[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Franklin as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 4-29-1985 by Ord. No. 85-3]
[Amended 10-28-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4]
The Mayor and Township Committee deem it in
the best interest of the residents of the Township, due to the detection
of substantial water pollution and contamination in the groundwater
aquifer in certain areas of the Township, and have therefor granted
a limited franchise to New Jersey Water Company[1] to extend water mains into the Township in and through
the municipal streets therein. In order to facilitate said water main
extension, to promote the health and welfare of its residents and
to make the same cost effective, this article is hereby adopted, providing
for certain regulations for the mandatory connection to said water
mains as hereinafter provided.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any building or structure heretofore or hereafter constructed,
designed or used for residential dwelling purposes or occupancy by
persons, whether temporary or permanent, for public use or commercial
or industrial uses in which water facilities are required by any statute,
regulation or ordinance of the State of New Jersey, County of Warren
or the Township of Franklin.
For all existing buildings required to be connected, the
90th day next ensuing after said water mains are available to serve
said building or structure. For any building or structure constructed
after the date of completion of said water mains and after they are
available to serve, said building or structure shall be connected
to said water mains at the time of such construction and prior to
occupancy, unless hereinafter exempted.
Any system providing for the carrying of water for domestic,
commercial or industrial purposes from a central source by and through
pipelines and mains installed in the public streets of the municipality,
whether the same be by a public water authority or private water company,
authorized by statute and/or regulated as a public utility.
[Amended 10-28-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4]
All buildings or structures located within a
reasonable distance of water mains installed or to be installed by
the New Jersey Water Company in the area presently outlined by the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and designated as
the "red-lined area," as on file with the Franklin Township Clerk
and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, shall connect
such buildings or structures to said water mains on or before but
not later than the connection date. Said connection shall be mandatory.
All new buildings or structures along any future extensions of said
water main by the New Jersey Water Company or other water utility
shall be connected to said water mains at or during the time of construction,
provided that the same are within a reasonable distance of said mains.
The owners of said buildings or structures shall bear the cost and
responsibility from the curbline connection, with the exception of
those covered under the emergency installation extension by the Spill
Compensation Fund in the red-lined area.
Every connection required by this article shall
comply in all respects with the Plumbing Code of the State of New
Jersey, the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code or any other regulations.
[Amended 10-28-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4]
A.
It is further provided that those buildings or structures
required to hook up to an existing water main shall simultaneously
at the time of said connection shut off, disconnect and totally divorce
the previous private water system to said buildings or structures.
The disconnection shall be subject to and in accordance with the procedures
as required by state statute, regulations or other ordinances.
[Amended 10-28-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4; 9-28-1987 by Ord. No.
87-9]
A.
Upon failure of any owner, person or corporation to comply with this article within 30 days of a notice from the Franklin Township or Warren County Board of Health, which notice shall be served by certified mail (return receipt requested) and regular mail to the address of said owner as listed on the tax assessment list of the Township of Franklin, said owner, person or corporation shall be subject to the provisions of Subsection B below.
B.
In the event that any owner, person or corporation
shall not connect a building or structure to the water main as herein
provided and/or disconnect the private water source and/or fill and
seal his private well, such owner, person or corporation shall, upon
conviction thereof, pay a fine of $25. Each day beyond said thirty-day
notice period shall be a separate violation of the within provisions.
Penalties under this article shall be enforced by the Township or
County Board of Health or any authorized state agency in the Municipal
Court or any other court having proper jurisdiction thereof.
[Adopted 10-7-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. II,
Theft of Service, adopted 12-5-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-17.
A.
All public
water systems constructed within the Township shall be designed to
support the installation of fire hydrants conforming with NFPA standards
to facilitate the provision of fire protection to all areas of the
Township served by public water systems.
B.
All fire
hydrants shall conform to NFPA standards. Fire hydrants shall have
at least three outlets with National Standard Threads: One outlet
shall be a four-and-one-half-inch pumper outlet; the other outlets
shall be at least two-and-one-half-inch nominal size. The pumper outlet
shall face the street. All outlet nozzles shall be at least 12 inches
above the adjoining grade. When a concrete slab is provided around
the hydrant riser, the flange where the fire hydrant connects to the
riser shall be at least two inches above the adjacent grade. Service
main connections from the fire hydrants shall be a minimum of six
inches in diameter. A valve shall be installed on the service connections
between the fire hydrants and the street mains.
C.
Fire hydrants
shall be tested at least once annually, whether located on private
property or within the public right-of-way. The Township of Franklin
shall be responsible for the maintenance of all and any fire hydrants
located within the right-of-way of the public streets within the Township
of Franklin. Private hydrants shall be tested and maintained at the
expense of the owner.
D.
Fire hydrants
shall be made accessible at all times.
E.
No person,
other than the members of the Volunteer Fire Departments or authorized
agents and employees of the Township of Franklin, shall be permitted
to open any fire hydrants. Only standard fire hydrant wrenches shall
be used in the opening or closing of fire hydrants.
A.
No person
shall in any manner obstruct or prevent free access to or tamper with
or injure or damage by causing or permitting a vehicle to come in
contact with any fire hydrant, or place or store temporarily or otherwise
any object, material, snow, debris or structure of any kind within
a distance of 10 feet of any hydrant. Any such obstruction, when discovered,
may be removed at once by the Township at the expense of the person
responsible for the obstruction, said expense to be imposed as a municipal
lien against the property upon which any obstruction is located.
B.
No person
shall in any manner tamper with, injure or damage any fire hydrant.
Should a fire hydrant be damaged, it shall be the responsibility of
the person(s) inflicting the damage to reimburse the Township for
the full cost (on a time-and-material basis) of repairing or replacing
the damaged fire hydrant.
