Borough of Girard, PA Sewers and Sewage Disposal

Any industrial waste having a suspended solid content or BOD appreciable in excess of that normally found in municipal sewage. For the purposes of this article, any industrial waste containing more than 350 milligrams per liter of suspended solids, or having a BOD in excess of 300 milligrams per liter, shall be considered an abnormal industrial waste, regardless of whether or not it contains other substances in concentrations differing appreciably from those normally found in municipal sewage.

BOD OF SEWAGE OR INDUSTRIAL WASTE (BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND)

The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of the organic matter in said sewage or industrial waste under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20° C. (under aerobic conditions), expressed in milligrams per liter by weight. It shall be determined by one of the acceptable methods described in the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater," cited below.

BOROUGH

Girard Borough, situated in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

BOROUGH'S AGENT

The Borough Manager. The Borough's inspector shall be the Borough Street Superintendent.

COMBINED SEWER

A sewer designed to receive both sewage and stormwater runoff which has been approved for such purpose.

COUNCIL

The elected officials of the Girard Borough Council.

GARBAGE

Solid wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.

INDUSTRIAL WASTES

Any liquid, gaseous or waterborne wastes from industrial processes or commercial establishments, as distinct from sanitary sewage.

OCCUPIED BUILDING

Any structure erected and intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy or use by human beings or animals, and from which structure sanitary sewage and industrial wastes, or either thereof, is or may be discharged.

PERSON

Includes natural persons, partnerships, associations and corporations, public or private.

The logarithm to the base 10 of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration expressed in moles per liter. It shall be determined by one of the acceptable methods described in the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater," published jointly by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation.

POLLUTED INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Any water or waste, generated by any establishment other than a residential dwelling unit, containing any of the following: emulsified grease or oil; pH less than 6.0 or greater than 9.0; phenols or other substances imparting taste and odor to receiving waters; toxic or poisonous substances in suspension, colloidal state or solution; obnoxious or odorous gases. It shall contain not more than 750 milligrams per liter by weight of dissolved solids, of which not more than 250 milligrams per liter shall be as chloride and not more than 10 milligrams per liter each of suspended solids and BOD. The color shall not exceed five color units. Analyses for any of the above-mentioned substances shall be made in accordance with the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater," cited above.

PREMISES ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC SANITARY SEWAGE SYSTEM

Any real estate abutting on or adjoining or having access to any street, alley or right-of-way in which a sewer is located which ultimately connects to the public sanitary sewage system.

PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE

The wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food and from the handling, storage and sale of produce that have been shredded to such degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension.

PUBLIC SANITARY SEWAGE SYSTEM (sometimes called the "sewer system")

All sanitary or combined sewers, all pumping stations, all force mains, all sewage treatment works, and all other sewerage facilities owned or leased and operated by the Borough for the collection, transportation and treatment of sanitary sewage and industrial wastes, together with their appurtenances, and any additions or improvements thereto. It shall also include sewers within the Borough's service area which serve one or more persons and discharge into the public sanitary sewerage system even though those sewers may not have been constructed by the Borough and are not owned or maintained by the Borough. It does not include separate storm sewers or culverts which may have been constructed for the sole purpose of carrying storm and surface runoff, the discharge from which is not and does not become tributary to the sewage treatment facilities.

SANITARY SEWAGE

The normal water-carried household and toilet wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial and commercial establishments, exclusive of stormwater runoff, surface water or groundwater.

SANITARY SEWER

A sewer which carries sewage and to which stormwater, surface water and groundwater are not intentionally admitted.

SEWAGE

A combination of water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial and commercial establishments, together with such groundwater, surface water or stormwater as may be present.

SEWER

A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.

STORM SEWER

A sewer which is intended to carry stormwater runoff, surface waters, groundwater drainage, etc., but which is not intended to carry any sanitary sewage or polluted industrial waste.

STORMWATER RUNOFF

That portion of the rainfall which reaches a channel, trench, sewer or sink.

