[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 1]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meanings
of terms used in this Part shall be as follows:
AUTHORITY
The Plumstead Township Municipal Authority.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
The quantity of oxygen, expressed in parts per million (milligrams
per liter) by weight, utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic
matter under laboratory procedure for five days at 20° C. The
standard laboratory procedure shall be that found in the latest revised
edition of Standard Methods.
COUNTY AUTHORITY
The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority, Bucks County,
Pennsylvania.
CHLORINE DEMAND
The amount of chlorine, in parts per million (milligrams
per liter) by weight, which must be added to the wastewater to produce
a specified residual chlorine content or to meet the requirements
of some other objective, in accordance with procedures set forth in
Standard Methods.
COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any structure or store, office or other unit thereof intended
to be used, wholly or in part, for the purposes of carrying on a trade,
business or profession or for social, amusement, educational, charitable
or public use.
CONSULTING ENGINEER
The engineer retained by the county authority or the joint-authority
or the Township, as indicated. In each case, such engineer shall be
versed in sanitary engineering.
GARBAGE
The solid waste from the domestic and commercial preparation,
cooking and disposal of food and from the handling, storage and sale
of produce.
INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any structure or separate unit thereof intended to be used,
wholly or in part, for the manufacturing, fabricating, processing,
cleaning, laundering or assembly of any product, commodity or article.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE
Any solids, liquids or gaseous substance or form of energy
rejected or escaping from any industrial, manufacturing, trade or
business process or from the development, recovery or processing of
natural resources and distinct from sanitary sewage.
JOINT-AUTHORITY
The Chalfont-New Britain Township Joint Sewage Authority,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
PERSON
Any individual, group, company, association, society or corporation
applying for permission to connect or use the sewer system.
pH
The logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration,
expressed in moles per liter, and indicates the degree of acidity
or alkalinity of a substance.
PARTS PER MILLION (PPM)
Milligrams per liter or weight-to-weight ratio; the parts
per million multiplied by the factor 8.345 shall be equivalent to
pounds per million gallons of water.
PRIVATE DWELLING
Any structure intended to be occupied as a whole by one family.
SANITARY SEWAGE
The domestic waste or normal wastewater carried from households
and toilet wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions,
and commercial, institutional and industrial establishments.
SANITARY SEWERS
The system of pipes and facilities operated or caused to
be operated by the Township, the county authority and the joint-authority,
for the collection of sanitary sewage and acceptable industrial wastes,
in and for the Township and the areas served by the county authority
and the joint-authority.
SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS
All the facilities of the Township, the county authority
and the joint-authority for collecting, pumping, treating and the
disposing of sewage and any such facilities of any other municipality
to which the Township sewer system may in the future be connected.
SEWER MANAGER
Any person who may, from time to time, be placed in general
charge of the sewer system.
SEWER SYSTEM
All facilities operated or caused to be operated by the Township
for the collection and disposal of sanitary sewage and acceptable
industrial waste in and for the Township, whether or not interconnected,
and all such facilities of the county authority and the joint-authority
to which the Township system is connected.
SHALL
"Shall" is mandatory.
SLUG
Any discharge of sewage or waste exceeding a concentration
or flow greater than five times that of an average twenty-four-hour
discharge, which is discharged for a period of 15 minutes or more.
STANDARD METHODS
The laboratory and analytical procedures as set forth in
the latest revised edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination
of Water and Wastewater," as published jointly by the American Public
Health Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water
Pollution Control Federation.
