[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Bridgewater as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 62.
Drainage — See Ch. 81.
Public health nuisances — See Ch. 145.
Sanitation — See Ch. 170.
Individual sewage disposal systems — See Ch. 173.
Water connections — See Ch. 210.
Individual and semipublic water supply — See Ch. 212.
[Adopted 8-30-1976 by Ord. No. 76-27;[1] amended in its entirety 12-6-82 by Ord. No. 82-43]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted by the Board of Health. Under the present form of Township government, there is no longer a Board of Health. The legislative functions of the Board of Health are now performed by the Township Council.
A. 
For every direct or indirect connection to the sanitary sewerage system of the Township or to any part thereof, the following capacity-rate trunk-connection charges are established at the following rates:
[Amended 2-14-2008 by Ord. No. 08-02; 5-2-2022 by Ord. No. 22-06; 6-6-2024 by Ord. No. 24-07]
(1) 
Residential user: $4,766 for each single-family dwelling or unit.
(2) 
All other users: $4,766 for each 300 gallons per day as determined by the Township on the basis of certain factors, including but not limited to the factors contained in N.J.S.A. 40:14A-8, N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3, the data and information made available to the Township, and the results of its investigation and on studies of meter readings.
(3) 
Connection fee biennial review. The connection fee shall be reviewed every even-numbered year and shall be subject to upward revision in accordance with the factors contained in N.J.S.A. 40:14A-8, N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3, the data and information made available to the Township, and the results of its investigation and on studies of meter readings.
B. 
The capacity-rate trunk-connection charge above specified shall be in addition to any annual sewer use charge, Code Enforcement sewer tie-in connection permit fee, Township street opening permit fee, direct trunk tap-in charge, all other such fees and any special inspection fees that may be required in unusual cases to absorb the cost of inspections over and above that required under any other ordinance and in addition to any municipal sewer assessment for sanitary collecting sewers that may be constructed as local improvements by the Township Council.
[Amended 5-2-2022 by Ord. No. 22-06]
C. 
The capacity-rate trunk-connection charge above specified shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Township as follows:
(1) 
On application for a building permit for new construction, the entire charge shall be paid in one lump sum.
(2) 
On application to Code Enforcement Division for a sewer tie-in connection permit for a connection to an existing structure, at least 1/5 of the charge shall be paid at the time of such application, and the balance of the charge shall be payable in four equal annual installments, together with interest on the unpaid portions computed at the rate of 8% per annum with an option to pay such unpaid balance with interest to payment date at an accelerated date.
D. 
For all uses other than a single-family dwelling, the capacity-rate trunk-connection charge for each individual connection shall always be subject to an upward revision in accordance with rates herein prescribed and then prevailing, when any enlargement of the connected structure or when any addition to the connected structure occurs or when any increase in the use of the connected structure occurs which increases the service demand upon the trunk lines and upon the capacity of the sanitary sewerage facilities of the Township. No such revision shall be made except after reasonable notice has been given to the user and an opportunity has been given to the user to be heard on the matter.
E. 
The capacity-rate trunk-connection charge shall also be applicable to any connection made in any other municipality, where such connection would flow through the Middle Brook Trunk or North Branch Trunk.
[Added 5-2-2022 by Ord. No. 22-06]
A. 
For every direct connection to a trunk built or owned by the Township, the following direct trunk tap-in charges are established at the following rates:
[Amended 2-14-2008 by Ord. No. 08-02; 5-2-2022 by Ord. No. 22-06; 6-6-2024 by Ord. No. 24-07]
(1) 
Residential user: $4,766 for each single-family dwelling or unit.
(2) 
All other users: $4,766 for each 300 gallons of estimated annual daily average flow or major fraction thereof as determined by the Township on the basis of the factors specified in N.J.S.A. 40:14A-8, N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3, and the data and information made available to this Township, the results of Township investigation and on meter reading studies.
(3) 
Connection fee biennial review. The connection fee shall be reviewed every even-numbered year and shall be subject to upward revision in accordance with the factors contained in N.J.S.A. 40:14A-8, N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3, the data and information made available to the Township, and the results of its investigation and on studies of meter readings.
B. 
The direct trunk tap-in charge above specified shall be in addition to any annual sewer use charge, any capacity-rate trunk-connection charge, any Code Enforcement tie-in connection permit fee, any Township street opening permit fee, any and all other such fees and special inspection fees that may be required to absorb the cost of inspection over and above that required under any other ordinance.
C. 
Every user subject to a direct trunk tap-in charge herein established shall be entitled to deduct therefrom the principal amount of any special assessment levied by the Township of Bridgewater upon the real property of the user for the benefit conferred by a sanitary collecting sewer constructed by the Township of Bridgewater as a local improvement. The pendency of any such local improvement assessment shall not delay the imposition and payment of the direct trunk tap-in charge hereby established. All users who have paid the whole or any installment of the tap-in charge herein established and who shall thereafter be assessed for such local improvement may file with the Township a voucher requesting the application of the tap-in charge so paid to the assessment levied as aforesaid. Where the local improvement assessment shall be levied upon the user's property before the user makes an application for a direct trunk connection, the user shall attach to such application a certified copy of the assessment, and the tap-in charge shall be reduced by an amount equal to the principal amount of such assessment. Nothing herein contained shall in any way whatsoever entitle a user to a refund of any money paid on account of a direct trunk tap-in charge.
