Township of Lower Saucon, PA Article III Rents and Charges

[Adopted 3-15-1989 by Ord. No. 89-3]

§ 130-22 Definitions; word usage.

A. Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this article shall be as follows:

APARTMENTS

Structures containing domestic establishments, not classified as a single-family detached or attached structure.

AUTHORITY

The Lower Saucon Authority, a municipality authority, incorporated pursuant to the provisions of the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, approved May 2, 1945, P.L. 382, as amended and supplemented, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[1]

BOD (BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND)

The quantity of oxygen, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l), utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure for five days at 20º C. The standard laboratory procedure shall be that found in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association.

BUILDING SEWER

The extension from the sewage drainage system of any structure to the lateral of a sewer.

COD (CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND)

The quantity of oxygen, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l), utilized in the chemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure.

CODE OFFICIAL

That individual appointed by the Township or its agent to enforce the terms of these rules and regulations.

COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT

Any improved property used, in whole or in part, for sale, storage and/or distribution of any product, commodity, article or service.

DOMESTIC ESTABLISHMENT

Any room, group of rooms, house trailer or other enclosure occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters with separate cooking facilities by a family or other group of persons living together or by a person living alone.

IMPROVED PROPERTY

Any property on which there is erected a structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy or use by human beings or animals and/or from which structure sanitary sewage and/or industrial waste is or may be discharged.

INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT

Any improved property used or intended for use, wholly or in part, for the manufacturing, processing, cleaning, laundering or assembling of any product, commodity or article or from which wastes, in addition to and other than sanitary sewage, shall be discharged.

INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Solid, liquid or gaseous waste from any industrial, manufacturing or commercial process or from the development, recovery or processing of natural resources, but not sewage.

[Amended 5-20-1998 by Ord. No. 98-17

LATERAL

That part of the sewer system extending from a sewer to the curbline or, if there shall be no curbline, to the property line, or if no such lateral shall be provided, then "lateral" shall mean that portion of or place in a sewer which is provided for connection of any building sewer.

mg/l

Milligrams per liter.

MOBILE HOME

A transportable, single-family dwelling, intended for permanent occupancy, office or place of assembly, contained in one unit or in two units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation.

MOBILE HOME PARK

A parcel of land under single ownership, which has been planned and improved for the placement of mobile homes for nontransient use, consisting of two or more mobile home lots.

NONDOMESTIC ESTABLISHMENT

Any improved property or portions thereof not classified as a domestic establishment.

OWNER

Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial of any improved property.

PERSON

Any individual, partnership, company, association, society, trust, corporation, municipality, municipal authority or other group or entity.

pH

The logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions, expressed in grams per liter of solution, which indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance. A stabilized pH will be considered as a pH which does not change beyond the specified limits when the waste is subjected to aeration. It shall be determined by one of the accepted methods described in the latest edition of Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association.

SANITARY SEWAGE

Normal water-carried household and toilet wastes from any improved property.

SEWER

Any pipe or conduit constituting a part of the sewer system used or usable for sewage collection purposes.

SEWER SYSTEM

All facilities, as of any particular time, for collecting, pumping, transmitting, treating and disposing of sanitary sewage and/or industrial wastes, situated in or adjacent to this Township and owned by the Township (or its Authority).

SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLING

A single-family dwelling unit, excluding mobile homes, which occupies the structure from ground to roof with independent access, service and use of land, with one or more walls in common with another dwelling unit or other type of structure.

SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING

A single-family dwelling unit, excluding mobile homes, which occupies the structure from ground to roof with independent access, service and use of land and with open yards on all four sides.

SLUG

Any discharge of water, sanitary sewage or industrial waste which, in concentration of any given constituent or in quality of flow, exceeds, for any period of duration longer than 15 minutes, more than five times the average twenty-four-hour concentration or flow during normal operation.

SUSPENDED SOLIDS (SS)

Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, sanitary sewage, industrial waste or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtering.

TOWNSHIP

The Township of Lower Saucon, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, a Township of the Second Class of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting by and through its Council or, in appropriate cases, acting by and through its authorized representative.

[1] Editor's Note: Said Act was repealed by Act of June 19, 2001, P.L. 287, No. 22; see now 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 5601 et seq.

§ 130-23 Sewer rentals and charges.

