The Authority's rules and regulations be and are hereby modified
to reflect the following conditions for obtaining sewer service from
the Authority:
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
The above amendments to the Authority's Rules and Regulations
shall take effect upon adoption of this resolution by the Authority's
Board.