[Adopted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 28, General Provisions,
Art. I)]
Every property owner in German Township (hereinafter the "Township")
whose principal building, previously erected or hereafter constructed, is
within 300 feet of a public water supply presently in existence or constructed
in the future by the Township shall connect with and use the public water
supply, except an owner of an industry or farm which has its
own supply of water for uses other than human consumption shall be exempt.
No abutting property owner shall uncover, alter or disturb the public
water supply system or make or cause to be made any connection with the water
company water lines without first fulfilling all of the following conditions:
A. The property owner shall submit a water permit application
to the water company upon a permit form to be formulated and supplied by the
water company for permission to connect to the aforementioned water lines.
B. The property owner shall remit payment of any tap-in
or connection fee as may be established by the water company from time to
time.
C. No work shall commence before any required tap-in or
connection fee is paid and a water connection permit is issued to the property
owner. The property owner shall abide by all conditions of said permit.
D. The property owner shall adequately guard all excavations
for water connections with barriers and lights to protect the public from
hazards. All streets, sidewalks and public property disturbed in the course
of making a connection, shall be restored by the property owner to the condition
prior to installation of the connection in a manner satisfactory to the water
company and its designated agents.
E. The property owner shall give the designated inspector
at least 24 hours' notice of the time when such connection shall be made in
order that said inspector may be present to inspect and approve the work of
connection. The inspector shall signify approval of the connection by endorsing
his or her name and the date of approval on the aforementioned connection
permit in the possession of the property owner.
F. At the time of inspection of the connection, the property
owner shall permit the inspector full and complete access to all water supply
equipment and facilities in each building and in and about all parts of the
property. No connection shall be covered over, or in any manner concealed,
until after it is inspected and approved by said inspector.
The construction, number and size of all water lines and connections
shall be done in accordance with the specifications, plans, procedures, rules
and regulations established by the water company or municipal authority providing
service through the water lines as may be from time to time published, adopted
or amended, copies of which shall be maintained on file with the Township
secretary, water company or municipal authority.
All costs and expenses incident to the installation of the water connection
and the connection of such building or premises with the public water supply
system and not covered by a grant, shall be borne by the owner of such building
or premises. The property owner shall indemnify and save harmless the Township,
and the Township's designated agents as their interest shall appear, from
any loss or damage directly or indirectly caused by or arising out of such
installation and connection.
If any abutting property owner in the Township, except one previously
excluded, shall neglect or refuse to connect with said water system for a
period of 90 days after notice to do so has been served personally or by registered
mail upon said property owner by the supervisors, the supervisors or their
agents may enter upon the property and construct such connection as may be
necessary to comply with the provisions of this article at the cost and expense
of said owner, together with 10% additional thereof and all charges and expenses
incidental thereto, which sum shall be collected from said property owner
for the use of the Township as debts by law collectible, or the Township may,
by its proper officer, file a municipal claim or lien therefor against said
premises as provided by law.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this
article, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial
District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses
under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to
pay a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default
of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed
90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each section
of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute
a separate offense.