[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Morrisville as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Commission — See Ch. 76.
Building and construction codes — See Ch. 129.
Floodplain management — See Ch. 195.
Sewers — See Ch. 345.
Solid waste — See Ch. 360.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 370.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 376.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 390.
Swimming pools — See Ch. 398.
Zoning — See Ch. 465.
[Adopted 5-13-1948]
[Amended 4-22-1954; 12-19-1974 by Ord. No. 685; 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
All water rents for metered service shall be due and payable quarterly at the end of each period of three months for which the water is furnished. Charges for private fire protection services shall be due and payable annually in advance. An additional charge of 5% of the amount of the unpaid bill will be added as a penalty to a bill not paid within 30 days of the date issued. If bills are paid by mail, the date of receipt, and not the date of the postmark, will be considered the date of payment. Service may be discontinued by the Borough for nonpayment of a bill after five days' written notice to the user when a bill remains unpaid for 35 days following the date of issue. Service will not be restored until the delinquent amount plus the amount of $5 to cover the costs of service restoration shall have been paid.
Service connections will be made and water will be furnished after issuance of a water permit which can be secured upon written application by the prospective owner, or his properly authorized agent, to such officer of the Borough as may be designated by Town Council, and, after the approval of such application by the said officer as designated by the issuance of the said water permit.
The application for service must state fully and completely all purposes for which the said water is required and no subsequent alterations or additions shall be made by any person without permission being first obtained in writing from the officer of the Borough who has charge of such water permits at that time.
The Borough will do all work necessary to make all connections to its mains, furnish, install and maintain all such lines from the mains to and including the curb cock and box, which shall be placed from one to two feet inside the curb line, all of which service line shall be the property of the Borough and shall be at the expense of the owner and shall be paid prior to the issuance of a water permit and no water permit shall be issued until such costs are so paid by the owner, or his agent.
[Amended 5-10-1956; 2-13-1968 by Ord. No. 605; 12-19-1974 by Ord. No. 685]
The cost of such water permit, in addition to the costs set forth in § 445-4, shall be as follows:
A. 
For service connections on improved streets:
(1) 
For 3/4 inch service: $225.
(2) 
For one inch service: $250.
(3) 
For 1 1/4 inch service: $325.
(4) 
For 1 1/2 inch service: $365.
(5) 
For two inch service: $420.
B. 
For streets improved with macadam surfacing there shall be an additional charge of $35 for the cost of restoration and replacement of the macadam surface.
C. 
For streets improved with concrete surfacing there shall be an additional charge of $40 for the cost of replacing and resurfacing the same.
D. 
In such places as the service connection shall exceed 20 feet in length, the Borough shall make an additional charge of $3 per foot for the additional length of service exceeding the aforesaid twenty-foot length.
No service pipe shall be laid in the same trench as a gas pipe, sewer pipe or other facility of a public service company nor within three feet of any open excavation or vault.
There shall be placed in the service pipe within the walls of the building supplied and so located as to drain all of the pipes in the building, as well as the meter, if any, a brass stop and waste cock easily accessible to the occupants for their protection in enabling them to turn off the water in the case of leaks and to drain the pipes to prevent freezing.
Only persons authorized by Town Council shall be permitted to make connections with the main, or distribution pipes, but in no case shall a connection be made until a water permit, as mentioned in § 445-2, stating size of cock and location of same, is granted to the owner desiring so to be connected. Any such permit shall be authority for connecting house pipes with the street service, laying pipe under sidewalk and doing all plumbing work for which the permit was granted, subject to the rules and regulations governing the same.
From and after the passage of this article all installations or reinstallations of service lines shall supply only one property through one service pipe. Where more than one property is now supplied through one service pipe and under the control of one curb cock, any violation of this Chapter 445 by either or any of the persons so supplied shall be deemed a violation as to all and the said Borough may take such action as could be taken against a single owner, except that such action shall not be taken until the innocent consumer, who is not in violation of the rules and regulations set forth in this chapter, has been given a reasonable opportunity to attach his service pipe to a separately controlled service connection according to the preceding sections. Where a service pipe has been used for two or more properties held in one ownership and there is division of such ownership, whether by sale or otherwise, each property thereafter will have its own service pipe properly installed as hereinbefore set forth.