SUSPENDED SOLIDS

Solids that either float on the surface or are in suspension in water, sewage, industrial waste or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtration. The quantity of suspended solids shall be determined by one of the acceptable methods described in the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater," cited above.

UNPOLLUTED WATER OR WASTE

Any water or waste containing none of the following: free or emulsified grease or oil; pH less than 6.0 or greater than 9.0; phenols or other substances imparting taste and odor to receiving waters; toxic or poisonous substances in suspension, colloidal state or solution; obnoxious or odorous gases. It shall contain not more than 750 milligrams per liter by weight of dissolved solids, of which not more than 250 milligrams per liter shall be as chloride and not more than 10 milligrams per liter each of suspended solids and BOD. The color shall not exceed five color units. Analyses for any of the above-mentioned substances shall be made in accordance with the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater," cited above.

"Shall" is mandatory; "may" is permissive.

§ 320-2 Connection requirements.

All persons owning any occupied building now erected within the Borough's service area upon premises accessible to the public sanitary sewage system shall, at their own expense, make connection with the public sanitary sewage system. Any presently unoccupied building shall be connected before occupancy will be permitted.

All persons owning any premises within the Borough's service area accessible to the public sanitary sewage system upon which an occupied building is subsequently erected shall, at the time of erection of such building, and at their own expense, make connection with the public sanitary sewage system.

All persons owning any occupied building within the Borough's service area upon premises which subsequently become accessible to the public sanitary sewage system shall, at their own expense, make connection with the public sanitary sewage system within the time period stipulated after proper notice to do so has been given in accordance with applicable law.

All connections to the public sanitary sewage system shall be made in accordance with § 320-9 hereof.

No privy, vault, cesspool, septic tank, mine hole or similar receptacle for human excrement shall presently or at any time hereafter be connected with the public sanitary sewage system.

§ 320-3 Stormwater runoff.

The discharge of stormwater runoff to sanitary sewers is prohibited.

All persons connecting to the public sanitary sewage system shall provide adequate means for excluding stormwater runoff at their own expense.

No person connected to a sanitary sewer shall connect any roof drain or foundation drain thereto or permit any such drains to remain connected thereto, nor shall he permit, allow or cause to enter into any sanitary sewer any springwater or surface water from any other source.

The provisions of this article do not prohibit the present or future discharge of stormwater runoff to storm sewers or to natural watercourses within the Borough's service area.

§ 320-4 Industrial wastes.

The economy and desirability of the combined treatment of industrial wastes and sanitary sewage is recognized. In general, any and all industrial wastes may be discharged to the public sanitary sewage system, except those which are deemed harmful to the system or are specifically prohibited by this article. However, it is also recognized that the treatment of abnormal industrial wastes may add to the cost of operating and maintaining the public sanitary sewage system. Such additional cost must therefore be borne by the person or persons receiving the benefit of such treatment.

The Borough reserves the right to refuse connection to the public sanitary sewage system for deleterious industrial wastes or to compel discontinuance of the use of the system for such wastes or to require pretreatment and/or equalization to flow thereof in order to prevent harmful or adverse effects upon the system. The design, construction and operation of such pretreatment and/or flow equalization facilities shall be made at the sole expense of the person discharging said wastes and shall be subject to the approval of Council or its designated representative.

In general, industrial waste shall be considered harmful to the public sanitary sewage system if it may cause any of the following damaging effects:

(1)

Chemical reaction, either directly or indirectly, with the materials of construction or the public sanitary sewage system in such a manner as to impair the strength of durability of any sewerage structures.

(2)

Mechanical action that will damage any sewerage structures.

(3)

Restriction of the hydraulic capacity of any sewerage structures.

(4)

Restriction of the normal inspection or maintenance of any sewerage structures.

(5)

Danger to public health and safety.

(6)

Obnoxious conditions inimical to the public interest.

