Borough of Seaside Heights, NJ Article IV Sewer Connections, Generally

§ 219-18 Drain size.

Where a building is to be connected with the sewer, it must be done by a drain not less than four inches in diameter from the building to the curb, and from the curb to the Y-branches, such drains must be not less than five inches in diameter, having a fall of not less than 1/4 of an inch to a foot, unless special permission therefor be obtained, in writing, from the Borough Engineer or Administrator.

§ 219-19 Cutting of main or laterals; house drain connections.

The main or lateral sewers must not be cut; house drain connections must be made with the Y-branches.

§ 219-20 Prosecution of work.

All work in making the connections must be done in compliance with the national Plumbing Code and to the satisfaction of the person in charge of sewers; the bottom of the trenches must be carefully rammed so as to prevent the unequal settling of the drainpipe. The pipes shall be covered to the depth of at least one foot with well-rammed fine earth, free from stones and rubbish; all the filling shall be well rammed, so as to prevent settling in the streets, and within 48 hours after the drain is opened, the drain must be completed and the paving ballast replaced as found and the surface of the street left in the best possible condition, to the satisfaction of the person in charge of sewers as aforesaid.

§ 219-21 Matter and waters prohibited from sewers.

[Amended 12-20-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-21]

No offal, refuse, solid or indissoluble matter shall be allowed to enter the sewers, nor shall roof water, stormwater, groundwater, or overflow water from cisterns, privies or cesspools, nor exhaust steam, be permitted therein. All sinks, basins, bath and laundry tubs and cellar drains shall have properly constructed screens, placed so as to keep out all the above-listed and similar materials.

§ 219-22 Interference with sewer system.

No person, unless authorized by the Mayor and Council or the Sewer Committee, shall remove the coverings from the flush tanks, manholes, lampholes or in any way obstruct or interfere with the workings of the sewer system or any part thereof.

§ 219-23 Price for laying of laterals.

[Amended 12-16-1998 by Ord. No. 98-37; 12-20-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-21; 3-15-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]

A. The owner or owners of the property to which such sewer connection shall be made shall pay to the Borough Clerk the following prices for the laying of laterals to make house connections to the sewer system, which connection shall be run from the "Y" in the street lateral to the property line:

(1) For a four-inch service: $1,200.

(2) For a six-inch service: $1,400.

(3) For an eight-inch service: $1,600.

B. The charges under the above Subsection A(1), (2) and (3) will only be implemented in the event that said services are available to the property submitted in the application.

§ 219-24 Connection to available sewers required.

All dwellings or buildings fronting, abutting or located on any street, highway, lane or avenue in which a sewer is constructed shall connect said dwellings or buildings with said sewer according to ordinances, rules and regulations of the Borough of Seaside Heights which are now or may hereafter be in force and effect with respect to the same, and all said dwellings and buildings are hereby required to be connected with the sewerage system in the said Borough of Seaside Heights.

§ 219-25 Rules and regulations; violations and penalties.

[Amended 12-20-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-21]

A. It shall be unlawful for anyone to use water supplied by the Borough of Seaside Heights, where a meter has been duly installed, without said water running through the meter. Any water users who tamper with their plumbing to allow for unmetered usage will be subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or a maximum of six months' imprisonment for each violation, and each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter and each day that such violation shall continue shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.

B. Any individual who tampers with, alters or in any way interferes with the operation of a water meter or water service shall be subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or a maximum of six months' imprisonment for each violation, and each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter and each day that such violation shall continue shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense. In addition, the Borough may discontinue the supply of water service and remove its equipment from a consumer's premises without notice, in the event evidence is found that the Water Department's piping, meters, valves or other property or appurtenances on the consumer's premises have been tampered with to illegally divert the supply.

C. Employees of the Water/Sewer Department of the Borough of Seaside Heights shall be allowed access to individual water meters at all times during the regular workweek between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Said access shall be given after the employee presents proper identification. Anyone who refuses said employee access or who interferes with said employee shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000.

D. Meter reading. Anyone wishing an additional meter reading must submit such request in writing at least five days in advance of the date of said reading. This request is to be submitted to the Borough Hall Water Billing Department and shall be accompanied by a fee of $10 for said special reading.

E. Water meters. Placement of and access to water meters shall be as follows:

(1) The Borough Water Department shall make all final decisions as to locations and placement of meters and whether the system is better served with a meter pit or interior-installed meter.

(2) The customer shall be responsible for giving access to the pipes on his/her property should an interior meter need to be installed. The Borough Water Department employees shall install all valves, backflow preventors and other needed fittings when installing a meter. Subsequent to the installation of a new meter as hereinabove described, maintenance and replacement of said meter shall be the responsibility of and at the discretion of the Borough of Seaside Heights through its Water Department.

(3) The Borough Water Department shall have access to all meters at all times. Failure to abide by this section shall subject the customer to the penalties hereinafter set forth.

(4) Any customer requesting the testing of a meter must do so in writing. If the test results show the meter to be running fast, there will be no charge for the testing. If, however, the test shows the meter to be accurate within 5% of 100%, or running slow, then the customer will be billed and obligated to pay a fee of $150 for the test.

[Added 2-6-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-1]

F. Except as otherwise established by this section, any person violating or failing to comply with any other provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of no less than $100 and no more than $1,000, by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days or by community service of not more than 90 days, or any combination of fine, imprisonment and community service, as determined in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.

G. The violation of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to abatement summarily by a restraining order or injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.