[Ord. 245, 2/17/2009; as amended by Ord. No. 302, 7/25/2023]
For the purposes of this Part, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings herein indicated:
BUILDING SERVICE
Extension from the water system of any structure to the lateral of a main.
DEVELOPMENT
Construction of one or more buildings, dwelling units or other structures on one or more parcels of land or any use of property or structures thereon for purposes requiring public water, such as a golf course, park, or swimming pool.
IMPROVED PROPERTY
Any property within the Township of East Rockhill's Water District upon which there is erected a structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy or use by human beings or animals.
INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any improved property located within the East Rockhill Water District and used or intended for use, wholly or in part, for the manufacturing, processing, cleaning, laundering or assembling of any product, commodity or article.
MAIN
Any pipe or conduit constituting a part of the water system used or usable for water distribution purposes.
OWNER
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial, of any improved property.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, company, association, society, trust, corporation, municipality, municipal authority or other group or entity.
SERVICE LATERAL
A. 
Part of the water system extending from a main to the curbline or, if there shall be no curbline, extending to the property line; or
B. 
If no such lateral shall be provided, "lateral" shall mean that portion of, or place in, a main which is provided for connection of any building service.
WATER DISTRICT
The area within the Township, as defined in § 26-204 of this Part, in which the provisions of this Part apply.
WATER SYSTEM
All facilities, as of any particular time, for production, transmission, storage and distribution of water in the Township of East Rockhill owned, operated and maintained by the Perkasie Regional Authority ("PRA").
[Ord. 245, 2/17/2009; as amended by Ord. No. 302, 7/25/2023]
1. 
The owner of any improved property within the Water District and abutting upon the water system may, in accordance with § 26-205 of this Part, connect such improved property to the water system upon approval by East Rockhill Township and subject to the rules and regulations of the PRA. For property owners within the Water District and abutting the water system who have private wells as of the effective date of this Part, the connection to the water system is not mandatory and shall be on a voluntary basis, unless connection to the public water system is required by the Township and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ("PADEP") because of health, safety and/or welfare concerns as set forth in § 26-206 of this Part. Connection to the water system shall be mandatory to new Development that qualifies for mandatory connection under § 26-205 of this Part.
2. 
Those properties required to connect to the public water system shall connect such improved property with the water system within 60 days after notice from the Township, or its designate, to make such connection. Such notice may be given or served at any time after a main is in place which can deliver water to the particular property. Such notice shall be given or served upon the owner in accordance with the law. The Township, and/or PRA with the Township's approval, after the 60 days' notice and a failure to connect, may construct such connection and collect from such owner the costs and expenses thereof in any manner permitted by law.
3. 
Those industries and farms which have their own supply of water for uses other than human consumption may continue to use their own private water supply for that purpose, provided that any wells or water supply shall not be interconnected with the water system.
[Ord. 245, 2/17/2009; as amended by Ord. No. 302, 7/25/2023]
1. 
Water mains shall be constructed in such a manner so as to make adequate water service available to each lot, building, structure or dwelling within the Water District. In addition to complying with all Township requirements, all construction of building mains and extensions shall be performed in accordance with the terms of any agreements required by the PRA and shall comply with the design standards, specifications, rules and regulations of the PRA and the Township now in effect or hereafter amended.
2. 
All costs and expenses of construction of a building service and all costs and expenses of connection of a building service to the water system shall be borne by the owner of the improved property to be connected, unless otherwise agreed to by the PRA; and such owner shall indemnify and shall save harmless the Township of East Rockhill from all loss or damage that may occur directly or indirectly as a result of construction of a building main or of connection of a building main to the water system.
3. 
All mains and service laterals terminating either at the curbline or property line with a curb stop shall be designed and built in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the PRA and the Township. Connections from the curb stop to the building shall be made by the property owner or his designee and shall be constructed of materials and in accordance with specifications approved by the PRA and the Township. There shall be no fittings between the curb stop and the building unless approved by the PRA and the Township. Grouping of more than one improved property on one building service shall not be permitted, except under special circumstances and for good cause shown and only after permission from the Township and the PRA is received in writing. All service lines from the curb stop to the building shall be inspected by the PRA.
