[Ord. 139, 2/20/1979, § 1; as amended by Ord. 163,
1/5/1981; by Ord. 204, 8/21/1984; by Ord. 248, 12/21/1988; by Ord.
261, 12/20/1989; by Ord. 279, 12/18/1991; by Ord. 296, 2/3/1993; by
Ord. 308, 4/6/1994; by Ord. 321, 12/6/1995; by Ord. 354, 12/16/1999,
§§ 1, 2; and by Ord. 411, 12/21/2005]
1.
Ready-To-Serve Charge. A quarterly base charge, known as the "ready-to-serve"
charge (hereinafter "RTS fee"), is imposed upon each residential,
commercial and industrial EDU in the amount of $66. The RTS fee will
be the base amount due for each premises connected or approved to
be connected to the sewer system and where a water supply is available.
The RTS fee is to defray debt service and administrative expenses
incurred in maintaining the system so that it remains ready and able
to accept and dispose of sewage from all premises served and is imposed
regardless of whether water is used and even when a home or other
structure is vacant, unoccupied and/or when water has been shut off.
[Amended by Ord. 489, 12/21/2016]
2.
Consumption Charges; Additional Charges.
[Amended by Ord. 458, 6/20/2012; by Ord. 463, 2/20/2013;
by Ord. 489, 12/21/2016; by Ord. 499, 1/16/2019; and by Ord. No. 511, 12/16/2020]
A.
A consumption charge for the cost of operations and treatment is
imposed upon all users in the amount of $4.23 for each 1,000 gallons
of water or part thereof which is consumed, up to 15,000 gallons per
quarter, with a minimum consumption charge of $25.38 per quarter for
up to 6,000 gallons of water consumption per quarter. The consumption
charge imposed upon all users shall increase to $4.45 for each thousand
gallons or part thereof over the first 15,000 gallons consumed per
quarter.
B.
For users in the Willow Run and Crouse Run Watersheds generating
sewage treated by Hampton Township, an additional monthly capital
improvements service charge is imposed. Such charges, upon collection,
are remitted directly to Hampton Township. The Richland Township Board
of Supervisors may change this fee by resolution upon receipt from
Hampton Township of notice of the implementation of any changes approved
by the Hampton Township Board of Supervisors to the capital improvement
charge. The monthly capital improvements service charge shall be as
follows:
(1)
For 2019, the capital improvements service charge shall be set
at $10.50 per month;
(2)
For 2020, the capital improvements service charge shall be set
at $18 per month;
(3)
For 2021, the capital improvements service charge shall be set
at $25.50 per month;
(4)
For 2022, and until changed by the Board of Supervisors, the
capital improvements service charge shall be set at $33 per month;
(5)
For 2023, and until changed by the Board of Supervisors, the capital
improvements service charge shall be set at $38 per month;
[Added by Res. No. 1-2023, 1/18/2023]
(6)
For 2024, and until changed by the Board of Supervisors, the capital
improvements service charge shall be set at $43 per month.
[Added by Res. No. 1-2023, 1/18/2023]
C.
For users generating sewage treated by Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage
Authority, an additional capital improvements fee is imposed. The
capital improvements fee is imposed to defray debt services and other
expenses that the Township will incur to have sewage conveyed to and
treated by the AVJSA and to maintain and improve its sewer system,
and to defray the expense of any related sewer work. The Richland
Township Board of Supervisors may change this fee by resolution. The
capital improvements fee shall be as follows:
(1)
For 2019, the capital improvements fee shall be set at $6 per
month per EDU;
(2)
For 2020, the capital improvements fee shall be set at $12 per
month per EDU;
(3)
For 2021, the capital improvements fee shall be set at $18 per
month per EDU;
(4)
For 2022, and until changed by the Board of Supervisors, the
capital improvements shall be set at $24 per month per EDU.
D.
Sewer Reimbursement Charge.
(1)
For users within Phases III, IV and V of the Parkview Estates
Plan, a sewer reimbursement charge of $5 per quarter is imposed to
cover anticipated or actual costs of maintenance, reconstruction,
replacement or repair of the 600-lineal-foot sanitary sewer line,
which was installed by boring, to a depth of 62 feet, in order to
provide sanitary sewer service to property owners within these phases
of the plan. The surcharge shall also be imposed on any future users
located outside of the plan who generate sewerage transported through
said sewer line.
