[Adopted 11-11-1957 by Ord. No. 11-11-57A]
[Amended 12-13-1976 by Ord. No. 12-13-76D]
55.1.1. 
All owners of property connected or connecting with the sewers, sewage system and sewage treatment works as owned or leased by the Municipality of Bethel Park, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and all of the owners of property wheresoever located who may hereafter connect with and use the same shall pay sewer charges or rentals, payable quarterly as hereinafter provided, for the use of such sewage facilities, based upon the following schedule of rates.
[Amended 5-13-1963 by Ord. No. 5-13-63F; 1-11-1971 by Ord. No. 1-11-71B; 2-12-1973 by Ord. No. 2-12-73D; 12-13-1976 by Ord. No. 12-13-76D; 3-15-1981 by Ord. No. 3-16-81A; 11-28-1984 by Ord. No. 11-28-84D; 2-12-1990 by Ord. No. 2-12-90B; 7-9-1990 by Ord. No. 7-9-90A; 8-9-1993 by Ord. No. 8-9-93A; 11-30-1994 by Ord. No. 11-30-94D; 5-13-1996 by Ord. No. 5-13-96A; 11-22-1999 by Ord. No. 11-22-99B; 7-10-2000 by Ord. No. 7-10-00; 11-14-2005 by Ord. No. 11-14-05C; 11-3-2006 by Ord. No. 11-13-06B; 10-8-2007 by Ord. No. 10-8-07]
55.2.1. 
The service charge for any person, firm or corporation, owners of property discharging sewage, industrial waste, water or other liquids into said system shall be based upon the quantity of water used on or in said premises, owned as aforesaid, as the same is measured by water meters in use or other meters to be installed, plus a customer service charge, and shall be charged monthly at the following rates:
[Amended 11-12-2012 by Ord. No. 11-12-12C; 9-9-1913 by Ord. No. 9-9-13; 11-9-2015 by Ord. No. 11-9-15B; 8-8-2016 by Ord. No. 8-8-16]
1. 
Metered water users.
a. 
Effective October 1, 2016:
[1] 
Single premises.
Water Usage
Rate
For each 1,000 gallons
$8.60
[2] 
Multiple premises.
Water Usage
Rate
For each 1,000 gallons
$8.60
[3] 
Customer service charge. A customer service charge is hereby established, which charge shall equal $15 per premises, per month. This charge shall be in addition to the rates based upon the quantity of water used and shall be payable as a minimum charge whether or not there is any water usage in the premises during a month.
b. 
Effective July 1, 2017:
[1] 
Single premises.
Water Usage
Rate
For each 1,000 gallons
$9.00
[2] 
Multiple premises.
Water Usage
Rate
For each 1,000 gallons
$9.00
[3] 
Customer service charge. A customer service charge is hereby established, which charge shall equal $15 per premises, per month. This charge shall be in addition to the rates based upon the quantity of water used and shall be payable as a minimum charge whether or not there is any water usage in the premises during a month.
c. 
Exclusion: quantity of water used in residential user's lawn sprinkler system as measured by municipality-inspected lawn sprinkler system water meter.
[1] 
Residential users with lawn sprinkler systems on their residential premises may install lawn sprinkler system water meters, either a counter meter attached to the main water line or a meter attached to an independent water line used solely for the lawn sprinkler system. The quantity of water so used and measured shall be excluded from the quantity used on or in the premises as a basis for the sewer service charge imposed by this ordinance; provided, however, that the residential user must:
[a] 
Notify the Municipal Manager in writing of the intention to install such a meter and of the proposed date and time of installation of the meter;
[b] 
Have the installation of the meter monitored in person and inspected and approved by the designated municipal representative; and
[c] 
Pay to the Municipality, on or before the installation date, an inspection fee of $25.
[2] 
In the event that a counter meter is installed, it shall be read annually by the Municipality at a charge of $25 to the residential user. The residential user who has installed a counter meter shall notify the Municipality in writing of the amount of water used quarterly.
[3] 
In the event that such a meter is attached to an independent water line used solely for lawn sprinkler system, the meter shall be read by the water company with the water usage reported to the Municipality. In the event that the Municipality is required to read such a meter to obtain the water usage amount, $25 will be charged to the residential user.
