection fees as hereinbefore set forth since there would be no actual costs to the Borough.
B. 
Customer facilities fee: a charge to reimburse the Borough for the cost of line and/or service for connection of the facilities installed between the property line and the building. This charge shall be based on actual costs incurred. The Borough may require the owner to install these facilities. The fee shall include the cost of providing a water meter or meters. The billing procedure shall be the same as for the connection fees in Subsection A above.
C. 
Tapping fee. A charge which includes the following components: capacity, distribution and collection, special purpose and reimbursement, to be charged for use of the water systems of the Borough, that shall be in addition to any charges assessed against the property in the construction of water mains as well as other user charges or rates charged for rental and use of the water system itself.
(1) 
The tapping fee for public water service shall be $2,668 per EDU as hereinafter defined.
(2) 
The aforementioned tapping fees, as well as any fees set forth to this section may be altered or changed by Borough Council from time to time as circumstances may warrant by appropriate resolution of Council.
(3) 
The aforestated tapping fees are determined and established by studies done by Borough Engineer, Cowan Associates, Inc., entitled "East Greenville Borough Water Distribution System Tapping Fee Report," dated November 13, 2003. Copies of said report, detailing itemization of all calculations showing the manner in which the fees were determined, are available for public inspection at the Borough Hall.
(4) 
Tapping fees shall be payable at time of application for connection to systems or at such other time as the property owner and Borough may agree upon in writing.
D. 
Equivalent dwelling unit. Equivalent dwelling unit shall mean any room, group of rooms, mobile home or other enclosure occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters by a family or group of persons living together or by persons living alone. Each dwelling unit in a double house, townhouse, or connecting houses, in a mobile home or in an apartment, will be charged as a separate entity or unit.
(1) 
Each church, chapel or firehouse shall constitute one equivalent dwelling unit. Each school (public or private) shall constitute one equivalent dwelling unit for each unit of 20 pupils expected to he enrolled and occupying said school. Teachers and employees shall be classified as pupils for purposes of this calculation.
(2) 
For any improved nonresidential property to be served by the Borough water system, the number of equivalent dwelling units for which such property shall be charged shall be in accordance with the following schedule, with each 350 gallons per day of estimated water usage equal to one equivalent dwelling unit:
TABLE OF EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNITS
Type of Establishment
Estimated Water Usage and Basis of Calculation
(gallons per day)
Barbershop
100 per chair
Beauty shop
125 per chair
Church, chapel, synagogue or mosque
175
Dental office
750 per chair
Retail store without cafeteria or restaurant
12 per 100 square feet
Drug store
500
With fountain service
Add 1,500
Serving meals
Add 50 per seat
Industrial plant per shift without cafeteria or restaurant
15 per employee
With cafeteria or restaurant
20 per employee
Laundromat
600 per machine
Meat market
5 per 100 square feet floor area or 25 per employee
Motel or hotel
With kitchen
150 per room
Without kitchen
100 per room
Office building
12 per 100 square feet floor area or 25 per employee
Physician's office
200 per examining room
Restaurant
Multi-service
50 per seat
Single service
35 per seat
Drive-in
35 per car space
Tavern
20 per seat
Fast food
35 per car
Service station
With car wash
1,000 per wash rack
Without car wash
200 per pump
School (nonresidential)
With cafeteria and gym showers
20 per student or employee
With cafeteria, no gym showers
15 per student or employee
With no cafeteria or gym showers
10 per student or employee
Theater
3 per seat
Drive-in
10 per car
College or boarding school
65 per student and 15 per employee
Hospitals
175 per bed and 12 per employee
Nursing homes
100 per bed and 15 per employee
Dormitories, rooming houses and group homes
65 per person
Swimming pools with snack bars
15 per person
Summer camps
65 per person
Trailer camps
150 per site
Other establishments
To be established based upon estimated flow
(3) 
In the case of a combination of uses, each use shall be adjusted according to the applicable portion of this schedule. Secondary uses in residential buildings shall be adjusted as separate uses and be rated accordingly.
(4) 
If the owner or user of any property fails to provide the Borough with complete information, in writing, required to compute the aforementioned charge, the Borough may estimate a reasonable applicable charge for such property.
A. 
The borough will make all connections to its mains and will furnish, install and maintain all service lines from the main to and including the curb stop and box, which shall be placed immediately inside the portion of the customer's property which abuts the street or road, all of which service line shall be the property of the borough and shall be accessible to and under its control.
B. 
All service lines from the curb stop and box to the meter shall be approved by the borough as to size and installation and shall be kept in good repair by the customer at his expense. Service lines shall be copper and shall conform to the Borough Plumbing Code[1] that is in effect at the time of the application for service. All service lines shall be placed at least 3 1/2 feet below the surface of the ground.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 67, Plumbing.
C. 
No service lines shall be laid in the same trench with a gas pipe, sewer pipe or any other facility of a public service company, except with written approval of the borough. No line shall be laid within three feet of any open excavation of vault, except with written approval of the borough.
D. 
A stop and waste valve, easily accessible to the occupants, shall be placed in the service line within the premises supplied with water. Such vault shall be located so that it will be possible to drain the meter and all pipes in the building.
