[Adopted 1-22-2001 by Ord. No. 111-2001]
A. 
This article, inter alia, govern installation, repair, maintenance, permits, water service operations, and termination of service to and from the system. The goal of providing efficient and environmentally safe potable water service will be served by uniform rules and procedures in compliance with federal, commonwealth, and local environmental law, rules and regulations in the daily operations of the water system. The purpose is to minimize interference with, and contamination of, the water system's operation and the water supply while serving the customer of the system in an efficient manner.
B. 
It is further intended that this article by interpreted in accordance with Act 33, 1989. The Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted Act 33 of 1989 to:
(1) 
Require water suppliers to provide public notification relating to lead contamination in drinking water and imposes powers and duties on the PA DEP in relation thereto; and
(2) 
Provide penalties for noncompliance.
The management, regulations and operation of the water system of the Township of North Coventry, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and all things pertaining thereto and arising in connection therewith shall be vested in the North Coventry Water Authority (hereinafter "Authority") previously established by the Township Supervisors.
A. 
Sign requirements for plumbers, firms and corporations. All plumbers, firms, or corporations doing work on the water system, including laterals within the North Coventry Water Authority service area shall post a sign on the premises on which the work is being done. The sign must be visible from the closest street, and must be not less than three feet by 1 1/2 feet in size with letters at least four inches in size. The sign shall be removed upon completion of the work. The sign shall show the name of the plumber, firm, or corporation, and their permit number.
B. 
Office of Code Official. The Code Official and the Code Enforcement Officer shall be appointed by the Township and shall have the powers, duties and qualifications prescribed by this article, or otherwise prescribed. The duties shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(1) 
To make any required inspections and supervise any tests necessary to insure that all provisions of this article are being faithfully complied with, and to cause the removal or correction of any work or materials that are faulty and/or not approved.
(2) 
To observe and prevent, whenever possible, any infraction of this article or any federal, commonwealth, and Township regulations applicable.
(3) 
The Code Official and/or the Code Enforcement Officer shall, upon proper identification, be given access to any structure or area in order to fulfill duties to make inspections to determine whether any water service is adequate, faulty, improperly used, neglected, or abandoned, or whether any unlawful repair, alteration, installation, or addition has been made thereon. In so far as possible, such inspections shall be made at times reasonably convenient to the occupants.
(4) 
When an investigation reveals any condition that is or may be unsanitary, inadequate, and/or violative of this article, or dangerous to life or health, the Code Official and/or the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue an order to the owner and occupier of the premises if different than the owner of the property wherein such condition exists to take such action as may be necessary and adequate to correct and completely abate and remove that unlawful or objectionable condition. The order shall be in writing, and duplicated. A copy shall be sent to or served on the owner, and shall state the nature of the correction ordered. The condition shall be abated or corrected by the owner or occupier within the time stated in the order.
(5) 
The Code Official and/or the Code Enforcement Officer. All rulings or interpretations of the Code Official respecting unusual conditions must be accepted within the terms and intent of this article unless they conflict with a definite rule or standard. No verbal statement shall be considered a justification for deviation from an approved plan, or of this article. No authorized change or concession shall be deemed as establishing a precedent or a permanent method of operation. Applications for information not covered or embraced by the regulations shall be made in writing to the Code Official who shall give a written reply. The Code Official and the Code Enforcement Officer are not required to design any construction work called for in this article, but may suggest or direct the method or plan to be adhered to if complicated or unusual situations arise. The code office shall retain, and file in the archives, records of all plans, inspections, tests, fees, permits, complaints, other communications, and replies and shall make them readily available for use by the proper authorities. The Code Official shall decide the practicability of construction details, and the type of materials used when such materials are not specifically adopted or prohibited under this article. After adoption of particular methods of construction and standards of materials, no change in them shall be made before and without written approval and the formal publication of such change.
(a) 
The Code Enforcement Officer shall make available for inspection drafts or pilot drawings which clearly exhibit the type of installation that the article requires.
C. 
The Appeals Board.
(1) 
The North Coventry Water Authority engineer and the North Coventry Water Authority Board shall be designated as the Appeals Board. The Appeals Board is designed to establish methods of construction to be generally followed when there are no applicable specific standards in this article, modify and supplement this article to adapt them to new technology, material, and devices, and to adopt new types, sizes, weights, capacity, rates and schedules.
(2) 
Exceptions to a decision or ruling of the Code Official shall be filed in duplicate writings with the Appeals Board, who shall make a final decision as to the merit of the issue(s).
A. 
Unless the context of this article clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms and abbreviations used in this article shall be as follows:
ACT or THE ACT
The Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act (35 P.S. §§ 721.2-721.17).
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 (2 x D) of the supply pipe measure vertically, above the top of the rim of the vessel. In no case shall the air gap be less than one inch.
APPROVED
That a device, including without limitation, a backflow preventer, a double check valve assembly or method that has been accepted by the North Coventry Water Authority as suitable for the proposed use.
ATMOSPHERE VACUUM BREAKER
(Also known as the non-pressure-type vacuum breaker.) A device containing a shutoff valve followed by a valve body containing a floatcheck, a check seat and an air inlet port. When the shutoff value is open, the flow of water causes the float to close the air inlet port. When the shutoff value is closed, the float fails and forms a check valve against back siphonage and at the same time opens the air inlet port.
