[Ord. 29-1962, 8/13/1962; as added by Ord. 98-O-4, 3/11/1998,
§ I(8)]
This Part sets forth uniform requirements for direct and indirect
discharges to the sewer system.
[Ord. 29-1962, 8/13/1962, Art. 1; as amended by Ord. 98-O-4,
3/11/1998, § I(8)]
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise,
the meaning of terms used in this Part 1 shall be as follows:
AUTHORITY
Newtown, Bucks County, Joint Municipal Authority, a Pennsylvania
municipality authority.
BUILDING SEWER
The extension from the sewage drainage system of any improved
property to the lateral of a sewer.
IMPROVED PROPERTY
Any property within this Township upon which there is erected
a structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy
or use by human beings or animals and from which structure sewage
and/or industrial wastes shall be or may be discharged.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Any solid, liquid or gaseous substance or water borne waste
or form of energy rejected or escaping in the course of any industrial,
manufacturing, trade or business process or in the course of the development,
recovery or processing of natural resources, as distinct from sanitary
sewage.
LATERAL
That part of the "Sewer System" extending from a "Sewer"
to the curb line or, if there shall be no curb line, to the edge of
the pavement or to the edge of cartway, if not paved, or, if no such
"Lateral" shall be provided, then "Lateral" shall mean that portion
of, or place in a "Sewer" which is provided for connection of any
of any "Building Sewer."
OWNER
Any "Person" vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole
or partial, or any property located in this Township.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, company, association, society,
corporation or other group or entity.
SEWAGE
Water-carried household and toilet wastes from any residence,
commercial and industrial establishment.
SEWER
Any pipe or conduit constituting a part of the "Sewer System"
used or usable for sewage collection purposes.
SEWER SYSTEM
All temporary and permanent facilities at anytime and from
time to time owned or leased to and operated by the Authority and
used or usable for or in connection with the collection, treatment
and disposal of sanitary sewage and acceptable industrial waste.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a political
subdivision, acting by and through its Board of Supervisors.
[Ord. 29-1962, 8/13/1962, Art. 2; as amended by Ord. 98-O-4,
3/11/1998, § I(8)]
1. The owner of any improved property located in this Township and which
improved property is or hereafter becomes accessible to and whose
principal building is within 150 feet of the sewer system, shall make
connection therewith, in such manner as this Township and the Authority
may require, within 60 days after notice to such owner from this Township
to make such connection, for the purpose of discharge of all sewage
and acceptable industrial wastes from such improved property, subject
to such limitations and restrictions as shall be established herein
or otherwise be established by this Township or the Authority, from
time to time.
2. All sewage and acceptable industrial wastes from any improved property, after connection of such improved property with a sewer shall be required under Subsection
(1) of this § 102, shall be conducted into a sewer, subject to such limitations and restrictions as shall be established herein or otherwise shall be established by this Township or the Authority, from time to time.
3. No person shall place or deposit or permit to be placed or deposited upon public or private property within this Township any sewage or industrial wastes in violation of Subsection
(1) of this § 102.
No person shall discharge or permit to be discharged to any
natural outlet within this Township any sewage or industrial wastes
in violation of Subsection of this § 102, except where suitable
treatment has been provided which is satisfactory to this Township.
4. No privy vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank, holding tank or similar receptacle shall be used and maintained at any time upon any improved property which has been connected to a sewer or which shall be required under Subsection
(1) of this § 102 to be connected to a sewer.
Every such privy vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank, holding
tank or similar receptacle in existence shall be abandoned and, at
the discretion of this Township, shall be cleansed and filled under
the direction and supervision of this Township; and any such privy
vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank, holding tank or similar receptacle
not so abandoned and, if required by this Township, cleansed and filled,
shall constitute a nuisance and such nuisance may be abated as provided
by law, at the expense of the owner of such improved property.
5. No privy vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank, holding tank or
similar receptacle at any time shall be connected with a sewer.
6. The notice by this Township to make a connection to a sewer, referred to in Subsection
(1) of this § 102, shall consist of a copy of this Part
1, including any amendments at the time in effect, and a written or printed document requiring the connection, and may be given at any time after a sewer is in place which can receive and convey sewage and industrial wastes for treatment and disposal from the particular improved property. Such notice shall be served upon the owner either by personal service or by registered or certified mail, as provided by law.
