[Ord. 1475, 6/12/1972, §§ 1-7; as amended
by Ord. 1488, 11/10/1972; by Ord. 1905, 3/22/2004; and by Ord. 1930,
12/28/2006]
1.
All buildings now constructed or to be constructed on, abutting,
or adjacent to Township streets, are required to connect the sewage
discharge system from the building to the Township public sanitary
sewer, where such public sanitary sewers are in existence and available
for such purpose.
2.
No connection shall be made with any sanitary sewers of the Township
of Harrison, nor shall any sanitary sewage or other waste be introduced
into said sewers, without first having secured a permit from the Township.
A.
The permit fee shall be calculated in accordance with tapping fee
studies by the Township Engineer undertaken pursuant to Act 203 of
1990, Act 57 of 2003, and other applicable law, which studies are
incorporated herein by reference. The permit fee shall include the
following components:
B.
Upon
adoption of this Subsection, the connection fee shall be $30, and
the collection fee shall be $900 per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU)
(204 gallons per day), provided that the connection fee, collection
fee and any other permitted fee may each be set or amended from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current resolution is on file in the office
of the Township Secretary.
C.
The collection
fee will be based on the average daily sewage flow rate of the customer
as determined by the Township Engineer in accordance with standard
engineering practices and the Act 57 and Act 203 studies referenced
above. The Township Engineer may, in his discretion or at the request
of the applicant/property owner, review the customer’s actual
usage 12 months following full occupancy and/or use of the premises
and revise any initial determination of flow rate to reflect actual
usage, and in such case the fee shall be as determined by the Township
Engineer based upon actual usage.
D.
Any additional
collection fee due as determined by the actual usage by the Township
Engineer shall be paid by the applicant/property owner within 45 days
following the receipt of an invoice for the same from the Township.
Conversely, should the actual usage, as determined by the Township
Engineer, represent a collection fee less than the amount originally
estimated by the Township Engineer, the Township shall refund the
amount due to the applicant/property owner within 45 days of such
determination.
3.
No connection or tap-in to a public sanitary sewer may be made without
inspection and approval by the Public Works Department of the Township
of Harrison and/or the Engineer of the Township of Harrison.
4.
It shall be unlawful to make any connections to the sanitary sewer
system which permits the entry into the Township sanitary sewer system
of any discharges of surface or rain water, or any other discharges
defined as unlawful under any other Township ordinances.
[Ord. 1556, 10/7/1974, §§ 1-3]
1.
The sanitary sewerage system of the Township shall be used exclusively
for the reception and conveyance of household liquid, wastes and human
excreta as is necessary and customary in a system of sanitary sewers.
The discharge of stormwater or roof water or water from a sump pump
or French drain overtaxes the capacity of the sanitary sewer system
and is hereby declared unlawful and a violation of this Part.
[Amended by Ord. 1909, 7/22/2004; and by Ord. 1913, 9/23/2004]
2.
On and after the passage of this § 102, no person, firm, corporation
or agent, or agents thereof, shall discharge stormwater or roof water
or water from a sump pump or French drain into the sanitary sewers
or cause the same to discharge into the sanitary system and it is
hereby declared unlawful and a violation of this Part.
[Amended by Ord. 1909, 7/22/2004; and by Ord. 1913, 9/23/2004]
3.
On and after October 31, 1974, the Township shall make an inspection
of all residences and buildings within the Township, for the purpose
of determining violations of this Part.
[Ord. 1426, 4/19/1971, §§ 1, 2]
1.
Industrial waste and sanitary sewage will be considered harmful to
the public sanitary sewerage system if it may cause any of the following
damaging effects: (a) chemical reaction, either directly or indirectly,
with the materials of construction of the public sanitary sewerage
system in such a manner as to impair the strength or durability of
the sewer structures; (b) mechanical action that will destroy the
sewer structures; (c) restriction of the hydraulic capacity of the
sewer structures; (d) restriction of the normal inspection or maintenance
of the sewer structures; (e) danger to public health and safety; or
(f) obnoxious condition inimical to public interest.
2.
No person shall discharge or permit the discharge or infiltration
into the public sanitary sewerage system of any of the following substances:
A.