AUTHORITY
The North Coventry Water Authority.
AUXILIARY WATER SYSTEM
Any water source or system on the premises of or available to the consumer 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 liquids, gases or other substances into the distribution pipes other water system from a source other than its intended source.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER
An approved device or other means, which will prevent the backflow of liquids into the water system.
BACKSIPHONAGE
The backflow of water or mixture of water and other liquids, gases or other substances from a plumbing fixture or other consumer source, into the Township's water system main due to a temporary negative or subatmospheric pressure within the Township's water system.
COMMONWEALTH
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
CONNECTION FEE
A fee payable by an owner for water service from the Township, prior to the water service supply line being provided by the Township.
CONNECTION PERMIT
A written license issued by the Township to certify that the licensee has been approved to make connections in accordance with this article.
CONSUMER
The owner and his tenant or other occupant of the premises where owner has contracted or hereafter the effective date of the article shall contract for water service to the premises, and/or a person who contracts for the purchase of water other than the service to a premises upon or after the effective date of this article.
CONSUMER'S WATER SYSTEM
Any water system, located on the consumer's premises, supplied by or in any manner connected to the Township's water system. A household distribution system is considered to be a consumer's water system.
CONTAINMENT
Cross-connection control which isolates the consumer's water system from the Township's water system. A household distribution system is considered to be a consumer's water system.
CONTAMINATION
The degradation of the quality of the drinking water by wastewaters, processed fluids, pollutants or any water of a quality less than accepted drinking water quality to a degree which would create 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, including, but not limited to, backsiphonage, can occur between the potable drinking water in the Township's water system and a system containing a source or potential source of contamination.
DEGREE OF HAZARD
An evaluation of the potential risk to health and the adverse effect upon the Township's water system.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY
An approved assembly composed of two single, independently acting, check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the water tightness of each check valve.
HEALTH HAZARD
Any condition, device or practice in the consumer's 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 the significant morbidity or death.
INDIVIDUAL UNIT
Each and every single residential, industrial or commercial entity.
INTERCHANGEABLE CONNECTION
An arrangement or device that will allow alternate, but not simultaneous, use of two sources of water.
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.
NONPOTABLE WATER
Water not safe for drinking, culinary, domestic use and fails to meet the requirements of the PA DEP.[1]
NORTH COVENTRY WATER AUTHORITY
The operating Authority organized and appointed by the Township Supervisors to manage and operate the Township's water system (hereinafter "Authority").
OWNER
The person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial, of any premises.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, copartnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint-stock company, trust, estate, governmental entity, or other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents or assigns. The masculine gender shall include the feminine, and the singular shall include the plural, where indicated by the context.
PLUMBING SYSTEM
All piping, fixtures, and appurtenances used to transport water to, within, and from a building, including all residential and nonresidential facilities and the source, transmission, treatment, and distribution facilities of public water systems.
POLLUTANT
Any dredged soil, solid waste, incinerator residue, untreated sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical waste, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discharged equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into water.
POLLUTION
The presence in water of any foreign substance that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or 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 water for domestic use. The man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological integrity of water.
POTABLE WATER
Water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary, and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the PA DEP.
PREMISES
(1) 
A building or structure or part thereof occupied by one family or business; or
(2) 
A building or structure occupied by one family and boarders; or
(3) 
A building or structure or part thereof occupied by a group of persons living independent of any other group of persons or families. Without intending to limit the foregoing, each multifamily dwelling and rooming house shall constitute a premises; or
(4) 
A trailer or mobile home occupied by one family or business; or
(5) 
A building devoted entirely to public or religious use, such as a school, house of worship, fire station or other similar use.
PROCESS FLUIDS
Any fluid or solution which 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 water system or a consumer's water system. This includes, but is not limited to:
(1) 
Polluted or contaminated waters;
(2) 
Process waters;
(3) 
Used waters originating from the water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
(4) 
Cooling waters;
(5) 
Contaminated natural water taken from wells, lakes, streams or irrigation systems;
(6) 
Chemicals in solution or suspension;
(7) 
Oils, gasses, acids, alkalis and other liquid or gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes, or for fire fighting purposes;
(8) 
Heating system waters from boilers or heat pumps.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS REQUIREMENTS MANUAL (PIRM)
The set of standards and specifications governing the type and installation of Township water system components and facilities, as adopted by the Township.
REASONABLE TIME
Between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., prevailing time.
REDUCED PRESSURE ZONE (RPZ) DEVICE
A minimum of two independent acting check valves, together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located between the two check valves. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, by discharging to the atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the checks at less than the supply pressure. The unit must include tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the device, and each device shall be fitted with properly located test stops.
SCHEDULE OF WATER RATES AND CHARGES
The water rates, charges and fees adopted and amended or revised from time to time by resolution of the North Coventry Water Authority.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The water service pipe from the Township's curb stop in the street right-of-way to the premises except for the water meter assembly.
SERVICE SUPPLY LINE
The water service pipe from the Township's water main to and including the Township's curb stop.