E. 
All leaks in service lines from the curb box to and within the premises shall be promptly repaired. Failure to make such repairs within a reasonable time period may cause the borough to turn off the water and it will not be again turned on until the borough has been reimbursed, in full, for all proper and necessary expenses incurred in shutting off and turning on the water.
F. 
The borough shall in no event be responsible for maintenance of or for damage caused by water escaping from the service line of any other pipe or fixture on the outlet side of the curb stop; and the customer at all times shall comply with state and municipal regulations in reference thereto and shall make any changes thereon which may be required because of change of grade, relocation of mains or other such changes deemed necessary by the borough.
G. 
The use of water service by a customer shall be in accordance with the class, scope and type of use and for the purpose stated in the application and service contract. A customer shall not use or allow the use of water service through his/her facilities for others or for purposes other than those covered by his/her application. To make a service available for other purposes or character of use, a new application and contract must be approved by the borough.
No service will be furnished by the borough to any applicant until all arrears for water rents, repairs or other charges now or theretofore incurred or owing by him/her shall be paid or satisfactory arrangements for payment have been made.
A. 
All water service, except for fire-fighting purposes, will be rendered only through meters.
B. 
Each customer's service shall have a separate meter to register the amount of water consumed.
C. 
All meters will be furnished by and remain the property of the Borough. The Borough reserves the right to establish the size of meter required by each customer. The Borough will provide a mounting device to be installed by the customer. All meters will be installed by the Borough. All customers requiring meters larger than one inch and all customers outside the corporate limits of the Borough will reimburse the Borough for the price of the meter. If a meter larger than one inch becomes defective at any time, the Borough will replace it at the Borough's expense, and said new meter will remain the property of the Borough.
[Amended 7-3-2000 by Ord. No. 00-3]
D. 
Upon request by the borough, all customers will allow the borough to install a remote reading device to permit meter reading from a location on an outside wall of a residence or other building. All such remote readers will remain the property of the borough.
E. 
Meters and remote reading devices will be maintained by the borough as far as ordinary wear and tear is concerned. The customer, in case of an inside meter installation or an outside meter installation if the borough has agreed upon the site and the installation of a meter vault or meter box, shall be responsible to the borough for any injury to or loss of any meter arising out of or caused by the customer's negligence or carelessness, including any loss or damage caused by freezing or that of his/her servants, employees, members of his/her household or any person upon his/her premises under or by his/her consent or sufferance. The customer shall not permit anyone, not an agent of the borough or otherwise lawfully authorized so to do, to remove, inspect or tamper with the borough's meter, remote reading device or other property of the borough on his/her premises. If a meter vault or meter box becomes unsuitable and the borough so notifies the customer, the customer shall remedy this condition promptly, at his/her expense.
F. 
All meters and remote reading devices shall be set at convenient locations, accessible to the borough and subject to its control. When possible and if the customer and borough agree, the meter shall be installed within the premises supplied, at a point approved by the borough, in order to control the entire supply. A proper place for the meter and protection therefore shall be provided by the customer.
G. 
Where it is not convenient or if both the customer and the borough agree not to place the meter in the building, as provided in Subsection F, the meter will be placed outside the building in a suitable vault of concrete or block or in a meter box. The meter vault or meter box shall be provided with a suitable cover and locking device.
H. 
The cover and locking device for each outside meter vault or meter box shall conform to a proper uniform standard established by the borough. The covers and locking device shall be of uniform design for convenience and efficiency in the borough's operation. An outside meter vault or meter box shall be located, at the option of the customer, either inside the property line or near the curb stop and shall be built at the expense of the customer. The site shall be a suitable and safe place for the installation of a meter and it must be accessible to the borough.
A. 
The quantity of water recorded by the meter and not the remote reading device shall be conclusive for both the customer and the borough, except when the meter has been found to be registering inaccurately or has ceased to register. In either of such cases, the meter will be promptly repaired or replaced by the borough and the quantity of water consumed shall be estimated by the average registration of the meter in previous corresponding periods.
B. 
In the case of a disputed bill involving the accuracy of a meter, such meter shall be tested, upon the request of the customer. If the meter so tested is found to have an error in registration of 4% or more, the bills will be increased or decreased accordingly as provided by said rules.
C. 
Each request for the test of a meter for accuracy shall be accompanied by a deposit, the amount of which shall be determined by the size of the meter to be tested.
D. 
If the meter so tested shall be found to have an error in registration of less than 4%, the deposit shall be retained by the borough as compensation for such test; if the error in registration is found to be 4% or more, then the amount of the deposit shall be borne by the borough and the amount of the deposit shall be returned to the customer.
E. 
Each request for the test of a meter for accuracy shall be accompanied by a deposit governed by the size of the meter and the current cost of testing by a borough-appointed testing company.
F. 
