[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Greenwich 11-16-1959. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 310.
Sewer use — See Ch. 557.
Water rules and regulations — See Ch. 675.
[Amended 8-15-2016 by Ord. No. 9-2016]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CURB VENT or CLEANOUT
The area along the service line where a lateral connects with a line running from the consumer's premises. The curb vent or cleanout shall usually be located adjacent to the curb abutting a street or in a utility easement area servicing the consumer's premises.
SEWER CONNECTION
A connection made with the sanitary sewer system from the sewer main to the main building.
After official notification by the Township Council of the completion of the sewer lines or of any extension thereto, all buildings in the area served by the sewer system shall be connected therewith in the manner hereinafter provided, and all filthy water, liquid waste and spent water of every description, except if it is of such a nature as is hereinafter specifically prohibited, shall be discharged into the sewer connection emptying directly into said sewer system.
Within four months from the date of the official notification hereinbefore referred to and within such time and in such manner and under such inspection as the Township Council shall prescribe, the owner of any existing building in any area served by the sewer system shall cause such building to be connected with said sewer system. The use of any cesspool, septic tank or privy on the premises shall be discontinued and disconnected. Such cesspool, septic tank or privy shall be refilled with fresh earth to the satisfaction of the Sanitary Inspector of Greenwich Township.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to:
(1) 
Uncover any portion of the sewer system or the connection branches thereof or to open any manhole, except under a permit signed by the Sewer and Water Clerk.
(2) 
Open any highway or public ground for the purpose of making any sewer connection, or to break, cut or remove any pipe of the sewer system, or to make any connection with said sewer system without first obtaining a permit from the Sewer and Water Clerk.
(3) 
Discharge into the sewer system, directly or indirectly, any groundwater, surface water, rainwater, or any water from cellar floors.
(4) 
Discharge into the sewer system, directly or indirectly, any overflow or drainage from cesspools, septic tanks, or other receptacles constructed to store organic wastes.
(5) 
Connect with the sewer system, directly or indirectly, any steam exhaust, boiler blowoffs, water siphons, sediment drips, or any pipes carrying acids, germicides, grease, gasoline, oil, or any other substance detrimental to or deemed by the Township Council to be detrimental to the sewer system.
(6) 
Deposit in any fixture, vessel, receptacle, inlet or opening connected with the sewer system any garbage, vegetable parings, ashes, cinders, rags, or any other material or anything whatever except human excrement, necessary toilet paper and liquid house slops; provided, however, that the use of properly installed kitchen garbage disposal units is hereby permitted.
[Amended 12-12-1966]
B. 
The Township Council may at any time, in its discretion, stop and prevent the discharge into the sewer system of any substance deemed by it likely to damage the sewer system or to interfere with its normal operation, or to obstruct the flow, or to hinder any process of sewerage purification; and it may at any time, in its discretion, without notice and without recourse, sever the connection and cause the removal of any tributary sewer or drain through which such detrimental substances are discharged.
[Amended 8-15-2016 by Ord. No. 9-2016]
A. 
Each building in the area served by the sewer system must be connected separately and independently to the sewer system through the sewer connection directly opposite the building or nearest the downstream direction. The grouping of buildings on one house sewer is prohibited.
B. 
The Township shall not be responsible for any installation, removal or repairs to any sewer laterals, service lines, or curb vents, whether located on the consumer's property or in the curb vent. Consumers shall apply for any required permits prior to any excavation of sewer laterals, service lines or curb vents. After permits are approved, the excavation shall be inspected by the Township's Public Works Department and/or Construction Code Official prior to the closure of the excavation.
C. 
The Township shall be responsible for the sewer main only.
[Amended 9-6-1960; 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 19-1994]
A. 
Every sewer connection hereafter laid connecting with the sewer system must be of cast iron, ductile iron, or plastic pipe. It must be solidly laid on a true grade and as nearly as possible in a straight line. All changes in direction must be made with properly curved pipes and fittings.
B. 
All joints must be properly fitted to prevent the entrance of sand or dirt into the house sewer or the sewer system.
C. 
All pipes and fittings must be sound, cylindrical and smooth, internally free from cracks, holes or other defects and of uniform thickness.
D. 
Building traps shall be installed for each connection into the sewer system and shall have a fresh air inlet on the house side of the trap not less than four inches in diameter. Traps shall be set true with respect to their water seals and shall be protected from frost.
E. 
