[Adopted 2-15-1960]
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
FOG
Fats, oils and grease that exceed 100 ppm discharge to the sanitary sewer, including that which is produced by the cooking, serving or processing of food or by any commercial or industrial process that uses fats, oils or grease.
[Added 6-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-15]
GARBAGE
Solid wastes from the preparation, cooking and disposing of foods and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE
The liquid waste from industrial processes and distinct from sanitary sewage.
PERSON
Includes an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, proprietorship or any other group of persons, or the legal successors and representatives thereof.
SANITARY SEWER
A sewer which carries sewage and to which storm-, surface and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
SEWAGE
A combination of the water-carried wastes from residence, business and other buildings, institutions, factories and industrial establishments, together with such surface and storm water as may be present.
SEWAGE SYSTEM
All facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
SEWER
A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, sewage or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
[Amended 4-16-1962; 6-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-15]
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into any sanitary sewer or storm sewer within the Township of North Brunswick any of the following described liquids or substances:
A. 
Ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, wood shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics or any other solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage system.
B. 
Gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
C. 
Garbage and FOG, i.e., fat, oils or grease discharges over 100 ppm.
D. 
By-products or refuse from any mechanical garbage disposal or grinder used in the operation of any mercantile or business establishment.
E. 
Waters or wastes having a pH lower than five or containing toxic, corrosive or poisonous substances or suspended solids of such character and quantity as to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process or which constitute a hazard to humans or animals or to the structure or equipment of the sewage works.
F. 
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150° F.
G. 
Any water or waste which may contain more than 100 parts per million, by weight, of fat, oil or grease.
H. 
Any water or waste which may contain radioactive materials.
I. 
Stormwater, surface or ground water or unpolluted industrial process waters of any kind.
J. 
Water from any swimming pool or air-conditioning system.
K. 
Industrial or commercial waste, except as hereinafter provided.
A. 
No person shall connect or allow to be connected into any sanitary sewer located within the Township of North Brunswick any drain or leader designed to collect ground or surface waters.
B. 
No new sump pump shall be connected to the sanitary sewer system of the Township of North Brunswick.
[Added 7-19-1971]
No public or private sanitary sewer or storm sewer shall be constructed in the Township of North Brunswick unless the same is constructed in accordance with the standards of construction as shall be laid down and promulgated from time to time by the Township of North Brunswick.
A. 
No private sanitary sewers shall be constructed in the Township of North Brunswick unless:
(1) 
Detailed preliminary maps showing the proposed locations for said sewer lines are filed with the Sewer Department of the Township and a permit is issued by said Department.
(2) 
The same is constructed under the supervision and direction of the Township Engineer, whose services therefor shall be paid by the abutting property owner.
B. 
Where a permit to construct a private sanitary sewer is granted, the cost and expense of such construction shall be borne by the abutting property owner.
C. 
The cost of construction and maintenance of sewer laterals (that is, sewer lines running from the trunk line to the curb or property line and the sewer line running from the curb or property line to the building served) shall be the obligation of the abutting owner.
A. 
No sanitary sewer or storm sewer shall be accepted by the Township of North Brunswick unless the contractor responsible for the construction of the said sewers shall first file with the Sewer Department of the Township of North Brunswick and the Clerk of the Township detailed maps of the installation of said sewer lines as built.
B. 
Upon receipt of written demand from the Township of North Brunswick, the contractor responsible for constructing any sanitary sewer or storm sewer within the Township shall, within 14 days thereafter, file with the Sewer Department of the Township and the Clerk of the Township detailed maps of the installation of said sewer lines as built.
[Amended 7-19-1971; 2-18-1975; 1-15-1979; 4-6-1981; 5-20-1996 by Ord. No. 96-11; 9-23-2002 by Ord. No. 02-39; 8-5-2019 by Ord. No. 19-196-1-2020 by Ord. No. 20-15; 9-27-2021 by Ord. No. 21-20; 7-29-2024 by Ord. No. 24-09; 7-14-2025 by Ord. No. 25-16]
The Mayor and Council of the Township of North Brunswick deemed it necessary and proper that the following sewer fees and charges be paid to the Township for the use of the sanitary sewer located within the Township for all meter reading after January 1, 1979. The rates for sewer usage shall be as follows:
A. 
