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Borough of Danville, PA
Montour County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Adopted 12-22-1970 by Ord. No. 222 (Ch. 108, Art. II, of the 1975 Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTHORITY
The Danville Municipal Authority, a Pennsylvania municipality authority.
BOD (denotes "biochemical oxygen demand")
The quantity of oxygen, expressed in parts per million, utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure for five days at 20° C. The standard laboratory procedure shall be that found in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association, Inc.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, a municipality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting by and through its Council or, in appropriate cases, acting by and through its authorized representatives.
[Amended 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335]
DWELLING UNIT
Any room, group of rooms, house trailer or other enclosure occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters by a family, other group of persons living together or by persons living alone, excluding, however, institutional dormitories.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that prevents the percolation of water into the ground. The coverage of land by buildings and other impervious materials such as asphalt.[1]
IMPROVED PROPERTY
Any property upon which there is erected 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.
[Amended 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335]
INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any room, group of rooms, building or other enclosure used or intended for use in the operation of one business enterprise for manufacturing, processing, cleaning, laundering or assembling any product, commodity or article or from which any process waste, as distinct from sanitary sewage, shall be discharged.
[Amended 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335]
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Any and all wastes discharged from an industrial establishment, other than sanitary sewage.
[Amended 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335]
LOCAL LIMITS
Limitations on concentrations or mass of specific pollutants applied to discharges of industrial users, developed under the authority of 40 CFR 403.8(f).
[Added 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335]
OWNER
Any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in the official records of the state, county or municipality as holding title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court.[2]
PERSON(S)
Any individual, partnership, company, association, society, trust, corporation or other group or entity, whether an owner or lessee of residences, commercial or institutional establishments.
[Amended 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335[3]]
pH
The logarithm of the reciprocal of the concentration of hydrogen ions, expressed in moles per liter of solution, indicating the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance.
POTW
A publicly owned treatment works as defined by Section 212 of the Act (33 U.S.C. § 1292). The term includes the sewage collection system and the sewage treatment plant.
[Added 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335[4]]
ppm
Parts per million by weight.
PRIVATE
Not available or used by the public and restricted to one's personal or family use.
[Added 6-8-1999 by Ord. No. 402]
PUBLIC
Any person or group of persons, including people from the general population or employees or customers.
[Added 6-8-1999 by Ord. No. 402[5]]
SEWAGE
Normal water-carried household and toilet wastes from any improved property.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
The sewage treatment plant and related facilities owned by the Authority and operated for the purpose of treatment of sewage and other permitted wastes, and all additions, modifications, alterations and improvements thereto.
SEWER
Any pipe or conduit, constituting a part of the sewer system, used or usable for sewage collection purposes.
SEWER SYSTEM
All facilities, as of any particular time, for collecting, pumping, transporting and disposing of sanitary sewage and industrial wastes, owned or operated by the Borough.
[Amended 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335]
SLUG LOAD
Discharge of pollutants at a rate or concentration exceeding five times the daily average rate or concentration for a period exceeding 15 minutes.
[Added 10-9-1990 by Ord. No. 335]
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
Suspended solids as determined pursuant to the procedure set forth in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association, Inc.
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[4]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[5]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Amended 1-10-1978 by Ord. No. 279; 1-6-1992 by Ord. No. 349; 6-8-1999 by Ord. No. 402; 3-9-2004 by Ord. No. 454; 6-9-2009 by Ord. No. 498]
Sewer rentals or charges are imposed upon and shall be collected from the owner of each improved property which is or shall be connected with the sewer system, for use of the sewer system, whether such use shall be direct or indirect, which sewer rental or charges shall commence and shall be effective as of July 1, 2009, and shall be payable as provided herein, in accordance with the following schedule of rates and classifications:
A. 
Improved properties furnished unmetered water service.
(1) 
Residences.
Item
Quarterly Sewer Rental or Charge
Single-family residence (including condominiums, townhouses, mobile homes and trailers)
$45
Apartments (each unit)
$39
Rooms (each unit)
$21
(2) 
Commercial establishments.
Item
Quarterly Sewer Rental or Charge
All commercial establishments except as listed below
$45
Bank (including credit unions, savings and loans and other similar financial institutions)
$2.70 per employee or $69, whichever is greater
Medical office (including dentist, veterinarian, chiropractic, etc.)