No trench shall be filled or any part of the pipe or fittings covered until notice has been given to either the Plumbing Codes Official, or a representative of the Sewer Department that the work is ready for inspection and such inspection is made. Every such inspection shall be made as soon as practicable after receipt of notice by the Plumbing Codes Official or the Sewer Department, and he shall have the power to apply any proper tests to the pipe or fittings, and the owner or contractor doing the work shall remove any defective material or repair any work improperly done as the Sewer Department or the Plumbing Codes Official shall direct.
No sewer connection with the sewer system shall be laid with a grade of less than one-inch fall in four feet without the written consent of the Township Council specifying the minimum grade allowed.
All pipes must be covered to a depth of at least one foot with fine earth entirely free of stones and rubbish and shall be carefully rammed.
[Amended 10-2-1978 by Ord. No. 7-1978]
No connection shall be made without first obtaining a permit which permit shall be issued by the Sewer and Water Clerk. No permit shall be issued by the Sewer and Water Clerk until the applicant has first submitted a duly executed construction permit for the structure to be connected to the sanitary sewer system.
[Amended 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 19-1994]
All tie-in connections and main building traps shall be installed by the owner or the owner's contractor. All work and materials shall meet or exceed the specifications of the Sewer Department, and is subject to inspection by a representative of the Sewer Department, upon completion.
After this chapter becomes operative, should the owner of any property affected by said sewer system neglect, after given notice, to make any sewer connection required in the manner prescribed by law, the Township Council shall cause such connection or installation to be made and assess the costs thereof to the owner of said property.
Before proceeding to make any such connection or installation stated in § 545-14, the Township Council shall cause notice of such contemplated connection or installation to be given to the owner of the property affected sufficiently definite in terms to identify the same, as well as a description of the required connection and notice that unless said connection shall be completed within 30 days after service thereof, it is the intention of the Township Council to have such connection made. Such notice may be served upon the owner resident in Greenwich Township in person or by leaving the same at his usual place of residence with a member of his family above the age of 14 years; in case any such owner shall not reside in the Township of Greenwich, such notice may be served upon him personally or mailed to his last known post office address or it may be served upon the occupant of the property or upon the agent of the owner in charge thereof. When property is held by two or more joint tenants, service upon one of such owners shall be sufficient and shall be deemed and taken as notice to all.
[Amended 4-3-1961; 10-5-1970; 10-21-1974]
The charges for sanitary sewer service shall be as set forth herein:
A. 
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated.
[Added 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 17-2004]
CONNECTION FEE
A fee against the owner of any improved property in the area served by the sewer system which actually connects to or is required to be connected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or any other ordinance then in effect requiring such connection to the sewer system.
DOMESTIC CONSUMER UNIT
Has the same meaning as "dwelling unit." For the purposes of this chapter, the terms "domestic consumer unit" and "dwelling unit" are interchangeable.
DWELLING UNIT (DU)
A "dwelling unit" for sewer connection fee calculation purposes shall mean a room, group of rooms, house or similar structure or facilities occupied or designed for occupancy as separate living quarters by a family or other group of persons living together or by a person living alone.
EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT (EDU)
The unit of measure by which the connection fee shall be imposed upon each improved property, as determined in this chapter or in any subsequent ordinance of the Township, which shall be deemed to constitute the estimated, equivalent amount of sanitary sewage discharged by a dwelling unit.
IMPROVED PROPERTY
Any property upon which there is located a structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy or use by human beings or animals and from which structure sanitary sewage and/or industrial wastes shall be or may be discharged, which is located within the sewered area and is subject to the mandatory connection provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Each applicant for a sewer connection permit shall pay a connection charge based upon the equivalent dwelling unit, and upon the capitalized value of the sewer collection and treatment systems, payable on the date application.
[Amended 4-5-1976; 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 19-1994; 9-5-1995 by Ord. No. 13-1995; 10-2-1995 by Ord. No. 15-1995; 8-21-2000 by Ord. No. 14-2000]
(1) 
The owner or contractor is responsible for obtaining all of the necessary construction permits from the Township, State of New Jersey Department of Transportation, and/or the County of Gloucester Highway Department.
(2) 
An equivalent dwelling unit shall have the following characteristics:[1]
Max flow of 300 gallons per day, a maximum biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 250 mg/L, a maximum total suspended solids of 250 mg/L, a maximum total phosphate of 10 mg/L, a maximum ammonia nitrogen in its nitrogen equivalent of 25 mg/L, and a maximum total kjedahl nitrogen of 40 mg/L. These characteristics of the equivalent dwelling unit shall be utilized to determine the ratio for industrial and commercial wastewater flow/loading in proportion to a domestic consumer unit.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 120-16A(3), which contained a definition of "domestic consumer unit," which previously followed this subsection, was repealed 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 17-2004. See now § 545-16A.