D. 
The direct trunk tap-in charge above specified shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Township before application is made to the Code Enforcement Division for a sewer tie-in connection permit and shall be paid in accordance with the following:
(1) 
In one lump sum for a connection to serve new construction; and
(2) 
In one installment of at least $200 and in four additional annual installments of at least $200 with interest at the rate of 8% per annum on the unpaid balance for connections to serve existing structures with an option to pay the unpaid balance with interest at an accelerated date.
E. 
The charges herein specified shall take effect with respect to all direct trunk connections made after the final adoption of this chapter and to all previously made direct trunk connections covered by the conditions of consent given by the then Township of Bridgewater Sewerage Authority in anticipation of the adoption of a direct trunk tap-in charge.
[Last amended 6-6-2024 by Ord. No. 24-07[2]]
A. 
Every user connected, directly or indirectly, to the sanitary sewerage system of the Township or to any part thereof shall pay, as hereinafter specified, to the Treasurer of the Township an annual sewer use charge hereby established, at the rates and in the manner hereinbelow specified.
B. 
The rate and charge per unit user and the rate charge per metered volume user effective January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, shall be as follows:
(1) 
Unit charges for unmetered church, nonprofit civil associations and residential users:
(a) 
$484 per year for each unit or major fraction of a unit over one unit where the user is either serviced directly by the Township with treatment at Somerset-Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority or the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority, which said sum shall include the costs of treatment, operation, and maintenance.
(b) 
Where the user is served by the Borough of Somerville, Township of Green Brook, Borough of Bound Brook or Borough of Raritan, the user shall be charged as billed directly by the municipality that serves the user according to its existing system of user charges or by the designated operator of that municipality’s sewer system.
(2) 
Unit charges for unmetered commercial, institutional, industrial and nonresidential users: $484 per year for each unit or major fraction of a unit over one unit, regardless of where the user is serviced, based upon 3,000 square feet of gross building area calculated per the Township of Bridgewater Municipal Land Use Code per basic unit (some uses have two minimum billing units per business).
(3) 
Volume charge for metered users: $4,411 per year for each million gallons per year, metered, prorated on the basis of $441.10 for each major fraction of 100,000 gallons per year.
C. 
The rate and charge per unit user and the rate charge per metered volume user effective January 1, 2025, shall be as follows:
(1) 
Unit charges for unmetered church, nonprofit civil associations and residential users:
(a) 
$496 per year for each unit or major fraction of a unit over one unit where the user is either serviced directly by the Township with treatment at Somerset-Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority or the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority, which said sum shall include the costs of treatment, operation and maintenance.
(b) 
Where the user is served by the Borough of Somerville, Township of Green Brook, Borough of Bound Brook or Borough of Raritan, the user shall be charged as billed directly by the municipality that serves the user according to its existing system of user charges or by the designated operator of that municipality’s sewer system.
(2) 
Unit charges for unmetered commercial, institutional, industrial and nonresidential users: $496 per year for each unit or major fraction of a unit over one unit, regardless of where the user is serviced, based upon 3,000 square feet of gross building area calculated per the Township of Bridgewater Municipal Land Use Code per basic unit (some uses have two minimum billing units per business).
(3) 
Volume charge for metered users: $4,521 per year for each million gallons per year, metered, prorated on the basis of $452.06 for each major fraction of 100,000 gallons per year.
D. 
Whenever treatment fees or costs charged to the Township are increased by the Somerset-Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority or the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority, the fees and charges herein shall be increased by the same percentage as said increase. The increase shall begin on January 1 of the year thereafter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. A232, Wastewater Collection and Conveyance Consent Agreement for Certain Properties.
[2]
Editor's Note: Subsequent amendments to this section noted where applicable.
A. 
The classification of unmetered users and the units assigned to each classification of user for the purpose of computing and determining the capacity-rate trunk-connection charge, the direct trunk tap-in charge and the annual rate and charge for billing purposes based upon the unit rate and charge and upon the volume rate and charge specified in and established by the provisions of the above schedules in §§ 175-1, 175-2 and 175-3 shall be as follows:
[Amended 2-14-2008 by Ord. No. 08-02]
Classification
Unit Assigned
a.
Single-family dwelling
1 unit per dwelling
b.
Apartments, multiple-dwelling units
1 unit per apartment or unit
c.
Boardinghouses
1 unit minimum; 1/2 of 1 unit per person for premises capable of housing more than 6 persons counting the nonboarders in the premises
d.
Rooming houses
1 unit minimum; 1/4 of 1 unit per person computed as under Entry c above
e.
Hotels, motels and homes
2 units minimum; 1/3 of 1 unit for the aged per person computed as under Entry c above
f.
Retail stores, workshops and personal service stores (as defined in the Land Use Ordinance for C-1 Neighborhood Business Zone, which is limited to neighborhood service character stores)
1 unit minimum; 1 unit for each 4 employees or major fraction thereof (5 or more employees)
g.
Restaurants, diners, luncheonettes, bars and taverns
2 units minimum; 1/4 of 1 unit per person based on full customer capacity
h.
