[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Aldan 8-8-1984 by Ord. No. 399. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 85.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 128.
Nonresidential use and occupancy — See Ch. 163.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 181.
Public health — See Ch. 185.
Sewers — See Ch. 197.
Swimming pools — See Ch. 224.
Water — See Ch. 250.
[Amended 5-13-1992 by Ord. No. 443]
This chapter shall be known as the "Aldan Borough Plumbing and Sanitation Code." It may be cited as such and will be referred to herein as "this code."
The purpose of this code is to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by establishing minimum standards for water supply, sanitary drainage and sewage disposal.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Borough Council to appoint a Plumbing Inspector and such Assistant Plumbing Inspectors as shall from time to time be determined. Such appointments shall be for one year, expiring on the first Monday of January to until a successor shall be appointed. The Plumbing Inspector shall report to and be a member of the Board of Health.
B. 
The Plumbing Inspector or any assistants shall be a master plumber, if any such is available, or any other qualified person as determined by the Borough Council. The compensation payable to such Inspector or his assistants shall be 50% of the plumbing fee. This compensation may be changed by resolution of Borough Council.
[Amended 5-13-1992 by Ord. No. 443]
Any person, partnership, firm, corporation or entity aggrieved by any decision of the Plumbing Inspector or any Deputy or Assistant Plumbing Inspector arising from this code may appeal from such decision to the Aldan Borough Council within 10 days from the date of such decision. Such appeal shall be in writing, shall set forth the decision appealed from and the reasons for the appeal and shall be verified by affidavit. The appeal shall then be filed with the Borough Secretary with a true and correct copy of the same being contemporaneously forwarded to the Borough Solicitor. It shall be the duty of the Borough Secretary to bring said appeal to the attention of the Borough Council, which shall proceed to consider said appeal at a special meeting of the Council to be affixed therefor, or at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council to be held at least 10 days after the date of the filing of such appeal. The decision of the Borough Council upon the appeal shall be final. Any party participating in the appeal shall have the right to:
A. 
Appear and be heard.
B. 
Be represented by counsel.
C. 
Give or present a short opening or introductory statement.
D. 
Present witnesses, evidence and testimony and cross-examination of hostile or opposing witnesses, so long as all of the foregoing is accomplished pursuant to the same rules applied by the courts of Pennsylvania or such lesser rules of evidence as permitted by the Borough Council.
E. 
Give or present a short closing or concluding summary statement.
It shall be the duty of the Plumbing Inspector or his assistant to administer and enforce such of the provisions of this code as relate to plumbing and sanitation and as is particularly set forth in this chapter.
A. 
No building permit shall be issued for any work which requires a plumbing permit until the application for the plumbing permit shall have been approved by the official administering the plumbing requirements.
B. 
The permit card shall not be less than four feet above grade and shall be located approximately 20 feet from the edge of street paving facing the road and shall be on a backing board so constructed and erected as to last for the duration of the job.
The Plumbing Inspector or his assistant shall have the power and duty to enforce this code. The Borough Code Enforcement Officer also shall have this enforcement authority.
A. 
Intent of this code. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the use of any material or method of construction which is not specifically prescribed or referred to in it, provided that such alternative material or method is approved and its use authorized by the Plumbing Inspector, at the time of issuing the plumbing permit. Tests, if any, required by the Plumbing Inspector shall be paid for by appellant.
B. 
Interference with Inspector. No person shall in any way hinder or prevent the Plumbing Inspector or his Deputy, when in the pursuit of his duties as Plumbing Inspector, from entering and inspecting any building already erected or in the course of construction, alteration, repair, demolition or removal.
C. 
Expiration. Every permit issued under the provisions of this code shall expire by limitation, if the plumbing or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 60 days from the date of such permit or if the plumbing work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 120 days.
[Amended 5-13-1992 by Ord. No. 443]
A. 
Enforcement remedies.
(1) 
The Borough Council or its authorized representatives may, in addition to other remedies, institute in the name of the borough any and all appropriate civil, equitable or administrative actions or proceedings to prevent, restrain, correct or abate any violations of this chapter committed by any owner, tenant, builder, contractor, architect, workman or any other person, partnership, firm, corporation or entity who violates any provisions of this chapter.
(2) 
Any owner, tenant, builder, contractor, architect, workman or any other person, partnership, firm, corporation or entity who or which has violated any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the borough which, upon being found liable for the same, shall pay a judgment in the form of a civil fine or penalty of not more than $3,000, in addition to all court costs, expenses and attorney's fees incurred by the borough as a result of said civil enforcement proceeding.
(3) 
Any action or proceeding initiated pursuant to Subsection A(1) or (2) above shall be commenced before the appropriate District Justice having jurisdiction and venue upon the subdivision or land development in question.
(4) 
If the defendant in any action commenced pursuant to Subsection A(1) or (2) above neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the borough may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules of Civil Procedure.
(5) 
Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.
(6) 
All judgments, costs, expenses and attorney's fees imposed as a result of any proceedings commenced pursuant to Subsection A(1) or (2) above shall be paid to the borough.
B. 
Enforcement penalties.
(1) 
Any owner, tenant, builder, contractor, architect, workman or any other person, partnership, firm, corporation or entity who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a summary offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or a term of incarceration not to exceed 30 days, in addition to all court costs, expenses and attorney's fees incurred by the borough.
(2) 
Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
This section of the code is intended to regulate the construction and installation of all work in connection with water supply, sewage disposal and sanitary drainage.
A. 
Work shall be done by approved plumbers only.