Wastes containing ashes, cinders, sand, mud, greases, lime or acetylene
sludges, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics,
wood, sawdust, paunch manure, cotton, chemical or paint residues,
wool, plastic or other fibers, hair, hides, dead animals, spent mash
and grain, pulp from food processing, water or wastes containing grease,
fat or oil in excess of 100 ppm, or any other liquids, gases, solids
or viscous substances which by reason of their quality, quantity or
characteristics may cause fire, explosion, obstruction to the flow
in the public sanitary sewerage system or in any other way interfere
with or be deleterious to persons, the structures of the public sanitary
sewerage system or the proper operation of the public sanitary sewerage
system.
B.
Wastes or sanitary sewage having a temperature in excess of 120°
F. or less than 32° F.
C.
Wastes or sanitary sewage having pH lower than 5.5 or higher than
9.0 or having any corrosive property capable of causing damage or
hazards to structures, equipment or personnel of the public sanitary
sewage system. Where the Board of Commissioners deems it advisable,
it may require any person discharging wastes or sanitary sewage to
install and maintain, at his own expense in a manner approved by the
Board of Commissioners, a suitable device to continuously measure
and record the pH of the wastes or sanitary sewage so discharged.
D.
Garbage, whether ground or not, except properly shredded garbage
from a private dwelling unit, resulting from the proper use of a garbage
grinder or disposer; provided, however, that no private dwelling unit
shall operate more than one grinder or disposer which shall be not
greater than three horsepower in size and, when so required by the
Board of Commissioners, shall be equipped with an approved water meter
and limited in use to the consumption of an average of not more than
1,500 gallons of water per day.
E.
Wastes containing mineral acids, waste acid pickling or plating liquors
from the pickling or plating of iron, steel, brass, copper or chromium,
or any other dissolved or solid substances which will endanger health
or safety, interfere with the flow in the public sanitary sewerage
system, attach or corrode the public sanitary sewerage system or its
structures or equipment or otherwise interfere with or be detrimental
to the operation of the public sanitary sewerage system.
F.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing cyanides or cyanogen compounds
capable of liberating hydrocyanic gas on acidification; and wastes
or sanitary sewage containing any of the following substances in concentration
exceeding those shown in the following table:
|
Substance
|
Maximum Permissible Concentration
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Phenolic compounds as C6H5OH
|
1 ppm
| |
|
Cyanides as CN
|
1 ppm
| |
|
Cyanates as CNO
|
10 ppm
| |
|
Iron as Fe
|
15 ppm
| |
|
Trivalent Chromium as Cr
|
3 ppm
| |
|
Hexavalent Chromium as Cr
|
0.5 ppm
| |
|
Nickel as Ni
|
3 ppm
| |
|
Copper as Cu
|
2 ppm
| |
|
Lead as Pb
|
2 ppm
| |
|
Tin as Sn
|
2 ppm
| |
|
Zinc as Zn
|
2 ppm
| |
|
And wastes and sanitary sewage containing other chemicals or
other matter detrimental to the operation of, or causing erosion,
corrosion or deterioration in, the public sanitary sewerage system.
| ||
G.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing more than 10 ppm of any of the
following gases: hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide,
or any of the halogens.
H.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing a toxic or poisonous substance
in quantities sufficient to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment
process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals or create any hazard
in the public sanitary sewerage system operation, and such toxic substances
shall include, but shall not be limited to, substances containing
cyanide, chromium and/or copper ions.
I.
Wastes or sanitary sewerage containing toxic substances in quantities
sufficient to interfere with the biochemical processes of the sewage
treatment works or that will pass through the sewage treatment works
and exceed the state requirements in respect thereof.
J.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing any toxic radioactive isotopes,
without a special permit.
K.
Fats, entrails and the like from meat processing plants, rendering
plants and similar industries and establishments.
L.
Sludges or other materials from septic tanks or similar facilities
or from sewage or industrial waste treatment plants or from water
treatment plants.
M.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing any noxious or malodorous gas
or substance which either singly or by interaction with sewage or
other wastes is likely, in the opinion of the Board of Commissioners,
to create a public nuisance or hazard to life, or prevent entry to
the public sanitary sewerage system for its maintenance and repair.
N.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing gases or vapors, either free
or occluded, in concentrations toxic or deleterious to humans or animals.
O.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing insoluble, nonflocculent substances
having a specific gravity in excess of 2.65.
P.
Wastes or sanitary sewage containing soluble substances in such concentration
as to cause the specific gravity of the waste to be greater than 1.1.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 104, Water Shut-Off, was
repealed 12/28/2006 by Ord. 1930.