If for two successive quarters the quantity of water recorded by the remote reading device reveals consumption that differs by more than 10% from the amount consumed in the same quarters the previous year, or immediately upon the meter ceasing to register any flow to a property, the Borough may request an opportunity to test and, if necessary, to replace the meter. The Borough employee charged with the duty of conducting quarterly meter readings shall advise the customer of the Borough's desire to test the meter by leaving a card at the customer's door asking that he call the Borough office and arrange for a time at which an employee of the Borough might test the meter. If the customer fails to arrange for the requested testing within 14 days of the date on which the card requesting the test was left at his door, the Borough Secretary shall write to him, again requesting that the customer call the Borough office to arrange for meter testing and advising that failure to do so prior to the close of the then-current quarter will be a violation of the rules and regulations of this article and subject the customer to discontinuance of service on the first day of the next succeeding quarter.
[Added 1-6-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-2]
A. 
Each customer is subject to a minimum charge, the amount of which is set forth in the Schedule of Rates that are in current use by the borough.
B. 
Bills for water service will be rendered as specified on the Schedule of Rates and are due and payable upon presentation. If a bill is not paid within 30 days after it has been rendered, service may be terminated after due notice and will not be reconnected until the amount due plus a 10% penalty and turn-on charge of $25 is paid in full by bank check, money order or cash.
C. 
All delinquent bills for rentals and charges shall be entered as a lien against the premises served, and such lien shall be filed and collected in the manner provided by law for the filing and collection of municipal claims.
D. 
The presentation or nonpresentation of a bill shall not be held to be a waiver of any of the rules or regulations.
E. 
Water rates shall be payable quarterly, being due and payable on the first days of March, June, September and December.
[Amended 1-6-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-2]
F. 
The borough will read all meters on a regular schedule. In the event that a scheduled reading of meters can not be obtained because of inability to gain access to the meter location, the borough reserves the right to estimate the amount of the bill. Bills so determined shall have the same force and effect as if the meter had been read.
G. 
In all cases where water is served to a building occupied by two or more establishments, firms or families, only one meter shall be furnished by the borough to such building. The water rate as registered by the meter will be equally divided among the individual billing units, and separate bills for each billing unit shall be calculated and totaled. However, the owner will be furnished with only one bill. The owner may request that separate meters be installed for each portion of the building separately occupied. Cost of installation and meters shall be at the expense of the owner.
A. 
Whenever the customer desires to have his/her service contract terminate or his/her water service discontinued, he shall notify the borough to that effect in writing. The customer will be responsible for the payment of all service rendered by the borough prior to receipt of such written notice and during a reasonable time thereafter to enable the borough to make the final reading of the meter or meters or to discontinue water service.
B. 
When premises will be unoccupied temporarily, the customer shall notify the borough in writing and the water will be turned off and all charges will cease from the date when water service is turned off. When the property is again occupied, the customer shall notify the borough in writing and the water will be turned on. No refund or allowances will be made for unoccupied property when written notice has not been given as above provided. No refund will be allowed for property unoccupied for a period of less than one month.
C. 
In cases of vacancy of a customer's property, the customer must notify the borough in writing of such vacancy, and upon his failure to do so, he will become responsible for any damage to the property of the borough arising from freezing, water damage, injury to meter or any other failure.
D. 
Upon written notification from the Upper Montgomery Joint Authority that a customer is delinquent in payment of sewer rentals, water service shall be discontinued as if this delinquency was a violation of these rules and regulations.
E. 
Service to any customer may be discontinued for violation of any of these rules and regulations; however, before service may be discontinued for any violation, the borough shall give written notice to the customer and a reasonable date after which service will be discontinued if the violation continues. After service is thus discontinued for violation of the rules and regulations, service will not be resumed until reasonable assurance is given that the customer will comply with the rules and regulations and until the turn-on fee of $25 has been paid to the borough.
The Mayor, after consultation with and/or upon recommendation of the water plant operator, may declare all or any part thereof of the following water uses as nonessential and prohibited within the Borough of East Greenville, which ban shall continue until terminated by resolution of the Council of the Borough of East Greenville at a regular or special meeting.
A. 
The use of any water for watering of lawns, excepting newly seeded or sodded lawns.
B. 
The use of fresh water for irrigation and watering of outdoor garden, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs or other outdoor plants, except:
(1) 
Agricultural irrigation, including vegetable gardens, for the production of food and fiber or the maintenance of livestock.
(2) 
The use of fresh water by commercial nurseries at the minimum level necessary to maintain stock, to the extent that sources of water, other than fresh water, adequate to supply needs are not available or feasible to use.
(3) 
The use of fresh water by arboretums and public gardens of national, state or regional significance where necessary to preserve specimens, to the extent that sources of water, other than fresh water, adequate to supply needs are not available or feasible to use.
(4) 
The use of fresh water at the minimum rate necessary to implement revegetation following earth moving, where such revegetation is required pursuant to an adopted erosion and sedimentation control plan adopted pursuant to state law of regulation, to the extent that sources of water, other than fresh water, adequate to supply needs are not available or feasible to use.
C. 
The use of fresh water for watering any portion of golf courses, except for greens.
D. 
The use of any water for washing paved surfaces such as streets, roads, sidewalks, driveways, garages, parking areas, tennis courts and patios.
E. 
The use of water for ornamental purposes, including fountains, artificial waterfalls and reflecting pools.
F. 
The use of any water for washing or cleaning of automobiles, trucks, other motor vehicles and trailers, except:
(1) 
The use of water by commercial car washers.
