[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87 (1/7/1936) the Borough: (a) repealed Ordinance No. 82 on the grounds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.