(3) 
The associated daily flow is based on three persons per dwelling using an average of 100 gallons per day or 300 gallons per day per single-family dwelling, which includes infiltration.
(4) 
The Township reserves the right to adjust the number of equivalent dwelling units estimated based on actual consumption figures obtained for a one-year period after the initial connection to the Township sanitary sewer system.
(5) 
The Township is under no obligation to refund connection fee monies due to lower than anticipated wastewater flows or loading.
(6) 
The capitalized value of the sewer collection and sewer treatment systems shall be calculated annually by the Township Auditor, and shall include costs for acquisitions, construction, operations, raw materials, maintenance, taxes, permit fees, debt services, budget deficits, and a reasonable amount of surplus for anticipated contingencies. This total capitalized value shall then be divided by the total number of equivalent dwelling units, to provide a per equivalent dwelling unit cost, which shall be referred to hereinafter as the "unit annual capitalized cost." The connection fee shall then be computed by multiplying the equivalent dwelling units for the proposed connection by the unit annual capitalized cost.
(7) 
Sanitary sewer connection fees.
[Added 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 17-2004]
(a) 
A user shall be charged a connection fee of $1,700 per dwelling unit (DU) for the connection of a dwelling/building to the Greenwich Township sanitary sewer system. The following connection fee schedule establishes the fee for an equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) per type of structure identified. In all other cases, an EDU is equal to 300 GPD.
(b) 
The calculation of the connection fee shall be made in accordance with the approved treatment works application or as approved by the engineer against the owner of any improved property to be served by the sewer system which actually connects or is required to be connected to the sewer system.
(c) 
For those improvements not identified in the following schedule, an equivalent dwelling unit shall also be defined as equal to 300 gallons per day of projected flow based on the Township Engineer’s calculations for nonresidential sewer service. The connection fee, hereafter payable by the owner of an improved property shall be $1,700 multiplied by the number of equivalent dwelling units constituting such improved property.
(d) 
Connection fee schedule.
[Amended 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 4-2022]
Type of Structure
Equivalent Dwelling Units
Single-family residential
1
Multifamily residential, each living unit
1
Rented rooms, each living unit available for rent (minimum one basic service unit)
1/5
Single-family with place of business with drain facilities
2
Hotel or apartment house (for each rental unit)
1
Motel (for each unit)
3/5
Service station without car wash
1
Service station with car wash
2
Diner, tavern or restaurant (for each 50 persons' seating capacity)
3
1 to 50
3
51 to 100
6
101 to 150
9
151 to 200
12
201 to 250
15
251 to 300
18
301 to 350
21
351 to 400
24
Theater (excluding drive-in theater)
4
Bowling alley (for each 4 alleys)
1
Laundromat (for each 2 washers)
1
Food markets (for each 5 employees)
1
Drive-in restaurant (seating capacity under 10)
3
Business establishment not otherwise classified (for each 5 employees or segment thereof)
1
Industrial plan (for each 5 employees)
1
Bakery (with baking facilities)
1
Assembly hall/rental hall (for each 50-person seating capacity)
1 to 50
1
51 to 100
2
101 to 150
3
C. 
Minimum annual charge.
[Amended 3-15-1982; by Ord. No. 4-1982]
(1) 
An annual rental of $375 for a basic sewer unit shall be charged in accordance with the following schedule of basic service units:
[Amended 4-7-1986 by Ord. No. 5-1986; 3-16-1987 by Ord. No. 5-1987; 2-20-1989 by Ord. No. 4-1989; 3-2-1992 by Ord. No. 3-1992; 1-18-1993 by Ord. No. 1-1993; 5-3-2004 by Ord. No. 4-2004; 5-1-2017 by Ord. No. 6-2017; 6-20-2022 by Ord. No. 4-2022]
Type of Structure
Number of Basic Service Units
Single-family residential
1
Multifamily residential
1
Rented rooms, each living unit available for rent (minimum one basic service unit)
1/5
Single-family with place of business with drain facilities
2
Hotel or apartment house (for each rental unit)
1
Motel (for each unit)
3/5
Service station without car wash
1
Service station with car wash
2
Diner, tavern or restaurant (for each 50 persons' seating capacity)
3
  1 to 50
3
  51 to 100
6
  101 to 150
9
  151 to 200
12
  201 to 250
15
  251 to 300
18
  301 to 350
21
  351 to 400
24
Theater (excluding drive-in theater)
4
Bowling alley (for each 4 alleys)
1
Laundromat (for each 2 washers)
1
Food markets (for each 5 employees)
1
Drive-in restaurant (seating capacity under 10)
3
Business establishment not otherwise classified (for each 5 employees or segment thereof)
1
Industrial plan (for each 5 employees)
1
Bakery (with baking facilities)
1
Assembly hall/rental hall (for each 50-person seating capacity)
  1 to 50
1
  51 to 100
2
  101 to 150
3
(2) 
Each person entitled to a senior citizens tax exemption, as defined in N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.41, shall pay 1/2 of the minimum annual charge.