(2) 
The use of water for cleaning of construction, public transportation or government vehicles where absolutely necessary to preserve the proper functioning of the vehicle.
G. 
The use of water from a fire hydrant (including sprinkler caps) by a municipality, contractors or any other person for any purpose, except:
(1) 
Fire fighting.
(2) 
Health protection purposes specifically approved by the health officials of the municipality.
H. 
The use of fire hydrants by fire companies for testing fire apparatus and for Fire Department drills except as deemed necessary in the interest of public safety and specifically approved by the municipal governing body.
I. 
The use of water for flushing sewers or hydrants by municipalities or any other person except as specifically found necessary and approved in the interest of public health or safety by the municipal health officials.
J. 
The serving of water in restaurants, clubs or eating places unless specifically requested by a customer.
K. 
The use of any water to refill air-conditioning cooling towers after draining, except:
(1) 
Refilling for start-up at the beginning of the cooling season.
(2) 
Makeup water during the cooling season.
(3) 
Refilling specifically approved by the municipal health officials or other designated municipal officer where the system has been drained for health protection or repair purposes.
L. 
The use of water to refill private residential swimming pools servicing fewer than 25 dwelling units, except swimming pools operated by health care facilities used in relation to patient care and rehabilitation.
M. 
The use of water to fill any public or private swimming pool which does not have filtration equipment allowing for continued use and recycling of water over the swimming season.
A. 
Contractors, builders or others will be required to take water at the borough's established meter rates and in addition shall pay a fee of $25 for installing and disconnecting the temporary meter, to be paid at the time a permit is granted.
B. 
Bills for water service for building purposes are payable and due after service is rendered and upon presentation.
A. 
Water shall not be turned on to any customer's premises by any person who is not an agent of the borough except temporarily by a plumber, with borough approval, to enable him/her to test his work, provided that it shall be turned off immediately after the test is made.
B. 
The authorized agents of the borough shall have the right of access, at all reasonable hours, to the premises supplied with water for the purpose of reading meters, examining pipes and fixtures, observing manner of using water and for any other purpose which is proper and necessary in the conduct of the borough's business. Such agents shall carry proper credentials evidencing their employment by the borough.
C. 
The borough will not be liable for any claim or damage arising from a shortage of water, the breaking of machinery of other facilities or for any other cause.
D. 
As necessity may arise in case of a main break, emergency or other unavoidable cause, the borough shall have the right to temporarily cut off the water supply in order to make necessary repairs, connections, etc. The borough shall use all reasonable and practicable measures to notify the customer, in advance, of such discontinuance of service. The borough shall not be liable for any damage or inconvenience suffered by the customer or for any claim for interruption in service, lessening of supply, inadequate pressure, poor quality of water or any other cause. The borough may restrict or regulate the quantity of water used by customers in case of scarcity or whenever the public welfare may require it.
E. 
No customer shall open or close any of the borough's curb stops, corporation stops or valves in any public or private line, unless written approval by the borough shall have first been obtained.
F. 
No agent or employee of the borough shall have the right or authority to bind it by any promise, agreement or representation contrary to the letter or intent of these rules and regulations.
G. 
Lawn, greenhouse and garden sprinkling will be permitted through flexible hoses if equipped with hand or automatic nozzles.
H. 
Underground lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems may be installed only under special approval by the borough. Customers must furnish schematic drawings of the proposed pipe layout, together with valves, sprinkler heads and appurtenances, including sizes and specifications.
I. 
Any person owning property within the borough limits will be required to connect to the water main if his property is located along a street or road in which a water main has been located.
J. 
No interconnection or cross-connection shall be made or permitted between the water system being operated by the borough and any other water supply, unless the proposed connection has been approved by the State Department of Health and the borough.
K. 
The borough reserves the right to alter or amend these rules and regulations in the manner provided by law.
A. 
Water from fire hydrants or other fire-fighting facilities shall be used only for fire-fighting purposes.
B. 
The borough shall have no greater duty, with regard to fire hydrant service or private fire-fighting service, than to supply only such volumes of water at such pressures as may be available in the normal operation of the waterworks facilities.
C. 
The borough shall not be considered an insurer of property or persons or to have undertaken to extinguish fire or to protect persons or property against loss or damage by fire or otherwise. In consideration of the level of charges for private fire-fighting service, the borough shall not be held liable for any amount in excess of 10% of the annual charge for private fire-fighting service because of any claim based upon a loss resulting from failure to supply water or pressure or for any other cause. In the absence of a charge for public fire hydrant service, the borough shall not be held liable for any claim based upon a loss resulting from failure to supply water or pressure or for any other cause.
D. 
Where metered service is provided to any customer, the borough shall not be responsible for the quantities of water or pressure which may be available for any fire-fighting facilities or purpose where the customer installs such facilities or make connections to his/her water system for such purposes on the discharge side of the meter in his/her service line and shall not be held liable for any claim based upon loss due to fire or fire fighting.
E. 
The borough will consider installation of public fire hydrants outside of the borough only upon authorization from the political subdivision in which the unit is to be installed and which will be responsible for payment of bills.
A. 