SYSTEM HAZARD
A condition posing an actual or potential threat of damage to the physical properties of the Township's water system or the consumer's water system.
TAPPING FEE
A fee applicable to a new premises or parts thereof. Such fee is direct proportionate share of cost for including new premises into the Township's water system.
TENANT
A person who leases or rents from the owner or otherwise occupies a premises.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of North Coventry, Chester County, Pennsylvania, acting through its Township Supervisors, its North Coventry Water Authority or other duly designated employees or representatives including the Code Official, Code Enforcement Officer, Engineer and Solicitor.
TOWNSHIP WATER SYSTEM
The existing waterworks, water supply works and water transmission and distribution system lines and other facilities and storage facilities and properties, together with all appurtenant facilities and properties which the Township and/or the North Coventry Water Authority has acquired or hereafter shall acquire, from time to time, in connection therewith, including all property, real, personal and mixed, rights, powers, licenses, easements, rights-of-way, privileges, licenses, leases, franchises and other property or interest in property of whatsoever nature used or useful in connection with such facilities, and together with all additions, extensions, alterations and improvements thereof or thereto which may be made or acquired from time to time by the Township and/or the North Coventry Water Authority.
WATER METER ASSEMBLY
The water meter with remote reader and the backflow preventer in the case of residential premises.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
"Shall” is mandatory; "may" is permissive.
C. 
Tense, gender and number. Words used in the present tense include the future. Words in the masculine gender include the feminine and the neuter. The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute.
ASSE
American Society of Sanitary Engineers.
AWWA
American Water Works Association.
D
Diameter.
GPM
Gallons per minute.
PA DEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
PSI
Pounds per square inch.
PIRM
Public Improvements Requirements Manual.
RPZ
Reduced Pressure Zone.
A. 
Applications for new water service and renewal of existing or previous water services, or requests for discontinuance of water service, shall be made by the owner of the premises. Such application shall be made to the Authority and shall bind the owner and any other consumer, including, without limitation, a tenant and all subsequent owners and other consumers to which water service is furnished. By the signing of the application for water service, the owner signifies his understanding and agreement that if the owner elects to lease the premises to a tenant or allow the premises to be occupied by a person other than the owner, then the tenant or other person, at the request of the owner, shall thereafter be billed for water service. The owner of the premises shall nevertheless remain responsible and liable for the payment of any bills for water service not timely paid. The acceptance of water service by any consumer shall represent an agreement between the North Coventry Water Authority and the consumer. Use of the water supplied to the premises or any portion thereof shall be limited to the owner or other consumer on the premises whose identity has been made known to and appears on the records of the Township, or as otherwise permitted by the Authority. The North Coventry Water Authority may, by resolution, require the posting of deposit with the North Coventry Water Authority of any consumer; provided, however, that the posting of such deposit by any consumer shall not affect the owner's responsibility or liability for water service rendered to the premises as hereinabove provided.
B. 
Applications for the purchase of water other than for service to a known premises shall be made by the person defined as consumer and as such, shall bind said person as responsible and liable for the payment of any bills for water supplied and said payment is required at the time water is received. The North Coventry Water Authority and the Township reserve the right to refuse the supply of water to any person where not required to supply water under the rules and regulations.
C. 
Except in the case of an emergency, 10 days written notice to the Authority shall be given by an owner desiring service and/or to discontinue service. Water valves owned by the Authority shall not be operated by any person without the permission and supervision of the Authority.
A. 
All service connections hereinafter installed and/or replaced shall be made at the Township curb stop and shall be installed as specified.
B. 
The Authority shall install the service supply line from the water main to and including the curb stop and curb stop box which shall be within 10 feet of the owner's property line. Such locations shall be determined by the Authority. For such installation, a connection fee and/or any other applicable fee provided for in the Schedule of Water Rates and Charges shall be charged to the owner.
C. 
In the case of existing installation, upon this article becoming effective, the Township or the Authority shall assume responsibility for the service supply line up to and including the curb stop and curb stop box and the repair and/or replacement of such service supply line shall be made at the sole determination and discretion of the Authority.
D. 
In the event that the Township or the Authority shall hereafter replace an existing service supply line as provided for in Subsection C, the owner shall cause the service connection from the curb stop to the meter to be replaced unless such service is 3/4 inch K copper and is determined by the Authority to be in good and serviceable condition.
E. 
The charge for installation for a 3/4 inch service supply line shall include water consumed prior to the time the premises are occupied. The charge for water consumed in the case of a one inch or larger service supply line shall be determined by the first quarter billing for such premises.
F. 
All service connections shall be installed so as to provide an accessible place for the location of the Authority's water meter assembly, as determined by the Authority.
G. 
No person other than a master plumber shall connect any premises with the water system at the curb stop, and prior to doing same shall obtain a plumbing permit from the Township Code Official's office.
H. 
All soldered joints shall be made with lead-free solder and fluxed in compliance with the Pennsylvania Plumbing System Lead Ban and Notification Act. Lead-free shall mean a chemical composition equal to or less than 0.2% lead.
I. 
Any work done in connection with the water system shall be inspected by the Authority and/or Code Official's office of the Township prior to covering same. Closures made in violation of this section shall be uncovered for inspection.
A. 
