Riverside Sewerage Authority, NJ Sewer Service Terms and Conditions

The Authority's rules and regulations be and are hereby modified to reflect the following conditions for obtaining sewer service from the Authority:

Obtaining new or modifying existing service.

(1)

Availability of service. It is the policy and intent of the Riverside Sewerage Authority to provide sanitary sewer service to applicants owning or occupying properties located in Riverside Township and who have received approvals from the relevant Riverside Township municipal land use agencies, consistent with applicable laws and sound utility management practices. In the event that an extension or improvement of the Riverside Sewerage Authority's sewer mains or facilities is necessary to provide service to an applicant, it shall be the applicant's obligation to pay for such extension(s) or improvement. From time to time, the capacities of the Riverside Sewerage Authority sewer systems may be limited due to physical limitations, prohibiting additional connections until an increase in capacity has been approved and constructed, or due to regulatory requirements promulgated by federal and/or state agencies. At such times, applications for such connections will be postponed until the limitations or restraints have been removed. The determination of available capacity and the processing and approval of applications for connections shall be within the sole discretion of the Riverside Sewerage Authority Board.

(2)

Uniform procedures.

(a)

Forty-eight hours' notice and meter installation is required for certificate of occupancy release forms and tenant fit-ups. Commercial accounts should allow up to 10 days for review of applicable applications.

(b)

Application. Applicants for sanitary sewer service must submit a signed application to the Riverside Sewerage Authority describing their projected needs. The application shall be made on the form provided by the Riverside Sewerage Authority. All applications must be approved by the Riverside Sewerage Authority before any connection can be made. No application for sewer service shall be accepted by the Riverside Sewerage Authority until all previous charges have been paid, including any arrears, liens or other sewer charges on the property for which application has been made or any other property owned by the applicant. Following review of the application for connection to the Riverside Sewerage Authority sewer systems, the Riverside Sewerage Authority may grant approval(s) to connect to the system. Such approvals shall expire by their own terms within a period of no more than 12 months and shall be subject to compliance with federal and state laws and regulations governing such approvals. They shall not be binding on the Riverside Sewerage Authority in the event that a responsible regulatory agency should impose restrictions on further connections to the Riverside Sewerage Authority system(s). The Board of the Riverside Sewerage Authority may specify a period shorter than 12 months for connection and commencement of service or impose such other terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable and in accordance with sound utility management practices.

(c)

Applications for low- and moderate-income housing

[1]

A developer that intends to develop property and has reserved a minimum of 10% of the units for housing for low-income households and a minimum of 10% of the units for housing for moderate-income households, and whose development has been certified by the Riverside Township Land Use Board as being in compliance with and is in satisfaction of a fair share plan for the Township of Riverside approved by Council on Affordable Housing, may request a reservation of sewer capacity in accordance with this regulation.

[2]

Upon the filing and approval of an S-1 application and upon the execution of an S-2 agreement, a fair share plan developer may request a reservation of sewer capacity for all units referenced in the S-1 application by filing a request for reservation of sewer capacity for low- and moderate-income housing form with the Authority and by depositing 25% of the amount of estimated connection fees with the Authority.

[3]

Provided that such capacity is available at the time that the request for reservation is made or is reasonably anticipated to become available within two years of such request, the Authority shall approve the request for a reservation of capacity; provided, however, that the developer continues to comply with all rules and regulations of the Riverside Sewerage Authority, NJDEP and USEPA, and provided that the developer remains a fair share plan developer, as certified by the Township Land Use Board. Consistent with governing law and as set forth more specifically throughout the Authority's rules and regulations, in general, the reservation of capacity given by the Authority pursuant to this regulation shall be valid for two years from the date that the request for reservation is approved. If a CP-1 permit is not issued to the developer by the NJDEP within the period of reservation, the reservation shall expire and 80% of the connection fee deposit shall be returned to the developer. Twenty percent of the connection fee deposit shall be retained by the Authority as liquidated damages and not as a penalty.

[4]

The connection fees that are deposited by the developer at the time that the reservation for capacity is requested shall be placed into an account that shall not bear interest to the developer but which may bear interest to the Authority.

[5]

The sewer connection fees that are to be charged to the developer at the time that the S-4 permit (s) are issued shall be those connection fees in effect at the time that the S-4 permit(s) are issued.

(d)

Escrow accounts.

[1]

Any new construction projects with wastewater connections must establish an escrow account. The Riverside Sewerage Authority's Consulting Engineer will coordinate the establishment of this account with Riverside Sewerage Authority personnel, consistent with governing law.

[2]

An escrow agreement will be executed between the Riverside Sewerage Authority and the developer/project owner in conjunction with the establishment of all new escrow accounts. This agreement will be binding on all parties and will be comprised of, among other things, pertinent information on the developer, project owner, contractor, etc., method and timing of deposits of funds, interest payment to escrow account owners (which applicable), conditions or compliance, and final release of escrow funds.

