[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Collegeville 6-1-1966 by Ord. No. 194 (Part 11, Ch. 2, of the 1985 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Beginning with Ordinance No. 51, when the Borough authorized Horace L. Saylor, his successors, lessees or assigns, to construct and operate a water system, the Borough encouraged establishment of water systems through private enterprise. The Saylor Water Company served customers on Third Avenue. Ordinance No. 54 (February 8, 1922) granted what was intended to be a more inclusive franchise to Francis W. Wack and his assigns, which seems to have been nullified automatically through failure of that grantee to have a system in operation within two years of the date of final passage of the ordinance, as provided in the ordinance. Then, in 1933, Ordinance No. 82 granted a fifty-year water franchise to Louis J. Cota, his heirs, administrators or assigns, again with a two-year completion date stipulated. By Ordinance No. 87 (1/7/1936) the Borough: (a) repealed Ordinance No. 82 on the grounds that Cota had not started and completed the work within the time stated in the ordinance; (b) prohibited the further grant of water franchises by the Borough; and (c) declared the intention of the Borough to unite with the Borough of Trappe in establishing a joint waterworks system to serve both Boroughs. The joint system went into effect soon afterward, and the first regulations were adopted by Ordinance No. 89 (August 10, 1936).
B. 
The Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System is governed by a joint water committee composed of three members from each of the two Boroughs, chosen by the respective Borough Councils from their own membership. The Committee elects one of its members as joint Chairman, and appoints the Water Superintendent and any other needed employees, as well as a Secretary-Treasurer. The Committee meets quarterly.
C. 
The joint system takes care of the waterworks property, including wells, storage tanks and pumps.
D. 
Each member Borough, using money from its general fund, installs and maintains locally within its own limits, determining in each case the location and size of the mains. It further regulates use of the mains, by ordinance. This chapter comprises the water regulations for Collegeville.
E. 
Although the joint system pays the personnel and makes contracts, social security and municipal retirement for the personnel is administered through Collegeville, because of the social security requirement that papers and documents must be signed by the proper officials of one of the Boroughs.
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to be supplied with water from the Borough shall make application to the water superintendent according to the form prescribed by Council. The superintendent of the water works and/or the Borough Engineer 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 three-fourths-inch inside diameter, copper under ground 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 11-6-1991 by Ord. No. 389]
Any property that has access to public water (water service is less than 150 feet from the building improvement or is located less than 300 feet from any subdivision public improvements) shall not be permitted to install a well for the purpose of withdrawing ground water from the aquifer.
Every applicant shall install two stop cocks immediately inside the foundation wall of the premises one 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 meters, 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.
[Added 10-7-1987 by Ord. No. 349; amended 9-9-1989 by Ord. No. 365; 5-9-1995 by Ord. No. 422; 9-6-1995 by Ord. No. 427; 5-6-2015 by Ord. No. 571]
A. 
Assessment and payment of tapping fee.
(1) 
Any person, firm or corporation applying for water service shall pay a tapping fee of $3,238 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). The tapping fee amount may be amended by resolution as deemed necessary or desirable by Borough Council.
[Amended 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 594]
(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 subdivision, subsequent expansion of commercial, industrial, residential, institutional or any other construction use, each unit will be obligated to pay the before mentioned charge in proportion to the number of EDUs subdivided or expanded. This capital contribution charge shall include conversions of single-family homes into two-family homes for each additional EDU, or fraction thereof, where the property has been previously connected to the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System. In case of commercial, industrial, institutional or other nonresidential construction, or subsequent expansion, the initial EDUs will be estimated based on information provided by the commercial, industrial or institutional establishment and as accepted by the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System's engineer. At the end of a one-year period, or in subsequent annual evaluation at the discretion of the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System, the said system will review the commercial, industrial, institutional or other nonresidential establishment and its water usage, divide the water usage per quarter by the then current value of water usage per EDU to determine the number of EDUs or fraction thereof. Should the EDUs calculated by the above method be greater than the anticipated EDUs paid at the time that the owner sought a building permit, the commercial, industrial, institutional or other nonresidential establishment shall pay the Borough the additional EDUs. That payment will be within 30 days of the date of notice form the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Water System to the property owner. If the payment is not made, the Joint Water System may turn off the water supply to the property owner until payment is received. In the event that the EDUs calculated is less than the initial EDUs anticipated, no reimbursement will be made.
[Amended 4-6-1983 by Ord. No. 319; 10-7-1987 by Ord. No. 349; 5-6-2015 by Ord. No. 571]
A. 
