[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Trappe as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-6-1966 by Ord. No. 141 (Part
11, Ch. 2, Art. A, of the 1987 Code)]
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to
be supplied with water from the Borough shall make application to
the Borough Clerk or the Superintendent of the Water Works according
to the form prescribed by Council. The Superintendent of the Water
Works shall determine the size of the service pipes and meter. The
lateral from the water main to the property line shall be laid at
the expense of the Borough and owned and maintained by the Borough;
the lateral from the property line to the premises connected or to
be connected shall be laid, owned and maintained by the party or parties
desiring the connection. All service pipes to be installed by the
applicant must be at least 3/4 inch inside diameter, copper underground
tubing, Mueller type K or equal, and must be laid in a trench at least
42 inches deep in order to guard against freezing. By signing the
application, the applicant agrees to be bound by this chapter and
save the Borough harmless from any damages that may arise by reason
of the work as originally done or thereafter maintained and agrees
to pay for all injury or damage to meters arising from his neglect
or carelessness.
[Added 1-14-1992 by Ord. No. 276]
Any property that has access to public water
(water service is less than 150 feet from the building improvement
or is located less than 150 feet from any subdivision public improvements)
shall not be permitted to install a water well for the purpose of
drawing water from the aquifer located beneath the property.
Every applicant shall install two stop cocks
immediately inside the foundation wall of the premises on each side
of the meter for the protection of the premises from injury or damage
by leaks or bursting of pipes, and the Borough shall furnish all water
meters, and the consumer shall provide a readily accessible location
for the installation of such meter, so they may be easily examined
and read. All leaks in service pipes and fixtures, in and upon the
premises supplied beyond the curb stop, must be promptly repaired
by the owner or occupant.
[Amended 5-3-1983 by Ord. No. 225; 10-6-2009 by Ord. No. 413; 4-7-2015 by Ord. No. 430]
A.
There is hereby fixed and imposed upon the owner of each property
located in Trappe Borough making any connection to the water system
operated and maintained by the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Public Works
Committee a connection fee equal to the actual cost of installation
of water service facilities from the water main to the curb stop,
including but not limited to opening the street, installing a service
line and curb stop and restoring the roadway, curbing, sidewalk and
any other disturbed area to PennDOT and Borough specifications.
B.
There is hereby fixed and imposed upon the owner of each property
located in Trappe Borough making any connection to the water system
operated and maintained by the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Public Works
Committee a customer facilities fee equal to the actual cost of installation
of a water meter and backflow preventer and inspection of facilities
installed by the owner.
C.
The lateral shall not be covered until the tap on the main is made
and the lateral is connected and tested.
D.
In cases of state highways, the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Public
Works Committee will, at the request of the owner, make an application
for the opening of the street, the cost of the application to be at
the expense of the owner.
[Amended 4-4-1978 by Ord. No. 206; 5-3-1983 by Ord. No.
225; 12-2-1986 by Ord. No. 233; 10-1-1991 by Ord. No. 274; 10-6-2009 by Ord. No. 413]
A.
Water rates for all users, without exception, shall
be charged at a rate per 1,000 gallons as shall be set by resolution
of the Borough Council from time to time.[2] Borough Council, by resolution duly adopted, may in the
future amend the water rates for supplying water.
[2]
Editor's Note: Current Fee Schedule is on
file in the Borough offices.
B.
There shall be a charge per year for fire hydrants
installed on private property, and a charge per year for sprinkler
system standby service, both of which shall be as set by resolution
of the Borough Council from time to time.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Current Fee Schedule is on
file in the Borough offices.
C.
In case of a disputed account involving the question
as to the accuracy of the meter, that meter will be tested upon request
of the applicant. The consumer may either personally or through a
representative witness the testing of the meter. The consumer may
require the meter to be sealed in his presence before removal, which
seal shall not be broken until the test is made in his presence if
he so desires. If the meter so tested shall be found to be accurate
within the limits of a 4% allowance for error, the consumer shall
pay a charge in an amount as shall be set by resolution of the Borough
Council from time to time[4] for meters up to two inches. If the meter is in excess
of two inches, the charge shall be the actual cost of material used
and labor supplied plus 10% of the total of the material and labor
cost. If the meter is found to be in error, in excess of the allowance
of 4%, bills will be corrected accordingly and no charge will be made
for the testing.
[4]
Editor's Note: Current Fee Schedule is on
file in the Borough offices.
[Amended 10-6-2009 by Ord. No. 413]
All applications for the supply of water shall
be made by the owner of the premises to be furnished, who shall guarantee
the payment of the water rent; provided, however, that if the owner
refuses to so guarantee, then the tenant may make the application
and upon the payment of an amount as shall be set by resolution of
the Borough Council from time to time[1] or a larger sum if in the judgement of the Water Works
Committee it be deemed necessary, to be held as security for the payment
of any water consumed.
[1]
Editor's Note: Current Fee Schedule is on
file in the Borough Offices.
[Amended 4-4-1978 by Ord. No. 206; 5-3-1983 by Ord. No.
