[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 1; as amended by Ord.
No. 329, 3/15/1989, § 1(a)]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
BOROUGH
The Borough of Hatfield, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
COUNCIL
The group of elected officials acting as the governing body
of the Borough.
DOMESTIC SEWAGE
The normal water-carried household and toilet wastes from
residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments.
EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT (EDU)
A source of wastewater equivalent to that generated by a
single family dwelling unit. Every building or use connected to a
sewer shall constitute at least one EDU. For the purposes of residential
use; the number of EDUs applicable shall consist of the total number
of single family dwelling units, together with the EDUs applicable
to any common use areas calculated as set forth herein for nonresidential
use. For the purposes of a nonresidential use, the number of EDUs
applicable to that use shall consist of the metered water use per
day in gallons divided by 175.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Any solid, liquid or gaseous substance or waterborne wastes
or form of energy rejected or escaping from any industrial, manufacturing,
trade or business process or from the development, recovery or processing
of natural resources, as distinct from domestic sewage.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation
or group.
SEWAGE
The water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings,
institutions and industrial establishments.
SEWER SYSTEM
All facilities for collecting, transporting, treating and
disposing of sewage.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 2; as amended by Ord.
No. 322, 1/20/1988, § 1; by Ord. No. 329, 3/15/1989, § 1(b);
by Ord. No. 346, 6/20/1990, § 1; by Ord. No. 348, 8/15/1990,
§ 1; by Ord. No. 351, 12/19/1990, § 1; by Ord.
No. 400, 4/15/1998, §§ 1, 2; by Ord. No. 483, 5/19/2010,
§ 5; by Ord. No. 494, 12/15/2010, §§ 1, 2;
and by Ord. No. 501, 8/15/2012]
1. There is hereby imposed upon each owner of the property connecting
to the sewer system a capital contribution charge (tapping fee) of
$3,650 to the Borough for each equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) connected
to the lateral of the sewer system at the curbline or property line
or, in the case where one lateral shall service more than one unit
on the property, such connection charge shall be paid for each EDU
added to the system (this is a one-time charge for the right to connect
each EDU). There is also imposed upon each owner of the property connecting
to the sewer system a one-time connection fee of $50 per EDU.
2. In addition to the sewer connection charges, the property owner connecting
to the public water system shall pay to the North Penn Water Authority
its fees and costs in making connection to the public water system.
3. Fees.
A. All property owners who are disconnected/reconnected from/to the
sewer system must pay a disconnection fee, in an amount as established
from time to time, by resolution of Borough Council, to the Borough.
B. All property owners who require an inspection of the sewer lateral
by the Borough must pay a fee, in an amount as established from time
to time, by resolution of the Borough Council, to the Borough.
C. All new property owners requesting a transfer of service from one
party to anther without disconnection and reconnection processes must
pay a transfer service fee, in an amount as established from time
to time, by resolution of the Borough Council.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. AO)]
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 3]
There is hereby imposed upon each property served by the sewer
system and having the use thereof a quarterly sewer rent or charge
payable as hereinafter provided, for the use, whether direct or indirect,
of the sewer system, based on the schedules of classifications and
rates or charges hereinafter set forth.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 4; as amended by Ord.
No. 140, 12/5/1960; by Ord. No. 168, 10/4/1965, § 1; by
Ord. No. 273, 11/2/1978, § 1; by Ord. No. 279, 10/11/1979,
§ 2; by Ord. No. 297, 12/28/1982, § 1; by Ord.
No. 322, 1/20/1988; and by Ord. No. 329, 3/15/1989, § 1(c);
and by Ord. No. 501, 8/15/2012]
1. All persons owning property connecting to the sewer system and served
with metered water service shall pay a quarterly rental for sewage
service at a base rate (zero allowance) in an amount as established,
from time to time, by resolution by the Borough Council, per equivalent
dwelling unit (EDU). Said rate may be amended from time to time by
resolution of Borough Council and a charge based on quantity of water
used, as evidenced by meter readings of water meters installed and
maintained by the water supplier for the purpose of measuring water
purchased from said water supplier and such other meters as may be
installed pursuant to any provisions of this Part and subject to the
minimum charges hereinafter provided as follows:
A. Multiple Use.
(1)
In case of a combination of two or more dwellings, units, households,
flats, apartments, stores, shops, offices or business or industrial
units, or two or more families using separate cooking and/or bathroom
facilities in one dwelling having the use of the sewer system, through
one sewer lateral, each and every such dwelling unit, household, flat,
apartment, store, shop, office or business or industrial unit or such
family shall be charged the foregoing minimum sewer rents or charges,
the same as if each such unit or family had a direct and separate
connection to the sewer system. Sewer rents or charges in excess of
such minimum shall be determined by dividing the total of water consumed,
as shown by the meter readings, by the number of units or families
using such single sewer connection and applying the above rate schedule
to the quantity so determined.
(2)
For hotels and boarding houses having the use of the sewer system
through one sewer connection, the quarterly sewer rent or charge shall
be determined as follows. The number "4 1/2" (representing bedrooms)
shall be divided by the percentage of occupancy of all bedrooms during
the quarter-yearly period immediately preceding the then current quarterly
billing period and the quotient, rounded out to the next highest whole
number, shall be considered the number of groups of bedrooms in such
hotel or boarding house. The number of such groups shall then be divided
into the actual number of bedrooms therein and this quotient, rounded
out to the next highest whole number, shall be considered the number
of bedroom units in such hotel or boarding house for the current billing
period. The number of such bedroom units plus the number of each separate
public dining room, office, store, shop, bar, taproom and cocktail
lounge in such hotel or boarding house shall be the total number of
units therein as to each of which there shall be charged the minimum
set forth in Subsection 1.A(1), above, as if each such unit had a
separate and direct connection to the sewer system. The charge in
excess of such minimum shall be determined by dividing the total quantity
of water used, as shown by the meter readings, by the total number
of units, determined as above, using such single sewer connection
and applying the rate schedule set forth in Subsection 1.A(1), above,
to the quantity so determined.