When required by Council, any person discharging to the public sanitary sewage system any industrial wastes, or industrial wastes and sanitary sewage together, shall install a suitable manhole or manholes or metering chamber on his connecting sewer or sewers to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the combined flow or wastes from his premises. Such manhole or manholes or metering chamber shall be accessible and safely located and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by Council or its designated representative. The manhole or manholes or metering chamber shall be installed by such person at his expense and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible to Council or its designated representative at all times. The construction and maintenance of such manhole or metering chamber shall be mandatory for the producers of abnormal industrial wastes, and, if deemed necessary by Council, flows from such manhole or metering chamber shall be continuously monitored, transmitted and recorded by means of an approved receiving device to be located at the treatment plant.

§ 320-5 Prohibited discharges.

The discharge of excessive amounts of unpolluted water or waste to a sanitary sewer is expressly prohibited. However, such discharges to storm sewers will be permitted wherever such sewers are of adequate capacity. The Council reserves the right to define the amount it deems excessive in each particular instance.

The discharge of garbage to the public sanitary sewage system is expressly prohibited, unless the garbage is first properly shredded.

No sanitary sewage or industrial waste from any property other than that for which a permit has been issued as provided in § 320-9 hereof shall be discharged to the public sanitary sewage system.

No person shall discharge to the public sanitary sewage system any sanitary sewage or industrial wastes having any of the following characteristics:

(1)

Wastes containing liquids, solids or gases which, by reason of their nature or quality, may cause fire, explosions, or be in any other way injurious to persons, the structures of the public sanitary sewage system or its operation.

(2)

Wastes having a temperature in excess of 150° F. or less than 32° F.

(3)

Wastes having a pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 9.0 or having any corrosive properties capable of causing damage or hazards to structures, equipment or personnel of the public sanitary sewage system. Where the Council deems it advisable, it may require any person discharging industrial wastes to install and maintain, at his own expense, in a manner approved by Council or its designated representative, a suitable device to continuously measure and record the pH of the wastes so discharged.

(4)

Wastes containing any noxious or malodorous gas or substance which, either singly or by interaction with sewage or other wastes, is, in the opinion of Council, likely to create a public nuisance or hazard to life or prevent entry to sewerage structures for their maintenance and repair.

(5)

Wastes containing ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, hair, chemical or paint residues, greases, lime slurry or viscous materials of such character or in such quantity that, in the opinion of Council, they may cause an obstruction to the flow in the sewers or otherwise interfere with the proper operations of the public sanitary sewage system. Attention is called to the fact that the maximum permissible concentration will vary throughout the public sanitary sewage system depending upon the size of the particular sewer receiving the same and the flows therein.

(6)

Wastes containing insoluble, nonflocculent substances having a specific gravity in excess of 2.65.

(7)

Wastes containing soluble substances in such concentration as to cause the specific gravity of the waste to be greater than 1.1.

(8)

Wastes containing any of the following substances in solution or in suspension in concentrations exceeding those shown in the following table:

	Substance	Maximum Possible Concentration (mg/l)
	Phenolic compounds as C₅H₆OH	1.0
	Cyanides as CN	0.00
	Cyanates as CNO	0.00
	Iron as Fe	0.3
	Trivalent chromium as Cr, plus hexavalent chromium as Cr	0.5
	Nickel as Ni	1.00
	Copper as CU	0.03
	Lead as Pb	0.5
	Zinc as Zn	0.15
	Manganese as Ms	0.05

(9)

Wastes containing more than 90 mg/l by weight of fat, oil or grease.

(10)

Wastes containing more than 10 mg/l of any of the following gases: hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, or any of the halogens.

(11)

Wastes containing gases or vapors, either free or occluded, in concentrations toxic or dangerous to humans or animals.

(12)

Wastes containing toxic substances in quantities sufficient to interfere with the biochemical processes of the sewage treatment works or that will pass through the treatment process and still exceed the state and federal requirements for the receiving stream.

(13)

Wastes containing radioactive material without a special permit.

§ 320-6 Sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges.