Soda fountains, snack bars and fast-food establishments
2 units minimum; 1/5 of 1 unit per person based on full customer capacity
i.
Meeting rooms, halls
1 unit minimum; 1/20 of 1 unit per person based on full capacity per fraction of a year in use
j.
Churches, auditoriums
1 unit minimum; 1/20 of 1 unit per person based on full capacity per fraction of a year in use
k.
Church parsonages, rectories, etc.
1 unit minimum; 1/4 of 1 unit per person computed as under Entry c above
l.
Firehouses, rescue squad houses and other charitable organizations
1 unit minimum; same as Entry i above if the public uses part of building for meetings
m.
Gas stations
1 unit minimum; plus 2 units per car wash facility
n.
Schools having no gymnasiums and showers
1 unit minimum; 1/9 of 1 unit per full-time pupil and per person on staff; 1/12 of 1 unit per part-time pupil
o.
Schools having gymnasiums and showers
1 unit minimum; 2/15 of 1 unit per full-time pupil and per person on staff; 1/10 of 1 unit per part-time pupil
p.
Bathhouse for a swimming pool for either a day camp or a private swim club
1 unit minimum; 1/10 of a unit per person based on the total number of persons using or estimated as using the facilities during each calendar year
q.
Factories, offices, warehouses, shopping centers and similar uses
2 units minimum; 1/10 of 1 unit per employee based on the maximum number of employees on the payroll in each calendar year, subject to the factor mentioned in Subsection C below
r.
Unspecified users
As determined as the result of an engineering study by the Township Engineer using, as a unit basis, 300 gallons per day or a major fraction thereof
B. 
Minimum classifications. No rate shall be billed on the basis of less than a minimum of one full unit.
C. 
In cases where charges cannot be computed with certainty because the factors constituting the criteria for computing these charges have not yet been determined with certainty, the charges shall be determined on the basis of relevant information requested by and supplied to the person issuing the sewer tie-in connection permit. After the use has been established with certainty, the charges shall be adjusted to reflect that use. Stores, shopping centers and office buildings shall initially be charged on the basis of 0.100 gallons per day per square foot of occupancy and later adjusted for actual yearly history of occupancy, in accordance with § 175-3.
[Amended 2-14-2008 by Ord. No. 08-02]
[Amended 2-14-2008 by Ord. No. 08-02; 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 15-30; 5-16-2022 by Ord. No. 22-08]
Any user being charged at a rate of more than 3,000 gallons per day, may, on application to the Township Engineer and upon approval of such application by the Township Engineer, install a sewage meter to measure continuously the flow of sewage for the purpose of determining rates and charges on a metered basis. The cost of the installation and maintenance shall be borne by the owner, who shall grant to the Township, its agents and officers the right of access to such meter at all reasonable times and the right to inspect all flow records at reasonable times. Any sewage meter installed herein shall be calibrated annually at the expense of the owner.
A. 
Any existing restaurant which currently has a sewage flow of more than 3,000 gallons per day and currently submits to the Township by February 1 public water bills for 12 months of the preceding year for the purpose of determining rates and charges as if the sewage flow were metered may continue to do so as long as it can prove to the Township Engineer that installing a sewage meter would be infeasible.
B. 
The minimum charge for a restaurant shall be two units.
Any premises discharging industrial or combined industrial and sanitary waste of more than 3,000,000 gallons per year shall install and maintain a sewer meter in accordance with the provisions of § 175-5 above. Any premises discharging industrial or combined industrial and sanitary wastes of less than 3,000,000 gallons per year shall submit to the Township an engineering study, including a schematic sketch of operations indicating the quantity of sewage to be discharged into the sanitary sewage system of the Township and a statement of the character of the same in sufficient detail to afford the Township an opportunity to make an accurate appraisal of the sewage situation for rate purposes and for the purpose of determining the effect of such sewage so discharged upon the rates that the Township of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset, is obligated to pay to the Somerset-Raritan Valley Sewage Authority under its service contract for treatment service.
[Amended 3-16-1998 by Ord. No. 98-8; 3-21-2011 by Ord. No. 11-05; 6-23-2022 by Ord. No. 22-10; 6-6-2024 by Ord. No. 24-07]
A. 
Effective January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, the annual sewer use charges hereby established shall be payable as follows: 1/2 of the annual sewer use charge on the first business day of August, and 1/2 of the annual sewer use charge on the first business day in October, as provided on the bill form to be prepared by the Chief Financial Officer of the Township. Any user shall have the option to pay their sewer use charge in one lump sum. Any use charge remaining unpaid after the time when the same shall have been due and payable shall be subject to an interest charge in the same manner as past-due real property taxes in the Township.
B. 
Effective January 1, 2025, the annual sewer use charges hereby established shall be payable as follows: 1/2 of the annual sewer use charge on the first business day of March, and 1/2 of the annual sewer use charge on the first business day in September, as provided on the bill form to be prepared by the Chief Financial Officer of the Township. Any user shall have the option to pay their sewer use charge in one lump sum. Any use charge remaining unpaid after the time when the same shall have been due and payable shall be subject to an interest charge in the same manner as past-due real property taxes in the Township.
C. 
The Tax Collector shall have the authority to calculate and send out estimated bills in advance of regularly scheduled sewer bills.
