[Ord. 1985-7, 10/17/1985]
Where an improved property, at the time connection to a sewer is required, shall be served by its own sewage disposal system or device, the existing house sewer line shall be broken on the structure side of such sewage disposal system or device and attachment shall be made, with proper fittings, to continue such house sewer line as a building sewer.
[Ord. 1985-7, 10/17/1985; as amended by Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
No building sewer shall be covered until it has been inspected and approved by the Township. If any part of a building sewer is covered before so being inspected and approved, it shall be uncovered for inspection at the cost and expense of the owner of the improved property to be connected to a sewer.
[Ord. 1985-7, 10/17/1985; as amended by Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
Every excavation for a building sewer shall be guarded adequately with barricades and lights to protect all persons from damage and injury. Streets, sidewalks and other public property disturbed in the course of installation of a building sewer shall be restored, at the cost and expense of the owner of the improved property being connected, in a manner satisfactory to the Township.
[Ord. 1985-7, 10/17/1985; as amended by Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
If any person shall fail or refuse, upon receipt of a notice of the Township, in writing, to remedy any unsatisfactory condition with respect to a building sewer, within 60 days of receipt of such notice, the Township may refuse to permit such person to discharge sanitary sewage and industrial waste into the sewerage system until such unsatisfactory condition shall have been remedied to the satisfaction of the Township. Failure to remedy any unsatisfactory condition shall be considered sufficient cause for disconnection of the improved property from the sewerage system.
[Ord. No. 2020-03, 6/18/2020]
1. 
Inspections. The purpose of an inspection required by this section is to locate any inflow and/or infiltration into the private building sewer and its connection to the sewer lateral; to make sure there is no damage to the private building sewer and its connection to the sewer lateral; to ensure there are no prohibited discharges into the building sewer; and to verify that all cleanouts and/or vents are properly capped and not damaged. All improved properties that are connected to the sewerage system shall be subject to inspections at certain times as set forth in Subsection 1A, B, C and D below.
A. 
Prior to any sale, transfer and/or other conveyance of any improved property connected to the sewerage system, the selling or transferring owner of the improved property shall retain the services of a licensed journeyman or master plumber for the purpose of conducting an inspection of the building sewer and its connection to the sewer lateral to ensure compliance with Chapter 18 of the Township Code of Ordinances, and in particular the requirements of § 18-502. The inspection of the building sewer and its connection to the sewer lateral shall include a video inspection to determine whether such pipes and/or their connections allow stormwater, groundwater, or other drainage prohibited by § 18-502 to enter the sewerage system. The inspection shall include a visual assessment of all the drainage sources discharging into the building sewer to ensure compliance with § 18-502. The cost of an inspection under this Subsection 1A shall be the responsibility of the property owner. The owner shall ensure that the plumber completes the video inspection report form provided by the Township. A copy of the inspection report from the licensed journeyman or master plumber and a copy of the video shall be provided to the Township prior to conveying and/or transferring ownership of the improved property.
B. 
Prior to the change in use or transfer of tenants of any improved property connected to the sewerage system, the owner of the improved property shall retain the services of a licensed journeyman or master plumber for the purpose of conducting an inspection of the private building sewer and its connection to the sewer lateral to ensure compliance with Chapter 18 of the Township Code of Ordinances, and in particular the requirements of § 18-502. The inspection of the building sewer and its connection to the sewer lateral shall include a video inspection to determine whether such pipes and/or their connections allow stormwater, groundwater, or other drainage prohibited by § 18-502 to enter the sewerage system. The inspection shall include a visual assessment of all the drainage sources discharging into the building sewer to ensure compliance with § 18-502. The cost of an inspection under this Subsection 1B shall be the responsibility of the property owner. The owner shall ensure that the plumber completes the video inspection report form provided by the Township. A copy of the inspection report from the licensed journeyman or master plumber and a copy of the video shall be provided to the Township prior to securing the applicable permit for the change of use and/or prior to the start of the use on the property, whichever first occurs.
C. 
In addition to Subsection 1A and B, and as set forth in § 18-901, the Township shall have the right to access at reasonable times any part of an improved property served by the sewerage system as deemed necessary for purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling and testing and/or other functions relating to services rendered by the Township through its sewerage system.
D. 
The owner of an improved property connected to the sewerage system shall be responsible for any fees associated with the administration and review of the above- referenced inspections, such fees to be set by the Board of Commissioners in the annual fee schedule resolution.
2. 
Results of Inspections.
A. 