A. Sewer rentals or charges are imposed upon and shall be collected from the owner of each improved property required to be connected to or connected to the sewer system for availability or use of the sewer system, whether such availability or use shall be direct or indirect, in accordance with the schedule of rates and classifications described in the following sections.

B. All owners of domestic establishments required to be connected to or connected to the sewer shall pay sewer rentals or charges at the rates established in the domestic establishment rate schedule, as set from time to time by resolution or ordinance, as may be required by law.[1] Each domestic establishment in a double house, in a row of connecting houses, in a mobile home park or in an apartment shall be billed as a separate entity even though the improved property may belong to one owner. In this case, the property will be billed for all domestic establishments.

[Amended 12-16-1992 by Ord. No. 92-10; 1-17-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1; 1-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1]

[1] Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is available at the Town Hall.

C. All owners of nondomestic establishments required to be connected or connected to the sewer shall pay sewer rentals or charges at the rates established in the nondomestic establishment rate schedule, as set from time to time by resolution or ordinance, as may be required by law.[2]

[Amended 9-5-1990 by Ord. No. 90-10; 12-16-1992 by Ord. No. 92-10; 1-17-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1; 1-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1]

[2] Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is available at the Town Hall.

D. Sewer service for schools payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of the average number of pupils enrolled during the school term preceding the date of the quarterly billing. Teachers and employees shall be included as pupils for purposes of such computation.

E. The flat rate sewer service charges for sanitary sewage from businesses or industrial users payable shall be computed on the basis of the average number of employees (including individual owners and employers) for the calendar quarter preceding the date of the quarterly billing.

F. If the owner of any nondomestic establishment (including any school) shall fail to provide the Township with complete information required to compute the flat rate sewer service charge to such nondomestic establishment, the Township may estimate a reasonable applicable sewer service charge for such nondomestic establishment, and such estimated sewer charge shall be the actual sewer service charge payable until the information is provided.

G. The owner of an industrial establishment or any improved property that discharges industrial waste shall pay sewer rentals for such waste above and beyond the sanitary sewage charges at the rates established in the industrial rate schedule, as set from time to time by resolution or ordinance, as may be required by law.[3]

[Amended 12-16-1992 by Ord. No. 92-10; 1-17-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1; 1-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1]

[3] Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is available at the Town Hall.

H. The volume of industrial waste used for the purpose of calculating the industrial waste charge shall be based upon water utility company meter readings, meter readings from a water or sewer meter installed and maintained by the owner but subject to inspection and approval of the Township and/or from estimates or measurements made by the Township. The choice of the system used shall be the Township's. The volume of waste determined to be applicable shall be adjusted to eliminate the counting of normal sanitary sewage volume since the owner is charged for sanitary sewage costs by way of the flat rate charge system.

I. If excessively strong sewage or waste is allowed to enter the sewer system (refer to § 130-25A):

[Amended 12-16-1992 by Ord. No. 92-10; 1-17-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1; 1-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1]

(1) A surcharge shall be added to the flat rate charge and the volumetric industrial waste sewage service charge for the collection and treatment of any nondomestic sanitary sewage or industrial waste that is excessively strong. "Excessively strong sewage or waste" is defined as any such discharge having an average:

(a) Biological oxygen demand (BOD) greater than 300 parts per million (ppm);

(b) Suspended solids (SS) content greater than 350 parts per million (ppm); and/or

(c) Chemical oxygen demand (COD) greater than 600 parts per million (ppm).

(2) The surcharge for this excessive strength shall be based upon a rate schedule as set from time to time by resolution or ordinance, as may be required by law.[4]

[4] Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is available at the Town Hall.

(3) The strengths of this nondomestic sanitary sewage or industrial waste to be used in establishing the amount of surcharge shall be determined at least quarterly, either by sampling and analysis by the owner with methods and procedures approved by the Township or by estimates made by the Township from known sanitary sewage or industrial waste strengths of sewage or waste generated by similar establishments.

J. If a domestic establishment and a nondomestic establishment or if two or more than one nondomestic establishments are connected to the sewer system through a single lateral; that is, if two or more types of use are made of the same improved property, the sewer service charge payable hereunder shall be computed as though each domestic establishment and each nondomestic use were a separate user with a separate connection to a sewer.