D. 
Biennial review. The rates and charges provided for in this section shall be reviewed every even-numbered year for conformity with the state and federal regulations and guidelines. The Chief Financial Officer, with input from the Sewer Utility Director of the Township, shall review the annual revenues generated by the rates and charges, compared with the projected costs of operation, maintenance and replacement, and issue a report with recommendations for rate and charge revisions to reflect sufficient annual revenues to offset actual annual operation and maintenance costs.
[Adopted 11-2-1960]
A. 
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOD (denoting "biochemical oxygen demand")
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five days at 20º C., expressed in parts per million by weight.
COMBINED SEWER
A sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.
GARBAGE
Solid wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.
HOUSE CONNECTION
That part of the sewerage system which receives the sewage from the house plumbing system and conveys it to the nearest end of the sewer extension, unless a sewer extension is not available, whereby the house connection shall be extended to the nearest available Y-branch on the main sewer. No house connection shall be made to a manhole on the public sewer system.
HOUSE PLUMBING SYSTEM
All the plumbing work within the building and to a point five feet outside of the building which conveys sewage from within the building to the house connection outside of the building.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
The liquid wastes from industrial processes as distinct from sanitary sewage.
MAIN SEWER
The sewers laid longitudinally along the center line or other part of the streets or other rights-of-way and in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights and which are controlled by public authority.
NATURAL OUTLET
Any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface or groundwater.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.
pH
The logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
PLUMBING INSPECTOR
The Township Plumbing Inspector of the Township of Bridgewater or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.
PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE
The wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that has been shredded to such degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than 1 1/2 inches in any dimension.
PUBLIC SEWER
A sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights and which is controlled by public authority.
SANITARY SEWER
A sewer which carries sewage and to which storm- , surface and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
SEWAGE
A combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments, together with such ground- , surface and storm waters as may be present.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
Any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.
SEWERAGE WORKS
All facilities for collecting, pumping and disposing of sewage.
SEWER EXTENSION
That part of the sewerage system that runs from the sewer main to the curbline and includes all necessary fittings.
STORM SEWER or STORM DRAIN
A sewer which carries storm- and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and polluted wastes.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, sewage or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Bridgewater.
WATERCOURSE
A channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in an unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the Township of Bridgewater or in any area under the jurisdiction of said Township any human or animal excrement, garbage or other objectionable waste.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any house, building or structure used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other human use situated within the Township to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other similar facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage where a public sewer is located within 200 feet of the property line of said premises, except as provided in § 175-9C of this article.
C. 
Upon the acceptance of any public sewer by the municipal governing body of the Township of Bridgewater or upon the acceptance by the Township of Bridgewater Sewerage Authority of any public sewer and the granting of approval by said Authority that tie-ins from house connections may be made to any such sewer, the owner or owners of all houses, buildings or structures used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other human use, the property lines of which are located within 200 feet of said accepted public sewer, shall, at their own expense, install suitable toilet facilities therein and connect such facilities and all other sanitary sewerage facilities therein directly with said public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article and within 180 days after the date of acceptance of a public sewer by the municipal governing body of the Township of Bridgewater or within 180 days after the date of acceptance of a public sewer by the Township of Bridgewater Sewerage Authority and approval by said Authority for the use thereof as aforesaid.
[Amended 3-24-1971]
D. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to make a house connection or to connect a public sewer to any dwelling or other structure having a plumbing system which is not effectively trapped and vented to prevent the unsafe escape of sewer gas within such building or other structure or to make any direct or indirect connection between any house connection and any footing drain, downspout, sump pump or other source of stormwater, surface runoff water, groundwater, roof runoff water, subsurface drainage water, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process water.
[Added 2-23-1966]
E. 
Where, by reason of differences of elevation, insufficient grade or fall between a house, building or structure and the public sewer permitting drainage from said house, building or structure to the sewer by gravity and when no hazard, nuisance or insanitary condition is evidenced, the Board of Health of the Township of Bridgewater may waive or alter the requirements of § 175-9C subject to conditions, limitations and requirements placed on the property by the Board of Health. Such action taken by the Board of Health of the Township of Bridgewater under this section may, at any time subsequent to the taking of said action, be amended, rescinded or revoked. A request for Board action under this section shall be made, in writing, to the Board of Health by the owner of the property involved before action will be taken by the Board.
[Added 5-28-1975]
[Added 2-23-1966]
A. 
The Plumbing Inspector shall make preliminary plumbing inspections of all dwellings and other structures to be connected to any public sewer. Such inspection shall be made for the purpose of ascertaining that all of the waste lines for the plumbing system in or on the premises have been effectively trapped and vented to prevent the unsafe escape of sewer gas within a dwelling or other structure and to ascertain that no such waste lines have been connected to any footing drains, downspouts, sump pumps or other sources of stormwater, surface runoff water, groundwater, roof runoff water, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process water.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the Plumbing Inspector to schedule such inspections in an orderly manner to cover all dwellings and other structures serviced by any sanitary sewerage facility constructed by the Township or by the Township of Bridgewater Sewerage Authority or by any private person or group of private persons as soon as a public works contract for such construction has been awarded by the Township Committee or by said Authority or as soon as official approval has been given to the construction or any such sanitary sewerage facility by any private person or group of private persons. These inspections shall be scheduled to be completed on or before the estimated date of official acceptance for use of the construction of such sanitary sewerage facilities. In the scheduling of such inspections, it shall be the duty of the Plumbing Inspector to notify all owners and occupants of dwellings and other structures subject to inspection, as aforesaid, of the necessity to make such inspections so as to facilitate the scheduling thereof by appointment.
