[Adopted 12-29-2004 by Ord. No. 24-19]
The Water System and the Sewer System of the Borough of Roosevelt are hereby consolidated, pursuant to the authority of N.J.S.A. 40:62-106.
[New]
The systems shall operate as one utility under the name and designation of Water/Sewer Utility Department, and shall be under the supervision and control of the Mayor and Council through the Municipal Utilities Committee, consisting of three members selected from the Borough Council by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council.
The consolidation is hereby declared to be effective as of January 1, 1964.
All water taps and sewer service connections must be made either by a licensed plumber; or at the discretion of the Mayor and Council, they may order by resolution, that the water taps and sewer service shall be made by the Water/Sewer Utility Department of the Borough or its authorized agent and at the expense of the applicant.
[New]
All connections shall be inspected by the Plumbing Subcode Official and shall be properly reported to the Water/Sewer Utility Department.
For each new sewer connection, the following fee shall be paid to the Borough of Roosevelt:
a. 
Single-family dwelling: $3,685.
b. 
Apartments or multifamily dwellings, for each unit: $3,685.
c. 
Any other structure: the greater of $3,685 or $3,685 for each equivalent domestic dwelling consumption unit (EDCU).
d. 
In addition to the connection fees hereinabove, all charges and expenses associated with connecting to the sewer system, including service saddles, teewye fitting, clean-outs and street excavation, shall be paid by the owner making application therefor. In the event of an opening for the purpose of repair or replacement or maintenance of a sewer lateral, the cost of such repair or replacement or maintenance shall be borne by the owner of the property from the in-street sewer main to the dwelling or structure. All work on sewer laterals shall be performed in accordance with methods approved by the Sewer Utility Operator or Borough Engineer. The Borough reserves the right to determine the type, size and quality of the pipe to be utilized from the sewer main to the dwelling or other structure. In the event that the owner of the property fails to comply with the responsibility as stated herein for expenses incurred and the failure continues after written notice is received by the owner notifying the owner of responsibility for the costs, then the Sewer Utility Operator or Borough Engineer shall certify the cost to the Borough Council, which shall examine the certificate and, if it is correct, cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against the lands. The amount so charged shall become a lien upon the lands and be added to and become a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the lands, shall bear interest at the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner as taxes. Costs shall be in addition to any penalties imposed for any violation of this section.
[Added 3-23-2020 by Ord. No. 20-01]
EDCU shall mean the equivalent wastewater flow from one single-family dwelling unit and shall be applied to industrial, professional, commercial and other users at an average rate of 300 gallons per day. The Borough hereby adopts the project flow criteria of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as presently set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3, as modified from time to time, as criteria for determining EDCU's of sewer service to compute connection fees for the types of uses listed in the regulation or their equivalents as determined by the Borough.
For each new water connection, the following fee shall be paid to the Borough of Roosevelt:
a. 
Single-family dwelling: $1,815.
b. 
Apartments or multifamily dwellings, for each unit: $1,815.
c. 
Any other structure: the greater of $1,815 or $1,815 for each equivalent domestic dwelling consumption unit (EDCU).
d. 
Charges for tapping of the water main for service pipe to curb, including corporation and curb stops and street excavation, shall be paid by the owner making application therefor. In the event of an opening for the purpose of repair or replacement or maintenance of a water service line, the cost of such repair or replacement or maintenance shall be borne by the owner of the property from the in-street water main to the dwelling or structure, including any repair or use of the shutoff valve, regardless of where located. All work on water service lines shall be performed in accordance with methods approved by the Water Utility Operator or Borough Engineer. The Borough reserves the right to determine the type, size and quality of the pipe to be utilized from the water main to the dwelling or other structure. In the event that the owner of the property fails to comply with the responsibility as stated herein for expenses incurred and the failure continues after written notice is received by the owner notifying the owner of responsibility for the costs, then the Water Utility Operator or Borough Engineer shall certify the cost to the Borough Council, which shall examine the certificate and, if it is correct, cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against the lands. The amount so charged shall become a lien upon the lands and be added to and become a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the lands, shall bear interest at the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner as taxes. Costs shall be in addition to any penalties imposed for any violation of this section.