Consumption rates from 2016 through 2019 consisted of a stepped billing approach based on a customer's overall quarterly consumption. Customers were charged one of three rates, established based on overall quarterly consumption, per every 748 gallons (previous per 100 cubic square feet) of water.
For meter readings after July 1, 2020, the charge for new meters installed shall be calculated upon the rate established per gallon of metered water consumption, based upon the schedule set forth below on a monthly basis. In instances where water meters do not measure flow in gallons, use the following conversion to estimate water consumption: one cubic foot = 7.48 gallons, billed per 100 gallons or 748.
Rate changes provided below go into effect based upon the bill period date, not when the meter was last read or consumption recorded.
Sewer Rates Based on Water Consumption Range
July 1, 2020, Supporting Formula for 0 to 3,000 Gallons:
1 cubic foot is equal to 7.48 US fluid gallons or 748 per 100 gallons
Rate $5.128 ÷ 748 conversion = $0.006855 per gallon (six places past decimal)
Monthly Sewer Rates Based on Water Consumption Rate per 748 Gallons
Rate Period
0 to 3,000 Gal
3,001 to 9,000 Gal
More than 9,001 Gal
July 1, 2020
$4.491
$5.581
$6.416
October 1, 2021
$4.648
$5.777
$6.641
July 1, 2022
$4.811
$5.980
$6.873
July 1, 2023
$4.979
$6.189
$7.114
July 1, 2024
$5.128
$6.375
$7.327
July 1, 2025
$5.487
$6.821
$7.840
Sewer Rates Based on Water Consumption Range Rate per 1 Gallon (Gal)
Effective Date
0 to 3,000 Gal
3,001 to 9,000 Gal
More than 9,001 Gal
July 1, 2020
$0.006004
$0.007462
$0.008577
July 1, 2021
$0.006214
$0.007723
$0.008877
October 1, 2021
$0.006214
$0.007723
$0.008877
July 1, 2022
$0.006432
$0.007993
$0.009188
July 1, 2023
$0.006657
$0.008273
$0.009509
July 1, 2024
$0.006855
$0.008522
$0.009795
July 1, 2025
$0.007335
$0.009119
$0.010481
B. 
Residential users of the sewer system that do not exclusively use Township-supplied water for indoor usage shall be charged for sewer use based on a monthly consumption of 6,000 gallons. Nonresidential and multifamily users of the sewer system that do not exclusively use Township-supplied water for indoor usage or for any other usage that may enter the sewer shall be charged for sewer use based on the estimated volume of water they use as determined by the Township or the monthly consumption of 6,000 gallons, whichever is greater.
[Amended 5-17-1976; 9-23-2002 by Ord. No. 02-39]
All bills for sewer rents, fees, and other charges shall be due and owing to the Township upon the bill date. All such charges which have not been paid within 30 days from the bill date shall bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum for principal amounts of $1,500 or less and 18% per annum for principal amounts in excess of $1,500 or the maximum interest rate(s) allowed by state law. Interest shall be charged from the 31st day after the bill date until payment is made or a past-due bill is issued. If a past-due bill is issued, interest charges on the principal amount stated in the past-due bill shall be suspended for 30 days from the past-due bill date. If the full amount of a past due bill is not paid within 30 days from the past-due bill date, interest charges shall be reinstated for the thirty-day period as if no suspension occurred. Payments shall be credited to the amounts owed in the following sequence:
A. 
Interest on sewer rents;
B. 
Interest on water rents;
C. 
Miscellaneous charges;
D. 
Sewer rents; and
E. 
Water rents.
The aforementioned rents and charges, plus all other costs, expenses, interest and penalties arising therefrom, shall be a lien upon the particular premises where such rental or charge is incurred from the time that such rental or charge arises until the same is fully paid and satisfied.
In the event that payment in full of the aforementioned rents and charges shall not have been made within six months from the date when due, then the Township Clerk of the Township of North Brunswick shall file with the Tax Collector of the Township a statement of arrearages, and the said Tax Collector shall enforce these rents and charges in the same manner as liens for unpaid taxes.
