From and after January 1, 1967, the sanitary
sewer service of the City shall be operated as a self-liquidating
utility, and charges for such service shall be imposed upon users
thereof. The revenues derived shall be dedicated to the purposes of
the service as a self-liquidating utility.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE
The piping or other appurtenance necessary to connect the
premises owned or leased by the customer to the sewer lateral located
at the curbline.
SEWER LATERAL
The "Y" connection or "T" connection and the service pipe
extending from the sewer main to the curbline.
SEWER MAIN
The city-owned piping in or along public highways and streets
or along privately and publicly owned rights-of-way used for the transmission
of sewage.
[Amended 4-3-2007 by Ord. No. 10-2007]
It is the policy of the City to protect the
public health, safety and welfare. These regulations reflect a realization
of the benefits of connecting existing properties to the municipal
sewer system to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Where
there has been an extension of sewer mains, the owners of property
located within 100 feet of the sewer main measured from their property
line shall be required to connect their premises to the municipal
sewer system within 180 days after notification from the City to make
the connection.
A. Exception. Unless otherwise required by state law,
a residential property owner may delay connection to the municipal
sewer system if the property owner already has an existing private
subsurface sewage disposal system servicing the premises that is operating
properly.
B. Testing protocol. It is recommended that a test of
the private subsurface sewage disposal system shall be conducted at
least once every three years at the expense of the property owner
in accordance with the Technical Guidance for Inspections of On-Site
Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems published by NJDEP. If the
property owner chooses to undertake the test, the test shall be performed
by a licensed professional engineer. A copy of the written report
setting forth the results of the test shall be filed with the Cumberland
County Health Department for review and further action, if required.
A copy of the report also shall be filed with the Superintendent of
the Municipal Sewer Utility.
C. Noncompliance. If the Cumberland County Health Department
determines that the private system which services the premises is
malfunctioning, the Superintendent shall notify the property owner
that connection to the municipal sewer system must be made within
180 days. If the private system represents an immediate health risk
as determined by the Cumberland County Health Department, the connection
shall be made forthwith.
D. Annual report. The Superintendent of the Sewer Utility
shall file an annual report with the Commissioner in charge of the
Department and the City Clerk which contains the following information:
The location of each property (block and lot number and street address)
excepted from the connection to the municipal sewer system pursuant
to these regulations; the name and address of each property owner;
the date of each test report received for the subject property; and
the results set forth in the test report (pass or fail).
When there has been completion of construction
of sewer mains, the Superintendent is directed to give written notice
to adjacent property owners within 30 days of completion of construction,
that the property owners must connect their house or other building
to the system. Said notice shall be in writing and sent by regular
and certified mail, return receipt requested, to the property owners
last known address.
All sewer mains laid within the City shall be
at least eight inches or more in diameter or as may be prescribed
by the City Engineer.
Applications for extension of service shall
be made to the office of the City Clerk who shall report the same
to the Superintendent of the Sewer Utility and to the City Engineer.
The Superintendent of the Sewer Utility, together with the City Engineer,
shall estimate the cost of the extension and shall estimate the annual
revenue to be derived from the extension of service.
[Amended 4-2-2002 by Ord. No. 13-2002]
When an application for the extension of sewer
service is filed with the City, the following requirements shall apply
and the cost of the projected extension shall be paid in the following
manner at the option of the City:
A. All construction shall be completed by the applicant in accordance with the design standards approved by the City Engineer and in conformity with the Land Use and Development Regulations contained in Chapter
30.
B. The construction shall thereafter become the property
of the City upon connection with the sewer system of the City, the
approval of the construction by the City Engineer, and the adoption
of an ordinance accepting the dedication of the improvements.
C. The City shall require the applicant to pay the entire
cost for the installation of sewer mains, sewer laterals, and related
improvements where no discernible public benefit is involved. This
requirement shall apply to extensions of sewer service to individuals
and to commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential developments.
D. In the alternative, the City may negotiate an agreement
with the applicant to share a portion of the cost for the installation
of sewer mains, sewer laterals, and related improvements where there
is a discernible public benefit involved. Before determining whether
the City will contribute to the cost of the project and in what proportion,
City officials shall consider the benefits the project will provide
to economic development and job creation, to existing sewer customers,
or to future commercial, industrial, institutional and residential
developments. Any agreement must be approved by resolution of the
governing body.
In lieu of the foregoing, the City may proceed
to extend and install service connections, including the construction
and installation of sewer mains and sewer laterals and other appurtenances
as may be necessary and assess the cost thereof as a local improvement.
While the City reserves the right to exercise this power at its option
in the discretion of the Board of Commissioners, it will be the policy
of the City to do so upon the written consent of 2/3 of the owners
of property to be benefited. This percentage will be determined by
calculating the estimated cost of such extension and the damages and
benefits attributable to each owner affected thereby.
Septic tank emptying permits must be obtained
from the Superintendent of the Sewer Utility designating the domestic
origin by name and address. The rate charged by the Sewer Utility
shall be $0.05 per gallon. The Superintendent of the Sewer Utility
shall have the authority to set procedures for the emptying of said
effluent, including the authority to suspend all such discharges.