Water service by the Authority shall only be provided through water meters supplied and installed by the Authority. The fee for the meter and installation shall be paid for by the owner as set forth, or provided for, in the Schedule of Water Rates and Charges.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Water Rates and Charges is on file in the Township offices.
B. 
The location and size of the water meter assembly shall be determined by the Authority.
C. 
Meters, backflow preventers and remote readers shall be sealed by the Authority and no other person shall break or disturb such seals or tamper with the water meter assembly in any way without the permission of the Authority. In the event that a seal is broken or disturbed or the meter or the backflow preventer or remote reader has been tampered with, a charge shall be made by the Authority to the owner and/or his authorized agent as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges.
D. 
In the event that a meter or the backflow preventer or the remote reader is broken due to freezing and/or through the negligence of the owner, or any other occupant of the premises, the owner shall pay for all costs incurred to replace the damaged components of the water meter assembly.
E. 
Only Authority personnel or persons authorized by the Authority shall install, change or alter the location of a water meter assembly, in which case a charge shall be made as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges to cover the cost of inspection and resealing same.
F. 
The maintenance, care and ordinary repairs of the water meter assembly shall be the responsibility of the Authority; provided, however, that where replacements, repairs or adjustments of any nature are rendered necessary due to an intentional, negligence or careless act of the owner or any occupant of the premises, the resulting expense shall be charged to the owner.
G. 
The owner of the premises where a water meter assembly is installed shall be held responsible for its care and protection, including, but not limited to, damage from freezing, from hot water, from injury or from interference by any person or persons. If any water meter assembly is stolen or destroyed by fire or any other cause, the owner shall be liable for such loss and damage.
H. 
In all cases of disconnecting and reconnecting of any water meter assembly, a charge is hereby imposed upon the owner of the premises as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges.
I. 
In cases where the distance between the curb stop and the dwelling to be serviced exceeds 125 feet, or in any other case where deemed necessary by the Authority, the water meter assembly (either with or without a remote reader) shall be installed by the Authority in an outside meter pit. The construction and dimensions of such outside meter pit shall be in accordance with Authority specifications, and its installation and location shall be approved by the Authority. The cost of the water meter pit shall be the responsibility of the owner.
A. 
No water shall be provided for use to any building or other structure of any kind which is hereafter construction 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 contained from the Township unless the new, extended or altered plumbing, water piping and other water using fixtures therein conform to the requirements and standards of the Township's Plumbing Code. The provisions of said Plumbing Code shall apply to any such building or structure for which such a permit is issued on or after the effective date of this article.
B. 
The following additional specifications for fixtures in new or remodeled buildings or structures shall apply, in addition to requirements set forth herein.
C. 
Nonresidential lavatory faucets shall be either self-closing or metering faucets as described below:
(1) 
Self-closing faucets shall not exceed an average discharge rate of 0.5 gpm in accordance with the Discharge Test Procedure cited in ANSI A112.18.1, Finished and Rough Brass Plumbing Fixture Fittings.
(2) 
Metering faucets shall be field adjustable and set so that the discharge quantity shall not exceed 0.5 gallons of water per cycle.
D. 
Blowout toilets and urinals. Replacement of blowout toilet and urinal fixtures with like-type fixtures may be permitted by the Authority upon request where adequate justification of special need is provided.
A. 
No person shall take or use water from any premises other than his own (either as owner or occupant of such premises), and no person shall sell or give away water for any purpose other than as specified in the original application pursuant to which water service is furnished, or as otherwise permitted by the Authority.
B. 
In terms of emergency and/or during periods of drought conditions, the Authority may limit the use or water to such an extent and in such a manner as in the opinion of the Authority is warranted, pursuant to the Township's Drought Contingency Plan from time to time in effect.
C. 
In the event of leaks upon the premises of an owner that remain unrepaired after twenty-four-hour notice to the owner and any other occupant of the premises, the North Coventry Water Authority shall have the authority to shut off the water following written notice by personal service, or if unable to personally serve, by posting the same in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by the notice until such leaks are repaired.
D. 
No bypass of residential meters shall be made or maintained, unless approved by the Authority; however all commercial and industrial meters shall be equipped with a bypass approved by the Authority.
E. 
If any person shall open or use a fire hydrant except in case of fire in the vicinity thereof, without prior approval from the Authority or shall obstruct the access to any fire hydrant by placing debris or material of any sort within 15 feet of such fire hydrant, or shall willfully break, injure or disturb any curb stop, valve or fixture pertaining to the Township's water system, such person, in addition to being subject to a penalty as provided for in § 355-45, shall pay the cost of any repair made necessary by such acts.
F. 
Fire companies may use the fire hydrants for practice without a permit, but before so using the same, shall report such intention to the Authority and permission shall be secured therefor.
A. 
The purpose of this section is, as follows:
(1) 
To protect the Township's water 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 Township's water system.
(2) 
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the Township's water system and the consumer's water system and a 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 Township's water system and the consumer's water system.
B. 