(3) 
For all new construction the annual charges shall be prorated for each month of part thereof subsequent to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
D. 
A "basic service unit" for sewer rental purposes shall mean a room, group of rooms, house or similar structure or facilities occupied or designed for occupancy as separate living quarters by a family or other group of persons living together, or by a person living alone.
E. 
Each industrial user of the sewer system contributing other than sanitary waste shall pay the annual sewer rental as provided below.
(1) 
Where said industrial user has sources of water supply other than or in combination with water supplied through an approved metered source, such establishments shall provide a meter on the other sources of supply. The total amount of water used, as shown by the sum of all meter readings, shall be used as the basis for the computation of the sewer rent.
(2) 
Where said industrial user has water supplied unmetered or finds the water used disproportionate to the wastewater generated, the user, at its own expense, shall install a meter or measuring device approved by the Township. The readings from this meter or measuring device shall be used in computing the sewer rental.
F. 
Rates.
[Amended 3-15-1982 by Ord. No. 4-1982; 4-7-1986 by Ord. No. 5-1986; 3-16-1987 by Ord. No. 5-1987; 2-20-1989 by Ord. No. 4-1989; 3-2-1992 by Ord. No. 3-1992; 5-3-2004 by Ord. No. 4-2004]
(1) 
Where the sewer rental is based upon a meter or other measuring device for an industrial user, the following rates shall apply:
[Amended 5-1-2017 by Ord. No. 6-2017]
(a) 
The minimum rate shall be $50.30 per quarter for any industrial connection.
(b) 
Other rates shall be as follows:
[1] 
For the first 20,000 gallons, per quarter: $9.50 per 1,000 gallons.
[2] 
For 20,001 to 50,000 gallons, per quarter: $10 per 1,000 gallons.
[3] 
For 50,001 to 200,000 gallons, per quarter: $10.90 per 1,000 gallons.
[4] 
For all gallonage over 200,001 gallons, per quarter. $11.90 per 1,000 gallons.
(2) 
All of the above quantities will either be metered waste discharged into the Township sanitary sewer system or prorated according to water metered into the industrial facility. The method of measurement employed shall be approved by the Township governing body.
G. 
The sewer rent for the collection and treatment of industrial wastes discharged into the Township sewer system shall be based upon a premium charge for extra-strength waste applied as a factor against the charges for sanitary sewerage. The premium charge will be based on the strength factor determined according to the following formula:
Factor % =
30 + 37 (BOD in ppm)
 
300
+ 31 (Suspended solids in ppm)
350
+ 2 (Chlorine demand in ppm)
15
If the BOD is less than 300 parts per million or the suspended solids less than 350 parts per million or the chlorine demand less than 15 parts per million, the values within the parentheses of the formula shall be equal to one. In the case where the suspended solids, in the opinion of the Township, do not represent the true characteristics of the solids loading, the Township shall have the right to use total solids instead of suspended solids.
H. 
The discharge of water from sump pumps or water storage tanks into the sewer system shall not be allowed unless a permit is issued by the Township. A written application must be made to the Township, which application shall include sufficient data for review by the Township Engineer and sewer plant operator. A rate of $25 per year shall be charged for each permit issued. Swimming pools shall be emptied at off-peak periods if a permit is issued.
[Amended 4-7-1986 by Ord. No. 5-1986; 3-16-1987 by Ord. No. 5-1987]
[Added 6-6-1988 by Ord. No. 8-1988]
A. 
If sewer rents and service charges are not paid within 10 days of their due date, interest on such payments shall be charged at the rate of 8% per annum on the first $1,500 of the delinquency, to be calculated from the date the sewer rents were due. If sewer rents and service charges are not paid within 10 days of their due date, interest on such payments shall be charged at the rate of 8% per annum on the first $1,500 and 18% per annum on any amount in excess of $1,500 of the delinquency, to be calculated from the date the sewer rents were due.
[Amended 3-18-1996 by Ord. No. 9-1996; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 13-2020]
B. 
The payment schedule of sewer rates shall be on a quarterly basis, due on or before January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year.
[Added 2-20-1989 by Ord. No. 4-1989; amended 5-1-2017 by Ord. No. 6-2017]
[Amended 10-4-1976]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the Judge of the Municipal Court.