Extension of distribution mains shall be made only after petition of the owner of real estate or their authorized agents, along the proposed line and upon their entering into in agreement which shall satisfy the borough that an annual revenue will occur to the borough as a result of such extension, equal to 7% of the cost of laying the main, dating from the time when water is turned on for public use.
B. 
For any extension of main outside the borough, the assured annual revenue shall be 12 1/2% of the cost of laying the main.
C. 
The borough may, at its own discretion, extend any distribution main without petition or refuse any petition.
A. 
The borough furnishes water to a few customers outside its corporate limits solely as an accommodation and does not solicit such service. The borough reserves the right to terminate any and all such services, at its own discretion, without liability to any person or persons whose water service may be terminated.
B. 
The borough does not represent itself as ready to serve additional properties situated outside its corporate limits, and service connections which it may permit shall be in accordance with the provisions of these rules and regulations and such other conditions as the borough may specify.
A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOROUGH
Borough of East Greenville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, or duly authorized agent appointed by the Borough Council.
BUILDING UNIT
Any portion of a building or complex of buildings which is utilized for separate purposes as follows:
(1) 
Apartment or dwelling.
(2) 
Commercial establishment.
(3) 
Industry facility.
(4) 
Office.
CONNECTION
Water piping and fittings leading from the water main to the premises of a customer.
CORPORATION STOP
A valve which is inserted into the main for the connection of the water supply service pipe.
CURB STOP
A valve for insertion in the service pipe at or near the curb or property line of the customer.
CURB STOP BOX
A box or metal housing which encloses, protects and provides access to the curb stop.
CUSTOMER
Any person, as hereinafter defined, owning any premises receiving water from the borough.
PERSON
Any individual, association, partnership, firm or corporation.
PREMISES
A property which cannot be completely divided in its present utilitarian condition through sale, that is:
(1) 
A building under one roof, owned, leased or occupied by one party as one business or residence.
(2) 
A combination of residential or commercial buildings leased or occupied by one party in one common enclosure.
(3) 
The one side of a double house having a solid vertical partition wall.
(4) 
A building owned by one party having more than one internal division such as apartments, offices, stores, etc., and which have a common or separate entrance.
STOP AND WASTE VALVE
A valve installed at the termination of the water supply service pipe and at the beginning of the customer's plumbing system.
WATER MAIN
The system of water piping valves, fittings and equipment used to distribute water throughout the area served by the borough.
B. 
In these rules and regulations, the singular shall include the plural.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter or failing to comply with any order issued pursuant to any section hereof shall be guilty of a summary offense punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment and may in accordance with said rules and regulations discontinue water service. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
[Adopted 3-4-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-3]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this article is:
(1) 
To protect the public water supply system from contamination or pollution by isolating within the consumer's water system contaminants or pollutants which could backflow through the service connection into the public water supply system.
(2) 
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the public or consumer's potable water system and nonpotable water system, plumbing fixtures and sources or systems containing process fluids.
(3) 
To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination or pollution of the public and the consumer's potable water system.
B. 
Application. This article shall apply to all premises (commercial and noncommercial) served by the public water supply system of the East Greenville Borough.
C. 
Policy. The East Greenville Borough and the consumer have the joint responsibility for the protection of the public water supply system from contamination due to backflow of contaminants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment of the East Greenville Borough or its authorized representative, an approved backflow prevention device is required, the East Greenville Borough shall give notice to the consumer to install such approved backflow prevention device at each service connection to his premises. The consumer shall immediately install such approved device or devices at his own expense, and failure, refusal or inability on the part of the consumer to install such device or devices shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises until such device or devices have been installed.
These definitions will be applicable to the provisions of this article.
AIR GAP SEPARATION
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying potable water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle. The differential distance shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the top of the rim of the vessel. In no case shall the air gap be less than one inch.
APPROVED
A backflow prevention device or method that has been accepted by the public water supplier or by any enforcement entity.
ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER (AVB)
A fixture outlet device containing an optional shutoff valve followed by a valve body containing a resilient seated float-check, a check seat and an air inlet port. If the shutoff valve is open, the flow of water causes the float to close the air inlet port. If the shutoff valve is closed, the float falls and forms a check valve against backsiphonage and at the same time opens the air inlet port. If no shutoff valve is provided, the flow of water will determine the opening and closing of the air inlet port.
AUXILIARY WATER SYSTEM
Any water source or system on the premises of, or available to, the customer except connections to other approved community water supply systems.
BACKFLOW
A flow condition, induced by a differential in pressure, that causes the flow of water or mixtures of water and other substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from a source other than its intended source. Backflow can result from either backsiphonage or backpressure.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY
A device or other means which will prevent the backflow of water or any other substance into the public water supply system.
BACKPRESSURE
The backflow of water or a mixture of water and other substances from a plumbing fixture or other customer source into a public water supply system due to an increase of pressure in the fixture or customer source to a value that exceeds the system pressure.
BACKSIPHONAGE
The backflow of water or a mixture of water and other substances from a plumbing fixture or other customer source into a public water supply system due to a temporary negative or subatmospheric pressure within the pubic water supply system.