C. 
On completion of each inspection, the Plumbing Inspector shall file an inspection certificate with the Board of Health and deliver to the owner a copy thereof. Such certificate shall be signed and dated and shall identify the premises inspected and further specify the plumbing work, if any, required to make the premises safe for connection to a public sanitary sewer and also such additional work, if any, that may be necessary to prevent the discharge of any footing drain, downspout, sump pump or other source of stormwater, surface runoff water, groundwater, roof runoff water, subsurface drainage water, cooling water, unpolluted industrial process water or any other prohibited water or other liquids into the public sewerage system.
No person other than authorized Township personnel for repair purposes shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the Plumbing Inspector. Such permit, when for a house connection, shall be in writing on a form provided by the Township and shall state the street and number, Tax Map lot number and be accompanied by a sketch showing the location of the line where it passes into the Township sewer system by reference to property corners.
[Added 2-23-1966]
A. 
No sewer connection permit shall be issued for any premises which have not been inspected as required by § 175-10.
B. 
No sewer connection permit shall be issued for any premises which failed to pass the inspection required under § 175-10 unless the application for the connection permit is accompanied by an application for a plumbing permit for all work necessary to correct the deficiencies shown on the certificate of inspection. All such corrective plumbing work must be completed before the house connection is connected to the plumbing system.
C. 
Before any work may be started under a sewer connection permit, the owner or the owner's agent, using forms to be provided by the Board of Health, must file with the Plumbing Inspector a signed statement specifying the proposed starting date for such connection work and the name, address and telephone number of each person, firm or corporation who will do the following parts of the work of installation of the proposed house sewer connection:
(1) 
Sewer trench excavation.
(2) 
House connection pipelines.
(3) 
Sewer trench backfilling.
(4) 
Emptying the cesspool or septic tank or seepage pit being disconnected.
(5) 
Backfilling a cesspool or septic tank or seepage pit after disconnection.
D. 
No person, firm or corporation shall start any part of the work of installation of a house sewer connection before the statement specified in § 175-12C is filed with the Plumbing Inspector. It shall be the duty of such person proposing to do any part of such work to ascertain whether or not such statement has been so filed.
A. 
There shall be two classes of public sewer connection permits:
(1) 
For residential and commercial service.
(2) 
For service to establishments producing industrial wastes.
B. 
In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form provided by the Township. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Plumbing Inspector.
C. 
A permit and inspection fee of $10 for a residential or commercial public sewer connection permit and $25 for an industrial public sewer connection permit shall be paid to the Township Plumbing Inspector at the time the application is filed.
D. 
A reinspection fee of $7 shall be paid for each reinspection necessitated by reason of defective work.
[Added 2-26-1964]
A separate and independent house connection shall be provided for every building, except where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway, in which case the house connection from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one house connection.
A portion of the existing outside piping of the house plumbing system may be used in connection with the house connection only when it is found, on examination and test by the Plumbing Inspector, to meet all requirements of this article.
[Amended 2-26-1964; 2-23-1966; 11-28-1973]
A. 
House-connection sewer pipe shall be made of extra-heavy cast-iron pipe in a maximum of ten-foot lengths, properly jointed, or asbestos-cement rubber ring house connection pipe in a maximum of six-foot lengths and properly jointed.
(1) 
Cast-iron pipe shall be jointed with lead and oakum or with rubber gaskets conforming to current American Society for Testing and Materials specifications for rubber gaskets for cast-iron soil pipe and fittings (ASTM Designation C-564-65T). Cast-iron pipe for such sewers shall be laid in a trench excavated of sufficient width and to proper grade for proper installation of each length of pipe. The bottom of the trench shall be evenly graded so that the pipe shall rest on undisturbed earth. Bell holes shall be provided by hand excavation in the bottom of the trench so that the entire length of the barrel of each pipe will rest on undisturbed earth and so that the bottom of the trench will provide a solid bearing for the entire length of each pipe. Rock shall be excavated to a uniform grade and shall be excavated three inches below the bells of the cast-iron pipe. All cuts below trench grade shall be filled with three-fourths-inch clean cracked stone compacted or with concrete. Only cast-iron pipe shall be used where the pipe passes under a driveway or under other areas where, in the opinion of the Plumbing Inspector, its preference over asbestos-cement pipe is warranted.
(2) 
Installations of asbestos-cement pipe shall be bedded on six inches of three-fourths-inch clean cracked stone. Asbestos-cement pipe shall be jointed with rubber rings or gaskets conforming to current American Society for Testing and Materials specifications for rubber rings for asbestos cement pipe (ASTM Designation D-1869-63T).
B. 
