[Adopted 6-14-1948 by Ord. No. 216 (Ch. 70, Art. II, of the 1971 Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPROVING AUTHORITIES
The municipal officials charged with the approving of permits to construct private sewage disposal units and to connect to the municipal sewerage system.
BUILDING SEWER
That portion of the sewer system extending from the outside of the building or end of the inside plumbing system to and including the connection with the municipal system.
DOMESTIC SEWAGE
That liquid from bathrooms, toilet rooms, kitchens and home laundries.
INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE
That liquid resulting from processes employed in industrial establishments.
LATERAL
A sewer pipe extending from the sewer line to the curb or property line.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
MAIN TRUNK LINE
That portion of the municipal sewer system to which building sewers are attached, which convey sewage to the municipal sewage treatment plant.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
MUNICIPAL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
The facilities for treating the municipal sewage.
MUNICIPAL SEWER SYSTEM
The sanitary sewers and storm sewers owned by the Borough of Columbia or leased thereby from a Municipal Authority.
[Amended 11-23-1954 by Ord. No. 283]
PARTY
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.
PROPERLY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BOROUGH
The manager of the municipal sewage treatment plant or other qualified persons so designated by the Borough Manager.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
RECEIVING WATER
That body of waters receiving the discharge waters from the sewerage system or sewage treatment plant.
SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
Conduits intended to receive domestic sewage and such industrial sewages and/or wastes, with or without treatment, as are acceptable to the municipality.
STORMWATER SEWER SYSTEM
Sewers intended to receive surface water from storms, street washings, roof drainage and sewage and industrial sewage that have been treated to the extent required for discharge into the receiving waters.
SUPERINTENDENT
The Borough employee appointed by the Borough Council to be responsible for the operation of the municipal sewage treatment plant and sewer lines connected therewith.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit or permit to be deposited in an unsanitary manner any human excrement, garbage or any other organic waste upon private or public property. It shall be unlawful to discharge any untreated domestic sewage, industrial sewage or other polluted waters into any stream, ditch, pond, lake or groundwaters within the Borough or in any area under the jurisdiction of the Borough. It shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, cesspool or septic tank or deep well intended for or subject to receiving organic wastes. The owner or owners of all houses, buildings or properties situated within the Borough abutting on any streets, alleys or parkways in which there is now located or may hereafter be located any sewer pipeline of the sanitary sewer system of the Borough are hereby required, at no expense to the municipality, to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect said houses or buildings erected upon the property directly with the sanitary sewer system within three months after the date of official notice to do so, if the municipal sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Regarding enforcement, See Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II, Enforcement of Certain Ordinances.
B. 
It is provided, however, that where municipal sewers are not available and cannot be made available, a septic tank and tile field or other method of private sewage disposal must be constructed to meet the requirements of the State Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, after receiving the necessary permit from the Borough Secretary/Treasurer or other designated municipal official.
A. 
A separate building sewer is required for each individual building or house, whether constructed as a detached unit or as one of a pair or row, but a single building sewer will be permitted to serve an apartment house or other multiple-unit structure or industrial plant if the land on which the units are located is held under one deed. However, if a single building sewer is permitted to serve an apartment house or other multiple-unit structure or industrial plant by reason of the fact that the land on which such units are located is held under one deed, then as soon as the land on which such units are located is no longer held on one deed, a separate building sewer shall be required for each unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, should a building sewer serving multiple houses or buildings be in existence as of January 1, 2007, no new separate building sewers need be constructed; provided, however, that the existing building sewer is in good working condition without defect to the satisfaction of the Code Enforcement Officer and/or Borough Engineer.
[Amended 12-9-1968 by Ord. No. 434; 1-8-2007 by Ord. No. 776]
B. 
Building sewers, from the point of entry to the municipal sewer system to the building, shall be laid at the owner's expense, but only after such connections have been authorized by a properly authorized representative of the Borough, the payment of a permit of amount in accordance with Article IV of this chapter of the Columbia Borough Code, which is made a part of this article by reference and a statement by the owner that the discharge from the building sewer will comply with all of the regulations of this article.
[Amended 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
C. 
Old building sewers may be used to connect new building plumbing or new plumbing in old buildings to the municipal sewerage system when a permit has been secured as for new construction of building sewers.
D. 