K. Home occupancy.

[Amended 12-16-1992 by Ord. No. 92-10; 1-17-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1; 1-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1]

(1) Except as noted below, the home occupancy use of a portion of an improved property shall be subject to nondomestic establishment sewer service charges as if it were a separate nondomestic establishment. This sewer service charge is made in addition to any domestic establishment charge also applicable. The exception to this general rate regulation is that any home occupancy use qualifying as only Type 1 or Type 2 nondomestic establishments in the rate schedule listed above (§ 130-23C), operated solely by the residents of the domestic establishment on the same improved property, operated by four or fewer full-time or part-time employees or not creating any industrial waste shall be subjected to the special nondomestic establishment quarterly sewer rental rate, as established from time to time by resolution or ordinance, as may be required by law.[5]

[5] Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is available at the Town Hall.

(2) "Home occupancy," for the purpose of this article, shall mean any use of improved property classified as a "home occupation" under Chapter 180, Zoning.

L. The user of a septage waste and holding tank waste drop station owned and operated by the Township or the Authority shall pay sewage rentals or charges as set from time to time by resolution or ordinance, as may be required by law.[6]

[Amended 12-16-1992 by Ord. No. 92-10; 1-17-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1; 1-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1]

[6] Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is available at the Town Hall.

M. Additional classifications and sewer service charges or modifications of the above schedule of sewer service charges may be established by this Township from time to time, as deemed necessary.

N. For the purpose of determining and verifying the amount of sewer service charges payable under the flat rate schedule set forth above or of determining the character and volume of discharge of sanitary sewage and industrial waste to the sewer system or of determining compliance with this article or any Township ordinance, the Township or the Authority and/or its authorized representative shall have access at all reasonable times with reasonable notice to the properties using the sewer system.

§ 130-24 Billing.

Billing for improved properties shall be rendered and payable quarterly, in advance, on the first days of January, April, July and October of each year. Owners of property connected to the sewer system for only a portion of a billing quarter shall pay 100% of the sewer rental for that quarter. All sewer rental billings shall be due and payable upon presentation, and if not paid within 30 days from the date of billing, a penalty of 5% shall be added. If sewer rental billings are not paid within 60 days from the date of billing, an additional 2% per month financing and carrying charge shall be added to the original rental bill and to the original five-percent penalty. In the event that litigation is necessary to enforce collection of bills, all costs of court and/or attorney fees shall become a part of the bills due, and all such costs shall be paid by the owner.

§ 130-25 Rules and regulations for system use.

A. The Township reserves the right to refuse permission to connect to the sewer system, to compel discontinuance of use of the sewer system or to compel pretreatment of wastewater by any industry in order to prevent discharges deemed to be harmful or to have a deleterious effect upon any portion of the sewer system.

B. No wastewater in any of the following categories shall be discharged from any improved property into the sewer system without the prior approval of the Township:

(1) Industrial waste having a BOD greater than 300 mg/l;

(2) Industrial waste having a content of suspended solids greater than 350 mg/l;

(3) Industrial waste having a COD greater than 600 mg/l;

(4) Industrial waste slugs having an average daily flow greater than 5% of the average daily waste flow at the sewage treatment plant receiving wastes from the sewer system;

(5) Any sewage, industrial waste or other matter or substance:

(a) Having a temperature higher than 150º F. or less than 32º F.;

(b) Containing more than 100 mg/l of fat, oil or grease;

(c) Containing any gasoline, benzine, naphtha, fuel oil, paint products, acid or other inflammable or explosive liquids, solids or gases;

(d) Containing unground garbage;

(e) Containing any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metals, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, whole blood, paunch manure, bentonite, lye, building materials, rubber, hair, bones, leather, porcelain, china, ceramic wastes or other solid or viscous substances capable of causing obstruction or other interference with the operation of the sewer system or the sewage treatment plant receiving wastes from the sewer system;

(f) Having a pH, stabilized, lower than 5.5 or higher than 9.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, bacterial action or personnel;

(g) Containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, to constitute a hazard to humans or animals or to create any hazard in the receiving waters sewer system;

(h) Containing total solids greater than 850 mg/l or of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials in the operation of the sewer system or the sewage treatment plant receiving wastes from the sewer system;

(i) Containing noxious or malodorous gas or a substance which creates a public nuisance;

(j) Containing dye from any source that will not have an effluent the equivalent of that produced by alum coagulation and chlorination to remove suspended or colloidal matter and bleach the dissolved dyes;

(k) Containing radioactive substances and/or isotopes;

(l) Containing wastes which are not amenable to biological treatment or reduction in existing treatment facilities, specifically nonbiodegradable complex carbon compounds.

