[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Franklin Park as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sewers — See Ch. 166.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 184.
[Adopted 11-10-1993 by Ord. No. 404-93]
All roofs, paved areas, yards, courts, courtyards or areas using a topping or finish capable of collecting water shall be drained into a separate storm sewer system or a combined sewer system where such systems are available. If there is no storm or combined sewer available for such drains, then the water from said drains shall be conducted by proper pipe or pipes below the surface of the sidewalk to the street gutter or to a place of disposal satisfactory to the administrative authority, and in accordance with any other plans or ordinances adopted under the Storm Water Management Act, 1978, October 4, P.L. 864, No. 167,[1] or other ordinances or regulations of the municipality involved. In no case shall collected surface water or stormwater be allowed to drain over sidewalks or driveways.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq.
Stormwater shall not be drained into sewers intended for sewage only.
Storm drains, conductors, traps, fittings, etc., shall be of materials as provided for in Article V of the Allegheny County Plumbing Code, Materials Standards and Areas of Permitted Use, provided that Schedule 40 or stronger pipe is used across backfill areas.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 860, Plumbing and Building Drainage, in the Allegheny County Code.
Size of building storm drain. The size of the building storm drain or any of its horizontal branches having a slope of 1/2 inch or less per foot shall be based upon the maximum projected roof or paved area to be handled according to the following table of size of horizontal storm drains. (See § 186-7B.)
A. 
Where required. All buildings shall be provided with proper conductors for conducting the water from the roofs in such manner as shall protect the walls and foundations of said buildings from injury.
B. 
Not to be used improperly. Conductor pipes shall not be used as soil, waste or vent pipes, nor shall drainage or vent pipes be used as conductors.
C. 
Outside conductors and connections. Outside conductors may be of sheet metal or other approved material, but they must connect to the storm drainage piping by extending the pipe at least one foot above grade level. All outside sheet metal conductors shall be connected to the pipe as direct as possible, in a vertical position, and no sheet metal conductor shall be run horizontally across the outside walls of a building.
Every sump or receiving tank receiving the discharge of clear water such as rainwater, subsoil or seepage drainage, shall be of materials as provided for in Chapter 860, Article V, Materials, Standards and Areas of Permitted Use, of the Allegheny County Code.
A. 
Sump pump systems. A sump pump system shall include the sump pump, pit, discharge piping and an individual branch electrical circuit. The system shall include a pump of a capacity and head appropriate for anticipated use requirements.
B. 
Sump pit. Size shall be as recommended by the sump pump manufacturer. The pit shall be topped by a removable cover adequate to support anticipated loads in the area of use. The pit floor shall provide permanent support for the sump pump. The pit shall be constructed of tile, concrete, steel, plastic or other approved material.
C. 
Discharge piping. Where discharging into a storm or sanitary sewer system, a suitable antisiphon device or free-flow check valve shall be installed. Where discharge to separate sanitary and storm sewers is required, two independent sump pump systems are required. Discharge pipe size and fittings shall be the same size as or larger than the sump pump discharge tapping.
A. 
When subsoil drains are placed under the basement floor or used to encircle the outer walls of a building, they shall be protected by an accessibly located backwater valve before connecting to the building storm or combined drainage system. Where connected to separate storm drainage system, and the connection is made on the building side of the main leader trap, no other trap will be required other than the backwater valve; where the connection is made on the sewer side of main leader trap, they shall be effectively trapped, or they may discharge into a properly trapped area drain or catch basin. Where connected to a combined building drain, they may discharge through a cellar or basement floor drain using a four-inch running trap provided with an accessibly located backwater valve. These drains shall have a connection of not less than four inches in diameter. Piping used for the collection of subsoil or seepage drainage shall be of approved material as provided for in Chapter 860, § 860-65, of the Allegheny County Code. The pipe shall be laid on no less than four inches and covered with no less than six inches of crushed stone or gravel of medium size and arrangements made to cover the pipe with a material to prevent, as much as possible, sand or dirt from washing into and clogging the stone or gravel bed and cover.
B. 