Connection fee. There is hereby fixed and imposed upon the owner of each property located in Collegeville 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. 
Customer facilities fee. There is hereby fixed and imposed upon the owner of each property located in Collegeville 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 1-4-1978 by Ord. No. 281; 10-7-1981 by Ord. No. 310; 4-6-1983 by Ord. No. 319; 12-3-1986 by Ord. No. 339; 12/--/2001 by Ord. No. 486]
A. 
The rates for supplying of water shall be established by resolution of Borough Council from time to time as deemed necessary or desirable by Borough Council.
[Amended 2-6-2013 by Ord. No. 556]
B. 
There shall be a yearly charge of $100 for unmetered fire hydrants installed on by resolution as deemed necessary or desirable by Borough Council.
[Amended 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 594]
C. 
In case of a disputed account involving a question as to the accuracy of the meter, such 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 bay a charge of $10 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.
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 refused to so guarantee then the tenant may make the application and upon the payment of $10 or a larger sum if in the judgment of the Water Works Committee it be deemed necessary to be held as security for the payment of any water consumed.
[Amended 1-4-1978 by Ord. No. 281; 4-6-1983 by Ord. No. 319; 12-2-2015 by Ord. No. 576; 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 594]
A. 
All water rates are due and payable quarterly at the time and place designated on the bill. When bills are not timely paid, a penalty of 10% shall be added to such rates, and the delinquent consumer shall be given 10 days' notice to pay the rates and penalty, in writing. If at the expiration of said 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, along with a fee of $50 for turning on the water.
B. 
There shall be imposed a fee of $30 upon any person who tenders a check as payment which is returned for nonsufficient funds (NSF).
C. 
The fee amounts under this section may be amended by resolution as deemed necessary or desirable by Borough Council.
When any water rates or other municipal assessment remains unpaid, as stated in § 659-9, 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 such water, the name of the owner or owners thereof and the tenant, if any, the amount of water furnished, the rate of the furnishing of same and the charge therefor.
[Amended 12-2-2015 by Ord. No. 576]
A. 
The notice referenced in § 659-9 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 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 such service."
B. 
The notice referenced in § 659-17C 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 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 notices shall be signed by the Borough Secretary and/or the Director of Public Works.
[Amended 12-2-2015 by Ord. No. 576]
A. 
The notice set forth in § 659-11 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 than the customer.
In case said 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 solicitor a copy of said statement and notice, and thereupon the said claim shall be collected according to law, together with all costs and penalties.
Nothing contained in this chapter 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 said right and hereby declares the same to be a lien against the particular property to which the water or service is furnished 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 thereof 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 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 the said multiple dwelling house shall determine; providing that the minimum charge per quarter shall be not less than $7 times the number of living units in the multiple dwelling.
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 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 such premises. No charge for water will be rebated nor any reduction made unless such 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.
[Added 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 594]
When requested for a real estate sale or transfer, there shall be fee of $30 for water or sewer certification statement from the Collegeville-Trappe Joint Public Works Department. The fee amount may be amended by resolution as deemed necessary or desirable by Borough Council.
The rules and regulations relative to the introduction and management of water pipes and water supply in the Borough shall be as follows, to wit:
A. 
No owner or occupant of any building or premises will be permitted to supply water from said 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 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 12-2-2015 by Ord. No. 576]
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 purpose for which they were installed, unless permission for other uses is granted by the Water Works 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 of service. In such case, the Borough shall not be liable for any damage or inconvenience suffered by the customer, or any claim against it at any time for interruption in service, lessening of the supply, inadequate pressure, poor quality of water, or for any causes 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 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 one-time conversion charge and quarterly fee may be amended by resolution as deemed necessary or desirable by Borough Council.
[Added 6-5-2019 by Ord. No. 595]
Any plumber wishing to do plumbing in connection with the water works system must give to the Water Works Committee satisfactory evidence that he is an experienced workman and willing to be governed by the rules and regulations which are or may be hereafter adopted by Council, and any person desiring to do his own plumbing must first obtain permission from the Water Works Committee and the work shall be done to the satisfaction of that committee.
[Amended 3-1-1989 by Ord. No. 363]
Any person or persons, firms, partnerships or corporations violating any of the foregoing rules or regulations or the terms of this chapter shall forfeit all payments made by him or it, on account of said water supply and the supply of water may be at once and without notice shut off and the same shall not be restored unless the offending part shall pay an additional charge of $10 for such restoration of water service, and shall further pay the sum of not less than $5 nor more than $1,000 for each and every offense, to be recovered as debts of like amount are by law recoverable.