(m) Containing concentrations of anions, cations, and other various objectionable substances that would result in the City of Bethlehem, even when using normal treatment plant operation practices, discharging such substances in amounts in excess of those amounts permitted to be discharged by the City of Bethlehem's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

C. The Township reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to require nondomestic establishments having large variations in rates of wastewater discharge to install suitable regulating devices for equalizing wastewater flows to the sewer system.

D. When directed by the Township, owners of industrial establishments shall install, pay for and maintain a manhole and such other devices as may be approved by the Township to facilitate observation, measurement and sampling of wastewater discharged to the sewer system. The Township or its duly authorized representative, at all reasonable times, shall be permitted to enter upon any and all properties for the purpose of inspecting, observing, measuring and sampling wastewater discharged to the sewer system.

E. Industrial establishments.

(1) Owners of industrial establishments desiring to discharge industrial waste to the sewer system shall obtain a permit from the Township to do so. Applications for a permit to discharge industrial waste shall be accompanied by all information requested by the Township for the determination of industrial waste volumes, characteristics and constituents. The cost for obtaining such information shall be borne by the owner of the industrial establishment.

(2) The owner of any industrial establishment which is connected to the sewer system who plans to change operations so as to materially alter the characteristics and volumes of wastewater discharged to the sewer system shall notify the Township, in writing, at least 60 days before making such connections or changing its operations.

F. When directed by the Township, grease, oil and sand interceptors or traps shall be provided where, in the opinion of the Township, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, any flammable wastes, sand and other harmful ingredients. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity acceptable to the Township and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

G. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any sewer any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water or unpolluted industrial process water.

H. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any sewer sanitary sewage or industrial waste from any commercial or industrial garbage grinder.

I. The Township reserves the right to adopt from time to time such additional rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary and proper in connection with use and operation of the sewer system, which rules and regulations shall become and shall be construed as part of this article.

J. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as prohibiting any special agreement or arrangement between the Township and any person whereby industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be admitted into the sewer system.

§ 130-26 Drainage of swimming pools.

Drain lines from all swimming pools shall be connected to the storm sewer system where available. A pool drain shall not be connected to the sewer system, unless such connection is required specifically by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. If such a connection is so required, the Township reserves the right to make such connection subject to reasonable conditions and additional sewer rental charges.

§ 130-27 Measurements, tests and analyses.

A. All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this article shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association.

B. All samples shall be twenty-four-hour composite wastewater samples; that is, twenty-four-hourly wastewater samples collected over a twenty-four-hour period, with the sample volume proportioned according to the flow rate at the time of the sample. The cumulative sample shall be refrigerated. Exceptions to the twenty-four-hour composite sampling procedure may be made at the sole discretion of the Township.

C. The frequency of sampling, measuring and testing shall be as directed by the Township. All expenses of this activity shall be borne by the owner, and all data obtained shall be sent to the Township, as requested, or shall be obtained directly by the Township at the Township's discretion.

D. The owner of any improved property connected to the sewer system shall provide the Township and its representatives and agents the opportunity of access at any time to any part thereof, as shall be required for purposes of inspection, measurement, sampling and testing and for performance of other functions relating to service rendered by the Township related to the sewer system.

§ 130-28 Rules and regulations for connections to the sewer system.

A. No person shall uncover, connect with, make any opening into or use, alter or disturb in any manner any sewer or the sewer system without first making application for and securing a permit, in writing, from the Township.

B. Application for a permit shall be made by the owner of the improved property, to be served or his duly authorized agent.

C. No person shall make or cause to be made a connection of any improved property with a sewer until such person shall have fulfilled each of the following conditions:

(1) Such person shall have notified the Township of the desire and intention to connect such improved property to a sewer.

(2) Such person shall have made application for and obtained a permit from the Township.

(3) Such person shall have given the Township at least 24 hours' notice of the time when such connection will be made so that the Township may inspect the work of connection and necessary testing.

(4) Such person shall have paid to the Township any fee charged and imposed by the Township, as required under § 130-29 of these rules and regulations.

D. Each improved property shall be connected separately and independently with a sewer through a building sewer. Grouping of more than one improved property on one building sewer shall not be permitted, except under special circumstances and for good sanitary reasons or other good cause shown, and then only after special permission of the Township, in writing, shall have been secured and subject to such rules, regulations and conditions as may be prescribed by the Township.