The table "Size of Vertical Conductors" shall be as follows:
Diameter of Leader Pipe
(inches)
Maximum Roof Area
(square feet)
2
720
2 1/2
1,300
3
2,200
4
4,600
5
8,650
6
13,500
8
29,000
C. 
Values for continuous flow. Where there is a continuous or semicontinuous discharge into the building storm drain or building storm sewer, as from a pump, ejector, air-conditioning plant, controlled-flow roof drainage or similar device, each gallon per minute of such discharge shall be computed as being equivalent to 24 square feet of roof or paved area.
A. 
Building subdrains located below the public sewer level shall discharge into a sump or receiving tank, the contents of which shall be automatically lifted and discharged into the drainage system as required for building sumps.
B. 
The table "Size of Horizontal Storm Drains" shall be as follows:
Maximum Roof and Paved Areas for Drains of Various Slopes
Diameter of Pipe
(inches)
1/8-Inch Fall Per Foot
(square feet)
1/4-Inch Fall Per Foot
(square feet)
1/2-Inch Fall Per Foot
(square feet)
2*
NP
400
580
2 1/2*
750
1,750
—
3
NP
1,160
1,644
4
1,880
2,650
3,760
5
3,340
4,720
6,680
6
5,350
7,550
10,700
8
11,500
16,300
23,000
10
20,700
29,200
41,400
12
33,300
47,000
66,600
15
59,500
84,000
119,000
18
103,000
145,000
205,000
21
155,000
220,000
312,000
24
220,000
310,000
440,000
27
304,000
430,000
610,000
30
400,000
565,000
805,000
33
520,000
730,000
1,000,000
36
650,000
920,000
1,300,000
42
990,000
1,390,000
1,900,000
48
1,400,000
1,900,000
2,800,000
NOTES:
* =
Not permitted underground
NP =
Not permitted
C. 
Protection of rainwater conducts. Rainwater conductors installed along alleyways, driveways or other locations where they may be exposed to damage shall be protected by metal guards, recessed into the wall or be constructed of galvanized steel pipe to a height which will afford the necessary protection.
D. 
Combining storm with sanitary drainage. The sanitary and storm drainage system of a building shall be entirely separate, except that, where a combined sewer is available, the building storm drain may be connected in the same horizontal plane through a single Y-fitting to the sanitary sewer beyond the building wall on the sewer side of the sanitary building trap. This requirement need not apply to single-family dwellings or buildings with less than 2,600 square feet of roof drainage. Such systems may be combined inside the building where separation of systems would not be practical.
E. 
Double connections of storm drains. Where the sanitary and storm drains are connected on both sides of the combined sewer, single Y's shall be used, and the requirements of § 860-169E of the Allegheny County Code relative to the location of connections shall also apply.
No portion of the storm drainage system installed underground or below a basement or cellar shall be less than three inches in diameter. Outside underground storm sewers shall be a minimum of four inches in diameter.
A. 
Material of roof drains. Roof drains shall be of materials as provided for in Chapter 860, Article V, Materials, Standards and Areas of Permitted Use, of the Allegheny County Code.
B. 
Roof drain strainers, general use. All roof areas, except those draining to hanging gutters, shall be equipped with roof drains having strainers extending not less than four inches above the surface of the roof immediately adjacent above roof level, of not less than 1 1/2 times the area of the conductor to which the drain is connected.
C. 
Flat decks. Roof drain strainers for use on sun decks, parking decks and similar areas normally serviced and maintained may be of the flat surface type, level with the deck, and shall have an available inlet area not less than two times the area of the conductor to which the drain is connected.
D. 
Roof drain flashings required. The connection between roofs and roof drains which pass through the roof and into the interior of the building shall be made watertight by use of proper flashing material.
Expansion joints or sleeves shall be provided where warranted by temperature variations or physical conditions; such types of joints or connections shall be subject to the approval of the administrative authority.
Where separate systems of sanitary drainage and storm drains are installed in the same property, the storm and sanitary building sewers may be laid side by side in the same trench.
In lieu of sizing the storm drainage system from conventional methods as previously described in this article, the roof drainage may be sized on controlled flow and storage of the stormwater on the roof, provided that the following conditions are met:
A. 