[4] 
Any lawn sprinkler system water meter installed and approved under this section shall not be part of the public sewage system as owned or leased by the Municipality and shall remain the property and sole responsibility of the residential user.
d. 
Exclusion: commercial usage of water through meters which are not connected, at any time, to the Municipality's sewage system.
[1] 
Upon the approval of an application in a form prescribed by the Municipality and payment of an application fee of $25, commercial usage of water through meters which are not connected, at any time, to the Municipality's sewage system shall be exempt from the payment of sewer rental fees under this article. No exemption shall be provided for any usage which occurs prior to the filing of such application.
[2] 
The Municipality shall retain the right, as a condition of this exemption, to require appropriate documentation, including verification from the Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Division, to ensure that a meter qualifies as exempt.
[3] 
The Municipality reserves the right, at its discretion and on an ongoing basis, to make any inquiries or investigations it deems necessary in order to ensure that a meter continues to meet the qualifications required for exemption.
[4] 
The determination as to whether a meter meets the qualifications for exemption under this section shall be within the full discretion of the Municipality.
2. 
Flat rate and spring and/or well-water users. The following schedule of rates shall be applicable to water users whose water bills are based upon a flat rate, as distinguished from those water users who do not receive a water bill (e.g., spring and/or well-water users). All flat-rate water residential customers, and those who are spring and/or well-water users, will be billed upon an equivalent residential unit basis (ERU). The average residential usage is estimated at 16,000 gallons per quarter. Each residential flat-rate, and spring and/or well-water users' account will be billed for sewer service based upon this average unless proof is established that the customer's usage is less. In addition to the charge based on estimated usage of 16,000 gallons, or such other usage as established by appropriate proof, the customer service charge, as established above, shall be imposed.
[Added 11-13-1972 by Ord. No. 11-13-72G; amended 2-12-1973 by Ord. No. 2-12-73D]
55.3.1. 
General. All premises shall be subject to multiple billing.
55.3.2. 
Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
55.3.3. 
PREMISES — The property or area, including the improvements thereon, to which sewer service is or will be furnished, and as used herein, shall be taken to designate:
1. 
A building under one roof, owned or leased by one customer, and occupied as one residence or one place of business; or
2. 
A group or combination of buildings owned by one customer, in one common enclosure, occupied by one family, or one organization, corporation or firm, as a residence or place of business, or for manufacturing or industrial purposes, or as a hotel, hospital, church, parochial school or similar institution, except as otherwise noted herein; or
3. 
The one side of a double house having a solid vertical partition wall; or
4. 
Each side or each part of a house or building occupied by one family even though the closet and/or other fixtures are used in common; or
5. 
Each apartment, office or suite of offices, and/or place of business located in a building or a group of buildings, even though such buildings in a group are interconnected by a tunnel or passageway, covered areaway or patio, or by some similar means or structure; or
6. 
A public building devoted entirely to public use, such as a town hall, school house, fire engine house; or
7. 
A single lot or park or playground; or
8. 
Each house in a row of houses; or
9. 
Each dwelling unit in a house or building, a "dwelling unit" being defined as a building or portion thereof with exclusive culinary facilities designed for occupancy and used by one person or one family (household); or
10. 
Each individual and separate place of business and/or occupancy located in one building or group of buildings commonly designated as shopping centers, supermarket areas, and by such other terms; or
11. 
Each dwelling unit in a public housing development owned and operated by the United States of America, a municipal subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or an agency or instrumentality of the United States or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; by a philanthropic foundation or organization or some such similar body or organization; or operated under private ownership.
Each premises shall be served through a separate premises or building service line, except where physical conditions prevent the installation of separate service facilities as determined by the Municipality.
55.3.4. 
Charges for service. The charge for sewer service in all cases where more than one premises is served through one premises or building sewer line shall be determined as follows:
1. 
Number of premises. The potential number of premises in any building or group of buildings and the charges therefor are subject to determination by the Municipality prior to original approval of the Municipality to furnish sewer services, and are subject to determination subsequent to any alterations, additions or changes in the building or group of buildings. The customer or customers or Sewage Agency shall notify the Municipality promptly relative to any changes in the number of premises; the number at any time always being subject to determination by the Municipality.
2. 
Different types of property use. This regulation shall apply regardless of whether a business may be owned by a customer also receiving household sewer service through the same building sewer, or the two or more premises are located in one building or in different buildings, the ownership of the property or business not being significant.