$2.70 per employee or $69, whichever is greater
Restaurant
$90
Hotel and motel (each room)
$12
Preschool and day care (per person, including employees)
$2.70 per person or $45, whichever is greater
Nursing homes, personal care and assisted living facilities (each employee and guest)
$12 per person or $45, whichever is greater
(3) 
Public facilities.
Item
Quarterly Sewer Rental or Charge
All public facilities
$180
(4) 
Other.
Item
Quarterly Sewer Rental or Charge
Industrial/manufacturing operations
$5.70 per employee or $69, whichever is greater
Professional offices and services with more than 17 employees (including but not limited to attorney office, insurance office, real estate office, engineering/design office, telecommunications office, and other similar offices)
$2.70 per employee
(5) 
Owners of improved properties furnished unmetered water service by the Borough not falling under the foregoing descriptions shall pay a minimum sewer rental or charge for any dwelling unit and/or nonresidential establishment of $45 per quarter annum.
B. 
Improved properties furnished metered water service.
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in this article, sewer rentals or charges for sewage and/or industrial wastes discharged into the sewer system from any dwelling unit and/or improved property shall be based upon volume of water usage, adjusted, if appropriate, as provided in this article, where the volume of water usage shall be metered, whether by this Borough or otherwise.
(2) 
Sewer rentals or charges for sewage and/or industrial wastes discharged into the sewer system from an industrial establishment may be based upon actual metered volume of discharge, as permitted in this article.
(3) 
In either of the foregoing cases, such sewer rentals or charges shall be computed in accordance with the following metered rate schedule; subject, however to any minimum rentals or charges provided in this article:
Metered Rate Schedule
Gallons per Quarter Annum
Dollars per Thousand Gallons per Quarter Annum
Each gallon
$1.65
(4) 
Notwithstanding the foregoing metered rate schedule, the minimum sewer rental or charge for any dwelling unit and/or improved property where the volume of water usage shall be metered shall be as follows:
Water Meter Size
(inches)
Minimum Quarterly Rental or Charge
Less than 1
$45
Or such rental or charge as would be computed through the descriptions for improved properties furnished unmetered water service, whichever is greater.
1
$54
1 1/4
$60
1 1/2
$69
2
$87
4
$135
6
$210
8
$342
C. 
For service periods of less or more than one quarter annum, the sewer rental or charge and the computation of the volume of water consumed or the volume or discharge to the sewer system, as applicable, shall be proportionately adjusted.
D. 
Whether or not served by private or common facilities, where more than one residential and/or nonresidential establishment, including institutional dormitories, is located in one building, house or other structure and such building, house or other structure is served by one sewer connection, multiple charges shall be computed as if each had separate connections and facilities.
E. 
Where more than one dwelling unit and/or nonresidential establishment is served water from a common meter, the sewer rental or charge shall be determined by dividing the total quarterly water consumption by the number of dwelling units and/or nonresidential establishments being served from the common water meter and by computing separate billings by applying the rates set forth in Subsection B to the resulting water consumption quotient, subject to the minimum of $45 per quarter annum for each such dwelling and/or nonresidential establishment.
F. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, sewer rentals or charges to each industrial establishment which shall discharge sewage and/or industrial wastes to the sewer system shall be not less than $3.66 per employee per quarter annum or its adjusted equivalent for sewer services periods of less or more than one quarter annum based upon the average number of persons employed per working day during the service period for which the billing is rendered. The total billing to industrial establishments for any service period shall be not less than 50% of the maximum billing of any one of the three consecutive preceding quarters.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
G. 
Notwithstanding any of foregoing, the minimum sewer rentals or charges shall be $2.70 per student per quarter to each elementary and secondary school. Bills shall be due and payable for four quarters per year. The school district shall provide the Borough with a census of the number of pupils enrolled during the full school term beginning in September of each year, which shall be the basis for the subsequent four quarterly billings. Teachers and employees of the school shall be classified as pupils for sewer rental purposes.
H. 
Notwithstanding any of the forgoing, the minimum sewer rentals or charges to hospitals shall be not less than $9.22 per person occupying the premises, per quarter annum. Such persons shall include resident and nonresident employees, doctors, nurses and bed patients. The number of persons for which billings shall be made was established on or before July 1, 1970, and adjustments will be made at least every two years for billing purposes.
I. 