225; 10-6-2009 by Ord. No. 413; 12-1-2015 by Ord. No. 431]
All water rates shall be due and payable quarterly
at the time and place designated on the bill, and when bills are not
paid when due, a ten-percent penalty shall be added to such rate,
and the delinquent consumer shall be given 10 days' notice to pay
the rate and penalty in writing. If at the expiration of that time
the rate is not paid, the Director of Public Works, or other person
designated by Council, shall thereupon shut off the water supply of
the delinquent consumer, and the same shall not be turned on again
until the water rates of such consumer are paid in full, and in addition,
there shall be a charge as shall be set by resolution of the Borough
Council from time to time for turning on the water.
When any water rates or other municipal assessment remains unpaid as stated in § 326-7, the Borough Secretary and/or Superintendent of Water Works shall prepare in duplicate a statement of the same showing the character and location of the property which has received the water, the name of the owner or owners of the property and the tenant, if any, the amount of water furnished, the rate of the furnishing of the water and the charge for it.
[Amended 12-1-2015 by Ord. No. 431]
A.
The notice referenced in § 326-7 shall have printed or written on it the following statement:
"To Owner or Owners of the above-described property: You are
hereby notified that if the above-stated municipal claim now due and
owing to the Borough is not paid within 10 days from service of this
notice, the same will be collected according to law and in addition
thereto service of water to said property may be discontinued until
all rates and service charges are paid, including the charge for restoring
of such service."
B.
The notice referenced in § 326-15C shall have printed or written on it the following statement:
"To the Owner or Owners of the above-described property: You
are hereby notified that if access to your premises by the Borough,
through its agents, is not granted within 10 days from service of
this notice, service of water to said property may be discontinued
until access is granted and the charge for restoring such service
is paid."
C.
These statements shall be dated and the notice shall be signed by
the Borough Secretary and/or the Director of Public Works.
[Amended 12-1-2015 by Ord. No. 431]
A.
The notice set forth in § 326-9 shall be served upon the property being furnished with water, by posting written notice conspicuously on the main entrance of the property.
B.
Such notice shall also be mailed to the customer liable for payment,
as well as the owner or property manager of the property, if different
from the customer.
In case the water rates are not paid within
the time specified in the notice, then the Borough Secretary and/or
Superintendent of Water Works shall deliver to the Borough Solicitor
a copy of the statement and notice, and thereupon the claim shall
be collected according to law, together with all costs and penalties.
Nothing contained in this article shall in any
way be construed as a waiver of the right of the Borough to file a
lien against a property to which water is supplied by the Borough
for unpaid water rents or other charges made in connection with the
supplying of water, but on the contrary, the Borough expressly reserves
that right and declares the same to be a lien against the particular
property to which the water services is furnished by the Borough as
provided by the Acts of Assembly in such cases provided.
A.
An application must be filed for each building connected
or to be connected and each building must be supplied by independent
service pipes from the supply main. In case of a double dwelling where
a single service pipe supplies the double house, each side of the
double house must be provided with separate meters and each domestic
consumer shall be provided with a separate meter, which will enable
the water department to shut off the supply of water to an offending
consumer without affecting a nonoffending consumer.
B.
In the case of a multiple dwelling having not more
than four living units, a separate meter shall be provided for each
living unit.
C.
In the case of a multiple dwelling having not more
than four living units, an application may be made for less than one
meter for each living unit, as the owner or manager of that multiple
dwelling house shall determine; provided that the minimum charge per
quarter shall be an amount as set by resolution of the Borough Council
from time to time.[1]
[Amended 10-6-2009 by Ord. No. 413]
[1]
Editor's Note: Current Fee Schedule is on
file in the Borough offices.
D.
A supply of water for building or other special purposes
except on a lot or premises already supplied with water by meter,
must be specially applied for. All applications for water for building
purposes, when water is not supplied through meter at meter rates,
must be signed by the owner or his duly authorized agent, and shall
be interpreted to mean that the water is to be used only from a builder's
hydrant, and shall not be introduced into any of the house fixtures.
There shall be a charge for each quarter or part thereof at the rate
applicable for the meter size that it is anticipated shall be used
for the building or buildings in question as determined by the water
superintendent. Meters shall be installed wherever possible and consumption
of water without a meter shall be held to a minimum.
Any consumer desiring to discontinue the use
of water for any reason must give written notice to the Borough Secretary
or Superintendent of Water Works, whereupon the water will be shut
off from those premises. No charge for water will be rebated nor any
reduction made unless that notice has been given and then only in
case the service has been ordered to be discontinued at least three
months before the date water is desired to be shut off.
The rules and regulations relative to the introduction
and management of water pipes and water supply in the Borough shall
be as follows:
A.
No owner or occupant of any building or premises will
be permitted to supply water from those premises to the owner or owners
of any other building or premises.
B.
Consumers using water by meter shall not be permitted
to have any hose connections, faucets or other openings between the
meter and the water main and all the water used in the premises shall
pass through the meter.
C.