[Ord. 245, 2/17/2009; as amended by Ord. No. 302, 7/25/2023]
The Township of East Rockhill hereby establishes a Water District for the purpose of providing water service to the improved and unimproved properties requesting to receive and/or required to receive such water service and located within the Water District. The Water District shall encompass that area of East Rockhill Township as more specifically identified in the shaded areas of yellow (Bethlehem Pike service area), blue (existing water lines) and green (future water extension) on the Water Service Area Map attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A,[1] and the Perkasie Regional Authority shall act as East Rockhill Township's designated agent within said Water District in the implementation and for the purposes of this Part. The provisions of this Part shall not apply to areas which are within East Rockhill Township but outside of this Water District, unless otherwise stated herein. Additional areas may be added to this Water District from time to time by separate resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is on file in the Township offices.
[Ord. 245, 2/17/2009; as amended by Ord. No. 302, 7/25/2023]
1. 
For property owners within the Water District and abutting the water system who have private wells as of the effective date of this Part, connection to the water system is not mandatory and shall be on a voluntary basis, unless connection to the public water system is required by the Township and/or PADEP because of health, safety and/or welfare concerns as set forth in § 26-206 of this Part.
2. 
Any new development within the Water District, excluding additions and/or renovations to structures that have private wells as of the effective date of this Part, and abutting the water system with a proposed new structure within 150 feet of the right-of-way of the main of the water system shall be required to connect to the water system in accordance with this Part. The Township Board of Supervisors may also require new development beyond 150 feet and/or not abutting the water system to connect to the water system as part of the subdivision and land development process if the Township Board of Supervisors deems it appropriate.
3. 
Upon request by an owner for public water service, or submission of any plan for new development in the Water District that includes a request for public water service, or where the proposed development or plan is required by the Township to have public water, the PRA shall be notified of such request or application at the time such application or request is submitted to the Township, whether by building permit application or subdivision and land development application or general request. The PRA shall advise the Township within 45 days of receipt of such notice of a request for public water service whether it is able to and/or will furnish water service to the property owner or development requesting said connection. If the PRA agrees to provide public water service to such property owner, the Township shall require, as a condition of approval of the application or request, that the PRA be the water service provider for the owner of the development making the request.
4. 
Any property owner obtaining water service from the PRA shall pay all applicable tapping and connection fees, water rates and other charges to the PRA in accordance with the rules and regulations of the PRA now in effect or hereinafter enacted, unless otherwise agreed to by the PRA.
[Ord. 245, 2/17/2009; as amended by Ord. No. 302, 7/25/2023]
1. 
In the event of a health, safety and/or welfare concern, the Township may adopt a resolution making the connection to the water system mandatory for an identified property. The Township, with PRA's approval, may require a property owner abutting the water system within the Water District or outside the Water District to connect to the water system when the Township determines that the connection is necessary to resolve a public health, safety and/or welfare concern.
2. 
In situations where public water is extended at the request of the Township by the PRA to address issues that are a threat to public health, safety and welfare, the Township will require all occupied properties fronting the public water extension that are the subject of such a threat to public health, safety and welfare to connect to the said water system, subject to the provisions in this Part, and when deemed in the best interest of the public, have their private wells properly sealed and abandoned.
3. 
If the owner of any improved property abutting upon the water system is directed by the Township, with PRA's approval, to connect to the water system due to a threat to public health, safety, and/or welfare, the Township, and/or the PRA with the Township's approval, after 90 days' notice and failure to connect, may construct such connection and collect from such owner the costs and expenses thereof in any manner permitted by law.
[Ord. 245, 2/17/2009]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to pay a fine of no more than $1,000, and, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.