All building sewers shall be not less than four inches in diameter and shall have a uniform fall of not less than 1/8 inch per foot. They shall be of cast iron, vitrified clay or polyvinyl chloride pipe as specified by a properly authorized representative of the Borough. If polyvinyl chloride pipe is used, four inches of one-quarter-inch stone shall be laid beneath the pipe and over the pipe. Where a building sewer cannot be laid in a straight line, straight pipe with bends shall be used for every deflection from a straight line of more than one inch per foot. The pipe shall be of cast iron with neoprene joints, or polyvinyl chloride with neoprene joints. It shall be unlawful to lay a water and sewer line in the same trench. Notwithstanding the foregoing, should any building sewer in existence as of January 1, 2007, not be in compliance with the foregoing, the noncompliant building sewer need not be replaced or repaired if, in the discretion of the Borough Engineer and/or Code Enforcement Officer, said building sewer is in good working condition without defect.
[Amended 12-9-1968 by Ord. No. 434; 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596; 1-8-2007 by Ord. No. 776]
E. 
The connection between the building sewer and the municipal sewer shall be made at a Y-branch, installed for that purpose with a fitting approved by a properly authorized representative of the Borough. If no Y-branch has been installed in the main trunk line for such building sewer, the connection shall be made by a contractor licensed by the Borough and at no expense to the Borough. The fitting shall be specified and approved by a properly authorized representative of the Borough prior to installation and encased in Class C concrete after installation. The location of the lateral shall be marked on the curb by cutting into the stone or concrete curb directly above the lateral. The cut shall be neat but large enough to be permanent.
[Amended 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
F. 
Each new building sewer or replacement sewer must be inspected and approved by a properly authorized representative of the Borough. The entire trench from the building to the main sewer trunk line or any applicable segment must be open at the time of inspection.
[Amended 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
G. 
All properties served by a sewer lateral shall install a trap at the curbline or right-of-way. It shall be a properly vented single-hub trap. A cleanout shall be installed in any lateral over 80 feet in length.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
H. 
Any work performed on the main sewer trunk line shall be performed by a contractor or plumber licensed by the Borough. If, during the course of work, the main sewer trunk line is damaged, the contractor or plumber shall notify the Borough immediately. The Borough will arrange for repair of the main sewer trunk line, with all expenses for repair borne by the contractor or plumber.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
I. 
A properly authorized representative of the Borough shall have final approval regarding the repair or installation of sewer laterals and any connection to the main sewer trunk line.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
J. 
Any person who wishes to clean any portion of the lateral shall clean the entire length of line from the point of blockage, whether partial or complete, to the main trunk line.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
K. 
Any person who blocks or causes a blockage of the building sewer shall be responsible for the removal of the blockage and any resultant damage.
[Added 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
[Amended 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
The owner of every building sewer which is discharging industrial sewage from any plant or establishment into the municipal sewerage system may be required, at the discretion of the approving authorities, to construct a sampling manhole for the purpose of ascertaining the quality and quantity of the waste flowing in the building sewer. The manhole shall be located in a suitable and satisfactory location, and it shall be not less than three feet in inside diameter and built in a manner designated by the approving authorities.
[Amended 11-20-1950 by Ord. No. 232]
Whenever it is found that any person, firm or corporation is violating any of the provisions or requirements set forth in this article, a written notice stating the offense and setting a time limit, not exceeding 30 days, for the correction thereof shall be served upon the offender by the police of the Borough of Columbia or by registered mail. The offender shall, within the time limit stated in the notice served upon him, forever cease all violations. Anyone who shall continue to violate any of the provisions of this article after notice is served upon him as herein set forth shall, upon conviction thereof before any District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $600 for each 90 days or fraction thereof that such violation shall persist, plus costs of prosecution, to be collected as other fines and costs are by law collectible, and, in default of payment thereof, be subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days.
A. 
Authority is hereby granted to properly authorized representatives of the Borough to enter upon all properties to make necessary inspections, tests and measurements to ensure compliance with all of the regulations of this article.
[Amended 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 596]
B. 
The Sewer Department will respond to service calls during regular working hours. Emergency calls will be responded to at any hour. However, if the trouble is not the responsibility of the municipal sewage system, the Borough reserves the right to bill the resident requesting service performed.