[Added 3-23-2020 by Ord. No. 20-01]
All water taps made and services installed must be metered. All meters and appurtenances will be installed at the expense of the owner in such manner and in such condition as determined by the Plumbing Subcode Official. All water meters are supplied by the Borough and shall belong to it as owner.
Each new consumer must have installed at the consumer's own expense a curb stop on the property line nearest the main and a stop and waste cock on the service pipe inside the building and within one foot of where it enters same, so located that the water supply may be shut off without difficulty.
[New]
The Superintendent of Water/Sewer Utility, or any authorized employee of the Water/Sewer Utility Department, or any person or persons designated by the Mayor and Council for that purpose may at all reasonable hours enter the premises of any water service customer or any sewer service user and examine the pipes, fixtures and meter, read the meter and make all tests and repairs, remove and replace the meter when deemed necessary, and may also check all pipes, fixtures and the number of fixtures connected to the sewer or water services.
The owner of any premises where a meter and its appurtenances are installed shall be held responsible for the care and protection of same from freezing, or from hot water, or from any other damage thereto. The owner or consumer shall notify the Water/Sewer Utility Department of any damage to or of the non-working of the meter or appurtenances as soon as the same comes to the owner's or consumer's knowledge. No by-pass around the meter shall be permitted.
No owner, consumer or any person or persons shall be entitled to damages or rebate for any stoppage occasioned by an accident, addition, replacement or repair to any portion of the system.
[Amended 2-20-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
The owner of any property supplied with water shall, at the owner’s own expense and cost, maintain all service pipes, stop-cocks, curb boxes and other appliances and appurtenances in good working order and repair and protect them against freezing or other damage. In the event that repair, maintenance, shut-off, connection, and/or an emergent response by the Water Utility Operator, is required, all costs of such repair or maintenance or emergent response shall be borne by the owner of the property. If the owner of the property fails to comply with the responsibility as stated herein for expenses incurred and the failure continues after written notice is received by the owner notifying the owner of responsibility for the costs, then the Water Utility Operator shall certify the cost to the Borough Council, which shall examine the certificate and, if it is correct, cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against the lands. The amount so charged shall become a lien upon the lands and be added to and become a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the lands, shall bear interest at the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner as taxes.
Sewage or trade wastes or storm or surface drainage of any kind which will interfere with the proper operation of the sewage system shall not be emptied into and through the sewer lines.
[Ord. No. 24-20A(1); Ord. No. 24-20; Ord. No. 16-004]
The Water and Sewer Service charges hereby imposed shall be a bi-monthly charge (every two months), which shall be billed on a bi-monthly basis. The water component of these bills will consist of a bi-monthly base gallonage use rate as set forth in Section 15-13, and a per gallon consumption-based excess use rate above the base amount as also set forth in Section 15-13 and Section 15-13.1.
[Ord. No. 16-004]
Except as provided in Section 15-13.2 below, the base bi-monthly combined rates for water and sewer service effective July 1, 2013 are as follows:
a. 
Each family dwelling and house of worship of any denomination $372.
b. 
Any building, equipped, or designated to be used for any industrial purpose of use, and wherein water is measured as follows:
By 5/8 inch meter
$610
By 1 inch meter
$820
By 1 1/2 inch meter
$1,892
c. 
Stores, halls, clubs, service stations, restaurants, and other commercial establishments $547.
d. 
Farms where water is used for livestock $449.
e. 
Borough-owned building $0.
f. 
Free public schools (See Section 15-13.3, below)
g. 
Out buildings, studios, shops, and any structures in which sewage service has been extended from a residence $142.
[Ord. No. 24-20A(1); Ord. No. 24-20; Ord. No. 24-21; Ord. No. 16-004]
The bi-monthly base charge is to represent payment for the first 12,000 gallons of water consumed for each user. A use charge of $0.008 (8/10 of a penny) per gallon for water used in excess of the above amount shall be made in addition to the Bi-monthly Base Charge for all meter sizes for all users.