SURCHARGE
The additional charge in excess of the basic charge and never
less than the basic charge for the treatment of industrial waste,
based upon the extra strength of waste applied as a factor against
charges for sanitary sewage.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
The solids that either float on the surface of or are in
suspension in water, sewage or other liquids which are removed by
laboratory filtration.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Plumstead, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
WATER COMPANY
That private water company providing water service to customers
connected to the sewer system.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 2; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 1]
There is hereby imposed upon each property located within the
Township, served by the sewer system and having available to it the
use thereof, sewer rents or charges, payable as hereinafter provided,
for the use, whether direct or indirect, of the sewer system, based
on the schedules of classifications and rates hereinafter set forth.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 5; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 1]
1. Methods of Measuring Volume.
A. Except as herein otherwise provided, whenever a person purchasing
all water used from the water company discharges sanitary sewage and/or
industrial waste into the sewer system, the volume of water used,
as determined from meter readings of the water company, shall be used
in computing the sewer rentals.
B. Except where water meter readings are not to be used in computing
sewer rentals, where a person has a source of water supply in addition
to or other than from the water company and discharges sanitary sewage
and/or industrial waste into the sewer system, such person shall permit
the Township or authority to install a meter on such additional or
other source of supply. The total amount of water consumed as shown
by these meter readings will be used in computing the sewer rentals.
C. In cases where a person uses water from the water company and/or
from an independent supply such that all or part of the water so used
is not discharged into the sewer system, the quantity of water used
to determine the sewer rentals shall be computed by one of the following
methods as determined by the Sewer Manager:
(1)
Method No. 1: by placing a meter or measuring device on the
sewer connection. The readings from this meter or measuring device
shall be used in computing the sewer rentals.
(2)
Method No. 2: by placing a meter or measuring device on the
effluent not discharging into the sewer system. The reading from this
meter or measuring device will then be deducted from the total water
meter readings, and the remainder will be used in computing the sewer
rentals.
(3)
Method No. 3: when it is not practical to install measuring
devices to determine continuously the quantity of water not discharged
into the sewer system, the Sewer Manager will determine, in such manner
and by such method as he may prescribe, the percentage of metered
water discharged into the sewer system, and the quantity of water
used to compute the sewer rentals shall be the percentage so determined
of the quantity measured by the water meter or meters. Any dispute
as to the estimated amount shall be submitted to the Board of Supervisors
of the Township after notice of the estimate, whose decision on the
matter shall be final.
D. With respect to any property connected to the sewer system, the Township,
at its sole discretion, may be determined that, because of suspected
infiltration or for any other reason, water meter readings are not
an appropriate measure of sewer system usage. In such event, the authority
or the Township, at its own expense, shall cause a meter or metering
device to be placed on the sewer connection. The readings from this
meter or measuring device shall be used in computing the additional
sewer rentals.
2. Measuring Devices. All meters or measuring devices required to be used under the provisions of this Part (except those provided by the water company or those provided by the Township or authority under Subsection
1B above) shall be furnished and installed by the Township at the expense of the property owner. All such meters or measuring devices (except those provided by the water company) shall be under the control of the Township and may be tested, inspected or repaired by Township employees or agents whenever the Sewer Manager shall deem necessary. The owner of the property upon which such measuring device is installed shall be responsible for its maintenance and safekeeping, and all repairs thereto shall be made by the Township at the property owner's expense, whether such repairs are made necessary by ordinary wear and tear or other causes. Bills for such installation and repairs shall be due and payable at the same time and collected in the same manner as are the bills for sewer services. Such bills, from and after their due date, shall constitute a lien upon the property upon which such measuring device is installed.
3. Meter Readings. The Township shall be responsible for the reading
of all meters or measuring devices (except to the extent the water
company's readings are used), and they shall be made available to
Township employees or agents for meter readings at any reasonable
time.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 6; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 2]
If use or classification of any property should change within
any quarterly period, the difference in the sewer rental, prorated
on a monthly basis to the nearest calendar month, will be charged
or credited, as the case may be, on the bill for the succeeding quarterly
period. Additional classifications and additional sewer rentals may
be established by the Township from time to time.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 7; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 3]
Sewer rentals or charges and reserve capacity charges shall
be billed quarterly as of the last business day of the calendar quarter
and shall be due and payable on their respective dates. The bills
for properties connecting during a billing period will be prorated
on the basis of the applicable rate. The bills for the first billed
period after this Part is enacted shall be prorated.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 8; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 4]
1. Quarterly charges for sewer service shall be subject to a penalty
of 5% if not paid within 30 days after they are due. If not paid within
60 days after becoming due, the bill plus the penalty shall bear interest
from the due date at the rate of 1% per month or fraction thereof
until paid, and the Township shall have the right to cut off sewer
service from such premises and not to restore the same until all bills
against the same and the cost of cutting off and restoring service
shall have been paid.
