The Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority in operating the sanitary sewer systems within the Township of Hillsborough, must contend with the impact of heavy rainfall and its potential for creating surcharge conditions upon the systems. The condition is exacerbated by the gallonage added to the sewer system by sump pumps, floor drains, roof drains, related apparatus and the infiltration of other than normal sanitary sewage improperly connected to their sewerage systems. It is in the best interest of the Township, through its Board of Health and Municipal Utilities Authority, to establish an approach to encourage and require that such improper connections be dismantled. The excess infiltration of water has the potential of overloading the carrying capacity of the sanitary sewer systems, which may result in the discharge of raw sewage to the surface and ground waters of the Township, causing a serious public health hazard.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Township of Hillsborough 3-7-1994; amended in its entirety 12-10-2024. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter, generally, is to promote compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority and, specifically, to require that all such improper connections into its system be removed. It is the further purpose of the chapter to ensure that infiltration of nonsanitary sewage be minimized to all sewage disposal systems operating within the Township of Hillsborough.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
The Rules and Regulations Governing the Operations of the Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority, adopted on June 28, 1989, and as same may be lawfully amended.
The normal water-carrying household and toilet waste from residences, business buildings, institutions, commercial and industrial establishments, including those set forth in Section 1.14 of the Rules and Regulations.
All facilities and appurtenances connected with the collection system, trunk system and laterals, including those set forth in Section 1.17 of the Rules and Regulations.
No person shall violate the Rules and Regulations of the Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority, when applicable.
No person shall connect any sump pump, floor drain, roof drain and/or any related apparatus to any sanitary sewer line. The record title owner shall be responsible under this section and shall be presumed to have caused any such connection.
No person shall permit, allow or suffer or cause the infiltration of water or any other substance which is not normal sanitary sewage as defined hereinabove into the Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority system or any other system operated within the Township. The record title owner shall be responsible under this section and shall be presumed to have caused any such infiltration.
A.
For public safety, health and welfare, property owners shall be permitted to connect all sump pump, floor drain, roof drain and related apparatus discharge piping to the nearest storm sewers, provided that:
B.
If the storm sewer is not available, the sump pump, floor drain, roof drain and/or related apparatus discharge piping shall be directed to the nearest ditches or contained on the owner's property so that it does not adversely affect neighboring land. Pipe extensions shall not be directed toward adjoining properties nor shall pipe extensions discharge water onto adjoining properties.
C.
In all other cases, the sump pump, floor drain, roof drain and/or related apparatus discharge piping shall end on a splash block at the foundation of the building.
D.
Sump pump, floor drain, roof drain and/or related apparatus discharge piping shall no longer be permitted to discharge to any public streets or roadways. Existing discharges to public streets or roadways deemed by the Township Engineering Director to be causing an unsafe condition, such as ponding of water or icing, shall be removed as directed by the Township Engineering Director.
E.
Assistance and guidance with respect to layout and the location of proper discharge points may be obtained through the Hillsborough Township Engineering and Construction Departments.
A.
Reasonable basis to inspect. Representatives of the Township Health, Building or Engineering Departments or Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority having a reasonable basis to suspect that a violation of §§ 341-4 through 341-6 of this chapter has occurred may inspect the premises in question in accordance with the requirements of this section.
B.
Occupant of premises or property owner consent. The representative of the Township Health, Building or Engineering Department or Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority may visit the premises in question and request permission to inspect the premises for a violation of §§ 341-4 through 341-6 of this chapter. If such permission is granted by the occupant of the premises or property owner, the representative may perform the inspection in accordance with the permission granted.
C.
Search or access warrants. In the event consent cannot be obtained, the representative of the Township Health, Building or Engineering Department or Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority or any other duly authorized person may, upon affidavit, apply to the Judge of the Municipal Court of the Township of Hillsborough for a search warrant setting forth factually the actual conditions and circumstances that provide a reasonable basis for believing that a violation of §§ 341-4 through 341-6 of this chapter may exist on the premises. If the Judge of the Municipal Court of the Township of Hillsborough is satisfied as to the matter set forth in the affidavit, he shall authorize the issuance of a search warrant permitting access to an inspection of that part of the premises on which the suspected violation of §§ 341-4 through 341-6 of this chapter may exist.
D.
Issuance of a warrant. If the inspection reveals infiltration of other than normal sanitary sewage, for example, stormwater improperly connected to the sanitary sewerage system, a warning and notice of abatement shall be provided to the property owner. A disconnect shall be effected by the property owner within 14 days of issuance of the warning.
E.
Reinspection. If, upon reinspection of the premises with written consent or via a search warrant, the chapter violation has not been abated, the representative of the Township Health, Building or Engineering Department or Township of Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority or any other duly authorized person shall issue a summons for violation of this chapter.
B.
For the purposes of assessing penalties, the continuation of a particular violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate violation.
C.
The imposition of a penalty, as provided hereinabove, shall be in addition to any injunctive or remedial relief which is authorized under the laws of the State of New Jersey with the same force and effect as though provided for herein.