No owner, or tenant, of any premises supplied by water from the Water Department of the Borough will be allowed to furnish water to any other person or families except by written permission being first had and obtained from the municipal officer then having charge of the issuance of water permits.
All leaks in service lines from the curb cock to, in and upon the premises supplied shall be promptly repaired by the owner at his expense; on failure to make such repairs within a reasonable time the Water Department of the Borough may turn off the water and it will not be again turned on until all proper and necessary expenses incurred in shutting off and turning on the water are paid in full.
The Borough shall not be responsible for maintenance of, or for damage done, by water escaping from the service pipe or any other pipe or fixture on the outlet side of the curb cock and the owner shall at all times comply with all state and municipal regulations in reference thereto and shall make any changes thereon required on account of change of grade, relocation of mains or otherwise.
Any person as may be designated by Borough Council shall be authorized to enter and to have free access, at all reasonable hours, to premises being supplied with water by the Water Department of the Borough to ascertain the location and condition of the pipes and the number of fixtures attached to the same.
Owners of premises using water or tenants occupying the said premises and making such changes, shall, within 24 hours, after having set up any pipes, water cocks or other fixtures or after having made any additions, removals or alterations to any pipe, water cock or fixture already set up, make a correct report to the person currently having charge of the water bills, or any other person as may be designated by Town Council from time to time, of such work, in writing, stating the alterations, additions or removals made as well as the ordinary and special uses for which the water is to be used in order that proper knowledge of the amount of water used upon the premises may be obtained therefrom.
The use of water service by an owner, or tenant, shall, in general, be in accordance with the class, scope and type of use and the purpose stated in the owner's application for a water permit; an owner shall not use, or allow use by others, of water service through his service facilities for other or other purposes than covered in his application for a water permit; a new application for a water permit will make service for other purposes or character of use available.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough reserves the right to at all times turn off the water for repairs or other necessary purposes of the Borough water system, if one hour's notice has been given to all consumers within the district so to be turned off, except in cases of emergency in which event the water shall be turned off without notice. The Borough further reserves the right to make restrictions in the use of water whenever any emergency may so require.
All owners, or their agents, making an application for a water permit shall in doing the same agree to make the property to be so supplied liable for a lien for the payment of all water rents and other charges remaining unpaid and the application for such permit shall also carry it with the consent by the applicant to be governed by the rules and regulations set forth in this Chapter 445 or hereinafter to be enacted.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The owner of an industrial plant, a hotel, a store or other public building which is supplied with water by the Borough Water Department may cause an oversized pipe to be connected to a main and may secure or obtain a hydrant or hose coupling to be used in case of fire, provided that proper application shall have been made by the owner or his authorized agent to the Borough and approval of same shall have been granted. All costs of installation, maintenance and usage of any oversized pipe, fire hydrant or hose coupling shall be paid by the applicant or user.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough Water Department may after public notice restrict the use of water as it shall deem necessary. Such restrictions shall include, but not be limited to, the hours and purposes of water usage. Violations of restrictions as to use shall be sufficient cause for discontinuance of water service or shall subject violators to penalties or both for violation of rules and regulations as provided in this Chapter 445.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough Water Department will supply water for new building purposes during construction of improvements, provided that a water permit has been applied for and issued for the premises to be improved. Provisions for such service may be on a temporary basis, but a meter shall be determined in accordance with the schedule of metered rates provided in this Chapter 445.
[Amended 5-14-1985 by Ord. No. 800]
In addition to the rules and regulations hereinbefore set forth, it shall also be a violation of this Chapter 445 to:
A. 