2. All persons connected to the sewer system must give the Township
their correct address. Failure to receive bills will not be considered
an excuse for nonpayment nor permit an extension of the period during
which bills are payable at face.
3. All sewer rentals, together with all penalties thereon, not paid
on or before the end of one year from the date of each bill shall
be deemed to be delinquent. All delinquent sewer rentals and all penalties
thereon shall be a lien against such property in the office of the
Prothonotary of Bucks County and shall be collected in the manner
provided by law for the filing and collection of such liens.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 9; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 5]
1. The funds received by the Township from the collection of the sewer
rentals and charges and all penalties thereon, as herein provided
for, and any fines collected by the Township in connection with the
sewer system shall be segregated, earmarked and deposited in a separate
fund, to be designated as the "Sewer Revenue Account."
2. The funds received by the Township from payment of connection charges,
inspection charges and tapping fees and all penalties thereon, imposed
by the authority and collected by the Township as its agent, shall
be deposited in the above-mentioned Sewer Revenue Account.
3. Said funds shall be used only for the purpose specified in any lease
or agreement it may enter into for and of, or in connection with,
said sewer system, with the authority, in accordance with the provisions
of 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 5601 et seq., as amended and supplemented.
[Amended by A.O.]
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 10; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 5; by Ord. 97-4-15, 4/15/1997; and by Ord. 2004-07, 12/7/2004, § 1]
1. Approval of Industrial Wastes.
A. In order to control the admission of industrial waste or any other
waste not defined as sanitary sewage into the sewer system, the written
approval of the Township, and also the consent of the county authority
and the joint-authority, must be obtained prior to the discharge of
such waste.
B. As the sewage treatment works cannot treat all waste, preliminary
treatment may be required before discharge into the sewer system.
Any waste containing substances which are not amenable to treatment
or reduction by the biological treatment processes employed within
the sewage treatment works, or are amenable only to such a degree
that such works' effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies
having jurisdiction over the discharge to the stream, will require
preliminary treatment.
2. Permit.
A. Each industry making application for permission to discharge any industrial waste into the sewer system shall furnish to the Township and to the county authority and the joint-authority, where indicated in Subsection
1A above, all the information necessary to determine the quantity of such waste, the nature and quality of materials therein and the characteristics thereof. Approval of such application shall be in the discretion of the Township, and of the county authority and the joint-authority where indicated above, provided that all applicants of similar type shall be treated similarly.
B. The rate of flow at which any industrial waste can be discharged
shall be at the discretion of the Township, and of the county authority
and the joint-authority where indicated as aforesaid.
C. Any industry applying for a permit to discharge any industrial waste
into the sewer system from new or existing facilities is required
to furnish in quadruplicate a complete set of engineering reports,
plans and specifications covering the connections to and from the
plant waste treatment facilities. This applies also to alterations
or additions to such connections or treatment facilities. Reports
and supporting data herein referred to must be prepared by a professional
engineer registered in Pennsylvania. Such report shall be subject
to review by the Township consulting engineer, and the county authority
consulting engineer and the joint-authority consulting engineer where
indicated as aforesaid, who shall be other than the engineer making
the report.
D. Adequate means shall be provided at each industrial connection with
the sewer system for the periodic determination of all characteristics
and concentrations of the waste. Samples shall be collected in such
a manner as to be representative of the actual quality of the waste,
and "Standard Methods of Analysis" shall be used. Waste shall also
be subject to analysis by the Township, the county authority and the
joint-authority.