The water of a one-hundred-year-frequency storm is not stored on the roof for more than 24 hours.
B. 
The water depth on the roof does not exceed three inches during the above storm.
C. 
The roof is dead level and forty-five-degree cants are installed at any wall or parapet.
D. 
Roof design for controlled-flow roof drainage shall be based on a minimum of 30 pounds per square foot loading to provide a safety factor above the 15 pounds per square foot represented by the three-inch design depth of water. This factor should definitely be kept in mind as a prime requirement for assuring a structurally sound roof.
E. 
Flashing extends at least six inches above the roof level and scuppers are placed in the parapet wall 3 1/2 inches above the roof level.
F. 
No less than two drains are installed in roof areas 10,000 square feet or less and at least four drains in roof areas over 10,000 square feet.
G. 
Control of runoff from flat roofs shall be by proportional weirs; no valves or mechanical devices shall be permitted.
H. 
Drainage from controlled flow which is based on gallons per minute of flow shall be converted to equivalent square feet of roof or paved area, on the basis of each gallon per minute of flow being equivalent to 24 square feet of area, as provided in § 860-164D of the Allegheny County Code. Drains not equipped with weirs, such as area drains, may be connected to the controlled-flow system, provided that the square feet of area, including the converted gallons-per-minute flow to square feet, are added together and the drain is sized to convey the sum of all loads in accordance with Tables 860-164A, Size of Horizontal Storm Drains, and Table 860-164B, Size of Vertical Conductors, of the Allegheny County Code.
I. 
A sketch of the roof leader-yard piping arrangement shall accompany the building permit application.
J. 
Use Schedule 40 pipe to transport stormwater from conductors over excavated areas in the proximity of the foundation.
[Adopted 6-18-1997 by Ord. No. 445-97]
The Borough is hereby authorized to identify, report and require disconnection of any illegal stormwater or surface water connection made at any time prior to or from the effective date of this article to the Lowries Run or Bear Run sewer systems or other public sewer systems owned by the Borough and is authorized to enforce, consistent with the ordinances in effect within the Borough, the provisions of this article, amending Chapter 186, Article I, of the Code of the Borough of Franklin Park with respect to illegal stormwater and surface water connections to the Lowries Run and Bear Run sewer systems and the public systems owned by the Borough.
The Borough hereby designates the McCandless Township Sanitary Authority (MTSA), its officers, employees and agents as an agency authorized by the Borough to identify, report and require disconnection of any illegal stormwater or surface water connection made at any time prior to or from the effective date of this article to the McCandless Township Sanitary Authority sewer system; and for such purposes the McCandless Township Sanitary Authority is authorized to enforce, consistent with the ordinances in effect within the Borough, the provisions of this article, amending Chapter 186, Article I, of the Code of the Borough of Franklin Park, and Ordinance No. 441-97 with respect to illegal stormwater and surface water connections to the McCandless Township Sanitary Authority sewer system. The McCandless Township Sanitary Authority shall report to the Borough of Franklin Park all enforcement measures undertaken within the Borough pursuant to said ordinances concurrently with undertaking such enforcement action.
The Borough and MTSA are authorized in the course of the program of testing, repair, rehabilitation, maintenance and replacement of publicly owned treatment works in the Borough, when identifying deteriorating laterals or poorly constructed sewer service connections, to provide written notice to the property owner or owners as to the condition of such laterals and sewer service connections, together with a statement that such deteriorating or poorly constructed lateral and sewer service connections must, at the property owner's expense, be repaired, replaced or rehabilitated. A copy of all written reports by the Authority in connection with its examination of deteriorating laterals and sewers service connections shall be provided to the Borough.
The Borough and MTSA, in performing the duties and undertaking the programs identified in this article, shall be empowered to enter upon any private property between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, with seven days' advance written notice to the owner, for the purpose of conducting inspections and/or enforcing this article and shall have only those powers expressly set forth in this article and in the other ordinances of the Borough or provided by law to perform their functions consistent with such ordinances.
