Borough of Northampton, PA Water

Customers shall be encouraged not to permit any water furnished by the NBMA (Northampton Borough Municipal Authority) to run to waste in any gutter or other impervious surface.

Each resident or property owner of the Borough of Northampton is urged to install fixtures which will reduce the quantity of water required to flush toilets and to reduce the flow rates of showers and faucets.

§ 240-2 Building permits; water service.

No water shall be provided for internal or external use to any residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, governmental or public building or structure of any kind which is constructed or remodeled, and in which plumbing, water piping or water fixtures are to be installed, extended or altered in any way, and for which construction a permit is required to be obtained from the Borough of Northampton (or would be required but for an exemption from a permit requirement for public or governmental agencies) unless the new, extended or altered plumbing, water piping and other water using fixtures therein conform to the requirements and standards of § 240-4 of this article. The provisions of this article shall apply to any such building or structure for which such a building permit is issued, or would otherwise be required to be issued for such an exemption, on or after December 1, 1988.

§ 240-3 Plumbing fixture requirements.

[Amended 5-19-1994 by Ord. No. 1058]

Water use by water closets. For water closets and associated flushing mechanism, maximum volume shall not exceed an average of 1.6 gallons per flushing cycle when tested in accordance with the hydraulic performance requirements of ANSI A112.19.2M and ANSI A112.19.6M.

Water closets and urinals operated by flushometers.

(1)

For water closets and associated flushing mechanism, maximum volume shall not exceed an average of 1.6 gallons per flushing cycle when tested in accordance with the hydraulic performance requirements of ANSI A112.19.2M and ANSI A112.19.6M.

(2)

Urinal water consumption shall not exceed an average of one gallon per flush cycle over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psig or a maximum of 1 1/2 gallons per flush cycle at any one test pressure. The flushometer shall be adjusted according to manufacturer's specifications. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the flushing test requirements cited in the ANSI 112.9.2 Vitreous China Plumbing Fixtures standard.

Showerheads. Showerhead discharge rates shall not exceed 2 3/4 gallons of water per minute over a range of test pressure from 20 to 80 psig. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements cited in the ANSI 112.18.1 Finished Rough Brass Plumbing Fixture Fittings standard.

Sink faucets.

(1)

Kitchen sink faucet discharge rates shall not exceed 2 3/4 gallons of water per minute over a range of test pressure from 20 to 80 psig. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements cited in the ANSI 112.18.1 Finished Rough Brass Plumbing Fixture Fittings standard.

(2)

Residential lavatory sink faucet discharge rates shall not exceed 2 3/4 gallons of water per minute over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psig. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements cited in the ANSI 112.18.1 Finished Rough Brass Plumbing Fixture Fittings standard.

(3)

Nonresidential lavatory faucets shall be either self-closing or metering faucets as described below:

(a)

Self-closing faucets shall not exceed an average discharge rate of 1/2 gpm between the pressures of 20 and 80 psig when tested in accordance with the discharge test procedure cited in ANSI A112.18.1 Finished and Rough Brass Plumbing Fixture Fittings.

(b)

Metering faucets shall be field-adjustable and set so that the discharge quantity shall not exceed 1/2 gallons of water per cycle.

Blowout toilets and urinals. Replacement of blowout toilet and urinal fixtures with like type fixtures may be granted by local officials upon request where adequate justification of special need is provided.

Pressure reducing valve. Where the service water pressure to a building is expected to exceed 60 psi a water pressure reducing valve with strainer shall be installed just downstream of the building's main valve, so as to be accessible. The valve shall provide for pressure adjustment within the range of 50 to 60 psi. The valve shall conform to the requirements of product standard ASSE 1003. Exemptions to this article are service lines to sill cocks, outside hydrants, and main supply risers to buildings where pressure from the mains does not exceed 60 psi at the fixture branches or at individual fixtures.

§ 240-4 Hearing.