Immediately after completion of said house sewer connection, all connections to cesspools, septic tanks and seepage pits shall be entirely cut off from all waste lines and the cesspool, septic tank and seepage pits shall be emptied of the contents thereof and shall be filled with fresh clean earth or sand. All septic tanks, cesspools and seepage pits servicing a system being connected to the public sewer shall be pumped and filled at the time of final inspection and approval of the house sewer connection. This work shall be done subject to the approval of the Plumbing Inspector.
The diameter of the house connection pipe shall be not less than four inches. The house connection shall be laid on a uniform grade, wherever practicable, at a straight grade of at least 1/4 of an inch per foot. Where, in special cases, a minimum grade of 1/4 inch per foot cannot be maintained, a grade of 1/8 inch per foot will be permitted but only after the Plumbing Inspector is amply notified and gives his approval.
Whenever possible, the house connection shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. No house connection shall be laid parallel to or within three feet of any bearing wall which might thereby be weakened. The depth shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost. The house connection shall be laid at uniform grade in the direction from the main sewer to the building and in straight alignment insofar as possible. Change in direction shall be made only with properly curved pipe and fittings.
In all buildings in which the house plumbing is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such drain shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the house connection.
A. 
When installing the house connection, the trenches shall be dug in a careful manner and properly sheathed where required. The road materials shall be placed in a separate pile and not mixed with the rest of the excavated materials, which must be piled in a compact heap, so placed as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the public. Proper barricades and lights must be maintained around the trench to guard against accidents.
B. 
In backfilling, the material for the two feet immediately over the pipe shall be selected so it contains no stones. This must be carefully tamped, the balance of the trench to be backfilled in a workmanlike manner, tamping the filling in eight-inch layers so as to avoid any settlement. When the trench has been filled to the proper height, the road material is to be replaced and heavily tamped or rolled.
C. 
Where the trench is excavated in rock, the rock must be carefully excavated to a depth of six inches below the grade line of the sewer and the trench brought to the proper elevation with gravel or other material satisfactory to the Plumbing Inspector. The remainder of the trench must be backfilled with suitable material.
D. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed as abrogating any of the existing requirements of the Township relating to the excavation and backfilling of trenches, but the requirements herein contained shall be in addition thereto.
E. 
Where subsoil conditions are bad, such special precaution must be taken to secure a watertight job as may be directed by the Plumbing Inspector. In quicksand, all pipes must be laid out on planking, two inches thick by at least six inches wide.
A. 
All joints and connections shall be made gastight and watertight.
B. 
Cast-iron pipe joints shall be firmly packed with jute, hemp or equal yarning material and hot-poured with a melted lead to a depth of not less than one inch. The jointing compound shall be run in one pouring and caulked tight. No paint, varnish or other coatings shall be permitted on the jointing material until after the joint has been tested and approved by the Plumbing Inspector. Material for hot-poured joints shall not soften sufficiently to destroy the effectiveness of the joint when subjected to a temperature of 160º F. nor be soluble in any of the wastes carried by the drainage system.
C. 
Joints for asbestos-cement pipe shall be the standard rubber-ring coupling type and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
D. 
Other jointing materials and methods may be used only upon approval of the Plumbing Inspector.
[Amended 3-24-1971]
A. 
The connection of the house connection to the main sewer shall be made at the sewer extension at the curbline, or, if no sewer extension exists, connection shall be made at the nearest available Y-connection on the main sewer. The Plumbing Inspector and/or the Township Engineer will designate the position of the end of the sewer extension at the curbline or the Y-connection on the main sewer, whichever is appropriate. If it becomes necessary to cut into the main sewer, since no other source of connection is available, then such connection shall be made as directed by and under the supervision of the Township Engineer. The dead ends of all pipes not immediately connected with the house plumbing system must be securely closed by a watertight cover of imperishable material.
B. 
At a convenient point near the end of the sewer extension or, if no sewer extension exists, at a point near the curb or property line, a cast-iron T with joints as specified in § 175-17 and a cast-iron pipe extending therefrom to finished grade with a cleanout with a slotted flush head shall be installed for use by Township personnel in conducting inspections for infiltration or improper or excessive flow, unless such installation is already present.
C. 
Prior to any connection to the sewer extension or to the main sewer, the Plumbing Inspector and/or the Township Engineer must be given ample notice of at least 24 hours in order that he may supervise such work. If the Plumbing Inspector and/or the Township Engineer has not been given ample notice, he may require the completed work to be uncovered for examination, at the owner's expense.
The use of cleanouts on the house connection shall be made by installing a Y and one-eighth bend. The cleanouts shall ordinarily be installed at the point of connection between the house connection and outside part of the house plumbing system, at all curves on the house connection and on the straight part of the house sewer to the main sewer. The cleanout shall be brought up from the house connection to eight inches below ground level and be properly capped. Where the distance from the building to the point of connection at the main sewer is less than 50 feet and there are no curves in this distance, the cleanout in the house will be sufficient if it is at least six inches above the basement floor. Where the distance exceeds 50 feet, at least one cleanout 20 feet from the house shall be provided.
A. 
Where connection is made between the portion of the house plumbing system outside of the building and the house connection, a long radius bend shall appropriately be installed at this connection, along with a cleanout as described in § 175-24. This connection shall be subject to the approval of the Plumbing Inspector, who shall be given ample notice prior to such work.
B. 