CONSUMER
The owner or person in control of any premises supplied by or in manner connected to a public water supply system.
CONSUMER'S WATER SYSTEM
Any water system located on the consumer's premises supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water supply system. A household plumbing system is considered to be a consumer's water system.
CONTAINMENT
Cross-connection control which isolates the customer's entire facility from the public water supply system so as to provide the protection necessary to prevent contamination of the public water supply in the event of backflow from the customer's facility. Though containment control prevents contamination of the public water supply, it offers no protection to the water distribution system within the facility. Reduced pressure zone devices are used for containment control.
CONTAMINATION
The degradation of the quality of the drinking water by wastewaters, processed fluids, or any water of a quality less than accepted drinking water quality to a degree which would create an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.
CROSS-CONNECTION
An arrangement allowing either a direct or indirect connection through which backflow can occur between the potable water system and a nonpotable substance.
DEGREE OF HAZARD
An evaluation of the potential risk to health and the adverse effect upon the public water supply system.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY (DCVA)
An assembly composed of two independently acting spring-loaded check valves connected in series, two resilient seated shutoff valves, and four properly located resilient seated test cocks for testing.
FIXTURE OUTLET PROTECTION
Cross-connection control that isolates all free-flowing fixture outlets (i.e., faucets) from the water distribution system within a facility. Fixture protection prevents backflow contamination of both the facility's water system and the public water supply. Examples of fixture outlet protection devices include atmospheric vacuum breakers, hose-bibb vacuum breakers, and pressure vacuum breakers.
HEALTH HAZARD
Any condition, device, or practice in a water system or its operation that creates or may create a danger to the health and well-being of its users. The word "severe" as used to qualify "health hazard," means a hazard to the health of the user that could reasonably be expected to result in significant morbidity or death.
HOSE-BIBB VACUUM BREAKER (HBVB)
A fixture outlet device which contains a soft-seated, spring-loaded, air inlet valve and is designed to be attached to an outlet having a hose connection thread.
INTERCHANGEABLE CONNECTION
An arrangement or device that will allow alternate, but not simultaneous, use of two sources of water.
INTERNAL PROTECTION
Cross-connection control which isolates all non-outlet, water-use appliances within a facility (e.g., kitchen appliances, air conditioners, boilers, process tanks, photodeveloping equipment) from the water distribution system within the facility. Internal protection prevents backflow contamination of both the facility water system and the public water supply. Reduced pressure zone devices and double check valve assemblies are used for internal protection.
NON-HEALTH HAZARD
Any condition, device or practice in a water system or its operation that creates, or may create, an impairment of the quality of the water to a degree which does not create a hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such water for domestic use.
NON-POTABLE WATER
Water not safe for drinking, personal, culinary or any other type of domestic use.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, association, company, corporation, municipality, municipal authority, political subdivision or any agency of federal or state government. The term includes the officers, employees and agents of any partnership, association, company, corporation, municipality, municipal authority, political subdivision or any agency of federal or state government.
POLLUTION
The presence in water of any foreign substance that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or to impair the usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.
POTABLE WATER
Water which is satisfactory for drinking, personal, culinary, and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of DEP.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER (PVB)
A fixture outlet device containing an independently operating, soft-seated, spring-loaded check valve and an independently operating, soft-seated, spring-loaded, air inlet valve on the discharge side of the check valve.
PROCESS FLUIDS
Any fluid or solution that may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, pollution, or system hazard if introduced into the public or a consumer's water system. This includes but is not limited to:
A. 
Polluted or contaminated waters;
B. 
Process waters;
C. 
Used waters originating from the public water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
D. 
Cooling waters;
E. 
Contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams, or irrigation systems;
F. 
Chemicals in solution or suspension;
G. 
Oils, gases, acids, alkalis, and other liquid or gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes, or for fire-fighting purposes;
H. 
Heating system waters from boilers or heat pumps.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIER
A person who owns or operates a public water system.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
A system which provides water to the public for human consumption which has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. The term includes any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of the system and used in connection with the system. The term includes collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used in connection with the system. The term also includes a system which provides water for human consumption via bottling, vending machines, retail sale, or bulk hauling methods.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE DEVICE
A device which contains two independently acting, soft-seated, spring-loaded check valves, together with a soft-seated, spring-loaded, diaphragm-activated, pressure differential relief valve located between the two check valves. During normal flow and during backflow conditions the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve shall maintain the pressure between the checks at less than the supply pressure by opening to the atmosphere. The device must include resilient seated shutoff valves at each end, and four properly located resilient seated test cocks.
RESIDENTIAL DUAL CHECK VALVE (RDCV)
A nontestable backflow prevention device that is used for containment control of residential homes and consists of two independently operating, soft-seated, spring-loaded, consecutive check valves.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The terminal end of a service line from the public water supply system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service line, then the service connection means the downstream end of the meter.
SYSTEM HAZARD
A condition posing an actual or potential threat of damage to the physical properties of the public water system.
A. 
The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts: the East Greenville Borough System and the consumer's water system.
B. 
The public water system shall consist of the source facilities and the distribution system and shall include all those facilities of the public water supply system under the control of the East Greenville Borough up to the point where the consumer's water system begins. The public water supply will normally terminate on the upstream side of the meter.