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the minimum sewer rentals or charges to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, personal care facilities and other similar facilities shall be not less than $12 per person occupying the premises, per quarter annum, based upon the average number of persons occupying the premises per day during the service period for which the billing is rendered. Such persons shall include resident and nonresident employees, doctors and nurses.
J. 
Industrial establishments discharging sewage and industrial wastes to the sewer system having an average five-day BOD greater than 200 parts per million and a suspended solids content greater than 250 parts per million shall pay a strength-of-waste surcharge, in addition to applicable charges, equal to 0.1% for each part per million by which the BOD exceeds 200 parts per million, plus 0.1% for each part per million by which the suspended solids exceed 250 parts per million. Surcharges shall be applicable to billings for sewer rentals computed in accordance with other provisions of this article. The strength of sewage and industrial wastes to be used for establishing the amount of surcharge shall be determined at least once annually either by suitable sampling and analysis of the wastes for a three-day consecutive period during a period of normal plant operations, from estimates made by this Borough or from known relationships of products produced to strengths of wastes for those industries where such factors have been established. In establishing waste strengths for surcharge purposes by analysis, analysis shall be made in accordance with procedures outlined in the latest editions of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater," published by the American Public Health Association, Inc.
K. 
If the owner of any nonresidential improved property, including any school, shall fail to provide this Borough with complete information required to compute the sewer rental or charge to such nonresidential improved property, this Borough may estimate a reasonable applicable sewer rental or charge for such nonresidential improved property, and such estimated sewer rental or charge shall be the actual sewer rental or charge payable until the required information is filed; provided, however, that no rebates will be paid by this Borough if the information filed reveals a lower indicated sewer rental or charge than that estimated by this Borough.
L. 
Additional classifications and sewer rentals or charges or modifications of the preceding schedule of sewer rentals or charges may be established by this Borough from time to time as deemed necessary.
M. 
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit this Borough from entering into separate agreements with owners with respect to sewer rentals or charges to be imposed in those cases where, due to seasonal fluctuations, contributions toward construction by owners or other unusual circumstances, the sewer rentals or charges set forth herein shall be deemed by this Borough to be unfair or inequitable.
A. 
In the case of an owner of improved property whose bill for sewer rentals or charges shall be computed, in whole or in part, upon the basis of water volume usage metered by this Borough, the billing shall be based upon the water consumption for the immediately preceding quarter annum. In the case of an owner of improved property whose quarterly bill for sewer rentals or charges shall be computed on any basis completely independent of water volume usage metered by this Borough, the quarterly billing dates shall be the first days of January, April, July and October, respectively, in each year, or on such other dates as this Borough by resolution or ordinance shall specify, and shall cover a quarterly billing period consisting of the immediately succeeding three complete calendar months.
B. 
Sewer rentals or charges shall be due and payable upon the applicable billing date set forth on the bill, and the appropriate amount computed in accordance with this article shall constitute the net bill. If sewer rentals and charges are not paid within 30 calendar days after each billing date, an additional sum of 5% shall be added to such net bill, which net bill, plus such additional sum, shall constitute the gross bill. Payment made or mailed and postmarked on or before the last day of such thirty-calendar-day period shall constitute payment within such period. If the end of such thirty-calendar-day period shall fall on a legal holiday or on a Sunday, payment made on or mailed and postmarked on the next succeeding weekday which is not a legal holiday shall constitute payment within such period.
C. 
Every owner of improved property which is connected to the sewer system initially shall provide this Borough with and thereafter shall keep this Borough advised of his correct address. Failure of any person to receive bills for sewer rentals or charges shall not be considered an excuse for nonpayment nor shall such failure result in an extension of the period of time during which the net bill shall be payable.
Sewer rentals or charges imposed by this article shall be a lien on the improved property connected to and served by the sewer system and any such sewer rentals or charges which are delinquent shall be filed as a lien against the improved property so connected to and served by the sewer system, which lien shall be filed in the office of the Prothonotary of Montour County, Pennsylvania, and shall be collected in the manner provided by law for the filing and collecting of municipal claims.
A. 
Methods of measuring volume.
(1) 
Whenever the entire water supply of an improved property discharging sewage and/or industrial wastes into the sewer system is supplied by this Borough, the volume of water furnished, as determined from meter readings of this Borough, shall be used as the volume of water consumed in computing sewer rentals or charges, subject to adjustment, if appropriate, as provided in this article.