E. A suitable manhole shall be installed in the building discharging
the industrial waste into the sewer system to facilitate observation,
sampling and measuring of the waste being discharged. Such manhole
shall be constructed in accordance with plans and specifications approved
by the Township. The manhole shall be installed and maintained in
a safe condition at the expense of the owner of the premises being
served and be so located as to be accessible at all times to authorized
employees and agents of the Township, the county authority and the
joint-authority without the consent of such owner.
F. Any authorized employee or agent of the Township or the county authority
or the joint-authority shall be permitted to enter upon any private
property discharging industrial waste into the sewer system at any
time for the purpose of observation, measuring, sampling, repair and
maintenance of any portion of the sewer system which is an obligation
of the Township.
G. No person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, uncover,
deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which
is part of the sewer system. Any person, firm or corporation who shall
violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an
action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided
for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules
of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less
than $10 more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of
said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days.
Each day that a violation of this Part continues and each section
of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute
a separate offense.
H. No statement in this Part shall be construed as preventing any special
agreement between the Township, the county authority, the joint-authority
and any person whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or
character may not be accepted by the Township or the county authority
or the joint-authority for treatment, subject to payment therefor
by the industry.
I. Each discharge of industrial waste will be considered on its own
merits and will require a special agreement with the Township, the
county authority and with the joint-authority where such waste will
be treated at the joint-authority's plant. The agreement shall be
for a period of one year. The Township, the county authority and the
joint-authority reserve the right to cancel or renew any agreement
with an industry after one year. If the Township elects not to cancel
the agreement on or before its anniversary, the agreement will automatically
renew itself for another period of one year, unless the county authority
or the joint-authority elects to cancel within the same period.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 11; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 5]
1. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater,
surface water, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage into
the sewer system.
2. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following
into the sewer system:
A. Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags,
feathers, fur, plastics, wood, paunch manure, butcher's offal, hair
or any other solids or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction
to the flow in sewers or interference with the proper operation of
the sewer system.
B. Any inert insoluble solids such as asphalt clay, slag and mill scale
or sludges and slurries.
C. Any waters or waste containing any quantities of formaldehyde, carbide
waste or phenols.
D. Any waters or waste containing radioactive isotopes.
E. Any noxious or malodorous substances not mentioned in the foregoing
list that will pass through the sewage treatment works and exceed
the state and interstate requirements for the receiving stream.
F. Any other pollutant, wastewater or water-carried waste that will
interfere with the operation or performance of any sanitary sewer
system. Any and all contributions and/or discharges into any sanitary
sewer system shall comply, in all respects, with the current specifications,
rules, and regulations of the Township and/or of the applicable municipal
authority or operator of such sanitary sewer system and/or facilities
for the same as may be in effect from time to time.
[Added by Ord. No. 2020-01, 5/12/2020]
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 12; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 5]
Except as otherwise provided in this Part, no person shall discharge
or cause to be discharged any of the following-described substances,
materials or waste into the sewer system:
A. Any cooling water, unpolluted industrial or commercial process water.
C. Any liquid having a temperature higher than 140° F.
D. Any fluid waste containing in excess of 100 parts per million of
fat, oil, wax, or grease, either vegetable or mineral, or containing
substances which may solidify between 32° F. and 100° F.
E. Any liquids, solids or gases, such as benzene, gasoline, naphtha,
fuel oil or other volatile, explosive or flammable substance, which,
by reason of its nature or quality, may cause fire or explosion or
be in any way injurious to persons, to the sewer system or the operation
thereof.
F. Any unshredded garbage. The installation and operation of any garbage
grinder equipped with a motor of greater than 1/2 horsepower shall
be subject to review and approval by the Township, the county authority
and the joint-authority.
