Township of Middlesex, PA Chapter 168 Water

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Middlesex as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Municipal authorities — See Ch. 7.

Sewers and sewage disposal — See Ch. 134.

Stormwater management — See Ch. 144.

Article I Connection Requirements

[Adopted 7-7-1993 by Ord. No. 62]

§ 168-1 Purpose.

The purpose of this article is to mandate the connection of occupied buildings to the public water system that is available in the Township. These mandatory connections shall continue as long as there is available capacity in the public water system. Mandatory connections are deemed necessary in order to assure the financial stability of the public water system within Middlesex Township.

§ 168-2 Definitions and word usage.

A. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

AUTHORITY

The Oakmont Water Authority.

INSPECTOR

The person appointed or employed by the Oakmont Water Authority or by the Township of Middlesex to inspect water lines and all other connections between occupied homes or other buildings and the public water lines.

LEAD-FREE

When used with respect to solders and flux, refers to solders and flux containing not more than 0.2% lead and, when used with respect to pipes and pipe fittings, refers to pipes and pipe fittings containing not more than 8% lead.

PERSON

Any individual, partnership, association, company, corporation, municipality, municipal authority or political subdivision, or any agency of the federal or state government. The term includes the officers, employees and agents of any partnership, association, company, corporation, municipality, municipal authority or political subdivision, or any agency of the federal or state government.

PLUMBING SYSTEM

All piping, fixtures and appurtenances used to transport water to, within and from a building, including all residential and nonresidential facilities and source, transmission, treatment and distribution facilities of public water systems.

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM

A public water system as defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act.[1]

WATER SUPPLIER

Any person who owns or operates a public water system.

[1] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 721.1 et seq.

B. "May" is permissive.

§ 168-3 Mandatory connection.

A. Within 60 days after the passage of this article, the owner or owners of all occupied buildings located on premises now accessible to a public water line shall connect or cause to be connected the said building or buildings with the public water line to which the property is accessible in accordance with the rules and regulations and specifications established by the Authority.

B. As public water lines are laid and provided in other and additional areas of the Township of Middlesex, the owners of all occupied buildings accessible to such public water lines shall, within 60 days of water service being available on said lines, connect or cause to be connected all occupied buildings with the public water line to which the property is accessible, in accordance with the rules and regulations and specifications of the Authority.

§ 168-4 Prohibition against cross-connections.

When connection has been made with the public water system, the owner or owners of such property shall forthwith disconnect all wells, springs or other water sources and such wells, springs or other water sources shall not be permitted to connect to any plumbing system which carries water supplied by the public water system. It shall be a violation of this article for any person to permit a plumbing system to receive water from both a public water line and a private well, spring or other water source.

§ 168-5 Regulations for connection; fees and charges.

A. All connections to the public water system shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations and specifications established by the Authority.

B. In addition to any fees assessed by the Township of Middlesex for such connection, including but not limited to assessments established against property owners on account of the laying of any public water lines, any person connecting to the public water system shall be responsible for the payment of any tapping fees or other charges assessed by the Authority. Such fees charged by the Authority shall be payable directly to the Authority.

§ 168-6 Violations and penalties.

Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.