(2) 
Whenever an improved property discharging sewage and/or industrial wastes into the sewer system shall have a source or sources of water supply in addition to or other than this Borough, the owner of such improved property shall provide a meter on such additional or other source or sources of water supply. The total volume of water consumed, as determined from the meter readings of this Borough and the meter readings of the meter or meters on such additional source or sources of water supply, or the meter readings of the meter or meters on such other source or sources of water supply, as appropriate, shall be used as the volume of water consumed in computing the sewer rentals or charges, subject to adjustment, if appropriate, as provided in this article.
(3) 
The volume of water consumed to be used for computation of sewer rentals or charges, as provided in this article, may be established by estimates or other methods of measurement approved by this Borough, where this Borough considers metering to be impractical.
(4) 
This Borough may require an industrial establishment, or the industrial establishment may elect, to install, pay for and maintain a meter approved by this Borough for measuring wastes discharged to the sewer system, in which case sewer rentals or charges shall be based upon the actual volume of wastes so metered as being discharged to the sewer system. The sewer rentals shall be computed at the rates set forth under § 194-8B.
(5) 
Exclusion from the sewer system of noncontaminated wastewaters and waters used for cooling purposes may be required by this Borough, or such exclusion may be optional with the owner of an industrial establishment, if not required by this Borough. When such waters are excluded, the volume of water or other measure to be used for computation of sewer rentals or charges shall be computed in one of the following methods:
(a) 
By installing a meter or other measuring device on the connection to the sewer system. The readings from such meter or measuring device shall be used as the measure of discharge of sewage and/or industrial wastes in computing sewer rentals or charges in accordance with the volume rate schedule set forth in § 194-8B.
(b) 
By installing a meter or other measuring device to measure the volume of water not being discharged into the sewer system. The readings from such meter or measuring device shall be deducted from the total water meter readings and the remainder shall be the volume of water to be used in computing sewer rentals and charges in accordance with the volume rate schedule set forth in § 194-8B.
(c) 
If it is not practical, in the opinion of this Borough, to install a meter or other measuring device to determine continuously the volume of water not discharged into the sewer system, this Borough shall determine, in such manner and by such method as it may prescribe, the percentage of metered water which is being discharged into the sewer system. The volume of water to be used in computing sewer rentals or charges in accordance with the volume rate schedule set forth in § 194-8B shall be the percentage so determined of the volume of water measured by the water meter or meters. Any dispute as to such estimated percentage shall be submitted to this Borough after notice of such estimate. The decision of this Borough with respect to the matter shall be final for the then-current calendar year.
B. 
Measuring devices. The furnishing and installation of meters or other measuring devices which shall not be owned by the Authority or this Borough, but which shall be required or permitted under provisions of this article, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner. The installation or use of such meters or other measuring devices at all times shall be subject to the approval of this Borough and may be tested and inspected by this Borough whenever necessary. The owner shall be responsible for the maintenance, safekeeping and repair of any such meter, whether such repairs shall be made necessary by ordinary wear and tear or other causes.
C. 
Meter readings. This Borough shall be responsible for the reading of all meters or other measuring devices, and the same shall be available to employees and agents of this Borough at all reasonable times.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former §§ 108-12, 108-13, 108-14, 108-15 and 108-16, regarding wastes and discharges of waste, as amended, which previously followed this section, were repealed 1-6-1992 by Ord. No. 350.
[Added 6-13-1984 by Ord. No. 301]
A. 
It is the purpose of this section to provide for the recovery of costs from users of the Borough sewer system for the implementation of the program established herein. The applicable charges or fees shall be set forth in the Borough's Schedule of Charges and Fees.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Charges and Fees is on file in the Borough offices.
B. 
Enumeration of charges.
(1) 
The Borough may adopt charges and fees which may include:
(a) 
Fees for reimbursement of costs of setting up and operating the Borough's pretreatment program.
(b) 
Fees for monitoring, inspections and surveillance procedures.
(c) 
Fees for reviewing accidental discharge procedures and construction.
(d) 
Fees for permit applications.
(e) 
Fees for filing appeals.
(f) 
Fees for consistent removal by the Borough of pollutants otherwise subject to federal pretreatment standards.
(g) 
Other fees as the Borough may deem necessary to carry out the requirements contained herein.
(2) 
These fees relate solely to the matters covered by this article and are separate from all other fees chargeable by the Borough.