B. Garbage Grinders. The charge for each garbage grinder connected to
the sewer system shall be as established, from time to time, by resolution
of the Borough Council.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 5; as amended by Ord.
No. 400, 4/15/1998, § 2; and by Ord. No. 501, 8/15/2012]
1. Methods of Measuring Volume.
A. Whenever a person purchasing all water used from the North Penn Water
Authority discharges domestic sewage into the sewer system, the volume
of water consumed, as determined from meter readings of the North
Penn Water Authority, shall be used in computing the sewer rental.
B. In cases where dwellings and establishments have sources of water
supply in addition to, or other than, North Penn Water Authority water,
those dwellings and establishments shall provide a meter on such additional
or other source of supply. The total amount of water consumed, as
shown by these meter readings, will be used in computing the sewer
rental.
C. In cases where establishments use water from the North Penn Water
Authority and/or from an independent supply for industrial or recreational
purposes, such that the water so used is not discharged into the sewer
system, the quantity of water used to determine the sewer rental shall
be computed by one of the following methods:
(1)
Method No. 1. By placing a meter or measuring device on the
sewer connection. The readings from this meter or measuring device
shall be used in computing the sewer rental.
(2)
Method No. 2. By placing a meter or measuring device on the
effluent not discharging into the sewer system. The readings from
this meter or measuring device will then be deducted from the total
water meter readings and the remainder will be used in computing the
sewer rental.
2. When, in the opinion of the Borough, it is not practical to install
meters or measuring devices to determine the sewer rental under either
Subsection 1.B or 1.C, the Borough may determine, in such manner and
by such method as it may prescribe, the total amount of domestic sewage
discharged into the sewer system and the quantity so determined to
be discharged shall be used to determine the sewer rental. Any dispute
as to the estimated quantity shall be submitted to the Borough Council,
after notice of the estimate to the property owner. The decision of
the Council on the matter shall be final for the current year.
3. Measuring Devices. All meters or other measuring devices not provided
by the North Penn Watery Authority, but required to be used under
the provisions of this Part shall be furnished and installed by the
property owner and shall be under the control of the Council and may
be tested, inspected or repaired by Borough employees whenever Council
deems necessary. The owner of the property upon which such measuring
device is installed shall be responsible for its maintenance and safekeeping
and all repairs thereto shall be made at the property owner's expense,
whether such repairs are made necessary by ordinary wear and tear
or other causes. Bills for such repairs, if made by the Borough, shall
be due and payable at the same time and collected in the same manner
as are the bills for sewer service; such bills, from and after their
due date, shall constitute a lien upon the property upon which such
measuring device is installed.
4. Meter Reading. Council shall have the right to read a meter or measuring
devices and they shall be available to Borough employees for meter
reading at any reasonable time.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 7]
1. The above connection charge shall be payable upon application for
permit to make such connection. Sewer rentals or charges shall be
paid quarterly and quarterly billings for sewer rentals and charges
shall be made by bills dated on the 15th day of January, April, July
and October of each year, beginning on such quarterly date immediately
following the quarterly calendar period on which connection is made
to the sewer system, for the quarterly calendar period or portion
thereof immediately preceding the date of the bill.
2. Payments mailed, as evidenced by the United States Post Office mark,
on or previous to the end of the period during which the bills are
payable at face will be deemed to be a payment within such period.
3. All persons connected to the sewer system must give the Borough their
correct address. Failure to receive bills will not be considered an
excuse for nonpayment nor permit an extension of the period during
which bills are payable at face.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 8; as amended by Ord.
No. 151, 11/4/1963, § 1; and by Ord. No. 263, 10/3/1970]
1. Quarterly charges for sewer services shall be payable at the amount
billed within 15 days after the date of the said billing and same
shall be subject to a 10% penalty if not paid within the fifteen-day
period, and the Borough shall have the right to cut off sewer service
from the delinquent premises and not to restore the same until all
delinquent bills against the property and the costs of cutting off
and restoring service shall have been paid.
2. All sewer rentals, together with all penalties thereon, not paid
on or before the end of one year from the date of each bill shall
be deemed to be delinquent. All delinquent sewer rentals and all penalties
thereon shall be a lien on the property served and shall be entered
as a lien against such property in the office of the Prothonotary
of Montgomery County and shall be collected in the manner provided
by law for the filing and collection of such liens.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 9; as amended by Ord.
No. 501, 8/15/2012; and at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. AO)]
The funds received by the Borough from the collection of the
connection charges and from sewer rentals and all penalties thereon
as herein provided for and any fines collected by the Borough in connection
with the sewer system shall be segregated and kept separate and apart
from all other funds of the Borough and shall be used only for the
purpose of defraying the expenses of the Borough in the operation,
maintenance, repair, alteration, inspection, depreciation or other
expenses in relation to such sewer system and for such payments as
the Borough may be required to make under any lease or agreement it
may enter into for and of, or in connection with, said sewer system
with the Authority, in accordance with the provisions of Municipality
Authorities Act, 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 5601 et seq.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 10]
The Borough reserves the right to, and may from time to time,
adopt, revise, amend and readopt such rules and regulations as it
deems necessary and proper for the use and operation of the sewer
system and all such rules and regulations shall be and become a part
of this Part.
[Ord. No. 128, 3/12/1959, § 11]
The Borough reserves the right to make such changes from time
to time as, in its opinion, may be desirable or beneficial and to
amend this ordinance or to charge the rates or charges in such manner
and at such time as, in its opinion, may be advisable.