There is imposed upon the owners of or the users of water in or on all properties served by the public sanitary sewage system sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges for the use of said system, payable in the amounts and as provided in the Sewer Rate Resolution and as it is hereinafter from time to time adopted, amended, and modified by Council. Said owners and users will be jointly and severally liable for the payment of said sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges and the penalties therein prescribed for delinquent payments thereof.

All bills for sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges shall be due when rendered and shall be subject to the penalty provisions set forth in the Borough's Sewer Rate Resolution. Owners and, where adequate arrangements have been made with Council, users will be billed periodically for the sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges in accordance with the billing practices of the Borough.

The Borough's current sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges are based upon water usage. The Council may, if it deems it advisable, elect at some time in the future to impose, in whole or in part, the sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges on such other basis as it may determine. When water usage is used as the basis for said charges, the volume of water to be used for billing purposes shall be based upon water meter readings by the Borough or its designated representative. In the absence of such readings, charges shall be based upon estimates made by the Borough or flat rate charges.

When water usage is used as the basis of charges, then if any owner or user obtains part or all of the water used in or on a property from sources other than the Borough, such owner or user shall be charged on the flat-rate basis, in accordance with the Borough's Sewer Rate Resolution.

When water usage is used as the basis of charges, then, if it is established to the satisfaction of the Council that a portion of the water used in or on any property served by the public sanitary sewage system does not and cannot enter said system, and in the event that the total water used in or on said property exceeds 100,000 gallons per quarter, Council may determine, in such manner and by such method as it may deem practical, the percentage of the water entering the public sanitary sewage system, or Council may require or permit the installation of additional meters in such manner as to determine either the quantity of water excluded from the public sanitary sewage system or the quantity of water, sewage or industrial waste actually entering the public sanitary sewage system, exclusive of stormwater runoff. In such case, the sewage collection, transportation and treatment charge shall be based upon the quantity of water estimated, measured or computed by Council to be actually entering the public sanitary sewage system, exclusive of stormwater runoff, since stormwater runoff is prohibited from entering into a sanitary sewer.

When water usage is used as the basis of charges, then any person requesting consideration for a reduction of the amount of the sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges because of water not entering the public sanitary sewage system shall make written application to Council for such consideration, giving the name of such person, his address and setting forth supporting data fully describing other sources of water, if any, as well as the disposition of water alleged not to be entering the public sanitary sewage system. The application shall be accompanied by a sketch, to approximate scale, showing the plan of the property, the water distribution system, sewer layout, existing meters, and proposed meters in the scheme to determine the quantity of flow entering, or not entering, the public sanitary sewage system. The cost of furnishing, installing and maintaining any meters other than those utilized to measure water purchased from the Borough shall be borne by the applicant. The type, size, location, arrangement and maintenance of such meters shall be subject to the approval of the Council.

§ 320-7 Surcharge for certain industrial wastes.

Although the sewage treatment works will be capable of treating certain abnormal industrial wastes as heretofore defined in § 320-1, the actual treatment of such wastes may increase the cost of operating and maintaining the public sanitary sewage system. Therefore, there will be imposed upon each person discharging such industrial waste into the public sanitary sewage system a surcharge, or surcharges, which is intended to cover such additional cost. Such surcharges shall be in addition to the regular sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges set forth in the Sewer Rate Resolution of the Borough and shall be payable as therein provided.

The strength of any industrial waste, the discharge of which is to be subject to surcharge, shall be determined monthly, or more frequently as the Council shall determine, from samples taken either at the manhole or metering chamber referred to in § 320-4D hereof or at any other sampling point mutually agreed upon by Council and the producer of such waste. The frequency and duration of the sampling period shall be such as, in the opinion of Council, will permit a reasonably reliable determination of the average composition of such waste, exclusive of stormwater runoff. Samples shall be collected or their collection supervised by a representative of Council and shall be in proportion to the flow of waste, exclusive of stormwater runoff, and composited for analysis in accordance with the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater," cited above. Except as hereinafter provided, the strength of the waste so found by analysis shall be used for establishing the surcharge or surcharges. However, Council may, if it so elects, accept the results of routine sampling and analyses by the producer of such wastes in lieu of making its own samplings and analyses.