The Authority and the consumer have the joint responsibility for the protection of the Township's water system from the contamination due to backflow of contaminants through the service connections. The Authority will furnish as a component of the meter installation, as provided for in § 355-33A, a backflow preventer to all new residential consumers. It shall be the obligation of each nonresidential consumer to furnish and install, at said consumer's cost, a backflow preventer. The Authority shall decide what type of backflow preventer is needed, where it is to be placed in the service connection (either within the building or structure served or in an outside pit) and shall also determine the deadline for compliance. Failure, refusal or inability on the part of the consumer to comply with this section shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises of such consumer.
C. 
Cross-connections are prohibited.
D. 
No service connection shall be installed or maintained to any premises where actual or potential cross-connections to the Township's water system or consumer's water system may exist unless such actual or potential cross-connections are abated or controlled to the satisfaction of the Authority.
E. 
Survey and investigations.
(1) 
The consumer's premises shall be open at all reasonable times to the Authority for the purposes of conducting surveys and investigations of water use practices within the consumer's premises to determine whether there are actual or potential cross-connections to the consumer's water system.
(2) 
The Authority shall determine the size and type of backflow preventer required based upon a survey and investigation.
(3) 
It shall be the responsibility of the consumer to conduct periodic surveys of water use practices on his premises to determine whether there are actual or potential cross-connections to such consumer's water system.
F. 
No service connection shall be installed or maintained whereby water from an auxiliary water system may enter the Township's water system or a consumer's water system.
(1) 
Where protection is required, a backflow preventer shall be installed prior to the first branch line leading off each service connection to a consumer's water system.
(2) 
A backflow preventer shall be installed on each service connection to a consumer's water system.
G. 
Type of protection required.
(1) 
The type of protection required shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists. The following types of protection, as determined by the Authority, shall be required:
(a) 
An approved air gap separation and a reduced pressure backflow preventer shall be installed where the Township's water system may be contaminated with a substance that:
[1] 
Is dangerous to the public health and would cause a severe health hazard or could cause damage to the Township's water system.
[2] 
Could cause damage to the Township's water system
(b) 
A backflow preventer on a double check valve assembly shall be installed where the Township's water system may be polluted with substances that would be objectionable but not dangerous to the public health.
(c) 
A double check valve assembly shall be installed in all other locations.
(d) 
A backflow preventer or vacuum breaker shall be installed on any water outlet to which a hose could be connected at the consumer's cost and expense.
(e) 
Backflow:
[1] 
Each fixture supply pipe shall be protected from backflow by having all outlets from which potable water flows spaced a sufficient distance above the flood level rim of the receptacle into which the water flows to provide an air gap separation. The fixture shall be equipped with an accessibly located backflow preventer installed beyond the manual control valve. Vacuum breakers on aspirators shall be at least 12 inches above waste materials; in funeral homes, 18 inches above top of table. The distance for the vacuum breaker on a bed pan sterilizer shall be 24 inches above overflow rim of the fixture. A vacuum breaker shall be installed on all yard and wall hydrants.
[2] 
On certain installations such as hospitals, clinics, plating shops, chemical plants, embalming establishments and multistoried buildings, backflow preventers shall be installed on the building side of the meter.
H. 
Backflow preventers.
(1) 
Any backflow preventer required shall comply with the following:
(a) 
Air gap separation shall be at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, out in no case less than one inch.
(b) 
A double check valve assembly or a backflow preventer shall be a device that has been manufactured in full conformance with standards established by the American Water Works Association entitled: AWWA C506 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principle and Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices. Said AWWA standards are herein adopted by the North Coventry Water Authority. Final approval, however, of the backflow preventer and the double check valve assembly, shall be evidenced by a certificate of full approval issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying full compliance with the said AWWA standards.
(c) 
An interchangeable connection, to be approved by the North Coventry Water Authority, shall be either a swing-type connector or a four-way valve of the lubricated plug type that operates through a mechanism which unseats the plug, turns it 90° and reseats the plug. Four-way valves must have separate stop valves on each pipe connected to the valve. The telltale port on the four-way valve shall have no piping connected and the threads or flange on this port shall be destroyed so that a connection cannot be made.
(2) 
Existing backflow preventers approved by the Authority at the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except for inspection and maintenance requirements be excluded from the requirement of Subsection H(1), provided that the Authority is assured that such devices will satisfactorily protect the Township's water system. Whenever any such existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or whenever the Authority finds that the maintenance of the device constitutes a health hazard, the device shall be replaced by a backflow preventer meeting the requirements of this article.
I. 
Installation.
(1) 
Backflow preventers required shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the Authority and shall be installed by a master plumber or a person who is, in the opinion of the Authority, properly qualified to perform such installations.
(2) 
Backflow preventers installed on the service connection to a consumer's water system shall be located on the consumer's side of the water meter, as shown on PIRM, S-W-20, as close to the meter as is reasonably practical, and prior to any other connection in the case of multifamily dwellings and multiuse buildings, such device shall be installed on each individual service to each dwelling unit and use.
(3) 
Pits or vaults shall be of watertight construction approved by the Authority, be so located and constructed as to prevent flooding and shall be maintained by the consumer 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 adverse 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 preventer.
J. 
Inspection and maintenance of nonresidential backflow preventer.
(1) 
It shall be the duty of the nonresidential consumer to have inspections, tests and overhauls made as directed by the Authority in accordance with the following schedule (or more often where inspections indicate a need):
(a) 
Air gap separation shall be inspected at time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter.