E. All costs and expenses of construction of a building sewer and all costs and expenses of connection of a building sewer to a sewer shall be borne by the owner of the improved property to be connected, and such owner shall indemnify and save harmless the Township from all loss or damage that may be occasioned, directly or indirectly, as a result of construction of a building sewer or of connection of a building sewer to a sewer.

F. A building sewer shall be connected to a sewer at the place designated by the Township and where, if applicable, the lateral is provided. The invert of a building sewer at the point of a gravity connection shall be at the same or a higher elevation than the invert of the sewer. Where any building drainage system is too low to permit gravity flow to the sewer lateral, the sewage discharge from such building drainage system shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged through the building sewer.

G. Every building sewer of an improved property shall be maintained in a sanitary and safe operating condition by the owner of such improved property.

H. Every excavation for a building sewer shall be guarded adequately with barricades and lights to protect all persons from damage and injury. Streets, sidewalks and other public property disturbed in the course of installation of a building sewer shall be restored, at the cost and expense of the owner of the improved property being connected, in a manner satisfactory to this Township.

I. If any person shall fail or refuse, upon receipt of a notice of the Township, in writing, to remedy any unsatisfactory condition with respect to a building sewer, within 60 days of receipt of such notice, the Township may refuse to permit such person to discharge sanitary sewage and industrial waste into the sewer system until such unsatisfactory condition shall have been remedied to the satisfaction of the Township.

J. Where an improved property, at the time connection to a sewer is required, shall be served by its own sewage disposal system or device, the existing house sewer line shall be broken on the structure side of such sewage disposal system or device, and attachment shall be made, with proper fittings, to continue such house sewer line as a building sewer.

K. No building sewer shall be covered until it has been inspected and approved by the Township. If any part of a building sewer is covered before being so inspected and approved, it shall be uncovered for inspection at the cost and expense of the owner of the improved property to be connected to a sewer.

L. Persons performing work on the sewer system or installing building sewers for a property owner other than himself shall be subject to registration as follows:

(1) Persons desiring registration to perform work on the sewer system or install building sewers in the Township system must apply to the Code Official, present their qualifications, past experience, record their place of business and any other required information. Upon approval, their names shall be inscribed on a registry list. No registration fee will be charged by the Township, nor will the Township issue any licenses or certificates. The person will be required to provide at least two municipal references, which references can verify the adequacy of sewer pipe installation work he performed in other municipalities, and provide verification that he carries workmen's compensation insurance and contractor's liability insurance. At least one municipal reference shall be a current master's license or current plumber's certification from a first-class township or third-class city or second-class city or first-class city.

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(2) Evidence of failure to comply with these rules and regulations by any registrant will be sufficient cause to have that registrant removed from the registry list, which will automatically exclude him from doing any work in the Township on the sewer system. The decision acceptance on the list or removal from the list shall be made by the Code Official.

M. The Code Official shall have the right of access at reasonable times to any part of any improved property served by the sewer system as shall be required for purposes of inspection, measurement, sampling and testing and for performance of other functions relating to service rendered by the Township through the sewer system.

N. Building sewers and laterals shall be subject at all times to the inspection and approval of the Code Official, and gravity building sewers and laterals shall be installed in accordance with all these regulations, including the following:

(1) Size. Building sewers shall in no case be less than four inches in diameter. Where a flow rate greater than anticipated from a single domestic establishment is to be permitted to be received from a single building sewer, then the building sewer shall be at least six inches in diameter. An approved adapter connecting the building sewer to the lateral sewer must be used. The lateral sewer may end in a bell or may end in a spigot, and the plumber shall provide the appropriate adapter connection in either case so as to form a watertight permanent connection. Manufacturer's compatible O-ring connectors are acceptable for this connection.

[Added 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(2) Material. Pipe used for building sewers shall conform to one of the following:

(a) Service weight cast iron pipe. This pipe shall be HS-67 service weight or heavier bell and spigot pipe with an internally locked compression gasket push-on joint. Fitting weights and joints shall conform to the same requirements as the pipe.

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(b) PVC plastic pipe, which shall be Schedule 40 solid wall PVC pipe or heavier with an integral bell, gasket joint or with solvent welded joints. Fittings schedule and joints shall conform to the same requirements as the pipe. Any solution cements used shall conform to the ASTM standards for the material being used. PVC pipe and fittings meeting the requirements of ASTM Code Section D3034, SDR35 (extra strength), are also acceptable for building sewer material.