BOD surcharge rate.

(1)

In the event any industrial waste is found by Council to have a BOD in excess of 300 milligrams per liter, the producer of said waste shall be surcharged an amount equal to the product of the actual volume of wastes in thousand gallons per billing period, exclusive of stormwater runoff, discharged to the public sanitary sewage system and the BOD surcharge rate. The BOD surcharge rate shall be determined by the following formula:

Rc = 0.00834 P (C-300)
Where:
	Rc	=	the BOD surcharge rate in cents per 1,000 gallons of waste discharged.
	P	=	the average annual fixed, operating and maintenance cost of secondary treatment processes per pound of BOD received at the treatment works.
	C	=	the average BOD of the industrial waste expressed in milligrams per liter as determined in accordance with Subsection B of this section.

(2)

The figure 300 appearing in the above formula corresponds to the maximum BOD permissible without surcharge. The figure 0.00834 is the factor to convert milligrams per liter to pound per 1,000 gallons. No discount will be permitted for sewage or industrial wastes having a BOD less than 300 milligrams per liter.

Suspended solids surcharge rate.

(1)

In the event any industrial waste is found by Council to have an average suspended solids concentration in excess of 350 milligrams per liter, the producer of such waste shall be surcharged an amount equal to the product of the actual volume of wastes in thousand gallons per billing period, exclusive of stormwater runoff, discharged to the public sanitary sewage system and the suspended solids surcharge rate. The suspended solids surcharge rate shall be determined by the following formula:

R_s = 0.00834 x B (S-350)
Where:
	Rs	=	the suspended solids surcharge rate in cents per 1,000 gallons of waste discharged.
	B	=	the average annual fixed, operating and maintenance cost of the sludge digestion, sludge drying and sludge disposal operations per pound of suspended solids received at the treatment works.
	S	=	the average suspended solids concentration of the abnormal industrial waste expressed in milligrams per liter as determined in accordance with Subsection B of this section.

(2)

The figure 350 appearing in the above formula corresponds to the maximum suspended solids concentration permissible without surcharge. The figure 0.00834 is the factor to convert milligrams per liter to pounds per 1,000 gallons. No discount will be permitted for sewage or industrial wastes having a suspended solids concentration less than 350 milligrams per liter.

The surcharges provided for in this section shall be added to the sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges imposed by Council under the Sewer Rate Resolution.

§ 320-8 Billing and collection.

Bills and notices relating to the sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges and surcharges will be mailed or delivered to the property owner's last address or, where proper arrangements have been made with Council, to the user's last address, as shown on the billing books of Council.

§ 320-9 Connection standards and restrictions.

Application for connection to the public sanitary sewage system shall be made to Council or a designated agency upon the permit form to be formulated and furnished by Council.

All information requested on said form shall be furnished by the applicant, including the character and use of each structure located upon the property.

Any tap connection and inspection fees required by the Sewer Rate Resolution shall be paid at the time of making application for permission to make a connection.

No work shall commence before the payment of any aforementioned tap connection and inspection fee and issuance of the aforementioned connection permit.

Unless written permission is obtained from Council, separate connections and corresponding tap connection and inspection fees will be required for each individual occupied building, whether constructed as a detached unit or as one of a pair or row, but a single connection with payment of the tapping fees for the appropriate number of actual units served will be permitted to serve a school, factory, apartment house or other permanent multiple-unit structure whose individual apartments or units may not be subject to separate ownership.

Connections to sanitary sewers shall be completed within 60 calendar days after receipt of approved permit. The "day of receipt" shall be defined as five consecutive calendar days after the date of issuance of the permit. In the event that the connection is not completed within this time, the applicant must file an application for a new permit and pay all costs associated therewith, including a second connection fee as defined in the current Sewer Rate Resolution. Previously paid fees will be forfeited unless waived by Council.