G. Any waste containing a five-day BOD in excess of 250 ppm.
H. Any waste containing a total solids content in excess of 800 ppm.
I. Any waste having a chlorine demand in excess of 10 ppm.
J. Any fluid having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 9.5.
K. Any wastewater containing any substances which are not amenable to
treatment or reduction by the biochemical wastewater treatment processes
employed or are amenable to the treatment only to such a degree that
the effluent of the sewage treatment works cannot meet the requirements
of agencies having jurisdiction over the discharge to the receiving
stream.
L. Any toxic substance not mentioned in the foregoing list that will
pass through the treatment works and exceed the maximum permitted
levels for such substance under the requirements of state or other
governmental agencies.
M. Any substance prohibited by any permit issued by Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
N. Any waste containing toxic or poisonous substance in excess of the
following limits, measured at the point of discharge into the sanitary
sewers; provided, however, that deviations from the above schedule
may be authorized by the Township, in its sole discretion, upon an
affirmative showing by the person requesting the same that such deviation
will not be harmful to the sewer system and upon approval by the Township's
consulting engineer, the county authority and the joint-authority:
Item
|
PPM
|
---|
Alkyl benzene sulfonate
|
0.5
|
Arsenic
|
1.0
|
Barium
|
1.0
|
Beryllium
|
1.0
|
Boron
|
1.0
|
Bromide
|
0.0
|
Cadmium
|
5.0
|
Carbon chloroform extract
|
0.2
|
Chloride
|
250.0
|
Chromium (hexavalent)
|
3.0
|
Chromium (trivalent)
|
3.0
|
Cobalt
|
0.3
|
Copper
|
5.0
|
Cyanides
|
0.0
|
Fluoride
|
10.0
|
Hydrogen sulfide
|
0.0
|
Iodine
|
0.0
|
Iron
|
15.0
|
Lead
|
1.0
|
Manganese
|
0.5
|
Mercury
|
1.0
|
Nickel
|
5.0
|
Nitrate
|
10.0
|
Nitriles
|
3.0
|
Nitrogen (as NH3)
|
15.0
|
Ozone
|
0.0
|
Organic surfactants
|
5.0
|
Phenols
|
0.0
|
Selenium
|
0.01
|
Silver
|
5.0
|
Sodium
|
10.0
|
Sulfate
|
250.0
|
Sulfur dioxide
|
0.0
|
Sulphydriles
|
3.0
|
Tin
|
5.0
|
Zinc
|
5.0
|
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 13; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 5]
The following regulations shall apply:
A. A garbage disposal unit with a motor of 1/2 horsepower or less may
be installed in any single-family dwelling or unit without a permit.
B. Air-conditioning units using 20 gallons of water per minute or less
and having a discharge temperature of not over 140° F. may discharge
into the sewer system.
C. Floor drains used for washing and cleaning will be permitted only
on application to the Township, the county authority and the joint-authority
and only after provisions have been made for the removal of sand,
grit, oil, grease, garbage or any other materials.
[Added by Ord. No. 2020-01, 5/12/2020]
1. In any and all structures in which grease-laden waste is generated,
including but not limited to structures containing restaurants, hotel
kitchens, bars, factory cafeterias, school cafeterias, or other similar
food preparation and/or grease-laden, waste-generating areas of the
same, a grease interceptor shall be required to receive any and all
drainage, wastewater and water-carried waste from any and all such
areas of such structures. Food waste grinders shall not discharge
to a building drainage system through a grease interceptor.
2. Grease interceptors shall be installed and maintained in an accessible
location, and shall remain accessible and unobstructed at all times.
3. Grease interceptors shall be cleaned not less than two times per
week, or at such frequency as may be determined necessary in the discretion
of the Township and/or of the applicable municipal authority or operator
of the sanitary sewer system and/or facilities serving the subject
property. Property owners shall maintain an ongoing written log or
record of all grease interceptor cleanings for a period of not less
than 24 months.