[Added 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(c) Adapters. Proper adapters shall be used when joining dissimilar materials.

(3) Building sewers shall be laid on a grade of not less than 1/4 inch per foot. Additionally, building sewers in general shall be at least 30 inches below grade from the ground level to the top-of-pipe. If the building sewer must be more shallow than that because of particular grading problems and slope problems, the plumber shall provide insulation over the bedding material to the satisfaction of the Code Official.

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(4) Building sewers must be as direct as possible. The following fittings shall be used where a change in direction of the building sewer is required:

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(a) Changes in direction are to be made with Y's and 1/8 bends, with a cleanout to ground level, with such cleanout upgradient from the Y on the projection of the down gradient leg of the Y.

(5) Ditches shall be promptly backfilled after inspection and approval by the Code Official. Care shall be taken to prevent damage to the pipe in backfilling and to secure a well compacted and firm trench.

(6) The building sewers shall be vented, trapped and provided with cleanouts in accordance with the following specifications and the attached Exhibit A to this article.[1]

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(a) Vents. A vent shall be placed along the building sewer, on the house side of the trap, no more than 10 feet from the building or structure. The vent riser shall be a minimum of four inches in diameter and shall be ended with a returned bend and protected with an insect screening or perforated cap.

(b) Trap. A standard building trap shall be provided immediately after the vent. The trap size shall be the full size of the building sewer.

(c) Cleanouts. Cleanouts shall be provided at the building trap in accordance with Exhibit A, and a cleanout shall be placed immediately downstream from the building trap and at the connection to the public sewer lateral. The cleanout shall consist of a line-size Y branch, with a riser of not less than four inches extending to the surface, where it is to be provided with a ferrule and plug for cleaning purposes. In addition, cleanouts will be required every 50 feet along the building sewer.

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

[1] Editor's Note: Exhibit A is located at the end of this chapter.

(7) Bedding of building sewer.

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(a) The building sewer pipe shall be bedded in first class bedding material consisting of limestone, crushed aggregate meeting the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) grading and quality specifications for Type 2RC modified stone or Type 1B stone (also known as AASHTO 8, 1/2 inch diameter maximum size), Type C. Except in areas of high tables, as identified by the plumber, in which case the building sewer shall be bedded in good quality, suitable earth backfill, free of stones, rocks, organic material, frozen material, topsoil or other unsuitable bedding material.

(b) This bedding shall consist of at least four inches of bedding material below the lateral and at least six inches of bedding material on each side of the lateral and on top of the lateral.

(c) For cast-iron laterals 100% good quality, suitable earth bedding and initial backfill may be used if it is free of stones, rocks, organic material, frozen material, topsoil or other poor-quality fill.

(8) Backfill above bedding material of building sewers. All backfill material above the bedding material shall be free of tree stumps, roots, large stones over six inches in dimension and any other material which may be injurious to the building sewer.

(9) Testing. Either of the following tests may be selected by the installer.

(a) Air test. The system shall be tested to ensure it will hold a uniform gauge pressure of 3 1/2 pounds per square inch (psi), without introduction of additional air, for a period of at least three minutes.

(b) Water test. The system shall be filled with water under a head of not less than 10 feet. The water level at the top of the test head shall not drop for at least 15 minutes.

(c) Tests. The plumber shall provide the appropriate test tees, if necessary, and temporary plugs and all equipment necessary to conduct the test in the presence of the Code Official. The plumber shall also conduct the test under the observation and inspection of the Code Official.

[Added 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

(10) Inspection. The following inspections are required on the installations of all building sewers:

(a) Pipe installed and bedded but not covered.

(b) Air or water test after the stone covering is applied but before backfilling.

(c) Where it is necessary to connect to the sanitary sewer main, inspection of the lateral connection to the main.

(11) Sewer lateral construction and construction of connections to sewer mains shall be subject to all the same specifications as required for building sewers, except for the following additional requirements:

(a) Materials. The following materials are approved for use in sewer laterals:

[1] Cast iron, as authorized for the building sewer, but of a minimum inside diameter of six inches; such cast iron shall be heavy duty.

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

[2] PVC pipe and fittings meeting the ASTM criteria of D3034, SDR35 (extra strength), compression gasket, bell and spigot-type pipe of a minimum diameter of six inches.