Before any portion of the existing plumbing system outside of the building is connected to the house connection, the owner shall prove, to the satisfaction of the Plumbing Inspector, that it is clean and conforms in every respect to these rules and regulations.
[Amended 2-23-1966]
No person, firm or corporation shall engage in any of the work involved in the installation of house connection sewers and in the work of emptying cesspools, septic tanks or seepage pits except as hereinafter specified:
A. 
Anyone may excavate and backfill the sewer trench and backfill the cesspool, septic tank or seepage pit if, but only if, designated in the statement required to be filed pursuant to § 175-12C.
B. 
Where extra-heavy cast-iron pipe jointed with lead and oakum is installed for house connections, such work of laying the cast-iron house connection sewer pipe shall be performed only by a plumber holding a valid master plumber's license issued pursuant to the Bridgewater Township Board of Health (1965) Plumbing Code Ordinance or pursuant to any ordinance amending or supplementing the same or by the employees of such licensed master plumber under his direct supervision and control if, but only if, such master plumber is designated in the aforesaid statement.
C. 
Where cast-iron pipe jointed with rubber gaskets conforming to current American Society for Testing and Materials Specifications for rubber gaskets for cast-iron soil pipe and fittings (ASTM Designation C-564-65T) or asbestos-cement rubber ring house connection pipe jointed with rubber rings conforming to current American Society for Testing and Materials Specifications for rubber rings for asbestos cement pipe (ASTM Designation D-1869-63T) in pipe lengths not exceeding six feet in length is installed for house connection sewers, such work may be performed by anyone if, but only if, designated in the aforesaid statement.
D. 
Only persons, firms or corporations holding a valid cleaner's license issued pursuant to the Bridgewater Township Board of Health (1961) Individual Sewage Disposal System Ordinance passed June 28, 1961, or pursuant to any subsequent ordinance amending, supplementing, revising or replacing the same shall engage in the work of emptying cesspools, septic tanks or seepage pits if, but only if, designated in the aforesaid statement.
The Plumbing Inspector may require any appropriate test to the pipes. The plumber or contractor, at his own expense, shall furnish all necessary tools, labor, materials and assistants for such tests and shall remove or repair any defective materials when so ordered by the Plumbing Inspector.
Each contractor or other person performing work on Township public property for the purposes of installing house connections shall post a bond acceptable to the Township. All work shall be adequately guarded with barricades, lights and other measures for protection of the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, curbs and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the Township Engineer.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.
Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as combined sewers or storm sewers or to a natural outlet approved by the Township Engineer. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged, upon approval of the Township Engineer, to a storm sewer, combined sewer or natural outlet.
Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewer:
A. 
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150º F.
B. 
Any water or waste which may contain more than 100 parts per million, by weight, of fat, oil or grease.
C. 
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
D. 
Any garbage that has not been properly shredded.
E. 
Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, paunch manure or any other solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works.
F. 
Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 9.0 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewage works.
G. 
Any waters or wastes containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant.
H. 
Any waters or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the sewage treatment plant.
I. 
Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a public nuisance.
[Amended 6-4-2020 by Ord. No. 20-13]
A. 
All food service establishments, including, but not limited to, restaurants, cafeterias, commercial kitchens, and institutional kitchens, shall be required to install and maintain a grease trap. Any such establishment, as of the effective date of this section, in the opinion of the health official and/or the Plumbing Subcode Official not having an adequately designed /engineered grease trap must submit certified plans for purchase, installation and maintenance of the grease trap to the Bridgewater Township within 60 days of adoption of this section and installed within 180 days of notice. All other commercial and/or industrial establishments shall be required to install a grease trap when, in opinion of the Health Officer or Township Plumbing Subcode Official such a facility is necessary due to the type of activity/use of the property. The following regulations and requirements shall apply to all external or internal grease traps where such grease traps are installed or required to be installed.
B. 
Grease trap construction shall be in compliance with standards specified in accordance with the Plumbing Subcode adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs as set forth in the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code 5:23, Subchapter 3.15, Plumbing Subcode.
C. 
The design and pertinent engineering data shall be submitted to the Township Code Department for a permit. For facilities with a de minimus capacity (less than 10 pounds) a review and approval by the Plumbing Subcode Official shall constitute sufficient approval prior to construction or installation.
D. 
All grease, traps shall be maintained by the owner/operator/lessee or assignee, at their expense, in continuous, efficient operation at all times.
E. 
It is the responsibility of the establishment owner, lessee or assignee to carry out all proceedings necessary to maintain the facility in good working order. This shall be accomplished by the hiring of a professionally licensed grease remediation company duly licensed to perform this work.
F. 
None of the following agents shall be placed directly into a grease interceptor or into any drain that leads to an interceptor: 1) emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, surface active agents, enzymes, degreasers or any type of product that will liquefy grease interceptor wastes; 2) any substance that may cause excessive foaming in Township sanitary sewers; or 3) any substance capable of passing the solid or semisolid contents of the grease interceptor to the receiving sewer.
G. 
The influent to interceptors shall not exceed 140°F. The temperature at the closest point of measurement upstream of the grease interceptor shall be considered equivalent to the temperature of the influent.
H. 
