The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the installation, operation, maintenance, and retirement of grinder pumps and any associated low-pressure sewer systems and laterals.
A. 
Each owner of a property served by a grinder pump shall bear full responsibility for providing, installing, using, operating, maintaining, servicing, repairing and replacing the grinder pump and any associated low-pressure sewer system and lateral, unless otherwise set forth in this article or by agreement with the Authority. BCWSA offers a maintenance program for a fee for private gravity lines and grinder pumps; details can be found on the BCWSA website (www.BCWSA.net).
B. 
Each owner of a property served by a grinder pump shall have full responsibility for using the grinder pump consistent with the manufacturer's instructions and shall avoid introducing into the sewer system materials that may damage the grinder pump.
C. 
The Authority shall bear no responsibility for the purchase, installation, use, operation, maintenance, service, repair, or replacement of a grinder pump and any associated low-pressure sewer system and lateral, except as otherwise set forth in this article or by agreement with the property owner.
D. 
The Authority shall require each property owner proposing to install or who has installed a grinder pump or associated low-pressure sewer system or lateral to assure the short- and long-term operation and maintenance, use, service, repair or replacement of such systems.
A. 
The connection of a property to an existing or proposed sanitary sewer system through the use of a grinder pump and associated low-pressure sewer systems and laterals shall occur only after the property owner receives the required approvals from the Township, the Authority, the Department of Environmental Protection, and other agencies as applicable, such approvals to include sewage facilities planning under the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537, as amended).
B. 
The property owner is responsible for obtaining any required permits and approvals for the installation or modification of a grinder pump and any associated low-pressure sewer systems and laterals.
C. 
All grinder pumps and associated low-pressure sewer systems and laterals shall be installed, used, operated, maintained, serviced, repaired and replaced in full compliance with the rules and regulations of the Authority in effect from time to time.
D. 
The owner of a property serviced by a grinder pump shall provide an adequate supply of electrical power with the proper phase, frequency and voltage as recommended by the equipment manufacturers of the various components of the system.
E. 
All control panels for individual grinder pump units shall have a permanently attached phenolic label stating the following: "All maintenance costs for grinder pump systems are the property owner's responsibility."
F. 
All off-site low-pressure sewers and service connections shall be dedicated to the Authority in accordance with the Authority's regulations and procedures.
G. 
Maintenance of grinder pumps and low-pressure sewer systems, not dedicated to and accepted by the Authority, shall be performed by the property owner in accordance with this article.
H. 
The Authority will not issue a permit for the installation of a grinder pump until evidence is presented that all approvals have been obtained as required by this section.
A. 
Each owner of a grinder pump and its associated low-pressure sewer system and lateral shall implement an inspection and maintenance program for the pump that includes, at a minimum, the manufacturers' recommended services and inspections for each separate component of the pump and system.
B. 
After the first month of operation of a grinder pump, and annually thereafter, or more frequently if the manufacturer of any component parts recommends more-frequent servicing, the property owner shall have the grinder pump inspected and certified by a qualified individual to confirm that it is operating properly. The property owner shall obtain and maintain a report signed by the inspector certifying that the grinder pump is operating in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations. The property owner shall provide the Authority with a copy of the certified report upon request by the Authority.
C. 
The owner of each property served by a grinder pump shall close the associated low-pressure sewer system or lateral and cease operations during any period when the grinder pump and/or low-pressure sewer system or lateral serving the property is inoperable.
D. 
All existing improved properties containing a grinder pump prior to the enactment of this article shall comply with the operations and maintenance requirements of this article within six months of the date of enactment.
A. 
A property owner proposing to install a grinder pump and associated low-pressure sewer system or lateral shall prepare an operation and maintenance plan for the grinder pump and execute and record a declaration of covenants, easements, and restrictions with respect to the operation and maintenance of the grinder pump and associated facilities in a form satisfactory to the Authority Solicitor. The declaration shall acknowledge, among other things, that the property owner is aware of and will comply with this article and will assure the short- and long-term operation, maintenance, service, repair and replacement of the grinder pump and any associated low-pressure sewer system and lateral. Further, the declaration shall permit and empower the Authority, at and within its sole discretion, to take any and all steps necessary to enforce the property owners' obligations under this article and the declaration and to enter judgment and lien the subject property for reimbursement of all costs and expenses related thereto. The Authority will not issue installation permits until evidence is presented that the declaration has been recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
B. 
Where a low-pressure sewer system or lateral is shared between property owners, they shall submit to the Township a declaration of covenants, easements, and restrictions in recordable form setting forth the agreement of each benefitted property owner with respect to the installation, use, operation, maintenance, service, repair and replacement of the low-pressure sewer system or lateral, which agreement shall bind all future property owners. Following the approval of the low-pressure system by all applicable agencies, the Township will issue installation permits after evidence is presented that the declaration has been recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
C. 
The owner of a property served by a grinder pump shall obtain and maintain at the property, and make available to the Authority as requested, the following information with respect to the grinder pump:
(1) 
Written operation and maintenance instructions.
(2) 
Annual inspection reports for the past three years.
(3) 
A detailed drawing showing the location, size, material type, and depth of all components of the grinder pump and any associated low-pressure sewer system and lateral, including provision of a caution notice regarding disturbance near and within the grinder pump and associated facilities.
(4) 
A written description of any automatic alarm system with the grinder pump and any associated low-pressure system, and who to contact in the event the alarm would be activated.
D. 
Upon the sale or transfer of a property served by a grinder pump or low-pressure sewer system or lateral, the seller/grantor shall provide the buyer/grantee prior to settlement all information regarding the grinder pump system installed. The information provided shall include all information and documents required to be maintained at the property, recording information for all recorded documents, manufacturer and distributor identity and contact information, operating instructions, warranties, and maintenance schedule.
E. 
The seller/grantor shall inform the buyer/grantee about the requirements of this article and any recorded document with respect to the grinder pump and associated facilities.
F. 
All existing improved properties containing a grinder pump prior to the enactment of this article shall comply with the grinder pump documentation requirements of this article within six months of the date of enactment. However, the execution and recordation of a declaration is not required.
The owner of each property served by a grinder pump and associated low-pressure sewer system and lateral shall retire the grinder pump, disconnect the property from the low-pressure system, and connect the property to a gravity sanitary sewer system at the direction of the Authority when a gravity sanitary sewer collection system is constructed in a location abutting any boundary line of the property or within 150 feet of any occupied structure situated on the property and the Township Engineer or the operator determines that it is reasonably feasible to connect the property to the gravity system.
A. 
In addition to the enforcement remedies specified in this chapter, in the event of a property owner's failure to perform under this article or any subsequent resulting agreements, the Authority shall have the right to pursue whatever legal or equitable remedy it shall deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, bringing an action for specific performance against the property owner to compel compliance with this article or any subsequent resulting agreement.
B. 
In the event the Authority elects to perform the property owner's obligations contained in this article, or in any declarations or agreements entered into by the property owner, because the property owner has failed to do so, the Authority may charge the property owner the cost incurred by the Authority in performing any of the property owner's obligations, and the property owner shall reimburse the Authority for all such costs within 30 days after such costs are billed. The Authority shall have the right to file a lien against the property to secure to the Authority any reimbursement of costs due to it.