[Ord. 29-1962, 8/13/1962, Art. 3]
1. Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection
(1) of this § 103, each improved property shall be connected separately and independently with a sewer through a building sewer. Grouping of more than one improved property on one building sewer shall not be permitted except under special circumstances and for good sanitary reasons or other good cause shown, but then only after special permission of this Township and the Authority, in writing, shall have been secured.
2. All costs and expenses of construction of a building sewer and all
coats and expenses of connection of a building sewer to a lateral
or sewer shall be borne by the owner of the improved property to be
connected; and such owner shall indemnify and save harmless this Township
and the Authority from all loss or damage that may be occasioned,
directly or indirectly, as a result of construction of a building
sewer or of connection of a building sewer to a lateral or sewer.
3. A building sewer shall be connected to a sewer at the place designated
by the Authority or where the lateral is provided.
The invert of a building sewer at the point of connection shall
be at the same or a higher elevation than the invert of the lateral
or sewer. A smooth, neat joint shall be made and the connection of
a building sewer to the lateral shall be made secure and watertight.
4. If the owner of any improved property located in the Township and
which improved property is or hereafter becomes accessible to and
whose principal building is within 150 feet from the sewer system,
after 60 days notice from the Township, in accordance with § 102(1),
shall fail to connect such improved property, as required, this Township
may enter upon such property and construct such connection and may
collect from such owner the costs and expenses thereof. In such case,
the Township shall forthwith, upon completion of the work, send an
itemized bill of the cost of construction of such connection to the
owner of the improved property to which connection as been so made,
which bill shall be payable forthwith. In case of neglect or refusal
by the owner of such improved property to pay said bill, the Township
shall file municipal liens for said construction within six months
of the date of the completion of the construction of said connection,
the same to be subject in all respects to the general law provided
for the filing and recovery of municipal liens.
[Ord. 29-1962, 8/13/1962, Art. 4; as amended by Ord. 56-1973,
11/5/1973; as amended by Ord. 98-O-4, 3/11/1998, § I]
1. Where an improved property, at the time connection to a sewer is
served by its own sewage disposal system or device, the existing house
sewer line shall be broken on the structure side of such sewage disposal
system or device and attachment shall be made, with proper fittings,
to continue such house sewer line as a building sewer.
2. No building sewer shall be covered until it has been inspected and
approved by this Township and the Authority. If any part of a building
sewer is covered before so being inspected and approved, it shall
be uncovered for inspection at the cost and expense of the owner of
the improved property to be connected to a sewer.
3. Every building sewer of any improved property shall be maintained
in a sanitary, safe and watertight operating condition by the owner
of such improved property.
4. Every excavation for a building sewer shall be guarded adequately
with barricades and lights to protect all persons from damage and
injury. Streets, sidewalks and other public property disturbed in
the course of installation of a building sewer shall be restored,
at the cost and expense of the owner of the improved property being
connected, in a manner satisfactory to this Township.
5. If any person shall fail or refuse, upon receipt of a written notice
of this Township or the Authority, in writing, to remedy any unsatisfactory
condition with respect to a building sewer, within 60 days of receipt
of such notice, this Township or the Authority may refuse to permit
such person to discharge sewage and industrial wastes into the sewer
system until such unsatisfactory condition shall have been remedied
to the satisfaction of this Township and the Authority.
6. This Township reserves the right to adopt, from time to time, additional
rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary and proper relating
to connections with a sewer and the sewer system, which additional
rules and regulations, to the extent appropriate, shall be and shall
be construed as part of this Part.
7. It shall be the owner's responsibility to maintain, repair and/or
replace building sanitary drainage systems if the Township determines
that they do not meet the requirements of the Part. All building sanitary
drainage systems to the sanitary sewer main shall be borne by the
owner. In the case where damages to the sanitary sewer main occur
due to a building sanitary drainage system, it shall be the responsibility
of the building sanitary system owner to replace or repair the length
of pipe to which the indemnify the Township from any loss or damage
that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation
of the building sanitary drainage system.