The powers conferred within this article to the Borough and MTSA shall be in addition to and not in substitution for any other powers conferred upon the Borough and MTSA to enforce and require the elimination of illegal stormwater and surface water connections to the sewer systems and other public sewer systems maintained within the borders of the Borough of Franklin Park.
A. 
No property owner or property user of any public sewer system in the Borough shall discharge or permit the discharge of any stormwater, surface water, spring water or natural watercourses, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, foundation drains, driveway drains, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process water into said sanitary sewer system.
B. 
The Borough and MTSA are hereby authorized to conduct, by aforesaid advance written notice, random periodic smoke and/or dye tests, and any other appropriate test or inspection, without cost to the residents of the Borough, of all existing sewer systems and structures in the Borough for compliance with this article and other laws pertaining to sewer systems and structures.
C. 
Every owner, lessee or occupier of land within the Borough serviced by a public sewer system shall submit to smoke and/or dye testing by the appropriate body, the Borough or MTSA. The owner, lessee or occupier of the land shall permit said testing upon request of the Borough or MTSA to conduct such testing at no cost to the owner, lessee or occupier of land. Testing will not be required when the owner, lessee or occupier of the land produces a valid document of certification issued by the Borough in accordance with Ordinance No. 443-97,[1] which document of certification shall be sufficient proof of compliance for purpose of this article for a period of one year from the date of issuance, except upon the sale of the property, when such testing will be required.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 166, Art XI.
D. 
When illegal stormwater or surface water connections or conditions have been discovered, all necessary remedial work to correct such connection shall be completed by the owner, lessee or occupier of the premises, weather permitting, within 60 days of the date such party receives notification of the illegal connection or condition.
E. 
In the event that the necessary remedial work would create severe economic hardship for the owner, lessee or occupier of the premises, application may be made to the Borough or MTSA for an extension of up to an additional six months to complete said remedial work. A severe economic hardship shall be defined as any person or persons who qualifies as having a level of income considered to be a low-moderate income under federal guidelines.
F. 
In the event that the owner, lessee or occupier of the premises who established severe economic hardship is unable to effect the necessary remedial work within the time permitted, including any extension thereof, the Borough or MTSA may undertake to have the necessary remedial work completed at the expense of the owner, lessee or occupier of the premises, and to make any necessary arrangements for the payment of said work by the owner, lessee or occupier of the premises on an installment basis, which arrangements shall be mutually satisfactory to the owner, lessee or occupier. Under such circumstances, in the event that satisfactory arrangements are not agreed upon by the Borough or MTSA and the owner, lessee or occupier, the Borough or MTSA may file a lien against such property, which lien shall remain in effect until payment in full or sale of the property occurs.
Nothing in this article shall limit, in any fashion whatsoever, the Borough's or the Authority's right to enforce ordinances or the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Nothing in this article shall be a defense to any citation issued by any municipal corporation or the commonwealth pursuant to any other law or ordinance.
In addition to the requirements set forth in Ordinance No. 443-97[1] of the Borough of Franklin Park for issuance of a document of certification set forth therein, any person selling real estate located with the Borough must subject such person's property to prior inspection, including inspection of interior premises of any building or residence, by authorized representatives of the Borough or MTSA, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, and upon prior seven-day written advance notice at no cost to the person selling such real estate, to determine the presence of sump pumps or other similar devices which discharge extraneous waters into any public sewer system. Such person shall not be issued a document of certification until:
A. 
Such inspection has been performed and has revealed no device discharging extraneous waters into the Borough or MTSA sewer systems; and
B. 
A follow-up inspection verifies that any such device found to be previously in operation has been disconnected and removed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 166, Art XI.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article or fails to comply therewith or with any of the requirements thereof, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Borough, shall pay a judgment of not less than $100 nor more than $600 plus costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough. A separate offense shall arise for each day or portion thereof in which a violation of this article is found to exist and for each section of this article found to have been violated. The Borough may also commence appropriate actions in equity or other to prevent, restrain, correct, enjoin or abate violations of this article. All penalties collected for violations of this article shall be paid to the Borough Treasurer.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).