[Ord. 1426, 4/19/1971, § 3; Ord. 1475, 6/12/1972,
§ 9; and Ord. 1556, 10/7/1974, § 4; as amended
by Ord. 1782, 2/16/1987; and by Ord. 1870, 7/24/1997, § I]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Part and
any person refusing to permit the smoke and/or dye testing as required
herein shall, upon conviction thereof before any District Justice
or other issuing authority, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
than $1,000 for each and every offense, and costs, in default of payment
of said fine and costs, to be imprisoned in the Allegheny County Jail
for a period not to exceed 90 days. Whenever such person shall have
been notified in writing by first class mail, by the Township, that
such person is violating this Part, each full day that he shall continue
such violation after mailing of such notification shall constitute
a separate offense punishable by a like fine hereunder upon conviction
thereof.
[Ord. 1870, 7/24/1997, § II]
1.
No owner or occupant of property tapped into the Harrison Township
sewer system shall discharge, or permit the discharge, of any stormwater,
surface water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, cooling water or
unpolluted industrial process waters into said sanitary sewer system.
2.
The Township is hereby authorized to conduct periodic smoke and/or
dye tests and any other appropriate test or inspection of all existing
sewer systems, laterals and structures tapped into the Harrison Township
sewer system for compliance with this Part and other laws pertaining
to sewer systems and structures.
3.
Every owner or occupant of property tapped into the Township sewer system shall submit to smoke and/or dye testing by the Township or its designated testers. Testing will not be required when the owner, lessee or occupier of the land produces a valid Document of Certification issued by the Township Building Inspector in accordance with Part 3 of this Chapter, which Document of Certification shall be sufficient proof of compliance for purposes of this Part for a period of one year from the date of issuance.
4.
When illegal stormwater or surface water connections have been discovered,
all necessary work to correct such connection shall be completed by
the owner or occupant of the premises, weather permitting, within
two months of the date they receive notification of the illegal connection.
In the event the necessary remedial work would create severe economic
hardship for the owner or occupant of the premises, application may
be made to the Authority for one extension of up to an additional
six months to complete said remedial work. In the event the owner
or occupant of the premises fails to effect the necessary remedial
work within the time permitted, including any extension thereof, the
Township may undertake to have the necessary remedial work completed
at the expense of the owner or occupant of the premises, and to make
any necessary arrangements for the payment of said work by the owner
or occupant of the premises on an installment basis, which arrangements
shall be mutually satisfactory to the owner or occupant. Under such
circumstances, in the event satisfactory arrangements are not agreed
upon by the Township and the owner or occupant, the Township may do
any or all of the following:
A.
File, pursuant to 53 P.S. § 7101, a lien against such property
for the expense incurred by the Township to perform the work plus
6% interest per annum plus penalty of 5% of the amount due, which
lien shall remain in effect until payment in full or sale of the property
occurs, which lien shall also include all Township legal fees and
costs incurred in connection with such lien.
B.
The Township may, pursuant to 53 P.S. § 58406, sue the
property owner or occupant in a civil action to recover the amount
due, plus interest, plus costs, plus Township attorney's fees
as permitted by law.
5.
DOCUMENT OF CERTIFICATION, EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE
DYE AND/OR SMOKE TEST
ILLEGAL STORM OR SURFACE WATER CONNECTIONS
MUNICIPAL LIEN AND PROPERTY TAX VERIFICATION LETTER
PERSON
PROPERTY TAPPED INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM OF HARRISON TOWNSHIP
TEMPORARY DOCUMENT OF CERTIFICATION
Definitions. The following terms used in Chapter 18 shall be defined as follows:
An official statement from the Building Inspector or other
designated official of the Township of Harrison stating that there
are no illegal storm or surface water connections into the sanitary
sewer system on the specific property which is being sold.
Any commonly accepted method of testing wherein dye and/or
smoke is introduced into the storm, surface or subsurface water collection
system and downspouts of real estate property to determine if an illegal
stormwater or surface water is entering the sanitary sewer system.
The connection of any basement seepage, surface water, subsurface
drains, downspouts, roof drainage or surface areaway drainage into
the sanitary sewer system.
A written letter from the proper official of the Township
of Harrison concerning municipal liens and property taxes.
Any person, syndicate, associate, partnership, firm, corporation,
institution, agency, Authority, estate, personal representative, fiduciary
or other entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties.