8. Where existing building sanitary systems connected to the sanitary
sewer main area to be abandoned by reason of demolition of buildings
and structures or for any other reason, they shall be disconnected
and permanently sealed at the sanitary sewer main. All costs and expenses
incidental to this work shall be borne by the owner. Existing building
sanitary drainage systems may be used in connection with new buildings
only when they are found, after examination and testing as directed
to meet all requirements of this Part.
9. The size, slope, alignment, materials or construction of a building
sanitary drainage system and the methods to be used in excavation,
placing of the pipe, joint testing and backfilling the trench shall
all conform to the requirements of the Building and Plumbing Codes
and other applicable rules and regulations.
10. Whenever possible, the building sanitary drainage system shall be
brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor.
In the instance where gravity flow in the building drainage system
to the sanitary sewer main is not possible, sanitary wastewater shall
be lifted and discharged to the sanitary sewer main by a means approved
in accordance with the requirements of the Building and Plumbing Codes,
with all costs being borne by the owner. Floor drains in any new building
located below finished grade shall not be connected to the building
sanitary drainage system. In the instance where either an existing
building sanitary drainage system is repaired or buildings experience
a maximum of two reported sewage backups through existing floor drains
within a two-year period, floor drains connected to building sanitary
drainage systems shall be disconnected or plugged. All costs and expenses
incidental to this work shall be borne by the owner.
11. The Township or the Authority reserves the right to refuse permission
to connect to the sewer system, to compel discontinuance of use of
the sewer system, or to compel pretreatment of industrial wastes by
any industry in order to prevent discharges deemed harmful, or to
have a deleterious effect upon any portion of the sewer system. The
discharge of roof water, storm water, surface drainage, building foundation
drainage or accumulated water as the result of heavy rains, flooding,
or otherwise by the pumping of a sump-pump or other method into the
sewer system is expressly prohibited.
12. The Authority's representatives shall have access at all reasonable
times to water and any other meters used for establishing or determining
water consumption, water excluded from the sewer system and/or waste
waters discharged to the sewer system.
13. No person shall make connection of sump pumps, roof down spouts,
foundation drains, areaway drains, floor drains or other sources of
surface run-off or groundwater to a building sanitary drainage system
or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly
to a Township sanitary sewer main, unless such connection is approved
in writing by the Township for purposes of disposal of polluted surface
drainage or for the prevention of potentially hazardous conditions.
14. The connection of the building sanitary drainage system into the
Township sanitary sewer main shall be made with either a wye-type
fitting or as directed by the Township and must comply with applicable
rules and regulations of the Township. All such connections shall
be made gas tight, water tight and must be inspected. Hydrostatic
pressure testing of all new or replacement building sanitary drainage
systems shall be required and testing procedures must conform to the
requirements of the Township's Building and Plumbing Codes. Any deviation
from the prescribed procedures and material must be approved by the
Township before installation. Upon determination by the Township that
a new or existing building sanitary drainage system connection is
not properly discharging wastewater flow into the sanitary sewer main,
the owner shall be required to repair or replace the existing sanitary
sewer connection system. In the instance where the owner connect separately
to the sanitary sewer main. All costs and expenses incidental to this
work shall be borne by the owner.
15. The applicant for the building sanitary drainage system permit shall
notify the Authority when the building sanitary drainage system is
ready for inspection and connection to the Township sanitary sewer
main. The connection to the sanitary sewer main and testing shall
be made under the supervision of the Authority or its representative.
[Ord. 29-1962, 8/13/1962, Art. V; as amended by Ord. 91-O-11,
7/22/1991; by Ord. 97-O-22, 12/3/1997; and by Ord. 98-O-4, 3/11/1998,
§ 1(8)]
1. Any person who shall violate this Part shall be liable, upon conviction
for a first offense and conviction for each subsequent offense, to
a fine of not less than $15 nor more than $1,000. Each day that a
violation shall continue shall be deemed and shall be taken to be
a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.
2. Fines and costs imposed under provisions of this Part shall be enforceable
and recoverable in the manner at the time provided by applicable law.