Forms showing periodic inspections, including date and employee name or external professional business where applicable, will be maintained by the owner, lessee or assignee and visibly posted in close proximity to the trap. The forms shall be protected from soiling. Copies of maintenance and grease removal records (either by employees of the facility or contracting agents) shall be provided to the Health Officer and the Plumbing Subcode Official, within seven business days of such occurrence.
I. 
All food service establishments ("facilities") using a grease trap shall provide copies of a certification to the Health Officer ("certification"), from a service company that the grease traps have been properly installed, are properly maintained and are functioning for their intended purposes a minimum of three certifications per year, but not later than April 30, August 31 and December 31, or as determined by the Health Official and/or Plumbing Subcode Official for frequency of service. Seasonal facilities, those that operate for only four consecutive months of the year, must submit compliance forms immediately before and immediately after operation in that calendar year.
J. 
All existing food service establishments without grease traps shall, at the direction of the plumbing subcode official, install grease traps and follow the certification schedule as set forth. Existing food service establishments shall have 180 days from the effective date of this section to install a grease trap. Vending-machine-only facilities are exempt from the grease trap requirements.
K. 
The Health Officer and/or Plumbing Subcode Official shall require all grease traps to be efficient in operation and if in their opinion the grease trap/interceptor is operating in a deficient manor may, at the expense of the owner, lessee or assignee, require independent laboratory tests to ascertain the concentration of grease being emitted from the effluent line of the unit. All grease traps shall be cleaned in accordance with the foregoing schedule. If the facilities hire a licensed grease and waste disposal company or qualified recycling company a copy of the billing should be forwarded to the Township
L. 
Disagreeable odors shall require deodorant to combat said offensive odors.
M. 
In addition to the Township's other remedies, should the Township or its agents incur costs to clean the sewer laterals or sewer lines in the vicinity of the food service establishment due to grease, fats and/or oils, and/or in otherwise responding to a backup caused by such grease, fats and/or oils, which is conclusively shown to originate at a particular facility whether or not the restaurant, cafeteria, institutional kitchen or other facility has a grease trap/interceptor, the owner/ operator of the offending restaurant, cafeteria, institutional kitchen or other facility, shall be deemed out of its compliance with the requirements of the Plumbing Subcode Official or this section, and shall be liable to reimburse the Township and its agents for all such costs.
N. 
The Health Officer and/or Plumbing Subcode Official shall have the right to inspect any food service establishment or other facility to confirm compliance with any requirement of § 175-33 herein.
O. 
The fee schedule for § 175-33, Grease traps, and included in the municipal fee ordinance, § 94-2, is listed below. The fee for initial inspections and reinspection shall be $50 for the initial inspection and $100 for any reinspections. The schedule and frequency for routine inspections as well as complaint follow-ups listed in Subsection I above can be modified if in the opinion of the Health Officer there is a need for more frequent service.
P. 
In addition to any other enforcement mechanisms authorized by law or under the Township Code of the Township of Bridgewater, any person, company or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall, on a first offense, be subject to a thirty-day notice to comply with this article. Any subsequent offense of any of the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof before the Municipal Court of the Township, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000. A separate offense may be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
The admission into the public sewers of any waters or wastes having a five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than 300 parts per million, by weight, or containing more than 350 parts per million, by weight, of suspended solids or containing any quantity of substances having the characteristics described in § 175-32 or having an average daily flow greater than 2% of the average daily sewage flow of the Township shall be subject to the review and approval of the Plumbing Inspector. Where necessary, in the opinion of the Plumbing Inspector, the owner shall provide, at his expense, such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to reduce the biochemical oxygen demand to 300 parts per million by weight or reduce objectionable characteristics or constituents to within the maximum limits provided for in § 175-32 or control the quantities and rates of discharge of such waters or wastes. Plans, specifications and any other pertinent information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the Plumbing Inspector and of the Water Pollution Control Commission of the State of New Jersey, and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until said approvals are obtained in writing.
When required by the Plumbing Inspector, the owner of any property served by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the Plumbing Inspector. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times.
All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in §§ 175-32 and 175-34 shall be determined in accordance with Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Sewage and shall be determined at the control manhole provided for in § 175-36 or upon suitable samples taken at said control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected.
No statement contained in this article shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the Township and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the Township for treatment, subject to payment therefor by the industrial concern.
No unauthorized person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is part of the municipal sewage works. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to immediate arrest under charge of disorderly conduct.
The Plumbing Inspector and other duly authorized employees of the Township bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter upon all properties for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling and testing, in accordance with the provisions of this article.
A. 
The Plumbing Inspector of the Township of Bridgewater shall serve written notice on the owner of any property violating § 175-9 of this article ordering said person to comply therewith within 30 days of said notice or order. Any person who fails to comply with such order within the aforesaid 30 days shall be fined the sum of $25 and, in addition thereto, the sum of $10 for each day of delay after the expiration of the 30 days in which the provisions of the order or notice are not complied with. Such notice may be served upon the owner personally or by leaving it at his usual place of abode with a member of his family above the age of 18 years.
B. 
Any person violating any other provision of this article other than § 175-9, upon conviction thereof, shall pay a fine of not less than $2 and not more than $100.
C. 
Any person convicted of violating this article who refuses or neglects to pay the amount of the judgment or fine rendered against him and all costs and charges incident thereto may be committed to the county jail for a period not exceeding 90 days.