(e)

Commercial and industrial applications. Commercial and industrial establishments making application for sanitary sewer service, in addition to making written application for such service, shall furnish a detailed description of the types and sizes of buildings and structures, and the type, volume and chemical characteristics of the waste to be discharged. This shall be done via the Riverside Sewerage Authority's commercial/industrial user applications. All such connections must be approved by the Riverside Sewerage Authority prior to construction, occupancy and/or discharge.

(f)

Construction, occupancy and/or discharge. All such connections must be approved by the Riverside Sewerage Authority prior to construction. All industrial and/or commercial sewer service laterals or connections shall be supplied with an adequate means of sampling for periodic determination of all characteristics and concentrations of the wastes. The Riverside Sewerage Authority reserves the right to disconnect, remove or terminate service should it be utilized in a manner which is inconsistent with or in violation of any federal or state standard. In that regard, this chapter is intended to promote public health, welfare or safety, and shall be construed to give the Authority maximum regulatory power and flexibility. The services shall not be restored until the deficiencies have been corrected and all expenses and damages have been paid by the user.

(g)

Connection permits. The following conditions must be met prior to obtaining a connection permit to the Riverside Sewerage Authority sewer system:

[1]

The appropriate connection fee(s) must be submitted to the Riverside Sewerage Authority in accordance with the current rate schedule.

[2]

All performance bonds, in amounts as determined by the Engineer, shall be submitted and approved by the Riverside Sewerage Authority.

[3]

All permits pertaining to sewer service, as required by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, shall be obtained.

[4]

All commercial/industrial applications must be approved.

[5]

All escrow accounts shall be paid through the current billing cycle.

[6]

The issued connection permit shall constitute a contract between the Riverside Sewerage Authority and the customer. This obligates the customer to pay the quarterly rates for service as established in the Riverside Sewerage Authority rate schedule from the date of issue of the connection permit. The Riverside Sewerage Authority reserves its legal and statutory rights to assert all remedies against the owner of the property, as well as the customer, in cases where the customer is a party other than the owner.

(h)

Initiation of service. The following steps must be completed before service will be initiated.

[1]

Prior to excavating with any mechanical device, customers or their agent, must have the utilities marked out. Riverside Sewerage Authority sewer mains can be marked out by calling 1-856-461-0700. If an emergency request is made and Riverside Sewerage Authority personnel determine it is, in fact, not an emergency, a one-time charge of $100 will be levied. Anyone caught digging or damaging Riverside Sewerage Authority property without proper application and approval will be fined a minimum of $100 and a minimum of $500 for damages to Riverside Sewerage Authority equipment.

[2]

Any connection(s) to the main(s) of the Riverside Sewerage Authority must be made in a manner acceptable to the Riverside Sewerage Authority, and be inspected by the authorized representative of the Riverside Sewerage Authority. Maps indicating the locations of sewer laterals, curb stops, valves, etc., which service each unit must be supplied to the Riverside Sewerage Authority.

[3]

Installations of service lines and laterals must conform to state and local laws, codes and/or ordinances and must be inspected and certified by the Riverside Township Plumbing Inspector.

[4]

In cases where main extensions are to be connected to the sewer system of the Riverside Sewerage Authority, the Engineer and/or the authorized representative of the Riverside Sewerage Authority will determine the extent of testing required to assure the safe, clean and sound construction and condition of the main extensions, before acceptance by the Riverside Sewerage Authority and before service will be initiated. All test results shall be submitted and approved by the Riverside Sewerage Authority prior to operation.

[5]

Upon supplying service to a property, which shall constitute either new or reinstatement of prior service, it will be the responsibility of the customer to ensure that the piping and fixtures on their premises are in good condition. The Riverside Sewerage Authority shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any accident, breaks or leakage arising in any way from the connection to and initiating the supply of sewer service from the Riverside Sewerage Authority system to the customer's premises, nor for any damages or loss, directly or indirectly, resulting therefrom.

[6]

The lateral to the property line involved shall be inspected by the authorized representative of the Riverside Sewerage Authority, and no backfilling shall take place before this inspection. Requests for inspections and/or initiation of service must be made during the regular business hours of the Riverside Sewerage Authority. Said requests must be made at the office of the Riverside Sewerage Authority with a minimum of 48 hours' notice in advance of the desired service.

Permits, easements and notifications. Special attention is directed to the fact that all permits, easements and notifications of the planned construction of the lateral to sewer system of the Riverside Sewerage Authority must be carried out at the owner's own time and expense. The owner must be in compliance with all regulations set forth with the Department of Health and Labor, OSHA, Department of Environmental Protection, and any other regulatory agencies, where applicable. Any work, excavation, traffic controls and restoration shall conform to any ordinances, laws, and regulations which may be imposed by such agencies for this work.

Provisions for obtaining sewer service.

(1)

Laterals must be constructed according to the Riverside Sewerage Authority construction specifications. Special attention is directed to the fact that all permits, easements and notifications of the planned construction of the lateral to the sewer system must be in place, and are the responsibility of the owner.

(2)

The Riverside Sewerage Authority or its authorized representative shall be contacted at least 48 hours in advance of lateral connection to the sewer main.