C. 
The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage, and delivery of water to the public distribution system.
D. 
The public distribution system shall include the network of conduits used for delivery of water from the source to the consumer's water system.
E. 
The consumer's water system shall include all facilities beyond the service connection which are utilized in conveying water from the public distribution system to points of use.
A. 
No water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any premises where actual or potential cross-connections to the public water supply system or consumer's water system may exist unless such actual or potential cross-connections are abated or controlled to the satisfaction of the East Greenville Borough.
B. 
No connection shall be installed or maintained whereby water from an auxiliary water supply may enter a public or consumer's water system unless such auxiliary water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved.
A. 
The consumer shall make arrangements to be available upon notice by the East Greenville Borough or its authorized representatives for the purposes of conducting surveys and investigations of water use practices within the consumer's premises to determine whether there are direct or indirect cross-connections to the consumer's water system through which contaminants or pollutants could backflow into the public potable water system.
B. 
On request by the East Greenville Borough, the consumer shall furnish information on water use practices within his premises.
C. 
It shall be the responsibility of the water consumer to conduct periodic surveys of water use practices on his premises to determine whether there are actual or potential cross-connections to his water system through which contaminants or pollutants could backflow into the public water supply system.
A. 
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed prior to the first branch line leading off each service line to a consumer's water system where, in the judgment of the East Greenville Borough, an actual or potential hazard to the public water supply system exists.
B. 
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each service line to a consumer's water system where the following conditions exist:
(1) 
Systems having an auxiliary water supply, unless such auxiliary supply is accepted as an additional source by the East Greenville Borough and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
(2) 
Systems where any substance is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water supply system. This shall include systems having sources or auxiliary systems containing process fluids or water originating from the public water supply system which are no longer under the sanitary control of the water purveyor.
(3) 
Systems having internal cross-connections that, in the judgment of the Fast Greenville Borough, are not correctable or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to determine whether or not cross-connections exist.
(4) 
Systems where, because of security requirements or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete cross-connection survey.
(5) 
Systems having a repeated history of cross-connections.
(6) 
Others specified by the public water supplier.
C. 
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each service line to a consumer's water system serving, but not necessarily limited to, the following type facilities unless the East Greenville Borough determines that no actual or potential hazard to the public water supply system exists.
(1) 
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics, nursing homes;
(2) 
Laboratories;
(3) 
Piers, docks, waterfront facilities;
(4) 
Sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations or stormwater pumping stations;
(5) 
Food or beverage processing plants;
(6) 
Chemical plants;
(7) 
Metalplating industries;
(8) 
Petroleum processing or storage plants;
(9) 
Radioactive material processing plants;
(10) 
Car wash or truck wash;
(11) 
Residence;
(12) 
Others specified by the water purveyor.
A. 
The type of protection required under § 94-22A, B and C of this article shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists as follows:
(1) 
An approved air gap separation shall be installed where the public water supply system may be contaminated with substances that are dangerous to the public health and could cause a severe health hazard. A severe health hazard is sewage and radioactive materials.
(2) 
An approved air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure zone backflow prevention device shall be installed where the public water supply system may be contaminated with a substance that could cause a system or health hazard.
(3) 
An approved air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure zone backflow prevention device or an approved double check valve assembly shall be installed where the public water supply system may be polluted with a substance that would be objectionable but not dangerous to health.
(4) 
An approved pressure vacuum breaker assembly or spill resistance vacuum breaker assembly can be installed in place of the above-mentioned devices; however, these devices may only be used to abate indirect cross-connections.
A. 
Any backflow prevention device required by this article shall be of a model or construction approved by the public water supplier and shall comply with the following:
(1) 
Air gap separation to be approved shall be at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, but in no case less than one inch.
(2) 
A double check valve assembly or a reduced pressure zone device shall be approved by the Fast Greenville Borough and shall mean a device that has been manufactured in full conformance with standards established by the American Water Works Association, entitled:
(a) 
AWWA/ANSI C510-92 Standard for Double Check Valve Backflow Assemblies.
(b) 
AWWA/ANSI C511-92 Standard for Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assemblies.
(3) 
An approved assembly should also have met completely the laboratory and field performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California (USC FCCCHR) established in:
(a) 
Specifications of Backflow Prevention Assemblies, Section 10 of the most current Edition of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control.
(4) 
The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the East Greenville Borough to test and approve backflow prevention assemblies:
Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research
University of Southern California
KAP-200 University Park MC-2531
Los Angeles, California 90089-2531
Testing laboratories other than the laboratory listed above will be added to an approved list as they are qualified by the East Greenville Borough.
B. 
Existing backflow prevention devices approved by the East Greenville Borough at the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except for inspection and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the requirement of Subsection A of this regulation, provided the East Greenville Borough is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the public water supply system. If the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the East Greenville Borough finds that the maintenance of the device constitutes a hazard to the public health, the device shall be replaced by a backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of these regulations.
A. 
Backflow prevention devices required by this article shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the East Greenville Borough and shall be installed by a person properly qualified and at the expense of the consumer.