Use the Borough water, or permit to be used, for any other purpose than that for which the owner pays water rent;
B. 
Permit water pipes, or fixtures, to remain in a leaking condition;
C. 
Allow water fixtures to run when not in use for the purpose intended;
D. 
Open, turn or interfere with any fire hydrant (except in case of fire), stop valve or stop cock belonging to the Water Department;
E. 
Disturb, or damage, any buildings or other improvements of the Water Department of the said Borough;
F. 
Deface, or damage, any buildings or other improvements of the Water Department of the said Borough;
G. 
Or to disturb, or damage, any lawn, grassplot, flowers, vines, bushes or trees belonging to the said Water Department.
[Amended 6-8-1971 by Ord. No. 640; 12-30-1975 by Ord. No. 694; 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704; 7-30-1980 by Ord. No. 753-A; 6-25-1981 by Ord. No. 763; 9-29-1982 by Ord. No. 775; 9-7-1983 by Ord. No. 781]
Water rates for private fire protection service shall be as follows:
Type
Per Annum
Fire hydrant or hose connection
$43.56
Sprinkler systems
4-inch connection
$91.64
6-inch connection
$182.00
8-inch connection
$365.96
[Amended 5-10-1956; 11-13-1962 by Ord. No. 539; 6-26-1963; 12-21-1963 by Ord. No. 547; 6-29-1967 by Ord. No. 595; 10-10-1967 by Ord. No. 598; 10-10-1967 by Ord. No. 599; 1-11-1972 by Ord. No. 645; 12-30-1975 by Ord. No. 694; 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704; 7-10-1979 by Ord. No. 742; 7-30-1980 by Ord. No. 753-A; 6-25-1981 by Ord. No. 763; 6-30-1982 by Ord. No. 773; 9-29-1982 by Ord. No. 775; 9-19-1983 by Ord. No. 781]
A. 
Water rates for metered service shall be as follows:
Meter Rates:
For the first 5,000 gallons per quarter
$2.38 per thousand
For the next 20,000 gallons per quarter
$1.73 per thousand
For the next 275,000 gallons per quarter
$1.38 per thousand
For the next 300,000 gallons per quarter
$0.92 per thousand
For the next 600,000 gallons per quarter
$0.73 per thousand
B. 
The minimum charge for metered service shall be $11.90 per quarter and shall include the first 5,000 gallons consumed per quarter.
C. 
Multiple unit dwellings. The minimum charge for two or more units supplied with water through a single connection and measured by a single meter shall be $11.90 per quarter for each unit so connected and metered and shall include a volume of water consumed per quarter equal to 5,000 gallons multiplied by the total number of units so connected and metered. The charges in excess of such minimum shall be determined by i) subtracting the volume of water included in the minimum charge (5,000 gallons multiplied by the total number of units so connected and metered) from the total volume of water consumed each quarter as measured by the single meter and ii) applying the foregoing rate schedule to the difference, except that the volume included in each block of the schedule shall be increased by 50% for each unit.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this article, water furnished by the Borough Water Department shall be metered in order to measure the volume of water consumed for the purpose of charging water rents. The Borough in its sole discretion may determine that it is unreasonable, impractical or impossible to install a meter or measuring device for a property to be served.
B. 
In such event, the Borough may determine the total quantity of water consumed by the premises in such manner and by such method as it may prescribe and the quantity so determined to be consumed shall be used to determine the water rents by applying the metered rate schedule provided in this article.
C. 
The size and type of meter to be installed will be determined by the Borough Water Department. Meter cost, installation and maintenance shall be at the expense of the property owner or occupant of the premises. Meters shall be placed within the boundary lines of the premises served and in a convenient location within a building, except where it is unreasonable, impractical or impossible to place a meter within a building, a concrete or brick pit with suitable cover shall be built inside the curb line at the expense of the property owner or occupant of the premises. A stop and waste cock shall be installed (at the owner's expense) and properly placed back of the meter so as to drain the water in pipes when the water is shut off.
