[Adopted 10-5-1992 by Ord.
No. 700]
This article shall be known as the "Perkasie Borough Water Conservation
Ordinance."
The purpose of this article is to promote the health, safety and general
welfare of the inhabitants of Perkasie Borough.
No water shall be provided for internal or external use to any residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, governmental or public building or structure of any kind which is constructed or remodeled and in which plumbing, water piping or water fixtures are to be installed, extended or altered in any way and for which construction a permit is required to be obtained from the Borough of Perkasie, or for which a permit would be required but for an exemption from the permit requirement for public or governmental agencies, unless the new, extended or altered plumbing, water piping and other water-using fixtures therein conform to the requirements and standards of §§
185-4 through
185-9 of this article. The provisions of this article shall apply to any such building or structure for which such a building permit is issued, or would otherwise be required to be issued but for such an exemption, on or after the effective date of this article. This article shall not apply to repairs made to or replacements of existing urinals and associated flushing mechanisms, water closets and associated flushing mechanisms, shower heads and faucets, provided that said repair or replacement does not require installation of new subfloor plumbing, including but not limited to water-, waste and vent lines.
The water consumption of water closets operated by flush tanks shall
not exceed an average of 1.6 gallons per flush cycle over a range of test
pressures from 20 to 80 pounds per square inch gauge read (hereinafter "psig").
The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of the
American National Standards Institute (hereinafter "ANSI") A122.19.2M.
Urinal water consumption shall not exceed an average of 1.5 gallons
per flush cycle over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psig. The fixtures
shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A122.19.2M
and ANSI A112.19.6M.
Shower head discharge rate shall not exceed 3.0 gallons of water per
minute over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psig. The fixture shall
perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A122.18.1M.
Sink and lavatory faucet discharge rates shall not exceed 3.0 gallons
of water per minute over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psig. The
fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A112.18.1M.
Where the service water pressure to a building is expected to exceed
60 psig, a water-pressure-reducing valve with strainer shall be installed
just downstream of the building's main valve, so as to be accessible. The
valve shall provide for pressure adjustment within the range of 50 to 60 psig.
The valve shall conform to the requirements of product standard ASSE 1003.
Exemptions to this section are service lines to sill cocks, outside hydrants
and main supply risers to buildings where pressure from mains does not exceed
60 psig at the fixture branches or at individual fixtures.
The Borough Manager or his designee shall, within his discretion, require
proof of compliance with all of the provisions of this article, prior to issuing
a use and occupancy permit to an applicant.
The performance standards of §§
185-2 through
185-9 shall not apply to fixtures and fittings such as emergency showers, aspirator faucets and blowout fixtures that, in order to perform a specialized function, cannot meet the specified standards.
Any person or persons may apply to the Borough of Perkasie for an exemption
to the terms of this article, which may be granted by the Borough Manager,
or his designee, upon proof that some other device, system or procedure will
save as much or more water as those set forth herein or that those set forth
herein cannot, without undue hardship, be complied with.
Violations of this article shall be punishable as set forth in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Article
II, Violations and Penalties.