B. 
Backflow prevention devices installed on the service line to a consumer's water system shall be located on the consumer's side of the water meter, as close to the meter as is reasonably practical, and prior to any other connection.
C. 
Pits or vaults shall be of watertight construction, be so located and constructed as to prevent flooding and shall be maintained free from standing water by means of either a sump pump or a suitable drain. Such sump pump or drain shall not connect to a sanitary sewer nor permit flooding of the pit or vault by reverse flow from its point of discharge. An access ladder and adequate natural or artificial lighting shall be provided to permit maintenance inspection and testing of the backflow prevention device.
D. 
When installing a backflow prevention device the installer must comply and be aware of all safety considerations when installations are performed. Major safety considerations are thermal expansion and device discharge damage. Thermal expansion can cause hot water tanks and other storage vessels to explode when there are no provisions made for thermal expansion. The East Greenville Borough strongly recommends the installation of a thermal expansion tank on hot water heaters to prevent the hot water heaters relief valve from discharging or, more importantly, from exploding. Many backflow prevention devices discharge large amounts of water for various reasons. This discharge of water could obviously pose a hazard when the valves are discharging onto or around electrical equipment. Equipment damage or electrocution could occur. The installer must ensure that valve discharge will not cause safety hazards or property damage. Thermal expansion is a concern anytime substances are confined (in a closed system) and are heated.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the consumer at any premises on which backflow prevention devices are required by this article, to have inspections, tests, and overhaul made in accordance with the following schedule, or more often where inspections indicate a need.
(1) 
Air separation shall be inspected at the time of installation, and at least every 12 months thereafter.
(2) 
Double check valve assemblies shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation, and at least every 12 months thereafter. These devices shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned, and repaired whenever needed, and at least every 30 months.
(3) 
Reduced pressure zone devices shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation, and at least every 12 months thereafter. These devices shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned, and repaired whenever needed and at least every five years.
(4) 
Interchangeable connections shall be inspected at the time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter.
B. 
Inspections, tests, and overhaul of backflow prevention devices shall be made at the expense of the water consumer and shall be performed by the East Greenville Borough or a person certified to inspect, test or overhaul backflow prevention devices.
C. 
Whenever backflow prevention devices required by these regulations are found to be defective, they shall be repaired or replaced at the expense of the consumer without delay.
D. 
The water consumer must maintain a complete record of each backflow prevention device from purchase to retirement. This shall include a comprehensive listing that includes a record of all tests, inspections and repairs. Records of inspections, tests, repairs and overhaul shall be submitted to the East Greenville Borough.
E. 
Backflow prevention devices shall not be bypassed, made inoperative, removed or otherwise made ineffective without specific authorization by the water purveyor.
A. 
Where a booster pump has been installed on the service line to or within any premises, such a pump shall be equipped with a low-pressure cut-off device designed to shut off the booster pump when the pressure in the service line on the suction side of the pump drops to 10 pounds per square inch gauge or less for a period of 30 seconds or longer.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the water consumer to maintain the low-pressure cut-off device in proper working order and to certify to the East Greenville Borough, at least once a year, that the device is operating properly.
All geothermal heating equipment must be physically disconnected from the potable water system. No water may be taken for geothermal uses (or any other use) and reinjected into the potable water supply.
A. 
The East Greenville Borough shall deny or discontinue, after reasonable notice in writing, the water service to any premises wherein any backflow prevention device required by this article is not installed, tested, and maintained in a manner acceptable to the public water supplier, or if it is found that the backflow prevention device has been removed or bypassed, or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises, or if a low-pressure cut-off device required by this article is not installed and maintained in proper working order.
B. 
Water service to such premises shall not be restored until the consumer has corrected or eliminated such conditions or defects in conformance with this article and to the satisfaction of the public water supplier.
Only authorized persons shall be permitted to use hydrants. Tampering with the hydrants by unauthorized persons is prohibited. Any person wishing to use the hydrants (other than the Authority and fire companies) must request permission from East Greenville Borough. East Greenville Borough will provide the equipment to contractors for them to use to draw water from hydrants.
Any auxiliary water systems (those water systems not part of the public water system) shall be physically disconnected from the East Greenville Borough public water system. Any connection, even when backflow protection in the form of a mechanical device or air gap is in place, between the East Greenville Borough and any other water source, such as an auxiliary system, is strictly prohibited.
All consumers considered to be nonhazardous will be charged a one-time installation fee. The consumer will be billed in conjunction with the water bill. All consumers considered to be aesthetically objectionable or hazardous will be responsible for the full cost of installation and parts. Hazardous and aesthetically objectionable consumers will be provided with the specifications that need to be met and will hire a private plumber to complete the work.
Consumers that are considered nonhazardous are excluded from § 94-26 unless evidence of a hazard is suspected.
A. 
All facilities will be listed under one of the following priority levels:
(1) 
Hazardous facilities.
(2) 
Aesthetically objectionable facilities (non-health hazard).
(3) 
Nonhazardous facilities.
B. 
After all connections are placed into one of three priority levels listed above, a review of the distribution system records will to done to identify areas of chronic low pressures, leakage and breaks.