All connections to the sanitary sewers shall be subject to certain restrictions as to unacceptable sanitary sewage, which are set forth herein in § 320-5.

The designated inspector of Council shall be given at least 24 hours' notice of the time when such connection shall be made in order that said inspector can be present to inspect and approve the work of connection. The inspector shall signify his approval on the aforementioned connection permit in the possession of the permittees.

At the time of inspection of the connection, the owner or owners of properties shall permit the inspector full and complete access to all sanitary and drainage arrangements and facilities in each building and in and about all parts of the property. No building sewer line shall be covered over, or in any manner concealed, until after it is inspected and approved by said inspector.

It is the intention of this article that the entire connection be inspected at one time; however, if the property owner feels that special conditions warrant more than one inspection, he may request the same subject to such additional inspection fees as Council shall determine.

All construction materials and methods must comply with the current set of construction standards of the Borough.

Maintenance and repair of all building sewers shall be the responsibility of the property owner.

§ 320-10 Proposed extensions of system by developers.

Prior to submittal of any proposed development, the developer shall arrange for a preliminary meeting with the designated agent of Council. It is the intention of this meeting for the developer to become aware of the procedure for processing and the requirements of the Borough for a development.

Five copies of plans for proposed extensions shall be submitted to Council on twenty-four-inch by thirty-six-inch sheets showing plan views to a scale of one inch equals 50 feet and profiles to a scale of one inch equals 10 feet vertically and one inch equals 50 feet horizontally, a North point, a suitable title block, date and the name of the engineer or surveyor and imprint of his registration seal.

All sewers shall be designed in accordance with the Sewerage Manual of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Sanitary Engineering, and this article.

Construction of sewers will not be permitted until the proper state permits have been obtained.

Prior to final acceptance of any sewer extensions by the Council, it will be necessary for the developer to furnish to the Council as-built plans showing the angle and distance between manholes, the top and invert elevation of each manhole and the exact location of all house sewer connections relative to the nearest manhole both downstream and upstream.

Basements shall be recorded in the name of the Borough for all sewers to be constructed outside of dedicated street rights-of-way.

All construction materials and methods must comply with the current set of construction standards of the Borough.

The developer shall also pay in advance to Council in full for all estimated costs of inspection of construction of all sanitary sewers. The amount and type of inspection required shall be determined by Council during construction.

No sewer extensions constructed by a developer will be approved for use and acceptance by Council until said sewers are formally approved by the Council, and all inspection fees have been paid, and Council has been reimbursed in full for all inspection costs incurred by the inspector during construction, testing and approval.

§ 320-11 Failure to pay charges, surcharges and penalties; violations and penalties.

Each sewage collection, transportation and treatment charge, surcharge and penalty imposed by the Sewer Rate Resolution of the Borough shall be a debt due the Borough and shall be a lien on the property served and, if not paid within the period prescribed in the Sewer Rate Resolution after the date of the bill, shall be deemed delinquent. In such event, Council shall proceed to file a lien in the office of the Prothonotary of Erie County and collect the same in the manner provided by law for the filing and collection of municipal claims. In the event of failure to pay the sewage collection, transportation and treatment charge or surcharge or penalty after they become delinquent, Council may also authorize the appropriate personnel to shut off water service to said property or to remove or close the sewer connection and to take such steps as may be necessary to accomplish such shutoff or removal or closing. The expense of such shutoff or removal or closing, as well as the expense of restoring any such service, shall likewise be a debt due the Borough and a lien on the property served and may be filed and collected as hereinabove provided. Such sewage service shall not be restored until all sewage collection, transportation and treatment charges, surcharges and penalties, including the expense of removal, closing and restoration, shall have been paid or adequate provisions for their payment shall have been made.

All persons violating any provisions of this article shall be given notice of such violations, either personally or by means of the United States Mail, and if no action to correct said violation is taken with 30 days of the date of such notice, water to said premises may be shut off or the sewer connection may be removed or closed. Reconnection will not be made until after payment of all monies due the Borough and the costs for reconnection.