Any damage done to a meter through freezing or neglect must be paid
by the owner of the property. The Borough, through its agents, reserves
to itself the right to disconnect the service pipes and remove the
meter if it shall find it necessary to do so in order to protect itself
against abuse or fraud. Additionally, the Borough, through its agents,
shall have free access at all reasonable hours to all parts of the
property to which water is supplied in order to make necessary inspections,
maintenance, repairs or replacements of any portion of the water service
facilities located on said property. Should said access either not
be given or be denied, the consumer or property owner shall be given
notice that if said access is not granted within 10 days, the water
supply of the delinquent consumer or property owner shall be shut
off and the same shall not be turned on again until said access is
given, and in addition, there shall be a charge as shall be set by
resolution of the Borough Council from time to time for turning on
the water.
[Amended 12-1-2015 by Ord. No. 431]
D.
If the meter fails to register or is tampered with,
a bill will be rendered based upon the previous average consumption.
E.
Fire hydrants or flushing valves shall only be used
for the purposed for which they were installed, unless permission
for other used is granted by the Water and Sewer Committee.
F.
As necessity may arise in case of breakdown, emergency,
or for any other unavoidable cause, the Borough shall have the right
to cut off the water supply temporarily, in order to make necessary
repairs, connections, etc.; but the Borough will use all reasonable
and practical measures to notify the customer of such discontinuance
in service, lessening of the supply, inadequate pressure, poor quality
of water, or for any cause beyond its control. When a supply of water
is to be temporarily cut off, notice will be given, when practicable,
to all customers affected by the shutting off, stating the probable
duration of the interruption of service, and also the purpose for
which the shutoff is made.
G.
Any owner or occupant of any building or premises who disrupts a
radio-frequency transmission from a radio-frequency-based water meter
or rejects the installation of a radio-frequency-based water meter
shall be charged a quarterly meter reading fee of $30. Any owner or
occupant of any building or premises who has the Public Works Department
convert their radio-based water meter to a non-radio-frequency water
meter will be subject to a one-time conversion charge of $50. The
conversion charge or fee may be amended from time to time by the Borough
Council of the Borough of Trappe by resolution duly adopted.
[Added 5-7-2019 by Ord.
No. 451]
Any plumber wishing to do plumbing in connection
with the Water Works system must give to the Water and Sewer Committee
satisfactory evidence that he is an experienced workman and willing
to be governed by the rules and regulations which are or may hereafter
be adopted by the Council and any person desiring to do his own plumbing
must first obtain permission from the Water and Sewer Committee and
the work shall be done to the satisfaction of that Committee.
Any person or persons, firm, partnership or
corporations violating any of the foregoing rules or regulations or
the terms of this article shall forfeit all payments made by him or
it, on account of the water supply, and the supply of water may be
at once and without notice, shut off and the water supply shall not
be restored unless the offending party shall pay an additional charge
of $30 for restoration of water service, and shall further pay the
sum of not less than $5 or more that $100 for each and every offense,
to be recovered as debts of like amount are by law recoverable.
[Adopted 9-1-1987 by Ord. No. 245 (Part
11, Ch. 2, Art. B, of the 1987 Code)]
[Amended 12-21-1987 by Ord. No. 248; 10-5-1989 by Ord. No.
264; 5-2-1995 by Ord. No. 306; 10-6-2009 by Ord. No. 413; 4-7-2015 by Ord. No. 430]
A.
Payment of fee required.
[Amended 3-5-2019 by Ord. No. 449]
(1)
Any
person, firm or corporation applying for water service shall pay the
following tapping fee with respect to any residential, commercial,
industrial, institutional or other construction which is to be connected
to the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System for each equivalent
dwelling unit ("EDU") of use (defined as 167.7 gallons per day) relating
thereto:
|
Capacity part
|
$2,007.78
|
|
Distribution part
|
$1,230.24
|
|
Total Capital Contribution Charge or Tapping Fee
|
$3,238.00
|
(2)
Said
payment shall be made to the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Public Works
Committee at such time as the final subdivision and development agreement
is approved or a building permit is requested, whichever first occurs.
B.
In the event of any subdivision, subsequent expansion
of a commercial, industrial, residential, institutional or any other
use, there shall be a payment of the aforesaid capital contribution
charge in proportion to the number of EDUs subdivided or to be developed.
This capital contribution charge shall include conversions of single-family
homes into two-family homes, for each additional EDU or fraction thereof.
In case of a commercial, industrial, institutional or other nonresidential
use or subsequent expansion thereof, the initial EDUs will be estimated
based on information provided by the commercial, industrial, or institutional
user and as accepted by the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System,
a review shall be made of such commercial, industrial, institutional
or other nonresidential user and its water usage, and the current
EDU equivalent shall be so determined by actual use. Should the EDU
calculation per the actual use be greater than the anticipated EDU
use paid at the time that the owner or developer paid the EDU the
capital contribution as herein provided, then the commercial, industrial,
institutional, or other nonresidential user shall pay the Borough
the additional capital contribution charge for the actual EDU use.
Such payment will be made within 30 days of the date of the notice
from the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System to the user. If the
payment is not made, the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System may
turn off the water supply to the property owner until such payment
is received. In the event that the actual water use is less than the
estimated EDU calculation, no reimbursement shall be made.