Any real property, inside or outside Township boundaries, which generates sanitary sewage transported through the sanitary sewer line owned or maintained by Harrison Township including, but not limited to, real property in the Township of Fawn which is subject to Chapter 18, Part 2, of this Code of Ordinances.
A temporary statement of certification from the proper officer in the Township of Harrison, issued pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4 above.
[Ord. 1909, 7/22/2004; as amended by Ord. 1913, 9/23/2004]
1.
No person, owning or having charge of any building or other premises
which drains into the public sewer shall permit any substance or matter,
nor shall any such person permit trees, roots, other vegetation or
any other condition of the property to obstruct or interfere with
the public sewer. Within seven days after receipt of written notice
from the Township, the person shall file with the Township Public
Works Foreman a written plan for compliance and, within 20 days, shall
commence the required remedial work and shall remove all trees, vegetation,
structures, substances or objects causing or contributing to the obstruction
or interference with the public sewer as the Township Public Works
Foreman or his designee may deem necessary. Upon the refusal or neglect
to remove all trees, vegetation, substance, matter, structures, or
objects after a period of 20 days, the person shall be subject to
the penalties in § 105 of this Part, and the Township may
cause such work to be completed at the expense of the person.
2.
No person, owning or having charge of any building or other premises
which drains into a lateral connection that connects with the public
sewer shall permit any substance or matter nor shall any such person
permit trees, roots, other vegetation or any other condition of the
property to obstruct or interfere with the lateral connection to the
public sewer. Within 60 days after receipt of written notice from
the Township, the person shall clean out, repair or perform such other
work as the Township Engineer or his designee may deem necessary,
including but not limited to the removal of any trees, roots or vegetation
deemed by the Township Engineer or his designee to cause or contribute
to the obstruction of or interference with the lateral connection
to the public sewer. Upon the refusal or neglect to clean out, repair,
or perform such other work after a period of seven days, the person
shall be subject to the penalties in § 105 of this Part,
and the Township may cause such work to be completed at the expense
of the person.
3.
The cost of any work done by or on behalf of the Township pursuant
to, this § 107 shall be a lien upon the property from the
time of commencement of the work.
A.
Any such lien may be filed and collected by the Township in the manner
provided by law for the collection of municipal claims, or may be
collected by action in assumpsit against the property owner(s).
B.
Any lien against such property for the expense incurred by the Township
to perform the work shall include 6% interest per annum plus penalty
of 5% of the amount due plus all Township legal fees and costs incurred
in connection with such lien to the fullest extent allowed by law,
which lien shall remain in effect until payment in full. In any action
in assumpsit the property owner(s) shall also be liable for Township
costs and attorney fees to the extent permitted by law.
[Ord. 1939, 12/30/2008]
1.
Grease Removal Systems. Grease removal systems must be installed
at all connections to the Harrison Township sanitary sewage facilities
from users conducting food preparation or food processing operations,
including but not limited to restaurants, nursing homes, schools,
hospitals or other connections which discharge or have the potential
of discharge quantities of grease to the Township sanitary sewage
facilities in excess of allowable standards. Installation of a grease
removal system shall be required when the Township determines that
such discharge could result in obstruction to flow in the sewer or
accumulations of grease that could result in obstruction to flow in
the sewer. Grease removal systems must be installed according to the
following specifications:
A.
No wastewater, other than from kitchen fixtures or food processing
equipment, shall discharge into the grease removal system unless approved
by the Harrison Township Public Works Director in writing.
C.
An in-ground grease removal system shall have a minimum depth of
four feet and a minimum capacity of 500 gallons and shall have sufficient
capacity to provide at least a twenty-four-hour detention period for
the process flow. The minimum process flow shall be based on 15 gallons
per seat or chair per day or based on actual water usage for existing
facilities, according to such reasonable standards as may be utilized
by the Township Engineer.
D.
A suitable sampling location shall be provided for sampling of the
discharges from grease removal systems. Any plans for such grease
removal system as required in this Section shall be submitted for
Township review and approval prior to installation. The Township must
be notified 72 hours prior to installation of any grease removal device
in order to inspect and oversee the installation. Automatic electrical/mechanical
grease removal systems must have a sampling valve installed in the
discharge piping with a minimum clearance of eight inches for the
installation of sampling bottles.
E.
The owner shall be responsible for cleaning and maintaining the grease
removal system and shall maintain records of the dates of cleaning
and the means of disposal, subject to review by the Township. Any
removal and hauling of the collected materials not performed by the
owner must be performed by licensed waste disposal firms.