3. 
Billing of tenant. Should the owner desire that the Authority conduct business directly with the tenant of each premises, he must first provide means of billing and collecting the sewer service charges therefor.
4. 
Service charges based on fixtures. The total charge for sewer service shall be equal to average fixture charges for each premises, subject to all minimum charges, multiplied by the number of premises.
5. 
Service charges based on water consumption. The total charge based on water consumption shall be determined as follows:
a. 
The average use of water for each billing period for each premises shall be equal to the total number of gallons registered by the water meter or meter installation divided by the number of premises to be billed. Each premises shall then be assessed for water consumption in accordance with the rate schedule set forth in Section 55.2 of this ordinance. The average use of water for each billing period for each premises, as thus determined, shall provide the basis for billing, subject to minimum charges.
b. 
The total charge for sewer service shall be equal to the average charge for each premises, subject to minimum charges, multiplied by the number of premises determined as just set forth, and the total charge shall be submitted to the customer or customers or Sewage Agency as the proper charge for sewer service furnished to the type of building and/or buildings included hereunder.
6. 
Miscellaneous bases for sewer service charges. The municipality may use miscellaneous bases for determination of sewer service charges, such other methods to be subject, essentially, to the general principles just outlined.
[Amended 10-24-1960 by Ord. No. 10-24-60A; 12-13-1976 by Ord. No. 12-13-76E; 4-12-1982 by Ord. No. 4-12-82A; 8-13-1984 by Ord. No. 8-13-84B; 7-9-1990 by Ord. 7-9-90A; 4-13-1992 by Ord. No. 4-13-92A; 11-30-1994 by Ord. No. 11-30-1994]
55.4.1. 
Billing Periods and due dates. Sewer charges or rentals shall be billed monthly in accordance with the billing procedures established by the Pennsylvania American Water Company, and shall be paid monthly in accordance with the payment due dates established by the Pennsylvania American Water Company.
[Amended 11-13-2006 by Ord. No. 11-13-06C; 6-11-2007 by Ord. No. 6-11-07A]
55.4.2. 
An administrative fee of $10 is hereby imposed for any payment for sewer charges or rentals which is returned by the Municipality's collection agent or depository for nonsufficient funds, or any other reason.
55.4.3. 
Charges for sewage services shall be subject to a penalty of 1.5% if not paid in full on or before the prescribed due date. If payment of a lesser amount is made prior to the due date, the penalty shall be assessed upon the balance remaining unpaid.
[Amended 6-11-2007 by Ord. No. 6-11-07B]
55.4.4. 
Thereafter, an additional penalty of 1.5% shall be assessed on the unpaid balance for each thirty-day period or part thereof that has elapsed since the due date until said balance is paid in full. Any payments made on a delinquent account shall be applied first to penalty charges, and then to reduce the remaining unpaid sewage service charges.
[Amended 6-11-2007 by Ord. No. 6-11-07B]
[Added by Ord. No. 7-9-90A]1
55.5.1. 
In any case in which a discharger's wastes have an unusually high concentration of suspended solids and/or biochemical oxygen demand and/or chlorine demand, the sewage charges calculated as hereinbefore provided shall be increased according to the following formula:
1. 
Suspended Solids.
F = 1 + 0.50
0.44 (SS - 275) / 275
Where:
F
=
Factor to be applied to basic rate
SS
=
Suspended solids of particular wastes in parts per million (ppm).
2. 
Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
F = 1 + 0.50
0.27 (BOD - 300) / 300
Where:
F
=
Factor to be applied to basic rate
BOD
=
Biochemical Oxygen Demand of particular wastes in parts per million (ppm)
3. 
Chlorine Demand.
Rc = 0.00835 Pc (C - 5)
Where:
Rc
=
Surcharge rate for chlorine demand in cents per thousand gallons of wastes
Pc
=
Contract price of chlorine in cents per pound
C
=
Chlorine demand of particular waste in parts per million (ppm.)
55.6.1. 
The following concentrations of chemical substances shall not be exceeded in the sewage originating from any customer.
Chemical
Symbol
Parts per million
Cyanides
CN
1
Cyanates
CNO
10
Iron
Fe
5
Trivalent Chromium
Cr
3
Hexavalent Chromium
Cr
0.5
Nickel
Ni
3
Copper
Cu
2
Zinc
Zn
2
Phenol compounds
—
1
55.6.2. 