(1) 
No construction, alteration, repair or work of any other kind in connection with any water supply, sewage disposal or sanitary drainage system shall be done until the person, firm or corporation who or which is to perform the work covered by this code shall appear in person to the Secretary of the Board of Health or the Plumbing Inspector or Council designee and present satisfactory proof of his being a qualified plumber. The applicant shall register his or its name and address on a form to be supplied by the Secretary of the Board of Health and shall pay a registration fee in the amount of $35 for each calendar year or part thereof.
(2) 
A person performing any work on his own home shall not be required to pay a registration fee, but must be qualified to perform the work to be done except for drainage. However, a permit, as set forth under Subsection C, Permits and fees, shall be required.
(3) 
No person who has obtained a plumber's license shall allow his name to be used by another person either for the purpose of obtaining permits or for doing business or work under the license. Every person licensed shall notify the Board of the address of his place of business, if any, and the name under which such business is carried on and shall give immediate notice to the Board of any change in either.
B. 
Plans and specifications.
(1) 
Before any plumbing work is started, there shall be filed with the Plumbing Inspector a plan thereof, showing the complete plumbing and drainage system with location of all fixtures, stacks, vent pipes and other parts and bearing the name of the plumber. No work may be started until this plan is approved by the Plumbing Inspector, and when approved, no departures or changes shall be made without the Plumbing Inspector's approval.
(2) 
A complete plan for the purpose of obtaining a permit to be issued by the Plumbing Inspector shall include:
(a) 
The number, location and size of all sewage disposal facilities to be constructed, altered or extended.
(b) 
The location of water supplies, water supply piping, existing sewage disposal facilities, buildings or dwellings, adjacent lot lines and street lines.
(c) 
Such further information as may be required by the Plumbing Inspector to substantiate that the proposed construction, alteration or extension complies with regulations promulgated by the Plumbing Inspector.
(d) 
Plans of the proposed sewage disposal facilities to be constructed, altered or extended.
(3) 
This regulation applies to any alteration of existing systems, it being further required that in such cases a plan of such portion of the old system as may be required by the Plumbing Inspector, as well as a plan of the proposed changes, shall be filed.
C. 
Permits and fees.
(1) 
The plans shall be accompanied by an application for a permit. If the Plumbing Inspector finds the plans satisfactory and in accordance with this code, he shall issue a permit upon the payment of a fee, as given below, which shall be additional to fee paid for the building permit. To receive a permit or registration, plumbers must be bonded and have a certificate of insurance.
Plumbing Fees
Type of Fee
Amount
Master plumber's registration and renewal, per year (including domestic heating, gas, oil and electric)
$35
Journeyman's license, per year
10
Apprentice
5
New construction
50
Each additional fixture or fixture outlet
5
Alterations, replacements and additions covering one fixture
25
Each additional fixture or fixture outlet
5
Permit fee for sewer connection:
Residential to open street
30
Commercial, apartment and industrial to open street
50
[Master plumber responsible for repair of street as good or better than before.]
Yearly permit to clean private sewer (calendar year)
35
Permit fee for new water service or well
25
Permit fee for installation of any gas or electrical appliances requiring plumbing connections, such as dishwashers and hot- water heaters where permitted.
5
Permit fee for domestic heating, gas, oil and electric, per heater installation
5
Permit fee for air conditioners requiring water and condensate drains
5
Curb trap
25
Removal of fixtures
5
Replacement of waterline in building.
10
Soil pipe replacement inside or outside
10
Replacement of fixtures or waste lines (minimum fee plus $5 per outlet)
10
(All fees shall be doubled for failure to obtain permit prior to beginning work.)
(These fees may be changed by resolution of the Borough Council.)
(2) 
In case any work for which a permit is required by this code is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining said permit, the fees specified shall be doubled, but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this code in the execution of the work, nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.
(3) 
No plumbing permit shall be issued for any work which requires a building permit until the Building Inspector shall have approved the building permit application.
(4) 
Permit card. The provision concerning a permit card and its posting under the building permit section shall apply also to the plumbing section of the code.
D. 
Inspection and tests.
(1) 
No drainage work shall be covered in any way (including cesspools) until after it has been examined and approved by the Plumbing Inspector. Notice shall be sent him over the signature of the plumber when work is sufficiently advanced of inspection, giving location of the work to be inspected, and upon final completion of the work, application for final inspection shall be made in writing.
(2) 
All new plumbing systems or work, including existing installations altered or extended, shall be tested by the plumber, by means of an air, water or smoke test in presence of the Plumbing Inspector, if he so requires. All defective joints shall be made tight. Defective pipe and fittings shall be removed and replaced with sound material.
E. 
Adoption of Philadelphia Code by reference. All technical requirements of the Rules and Regulations relative to the construction of plumbing or house drainage in the City of Philadelphia as issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections shall herewith be adopted by reference. This shall include future amendments as published by the Department.
[Added 2-9-2000 by Ord. No. 475]
A. 
All sanitary sewer laterals connected to any and all sewer lines owned by the borough shall be the responsibility of the owner(s) of the property from which said sewer lateral emanates or serves, including that portion of the lateral which lies within the right-of-way and/or curbline of all borough streets and state-designated highways. All construction, reconstruction, maintenance and necessary adjustments required by repairs, maintenance, construction or reconstruction to sewer lines owned or maintained by the borough shall be the responsibility of the owner(s) of the property from which the sewer lateral emanates or serves.
B. 
The term "sanitary sewer laterals," as used within this Code, shall mean all pipes, connectors, elbow or bell valves or connectors and/or any other means or device by which properties or lots are joined with and to sanitary sewer mains owned by the borough.