[Amended 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

[3] Six inches or larger inside diameter extra strength vitrified clay pipe. Joints and connections shall be:

[a] Approximately 25% of the joint space at the base of the socket shall be filled with jute or hemp. A pouring collar, rope or other device shall be used to be water absorbent and shall have a bond of not less than 100 pounds per square inch in shear. The compound shall not soften and destroy effectiveness of the joint when subject to temperatures of 160º F. Pour shall fill the joint in one operation. All surfaces of the joint shall be cleaned and dried before pouring. Joints shall not be tested until one hour after pouring.

[b] Flexible joints between lengths of clay pipe shall be made using approved resilient materials, both on the spigot and in the bell end of the pipe.

[c] Every joint between cast iron piping and vitrified clay piping shall be made either of hot poured bitumastic compound or by a preformed elastomeric ring. This ring shall, after ramming, completely fill the annular space between the cast iron spigot and the vitrified clay pipe.

[4] Connections to the sewer main.

[a] The use of saddle connections is only permitted where there is no existing lateral installed.

[b] Materials used shall be compatible with existing pipe and subject to prior approval of the Code Official.

[5] Backfilling of laterals and connections to sewer mains. Backfill of laterals and connections to sewer main shall be placed in eight-inch to ten-inch lifts, tamped in place, and PennDOT 2A Type C or similar crushed stone coarse aggregate shall be used.

[6] The final surface replacement of materials over the lateral or connection to the sewer main shall be provided in accordance with conditions of the surface prior to excavation or to the requirements of the excavation or road encroachment permit, whichever is applicable.

[7] If a road encroachment is being made as part of the construction of the lateral or connection to the sewer main, then inspections are required during surface restoration.

§ 130-29 Rules and regulations for extending the sewer system.

Any owner, equitable owner or subdivider or developer who is subdividing or developing land may extend or may request the Township to extend sanitary sewer collection system lines or interceptor lines to serve his property, development or subdivision if such extension of services conforms to the requirements of this article and other Township ordinances and if:

A. The Township Official Sewer Plan (Act 537)[1] includes this proposed extension, service area and development in its plan as a future service area for the Township's system.

[1] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.

B. The Township has set aside or reserved capacity for the property to be served by the extension. (It is stated here that setting aside capacity or reserving capacity for a property does not guarantee any approvals of specific plans by the Township or the Township Zoning Officer.)

C. The Township has a permit for the extension from the Department of Environmental Protection if such permit is required by the DEP.

[Added 3-7-1990 by Ord. No. 90-4]

D. The Township has prepared or approved the design specifications and plans for the extension and has found them to conform to the Township's own construction standards and specifications.

E. The person requesting the extension has either agreed to pay all costs of the Township in making the extension or has agreed to install the extension under the Township's inspection and has agreed to reimburse the Township for costs associated with plan review, permit submission and construction inspections.

F. The person requesting the extension has agreed to a date of project completion and has posted security with the Township sufficient to guarantee payment of costs and proper installation in a timely manner.

G. The person requesting the extension has agreed to be responsible for the maintenance of the proposed extension for 18 months after its installation and has posted security with the Township sufficient to guarantee the estimated cost of such maintenance.

H. The person requesting the extension has agreed to provide dedication or dedicate the entire extension along with any required easements to the Township and to pay for or provide the Township with five copies of as-built plans, prepared and sealed by a registered engineer, showing the size, location and depth of all lines and laterals, all at no cost to the Township.

I. The person requesting the extension has entered into an improvement agreement and maintenance agreement with the Township, covering, at a minimum, all the requirements of these regulations.

§ 130-30 Additional provisions of this article.

A. Any sewer rentals or charges deemed delinquent pursuant to this article shall be cause for termination of service and shall be collected in any manner permitted by law.

B. The Township reserves the right to amend this article from time to time as it shall deem necessary and proper in connection with the use and operation of the sewer system.

C. Any person who fails to voluntarily pay within 10 days to the Township the penalty imposed for violation of this article shall be subject to a civil enforcement proceeding. Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding, shall pay a fine of not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this article. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of the determination of the violation by the Magisterial District Judge and/or Court. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.

[Amended 9-18-1996 by Ord. No. 96-10; 5-20-1998 by Ord. No. 98-17; 3-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-01]

D. Fines and costs imposed under provisions of this article shall be enforceable and recoverable in the manner at the time provided by applicable law.

E. It is declared that enactment of this article is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of inhabitants of this Township.