4. Grease interceptors shall be subject to inspection at the discretion
of the Township and/or of the applicable municipal authority or operator
of the sanitary sewer system and/or facilities serving the subject
property to ensure compliance with this section. The Township may
from time to time establish, by resolution, an annual fee associated
with the inspection of grease interceptors.
5. For all properties and/or structures identified in this section,
grease interceptors shall be required for all new or existing connections
to the sanitary sewer system, which such connections shall also be
in conformance with the International Building Plumbing Code, as adopted
by the Township, without exception.
[Added by Ord. No. 2020-01, 5/12/2020]
1. A property owner is solely responsible, in all respects, for the
proper installation, operation, maintenance, repair and replacement
of any and every sanitary sewer lateral located on a property.
2. No property owner may permit the discharge of stormwater into the
sanitary sewer system, and all property owners shall maintain the
sanitary sewer laterals connected to their buildings and structures
in such fashion as to prevent the infiltration of stormwater into
the sewer system.
3. All private building sewer laterals shall be fitted with vent caps
which are manufactured to fit the type and size of vent pipe affixed
to the lateral, and which shall provide a tight seal against the inflow
of stormwater under high precipitation conditions. Vent caps must
be set a minimum of four inches above grade, but not less than a height
sufficient to preclude the flow of stormwater into the vent.
4. Cleanout caps on sanitary sewer laterals shall be appropriately fitted
and secured to provide a tight seal against inflow of stormwater under
high precipitation conditions.
5. All lateral joints shall be tight and all pipes shall be sound to
prevent exfiltration by wastewater or infiltration by groundwater
or stormwater.
6. A sanitary sewer lateral pipe shall be free of any structural defects,
cracks, breaks, rodent holes, or missing portions thereof, and the
grade or pitch of such lateral shall be uniform without sags or offsets.
7. Area drains, foundation drains, roof leaders, sump pumps or other
direct connections into a sanitary sewer lateral that allow stormwater
or groundwater to enter into that sanitary sewer lateral are prohibited.
8. Sanitary sewer laterals may flow by either gravity or by pressurized
systems, such as a grinder pump system.
9. Sanitary sewer laterals and grinder pump systems shall be subject
to inspection at the discretion of the Township and/or of the applicable
municipal authority or operator of the sanitary sewer system and/or
facilities serving the subject property to ensure compliance with
this section; further, the Township may inspect or require proof of
inspection of any building sewer lateral connection, in order to ensure
the integrity of the connection and compliance with this section,
prior to the issuance of any use and occupancy permit for any property
and/or any structure located thereupon. The Township may from time
to time establish, by resolution, an annual fee associated with the
inspection of sanitary sewer lateral connections.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 14; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 5]
In the event that the owner or operator of any industrial or
commercial establishment fails to conform or comply with the terms
and conditions of its agreement with the Township and the county authority
and the joint-authority, as applicable, pertaining to the discharge
of its wastes, which failure causes damage to the sewer system or
to any employee thereof, the owner or operator shall be liable for
such damage or, in the event of the discharge of any substance that
kills fish, the owner or operator shall be liable for the damages
thereof. The limit of the damage shall be determined by the Township,
the county authority and the joint-authority, where its facilities
are involved, and the owner or operator shall be billed therefor.
Legal action may be taken to enforce collection, or the Township may
resort to the termination of its connection to the sewer system.
[Ord. 20, 1/31/1974, § 16; as amended by Ord. 30, 7/8/1975, § 5]
The rules and regulations hereunder shall become effective on the earliest date permitted by law and shall be applicable to all properties as soon as they respectively become connected with and have the right to use the sewer system. The Township reserves the right to make such changes from time to time as, in its opinion, may be desirable or beneficial and to amend this Part or to change the rates or charges in such manner and at such times as, in its opinion, may be advisable or as may be required by any lease referred to in §
18-409 hereof.