F.
All dishwasher wastewater from the prerinse station must discharge
to the grease removal device. All other dishwater wastewater must
bypass the grease removal device and be discharged directly into the
sewer system.
G.
The garbage disposal units may only be installed in facilities with
properly sized and operational in-ground passive-type grease interceptors
which have been properly designed for retention of settleable solids.
Garbage disposal units are prohibited in all other commercial or industrial
facilities. Garbage disposal waste shall not be discharged into automatic
electrical/mechanical grease removal systems.
H.
Grease and oil traps or other interceptors shall be provided at the
user's expense when such user operates an establishment preparing,
processing or serving food and/or food products. Grease interceptors
can be required in other industrial or commercial establishments when
they are necessary, in the opinion of the Township, for proper handling
of liquid waste containing oil and/or grease in amounts in excess
of 200 mg/l by weight, fat soluble, or for any flammable waste and
all such traps, tanks, chambers or other interceptors shall be of
a type and capacity approved by the Township and shall be readily
and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. All such interceptors
shall be serviced and emptied of the waste content as required for
the efficient operation, but not less often than every 30 days, in
order to maintain the minimum design capability to intercept oils
and greases from the wastewater discharged to the publicly owned sanitary
sewer.
I.
Waste removed from grease inceptors shall not be discharged into
the publicly owned sanitary sewer. The owner shall be responsible
for the sanitary disposal of such waste. The owner shall keep a contemporaneous
written record stating the date of disposal, the name and address
of the person or company handling such disposal and the disposal location.
J.
A facility must keep interceptor cleaning records and disposal records
on file a minimum of three years. The following information must be
maintained: receipt for job performed signed by contractor and cost,
cleanout date, person responsible for cleaning, name of firm performing
the cleanout, disposal method for and destination of material removed.
K.
The owner must inspect and maintain oil and grease storage containers
at least once a week and record, in a maintenance log, the date and
time of inspection, maintenance activity and the name of the individual
conducting the activity. The maintenance activities that shall be
documented in the maintenance log must include the following:
L.
A facility must maintain a proper containment around the storage
container and storage area.
M.
The facility owner is not to utilize enzymes, bacteria, chemicals,
etc., that would adversely affect the operation of the grease traps.
N.
The facility owner is to document the cleaning of the exhaust system
filters and record in a maintenance log the date and time of inspection,
maintenance activity and the name of the individual conducting the
activity. No filter cleaning is to be performed in an area not protected
by a grease trap.
2.
Penalties.
A.
Any person or user who is found to have failed to comply with the
provisions of this Section regarding grease traps may be fined up
to $1,000 per day per violation. Each day of violation shall be a
separate offense.
B.
Wherever a user has been notified of a violation of the provisions
of this Section and has not abated the violation within the deadline
as ordered by the Township, the Township may arrange with the water
supplier for water service to the user to be severed and for service
to recommence, at the user's expense, after the user has satisfactorily
come into compliance. The user shall pay all water termination-related
charges of the water supplier.
C.
In addition to the penalties and remedies contained herein, the Township
may take any action at law or in equity to seek redress for violation
of this Section.
3.
Appeals and Modifications.
A.
Should the Township determine any user to be in violation of these
regulations, it may serve upon such person a written notice stating
the nature of the violation. Within 20 days from the date of said
notice, the user must supply to the Township a written explanation
for the violation and a plan for the satisfactory correction of the
violation and a schedule for coming into full compliance. Submission
of such a plan does relieve the user of liability for any violation
occurring before or after receipt of the notice of violation.
B.
Any person aggrieved by the issuance of a violation notice under
this Section may file a written appeal to the Township Secretary within
20 days of such notice of violation requesting a Local Agency Law
hearing. Upon the filing of such appeal, the Board of Commissioners
will provide for such a hearing and may assign a hearing officer to
conduct a hearing, make findings of fact and recommendations, and/or
to issue a determination. Any request for an appeal hearing shall
be accompanied by a nonrefundable hearing fee of $50, and the applicant
shall be responsible for payment of all costs incurred by the Township
in connection with the hearing, including but not limited to court
reporter costs, costs of transcripts, cost of publication of notices,
etc.
C.
Upon written request from any person, the Township Engineer may approve
a modification of any substantive requirement herein, provided that
such modification is needed to avoid undue hardship, adequate measures
are taken to preserve the proper operation of the sanitary sewer system,
and the modification poses no danger to the public health.