If upon completion of an inspection under Subsection 1, the building sewer and/or its connection to the sewer lateral is found to be defective and/or noncompliant with Chapter 18 of the Township Code of Ordinances and/or sound engineering practice, the owner shall have the building sewer and/or its connection to the sewer lateral replaced, relined or repaired in a manner consistent with the Township Code of Ordinances. At the discretion of the Township, there may be limited permission granted for spot repairs. Any sewer pipe replacement/relining/spot repair shall be performed by a licensed journeyman or master plumber in accordance with the applicable code requirements adopted by the Township.
B. 
If upon completion of an inspection under Subsection 1, the improved property is found to be discharging prohibited water and/or waste into the building sewer and/or into the sewerage system, the owner shall cease any such prohibited discharge and properly perform all work necessary to ensure compliance with Chapter 18 of the Township Code of Ordinances.
C. 
A video inspection shall be valid for a period of two years from the date of the video, unless the Township has reason to believe that the building sewer or sewer lateral may have become defective since the last date of inspection.
3. 
Correction of Deficiencies/Violations.
A. 
All deficiencies and violations discovered by the inspections provided for in Subsection 1 shall be corrected within 30 days of discovering such deficiencies and/or violations or prior to settlement on the sale and/or transfer of the improved property or prior to a change in use of the improved property, whichever first occurs.
B. 
The building sewer and its connection to the sewer lateral shall be reinspected by video after having been repaired, relined and/or replaced. The results and/or report of the reinspection and a copy of the video shall be provided to the Township within 30 days of having the repair, relining and/or replacement work performed or prior to settlement on the sale and/or transfer of the improved property or prior to a change in use of the improved property, whichever first occurs.
4. 
Transfer Without Inspection. The failure to comply with Subsection 1 prior to conveying and/or transferring ownership of an improved property and/or prior to a change in use shall not relieve the owner of the improved property from complying with the requirements of Chapter 18 of the Township Code of Ordinances. Any deficiencies and/or violations of Chapter 18 of the Township Code of Ordinances shall be responsibility of the owner of the improved property.
5. 
Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Cleanouts. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of an improved property connected to the sewerage system to maintain, repair, and replace all the cleanouts along the improved property's building sewer and/or its connection to the sewer lateral, including any cleanout at the right-of-way, curbline, or the edge of the pavement, whichever applies.
6. 
Violations and Penalties.
A. 
In the event an owner of an improved property connected to the sewerage system is found to be in noncompliance with Chapter 18 of the Township Code of Ordinances, then the owner shall be liable for the payment of penalties as set forth in this Part for knowingly, willfully, and/or intentionally permitting such a violation to commence and continue.
B. 
If any person shall fail or refuse to comply with the requirements of this Part, upon receipt of a notice from the Township, in writing, to remedy any unsatisfactory condition with respect to a building sewer and/or sewer lateral, the Township shall find such person in violation of this Part. An inspection of the building sewer and sewer lateral shall be completed within 60 days of the notice of violation.
C. 
If a violation has not been corrected within the time designated for such compliance and the Township finds that the continuation of such violation constitutes a public nuisance or hazard, it may order the correction of such violation using Township resources to accomplish such corrections, and may charge the cost thereof to the violator and collect such cost by lien and/or otherwise as may be authorized by the law.
D. 
The Township may file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction against any person in violation of this Part for any and all costs, expenses, damages, and penalties for which the person may be liable under this chapter or applicable law. The Township may recover reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other expenses associated with enforcement activities, including sampling and monitoring expenses, and the cost of any actual damages incurred by the Township.
E. 
Any person failing to comply with any provision of this Part shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 and costs, and not more than $1,000 and costs, or in default thereof shall be confined in county jail for a period of not more than 90 days. Each day of noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense.
F. 
The remedies in this section are intended to be cumulative of the remedies in Part 12, and the imposition of one penalty does not preclude the Township from pursuing multiple remedies.
7. 
Remedies. The Township shall have full power and authority to invoke any legal, equitable or special remedy in conjunction with the enforcement of this § 18-406.
[Ord. No. 2025-06, 12/18/2025]
The inspection requirements of § 18-406, requiring inspections of building sewers prior the sale, transfer, conveyance, change in use, or transfer of tenants of any improved property, shall not apply to common interest developments. Rather, the community owner of any common interest development shall provide to the Township a video inspection of all building sewers, private sewer laterals, and private sewer mains within the property lines of the common interest development at least once every 10 years to determine if the building sewers, private sewer laterals, and private sewer mains within the common interest development comply with the requirements of this Chapter 18. Except as set forth in this section, all other provisions in § 18-406 shall apply to common interest developments. If the County property record for any common interest development does not identify a community owner or if a community owner cannot be located, then the individual unit owners of every unit in the common interest development shall be jointly and severally liable for compliance with the inspection, repair, and maintenance requirements of this § 18-407. Common interest developments that are subject to the requirements of this section shall have two years from the effective date hereof to initially comply with this section.