(b) 
Double check valve assemblies shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation. They shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned and repaired whenever needed and at least every 30 months.
(c) 
Backflow preventers shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter. They shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned and repaired whenever needed and at least every five years.
(d) 
Interchangeable connections shall be inspected at the installation and at least every 12 months thereafter.
(2) 
Inspections, tests and overhaul of nonresidential backflow preventers shall be made at the expense of the consumer and shall be performed by the Authority or a person certified by the Authority to inspect, test and overhaul backflow preventers.
(3) 
Whenever backflow preventers required by this article are found to be defective, they shall be repaired or replaced at the expense of the consumer without delay.
(4) 
Backflow preventers shall not be bypassed, made inoperative, removed or otherwise made ineffective.
K. 
Inspection and maintenance of residential backflow preventers. Inspection, tests and maintenance of residential backflow preventers shall be conducted by the Authority. The consumer shall provide access to Authority personnel for this purpose.
L. 
Booster pumps and storage tanks.
(1) 
Where a booster pump has been installed on the service connection to or within any premises, such pump shall be equipped with a low pressure cutoff device designed to shut off the booster pump when the pressure in the service connection on the suction side of the pump drop to 10 pounds per square inch gauge or less for a period of 30 seconds or longer.
(2) 
It shall be the duty of the owner to maintain the low pressure cutoff device in property working order to certify annually to the Authority that the device is in such condition.
M. 
Consumer's storage tanks supplied with Township water shall be approved by the Authority and shall be inspected periodically by the Authority to assure compliance with this article and applicable regulations.
N. 
Color coding.
(1) 
In buildings or industrial plants where multiple piping systems are used for water, extreme care shall be taken not to interconnect the systems. Where water from the Township's water system is used to service systems of lesser quality, such as ejectors, pumps and numerous other hazardous items, the Township's water system must be separated or protected from such cross-connections by an air gap separation, vacuum breaker's backflow preventers or double check vale assemblies.
(2) 
Each outlet on the nonpotable water line, which may be inadvertently used for drinking water, shall be posted "Danger! Unsafe Water." Other pipes shall be painted or banded at appropriate intervals and stenciled to identify their contents and direction of flow. The following system shall be used:
Potable Water
Green Color
Stenciled-
"Potable Water"
Nonpotable Water
Brown Color
Stenciled
"Non-Potable Water"
Fire Protection
Red Color
Stenciled
"Fire"
Chemical
Orange Color
Stenciled
"Chemical"
Gas
Black Color
Stenciled
"Gas"
(3) 
Colored plastic bands may be used instead of paint, i.e., Dymo tape with legends, so long as bands are permanently fastened to pipes.
A. 
The Authority reserves the right to shut off the supply of water to any consumer for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
For repairs;
(2) 
For unavoidable misrepresentation by the consumer as to the use of the water furnished to him;
(3) 
For fraudulent misrepresentation by the consumer as to the use of the water furnished to him;
(4) 
For any disapproval of the consumer's equipment or installation by virtue of its being defective or unsafe without prompt action being taken to remedy the same;
(5) 
When service is incompatible with laws, ordinances, rules, regulations or orders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any political subdivision or Authority thereof;
(6) 
For nonpayment of any bill, including service charge, payable to the Township under the provisions of this article or any other ordinance or regulations of the Township establishing or otherwise related to the supply of water from the Township's water system.
(7) 
For violation of or noncompliance with the terms and conditions, regulations and rules set forth in this article or any other ordinance or regulations of the Township pertaining to the supply of water from the Township's water system.
(8) 
Whenever such action is necessary in the opinion of the Authority to protect the Township from fraud or abuse.
B. 
The Authority shall notify the owner in writing by Certified United States First Class Mail, postage prepaid, when discontinuance is due to nonpayment of bills or any other violation described above.
C. 
The Township shall not be liable for any damage, loss or injury sustained by the owner or other occupant of the premises by reason of any failure to supply water on account of storms, accident or for any other cause whatsoever.
D. 
Should any system supplied by Township water be operated in violation of any provisions of this article, it shall be the duty of the Authority to completely disconnect all service supply lines at the curb stop serving such system or to assure itself that there is a physical separation of piping until this article is followed. Any cost of such disconnection and the estimated cost of reconnection shall be paid by the consumer before service is restored to the premises.
A. 
The properly authorized agent(s) of the Authority and/or Township Code Official's office shall at all reasonable hours have free and unrestricted access to the premises of any consumer for the purpose of inspecting the consumer's installation of a service connection or the water meter assembly, for examining, reading, repairing or removing the Township's meter(s) or other property of the Township or for any other purposes consistent with this article.
B. 
Right of entry: Inspection and sampling. The Township shall have the right to enter the premises of any customer at any time during operations to determine whether the customer is complying with all requirements of this article and any order issued hereunder. Customer shall allow the Authority employees ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records examination and copying, and the performance of any additional duties.
(1) 
Where customer has security measures in force which require proper identification and clearance before entry into its premises, the customer shall make necessary arrangement with its security guards so that, upon presentation of suitable identification, the Authority employees will be permitted to enter without delay for the purposes of performing specific responsibilities.