Any person(s) may apply to the Building Code Hearing Board for an exception to the terms of this article, which exception may be granted in the discretion of the Borough Council, upon proof that some other device, system or procedure will save as much or more water as those set forth herein, or that those set forth herein cannot be complied with, without undue hardship.

§ 240-5 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]

Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not more than $600 plus costs, and/or to undergo imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.

Article II Water System Connections

[Adopted 1-3-2000 by Ord. No. 1101]

§ 240-6 Short title.

This article shall be known as the "Water System Connections Ordinance."

§ 240-7 Definitions.

Unless specifically set forth otherwise, the meaning of the terms in this article shall be as set forth below:

AUTHORITY

The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Northampton, a Pennsylvania municipal authority.

BOROUGH

The Borough of Northampton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, a political subdivision, acting by and through its Council and by and through its authorized representatives.

IMPROVED PROPERTY

Any property within the Borough upon which there is erected a structure or any property within the Borough upon which a structure is proposed to be erected.

OWNER

Any person vested with legal or equitable ownership, in whole or in part, of any property located in the Borough.

PERSON

Any individual, partnership, company, association, society, corporation or other group or entity, or combination thereof.

WATER SYSTEM

The water distribution facilities, including all related facilities, owned by or in the control of the Authority, including all real and personal property, and property of a mixed nature, rights, powers, licenses, easements, rights-of-way, privileges, franchises, and other property or interest in property of whatsoever nature used or useful in connection with such facilities, and together with all additions, extensions, alterations, improvements, and enhancements thereof or thereto which may be made, installed or acquired, from time to time, by or for the authority.

§ 240-8 Use of public water system required.

Notice to connect. The owner of any improved property shall connect such improved property to the water system in such manner as the Borough and the Authority may require, within 60 days after notice to such owner from this Borough to make such connection.

Form of notice. The notice by the Borough or Authority to make a connection to the water system, referred to in Subsection A above, shall consist of a copy of this article, including any amendments or supplements at the time in effect, and a written or printed document requiring the connection in accordance with the provisions of this article, specifying that such connection shall be made within 60 days from the date such notice is given. Such notice shall be served upon the owner in accordance with law.

Failure to connect. If the owner of any improved property abutting upon any street, after 60 days' notice from the Borough in accordance with Subsection A, shall fail to connect such improved property, as required, the Borough may make such connection and may collect from such owner the costs and expenses thereof, including a 10% administration charge and any and all attorney and engineering fees and costs. In such case, this Borough shall forthwith, upon completion of the work, send an itemized bill of the cost of the construction of such connection to the owner of the improved property to which connection has been so made, which bill shall be payable forthwith. Should the owner of such improved property fail to pay such bill, the Borough shall file a municipal lien for said construction and all costs set forth in this subsection, within two months of the date of the completion of the construction of said connection. The aforementioned lien is subject in all respects to the general law providing for the filing and recovery of municipal liens.

§ 240-9 Connection requirements.

Permit required. No person shall construct any connection to, uncover, connect with, make any opening into or use, alter or disturb, in any manner, any water main constituting a part of the water system, without first making application for and securing a permit, in writing, from the Authority. Such application shall be made on a form to be provided by the Authority.

Connections to conform to regulations. All connections to the water mains and the installation of any service line to an improved property shall be accomplished in conformance with the rules and regulations of the Borough and the Authority.

Authorizations from authority. Only persons properly authorized by the Authority shall be permitted to make service line and service connection installations.

Additional provisions. The Borough and the Authority reserve the right to adopt, from time to time, additional rules and regulations as they shall deem necessary and proper relating to connections with the water system, which additional rules and regulations, to the extent appropriate, shall be, and shall be construed as, part of this article.

§ 240-10 Violations and penalties; enforcement.

Penalties. Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon official determination thereof, be ordered to pay a fine not exceeding $500 and costs. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.

Collection powers. Fines and costs imposed under provisions of this article shall be enforceable and recoverable in the manner at the time provided by applicable law.