The waste of any customer containing excessive quantities of these chemicals may be refused entry into the system, until such waste has been pretreated to bring it under the allowable limits set forth above.
55.7.1. 
It is prohibited to discharge into the sanitary sewer system:
1. 
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150° F.
2. 
Any water or waste which may contain more than 100 parts per million, by weight, of fat, oil or grease.
3. 
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
4. 
Any garbage that has not been properly shredded, and not shredded to such degree that all particles will be carried freely under normal sewer flow conditions and with no particle greater than 1/2 inch in dimension.
5. 
Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, paunch manure or any other solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works.
6. 
Any waters or wastes have a pH lower than five point five or higher than nine point zero, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewage works.
7. 
Any waters or wastes containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant.
8. 
Any waters or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the sewage treatment plant.
9. 
Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a public nuisance.
55.8.1. 
All sewer charges or rentals hereby imposed shall be a lien from the due date thereof on each and every lot or tract of real property served by the sewage systems of the Municipality of Bethel Park or in the Township of Snowden, or in any other surrounding municipalities.
55.8.2. 
All liens for unpaid assessments shall be filed in the office of the Prothonotary of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and collected in the manner provided by law for the filing and collection of municipal claims.
55.9.1. 
Funds received by the municipality from the collection of charges or rentals herein provided for shall be used only for the following purposes and for such purposes only.
1. 
Defraying the expense of the Municipality in the operation, maintenance, repair, alteration, inspection, depreciation or other expense in relation to such sewers, sewer system and sewage treatment works.
2. 
Such payments as the Municipality may be required to make under any lease or agreement which it may enter into for said sewers, sewage system and sewage treatment work with the Municipal Authority of the Municipality of Bethel Park, County of Allegheny and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of May 2, 1945, P.L. 382, as amended.
55.10.1. 
The rentals or charges hereby imposed shall become effective immediately or at the time or connection to the sewage system, as the case may be.
55.11.1. 
Neither the Municipality of Bethel Park nor the Municipal Authority of the Municipality of Bethel Park, County of Allegheny and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, shall be liable for any damage resulting from leaks, broken pipe or any other cause occurring to or within any house or building or in connection with the building sewer between the sewer line and any house or building; and neither the said municipality nor the Authority shall be liable to any owner for any claim for damage arising by reason of any leaking or breaking of any main, trunk, interceptor, lateral or collecting sewer or any building connection, sewer line or any attachment to the sewer.
55.12.1. 
The duly authorized agents of the Municipality of Bethel Park and the Municipal Authority of the Municipality of Bethel Park, County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, shall have access at all reasonable hours of the day to all parts of the premises to which sewer service is supplied to make necessary inspections.
55.13.1. 
In cases where residences or other establishments have private springs or private wells, these establishments will be required to provide a meter on the spring or well. This meter and its installation must be furnished by the property owner, must be acceptable to the municipality, and shall be available to municipal employees for meter readings at any time.
55.14.1. 
Any person found to be violating any provision of this ordinance shall be served by the Municipality of Bethel Park with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a time limit of 30 days for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.
55.14.2. 
Any person who shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in 55.14.1 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not exceeding $100 for each violation. Each day in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
55.14.3. 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall become liable to the Municipality of Bethel Park for any expense, loss or damage occasioned the Municipality of Bethel Park by reason of such violation.
55.15.1. 
The provisions of this ordinance are severable, and if any of its provisions are held to be illegal, such illegality shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions of this ordinance. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the municipality that this ordinance would have been ordained and enacted had such illegal provision not been included therein.
55.16.1. 
The Municipal Council shall, at its regular meeting in December of each year, review the rate schedule then in effect for the municipality to determine if such schedule is producing revenues in excess of the amount needed for operation and maintenance of the sewer system and for payment of all the rentals and other requirements of the municipality under the agreement of lease with the Authority. If such rate schedule is found to be producing a material surplus of funds in excess of such needs, it shall be adjusted by the Municipal Council for the next succeeding fiscal year of the municipality so that the estimated revenues to be derived therefrom shall be reasonably in balance with the estimated operation and maintenance expenses, rentals and other fiscal requirements of the sewer system.
55.17.1. 
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.