(2) 
The Township shall have the right to set up on the customer's property, or require installation of, such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling and/or metering of the customer's operations.
(3) 
Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to the facility to be inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly removed by the customer at the written or verbal request of the Authority employees and shall not be replaced. The costs of clearing such access shall be born by the customers.
(4) 
Unreasonable delays in allowing the Authority employees access to customer's premises shall be a violation of this article.
(5) 
In connection with said inspection, the Authority employees shall have the right to take such samples as deemed appropriate for analysis. If such analysis is in fact made, copies of the results of same shall be made available to the property owner within five days after receipt of same by the Authority.
C. 
Search warrants. If Authority and/or Township employees have been refused access to a building, structure, or property, or any part thereof, and is able to demonstrate probable cause to believe that there may be a violation of this article, or that there is a need to inspect and/or sample as part of a routine inspection and sampling program of the Authority designed to verify compliance with these regulations or any permit or order issued hereunder, or to protect the overall public health, safety and welfare of the community, then the Authority employees may seek issuance of a search warrant from the appropriate commonwealth official authorized to issue a search warrant. Probable cause shall exist where (a) Authority employees have been refused access to the property, building, premises, place, book, record, lot, or physical evidence or have been prevented from taking samples or conducting tests; and (b) that the sampling, testing, inspection or examination is authorized and required by this article and/or any other applicable law, or that the Code Enforcement Officer has reason to believe that a violation of this article has or will occur giving rise to the necessity of such inspection, sampling, test or examination.
A. 
Structures supplied by the Township's water system shall have a separate water service supply line installed for said structure, whether or not such structure is separately assessed for tax purposes and whether or not two or more such structures are erected upon adjoining land of the same consumer.
B. 
In a multiuse building under the ownership of one person, a single service supply line may be used to provide water service to more than one unit. The size of the service connection and water meter assembly shall be approved by the North Coventry Water Authority.
C. 
On condominium buildings and co-ops, where individual units are owned by different consumers, a separate service supply line and water meter assembly shall be required for each condominium unit.
A. 
A water service charge for the consumption of water is hereby imposed as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Rates and Charges is on file in the Township offices.
B. 
The water rates for consumption of water by consumer shall be as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges.
C. 
The water consumption shall be measured by a meter on meters installed by the Township or Authority and all bills shall be calculated upon the basis of the registration of such meter or meters. If a meter ceases to register or is found defective, the quantity of water consumed shall be determined by taking the average water consumption of the four meter-reading periods immediately preceding the date when the meter was found to be not registering, which amount shall be assumed to be the amount of water used by the consumer during the billing period in which the meter was found not to have registered. Exceptions will be made to this rule only where the facts clearly show that the stated method does not give a reasonably accurate volume of consumption for the period.
D. 
The Authority shall have the right to change the water rates from time to time by resolution.
E. 
The accuracy of any meter will be tested upon consumer's request which shall be made to the Authority. The request shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges to cover the cost of the test. If, upon making such test the meter shall be found to register in excess of 4% more or less water than actually passes through it, another meter will be substituted and the fee will be refunded to the consumer. If the meter registers within 4% of the actual quantity of water passing through it, the said fee shall be returned by the Township.
A rental is hereby imposed for each fire hydrant located upon land other than property owned by the Township, as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges.
A charge is hereby imposed for the furnishing of standby fire protection by means of sprinkler systems or otherwise, in addition to any other charge imposed by this article, or set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges.
A. 
All bills for water consumed shall be rendered before the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year, on meter readings made in the respective immediately preceding months, and such bills shall include the service charge for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. All such bills shall be due and payable on or before the first day of the following February, May, August and November. All bills remaining unpaid for one calendar months after the due date shall be subject to a penalty as set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges, which penalty (including interest) shall be computed on the unpaid balance.
B. 
In case of any bill rendered under the foregoing subsection shall remain unpaid for a period of 90 days, the water service to the consumer may be shut off by the North Coventry Water Authority after compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission then in effect and service may not be renewed until arrears and penalties are paid, together with any expense incurred by the North Coventry Water Authority in shutting off and restoring the water service.
C. 
In cases involving rented premises, the procedures to be followed to effect discontinuance shall be as set forth in the Pennsylvania Utility Service Tenants Rights Act, Act No. 299 of 1978, as amended and supplemented.
D. 
In addition to the right and remedies of the Authority hereinabove provided, the Authority shall also have the right to file a municipal lien against the premises for any unpaid and delinquent bills for water service rendered to said premises to the extent permitted and provided for by applicable law.
A. 
Any consumer who is not the owner henceforth applying for water service shall be required to deposit with the Authority an amount equal to the estimated gross bill of such consumer for any single billing period.
B. 
In the event that any consumer is delinquent in the payment of any bill for water service more than one time within any one-year period, then upon notice from the Authority Secretary to the consumer, the consumer shall be required to post a duplicate deposit in the same amount as the previous deposit within 10 days from the receipt of such notice, and in the event the consumer shall fail to post such duplicate deposit, the Authority shall discontinue service to such consumer.
C. 