D. 
If a meter becomes inoperative or fails to register for any reason, it shall be repaired or replaced promptly and the bill for water furnished during the period that meter readings are not available will be estimated on the basis of the average volume of water consumed in the preceding four quarters.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough may discontinue water service to any premises for violations by the owner or occupant of any of the provisions of this Chapter 445 after five days' written notice to the owner or occupant of the violations and of the Borough's intention to discontinue such service, provided that such violation is continuing at the time that discontinuance may properly occur hereunder. Service discontinued for violations of this chapter will not be resumed until reasonable assurance is given that the owner or occupant will comply with its provisions and with the rules and regulations of the Borough Water Department and $5 is paid to the Borough to cover the cost of service restoration.
[Amended 12-19-1974 by Ord. No. 685]
The Borough of Morrisville shall charge a fee of $5 for water certification requested by an individual, partnership, corporation, title company, real estate salesman or broker, or lending institution.
[Amended 9-14-1976 by Ord. No. 704]
The Borough reserves the right to, and may from time to time, promulgate, adopt, revise, amend and readopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper for the use and operation of the Borough Water System and for compliance with the tariff rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in connection with the furnishing of water beyond the bounds of the Borough's corporate limits.
From and after the passage of this chapter no person, persons, copartnership or corporation shall use water which has been provided and furnished by the Water Department of the Mayor and Borough Council of the Borough of Morrisville in operating siphon pumps, water-driven washers or any other form of equipment or machine which uses water as the source of power in operating the same.
[Amended 11-3-1960 by Ord. No. 487; 5-14-1985 by Ord. No. 800]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Chapter 445 shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300, together with costs of prosecution, or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Every day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[Adopted 5-12-1992 by Ord. No. 859]
No water shall be provided for internal or external use to any residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, governmental or public building or structure of any kind which is constructed or remodeled and in which plumbing, water piping or water fixtures are to be installed, extended or altered in any way, and for which a construction permit is required to be obtained from the Borough of Morrisville (or would be required but for an exemption from a permit requirement for public or governmental agencies) unless the new, extended or altered plumbing, water piping and other water using fixtures therein conform to the requirements and standards of § 445-38 of this article. The provisions of this article shall apply to any such building or structure for which such a building permit is issued, or would otherwise be required to be issued but for such an exemption on or after May 12, 1992.
A. 
Water closets and associated flushing mechanisms. The water consumption of water closets shall not exceed an average of 1.6 gallons per flush cycle over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psi. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A112.19.2M and ANSI A112.19.6M.
B. 
Urinals and associated flushing mechanisms. Urinal water consumption shall not exceed an average of 1.5 gallons per flush cycle over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psi. The fixtures shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A112.19.2M and ANSI A112.19.6M.
C. 
Showerheads. Showerhead discharge rates shall not exceed three gallons of water per minute over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psi. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A112.18.1M.
D. 
Faucets. Sink and lavatory faucet discharge rates shall not exceed three gallons of water per minute over a range of test pressures from 20 to 80 psi. The fixture shall perform in accordance with the test requirements of ANSI A112.18.1M.
A. 
Special purpose equipment. The performance standards of § 445-38 shall not apply to fixtures and fittings such as emergency showers, aspirator faucets and blowout fixtures that, in order to perform a specialized function, cannot meet the specified standards.
B. 
Exemptions. Any person(s) may apply to the Borough of Morrisville for an exemption to the terms of this article, which may be granted by the Borough Council or its designated representatives upon proof that some other device, system or procedure will save as much or more water as those set forth herein or that those set forth herein cannot be complied with, without undue hardship.
It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to use or apply water within the Borough of Morrisville contrary to or in violation of the restrictions herein, and upon conviction thereof, such persons shall be punished by being imprisoned in the county jail for not more than five days or by fine of not more than $600 or by both such fine and imprisonment.