(2)
The sewer reimbursement charge may be adjusted from time to
time by the Township by resolution passed at a Board of Supervisors
public meeting setting such charges at the minimum level that may
be determined in the reasonable judgment of the Township Engineer
to create funds sufficient to pay for the anticipated or actual costs
incurred for the maintenance, replacement, reconstruction or repair
of the sewer as estimated by the Township Engineer.
E.
It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors that billing be done
so as to result in a uniform application of the rates and charges
imposed by this section, regardless of whether the user is billed
monthly, bimonthly, quarterly or by some other method approved by
the Township.
3.
A residential equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) shall be defined as
any room, group of rooms or enclosure, occupied or intended for occupancy
as separate living quarters for a family or other group of persons
living together or by persons living alone.
4.
An equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) with respect to commercial or industrial
customers shall be defined as each 15,000 gallons of water or less
consumed per quarter-year by any hotel, motel, office, store, shop,
restaurant, club, tavern, barber or beauty shop, service station,
funeral home or other commercial or industrial establishment selling
or producing a product or rendering a service, or any religious, fraternal
or governmental establishment including schools. Said users shall
pay the established debt service and administration charge quarterly,
as established by this Part for each 15,000 gallons or less of water
consumed per quarter-year.
5.
Each commercial or industrial EDU, even though in a building or complex
of buildings, shall be considered to be a separate EDU even though
it may be located in the same building with a residential unit or
units or commercial or industrial unit or units.
6.
Each commercial or industrial user shall be so classified as a commercial
or industrial user on the basis of use and not on the basis of location
within any particular zoning district within the Township.
7.
In the event any bill for sanitary sewer service imposed and billed
under the terms of this Part is unpaid 30 days from the date of its
issuance, there will be a penalty charge of 10% per month added thereto
with a minimum penalty charge of $2.50 per month.
[Ord. 139, 2/20/1979, § 3; as amended by Ord. 489,
12/21/2016]
In those instances where the occupier of a single-family residence dwelling plans to be away from the residence for a period of time in excess of 30 days, leaving the residence vacant, the occupier shall not be subject to a minimum consumption charge stated in § 18-301, Subsection 2A. The occupier shall be responsible for payment of the consumption charge stated in § 18-301, Subsection 2A, for each 1,000 gallons of water or part thereof which may be actually consumed during the period of vacancy. In all cases, however, even though a reduced charge for vacant residency may be applied, the RTS fee will not be reduced and will apply and accrue fully at all times.
[Ord. 139, 2/20/1979, § 4; as amended by Ord. 326,
11/20/1996]
The owners of all business establishments (including apartments
and mobile home courts) served by the Township sanitary sewer system
shall be responsible for the sanitary sewer bill for the entire business
establishment or each part, apartment or mobile home court whether
metered by one or any number of meters. The Township may bill each
tenant or occupier of any part of the premises separately, but the
owner shall remain liable for payment of all billings in the event
the tenant or occupier fails to pay same for any reason whatsoever,
inclusive of such tenant's or occupier's bankruptcy.
[Ord. 139, 2/20/1979, § 5; as amended by Ord. 166,
4/21/1981; and by Ord. 222, 5/21/1986, § 75]
In the event any bill for sanitary sewer service is overdue
or delinquent for a period of more than 30 days, there will be a penalty
charge of 10% added thereto, with a minimum penalty of $2.50 and there
shall be charged thereafter from said date of penalty interest at
the rate of 10% on such outstanding balance. The above rates for penalty
and interest shall be increased automatically upon subsequent Acts
of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania providing for
same.
[Ord. 139, 2/20/1979, § 6]
The charges established above shall constitute a lien against the owner of the property connected to sanitary sewers of the Township until paid. Any such lien may be filed by the Township Solicitor in the office of the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The lien shall include all delinquent charges, together with accrued penalties as set forth in § 18-305 of this Part and shall also include an additional 5% penalty for collection and shall, after being filed in the Prothonotary's office, bear interest at the maximum legal rate established by State law.