The payment of any undisputed bill, within the meaning of the Public Utility Law, shall be payment of the bill with or without disconnect or penalty, within 30 days following the period for which the bill was rendered or payment within 30 days following presentation of the bill, or the payment of any contested bill, payment of which is withheld beyond the period herein mentioned and the dispute is terminated substantially in favor of the consumer and payment made by the consumer within 10 days thereafter.
D. 
Upon discontinuance of service, the Authority may apply any deposit then in its possession and previously made by the consumer toward the final settlement of such consumer's account, and any remaining balance of such deposit thereof shall be refunded to the consumer.
A. 
Notice of violation.
(1) 
Whenever the Code Official or the Code Enforcement Officer believes or has cause to believe that here has occurred and/or is continuing any violation of the provisions of this article or any rules, regulations, or resolutions adopted pursuant to this article, the Code Enforcement Officer shall give notice of such violation to each person responsible therefor, and such notice shall:
(a) 
Be in writing and state the place and location of the violation.
(b) 
State the nature, condition and manner of the violation.
(c) 
State the determination of the Code Enforcement Officer with respect to the violation.
(d) 
State the name of each person deemed responsible by the Code Enforcement Officer for such violation, together with the name of the owner of the property upon which the violation occurred and/or is located.
(e) 
State the date of the notice and the period of time, if any, allowed for compliance with this article, as such period of time is specified in Subsection A(3) of this section.
(f) 
Be served upon the owner of the property involved and all other persons, if any, named in the notice pursuant to Subsection A(1)(d) of this section, and service of such notice shall be made upon the owner and each such other person, if any, either personally or by certified first-class mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, sent to the last known address of such owner and each such person.
(2) 
The requirements for service of notice as contained in this article shall apply only as to notification of the first occurrence of any violation. The issuance of a notice thereafter regarding any repeated occurrence of the same violation shall not be required prior to imposition of penalties as provided for in this article.
(3) 
The period of time within which a person determined to be responsible, pursuant to Subsection A(1)(d) of this section, for any violation shall comply with the specific provisions of this article, following the issuance of a notice, shall be the period of time determined by the Code Enforcement Officer, taking into consideration the nature and the degree of danger to public health and safety posed by such violation. The notice of any violation may required immediate compliance with this article (any such notice requiring immediate compliance hereinafter referred to as an "emergency order") when it is determined by the Code Enforcement Officer that the violation in question presents an immediate and present danger or nuisance to the health, safety and welfare of the public, and, in such case, notice of the violation constituting such emergency order may be verbal (which verbal notice shall thereafter be confirmed with a written notice) and shall be served personally upon the person, if available, who has caused is responsible for or in control of said violation, and such notice constituting such emergency order may require the immediate correction and discontinuance of the violation and compliance with this article.
(4) 
Notwithstanding any such notice requirements of this section, when it is determined by an officer of the Township Police Department that an immediate, present danger exists to the health, safety and welfare of the public, said officer shall enforce the provisions of this article being violated by verbal notice constituting an emergency order, without need for the issuance of any written notice of any violation.
B. 
Appeals.
(1) 
Any person aggrieved by a determination or order issued by the Code Official or by any rule or regulation may appeal said notice, determination, order, rule or regulation to the Appeals Board. Any such appeal must be filed in writing with the Code Official's office within 10 days after the receipt by the appellant of such notice, determination or order, or within 20 days after such rule or regulation is approved by Township Council.
(2) 
The Appeals Board shall hold a public hearing under the Local Agency Law on any such appeal within 30 days after the date the appeal is filed. Public notice of the hearing shall be given, not less than 15 days prior to the date of the hearing, to the appellant, to the Code Enforcement Officer and to any other person who may request such notice.
(3) 
At the hearing the Appeals Board shall review the notice, determination, order, rule or regulation which is the subject of the appeal, take such testimony, hear such witnesses and, by a concurring vote of the majority, shall reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or modify the notice, determination, order, rule or regulation appealed.
(4) 
Within 20 days after the hearing, the Appeals Board shall advise the appellant in writing of its decision, and a copy of said decision shall be filed with the Secretary of the Township and the Code Official's office.
(5) 
Decisions of the Appeals Board may be further appealed to the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County within 30 days after receipt of the decision, or as otherwise provided by law.
(6) 
Any person to whom an emergency order is issued may file an appeal to the Appeals Board as provided for in this section, but such appeal shall not excuse the need for immediate compliance with such emergency order, nor shall such appeal serve as a supersede as to the immediate effectiveness of the emergency order.
C. 
Penalties.
(1) 
Any person violating any provision of this article which violation causes a system hazard or caused contamination or pollution which creates a hazardous condition to the sewer system or general public, shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge 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.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(2) 
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township before a Magisterial District Judge, pay a fine of not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this article. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of the determination of the violation by the Magisterial District Judge. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules of Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(3) 
Every violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense, and each day such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
(4) 
The penalties as prescribed above shall be imposed and collected in the manner provided for by the Township Code in the case of violations of Township ordinances.
(5) 
The Township shall have the right in addition to the penalties imposed herein to sue the responsible person for costs and expenses incurred by the Township for testing and remediation of any condition causing the Township to incur expenses resulting from a violation of this article.