[Ord. No. 24-20A(1); Ord. No. 24-20; Ord. No. 16-004]
Commencing on July 1, 2013, the base bi-monthly rates for water and sewer service for free public schools originally set forth in subsection 15-13.1f above shall be $744.
This base rate will represent a bi-monthly base water usage (gallonage) of 24,000 gallons.
Consumption beyond this amount shall be charged at an excess usage rate of $0.008 (8/10 of a penny) per gallon.
On or after January 1, 2005, the annual calendar year charge for water use and sewer service in swimming pools, both in ground and above ground, shall be as follows:
a. 
Private residential pools with a capacity of 10,000 gallons or more $3 per 1,000 gallons or part thereof.
b. 
Any swimming pool or appurtenant facilities, regardless of size, connected to the Borough sewer system $700.
[Ord. No. 24-20A(1); Ord. No. 24-20; Ord. No. 16-004]
a. 
The Borough reserves the right to read meters as it is deemed to be necessary.
b. 
Bi-monthly charges will be due and payable on the first day of the bi-monthly billing cycle, which shall consist of charges in arrears for the prior month and in advance for the month commencing with the payment. Bills will present a combined total comprised of an itemization of a sewer charge, base water charge, and excess use water charges.
c. 
Charges for water and sewer service are payable in the fixed or minimum amounts set forth in this article, whether or not the service is used.
[Ord. No. 24-20A(1); Ord. No. 24-20A(2); Ord. No. 24-20; Ord. No. 16-004]
a. 
Bills for water consumption and/or sanitary sewer rentals and/or industrial waste charges as provided in this article shall be due and payable immediately. If any bill or part of a bill rendered for water and sewer usage or any other charges in connection therewith is not paid before or on the tenth day from the date the bill is due, the bill shall be deemed delinquent and subject to interest at the prevailing rate fixed for delinquent real estate taxes from that date until such time that the bill is paid in full.
b. 
Unpaid charges and rentals for connection with and use of the water and sewer system, to the degree permitted by law, shall be a lien upon the premises connected until paid and the Borough shall have the same remedies for the collection thereof with interest, costs and penalties as it has by law for the collection of taxes upon real estate.
c. 
The interest, costs and penalties herein shall apply to all delinquent water and sewer accounts effective as of May 1, 1990.
d. 
Shut-Off Procedures.
1. 
If billing is unpaid and becomes in arrears for two payments (four months total), the Borough shall mail the customer a shut-off notice that the water will be shut off in no less than 10 days, but not more than 30 days, of the notice date, unless payment is made of the arrearage amount within 10 days of the notice.
2. 
Customers who receive a shut-off notice and cannot pay the arrearage may continue to receive services under the following conditions:
(a) 
The customer produces proof of the inability to bring that account current.
(b) 
The customer enters into an agreement whereby he would make all future payments on time.
(c) 
The customer would also agree to make settlement/workout payments of the past due arrearage on time.
(1) 
The minimum settlement/workout payments will be calculated by dividing the amount of the arrearage by the number of months between the date of the notice and the next schedule tax sale.
(2) 
The settlement/workout payments must be made by the same time as payments are required for the ongoing invoices for the current services.
(3) 
Delinquent customers requesting this option must sign a statement agreeing to pay according to these provisions.
(4) 
Failure to satisfy this agreement will initiate immediate shut-off procedures.
e. 
There will be a reconnection charge of $25.
f. 
The Governing Body shall have the power to grant adjustments to utility billing in order to resolve consumption-related disputes.
It is the intent and purpose herein that the bills for water and sewer charges shall be paid in full on a bi-monthly basis as more fully set forth above. No account shall be serviced that may be in arrears for more than 60 days. The Mayor and Council are hereby empowered to enact rules and regulations by ordinance for the purpose of adjusting any rates, charges and other matters that shall be necessary in order to properly manage and upgrade the water and sewer utility system, as set forth in this article.
[New]
Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Article I shall, upon conviction, be liable to the penalties stated in Chapter 1, Section 1-5.