The amount of the rental fee or charge to be paid by the owner of a house, residence, building, place of business or factory for the discharge of sewage into a sanitary sewer shall be determined on the basis of the amount of water consumed in such house, residence, building, place of business or factory. The reading on the water meter attached to such premises shall constitute the measure of sewer flow from such house, residence, building, place of business or factory, for which use the rental is payable. Where a house, residence, building, place of business or factory does not have a water meter attached thereto, the owner thereof shall install at his own expense, at the intake of the water supply, a meter of a type approved by the Sewer Department of the Township of North Brunswick for the purpose of measuring the amount of water used therein, which amount shall constitute the measurement of the amount of sewage for the purpose of determining the rental charge due to the Township of North Brunswick for the use of the connecting sanitary sewer.
Each industry discharging industrial waste into the sewer system of the Township of North Brunswick shall install a suitable metering device, approved by the Sewer Department of the Township of North Brunswick, which meter shall continuously record the industrial waste flow discharged into the sewer system for the purpose of measuring the amount of such waste discharged. The rental charge due to the Township of North Brunswick shall be computed on the basis of the readings recorded on said metering device. Where the total annual charge for discharging industrial waste is estimated to be less than $1,000, then no meter shall be required and the volume of flow shall be determined on the basis of the metered water consumption as aforesaid.
Each industry discharging industrial waste into the sewer system of the Township of North Brunswick shall adopt a schedule of discharges of such waste, which schedule is subject to the approval of the Sewer Department of the Township of North Brunswick, to the end that peak concentrations of sewage flows shall be minimized, giving due consideration to the capacities of the sewer system and to the necessities of factory production.
[Amended 4-16-1962]
A. 
In the event that the industrial waste discharged by any industry interferes with the efficiency of the operation of the sewer system of the Township of North Brunswick or with the disposal of the sewage flowing therein, or unduly increases the cost of the operation of said system, then such industry shall be required by the Sewer Department of the Township of North Brunswick to:
(1) 
Reduce its peak discharge;
(2) 
Construct equalizing tank;
(3) 
Partially pretreat the waste;
(4) 
Eliminate troublesome waste; or
(5) 
Use any approved means,
to produce industrial waste of a quality acceptable to said Sewer Department before such waste can be discharged into the sewer system of the Township.
B. 
In the event that the industrial waste discharged contains acid, then the industry, upon notice from the Township Sewer Department, shall immediately install a recording pH meter, the type and installation of which shall first be approved by the Township consulting engineers. The meter readings shall determine acceptability of such waste in accordance with standards set up by § 276-2 concerning prohibited discharges. Said meter shall be so installed as to make it readily accessible for inspection or reading at any time by a representative of the North Brunswick Township Sewer Department.
[Amended 6-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-15]
A. 
Industrial wastes. Each industry discharging industrial waste into the sewer system of the Township of North Brunswick shall provide facilities and means whereby the waste being discharged may be inspected by designated employees of the Township of North Brunswick for the purpose of determining the character of the waste, its concentration and its rate of flow. Determination of character, concentration and rate of flow by the Sewer Department of the Township shall be binding for the purpose of computing applicable charges, fees and/or fines. Samples may be collected and evaluated, pursuant to standard methods of analyses, for the purpose of determining the quality and quantity of such industrial waste.
B. 
Commercial and other FOG-generating facilities. The Township's Director of Public Works and/or any duly authorized employees or agents of the Township bearing proper identification shall, subject to law, be permitted to enter all facilities that generate or may generate FOG, with the exception of private residential residences, for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling and testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Each commercial establishment, including but not limited to food service establishments or other nonresidential FOG generators, shall provide the facilities and means whereby the waste being discharged may be inspected by authorized employees or agents of the Township of North Brunswick for the purpose of determining compliance with this chapter and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations, including determination of the characteristics of the waste, its rate of flow, and whether the grease traps/interceptors are adequate and are being operated, cleaned and maintained properly. Determination of the character, concentration and rate of flow by the Township of North Brunswick shall be binding for the purpose of computing any applicable charges, fees and/or fines. The person in charge of the establishment to be investigated, or known FOG generator, shall, at the time of inspection, make available to the employees or agents of the Township of North Brunswick, all records, manifests, and logs of the removal of the contents of grease traps and grease interceptors as well as the maintenance, cleaning and repair of those traps or interceptors and any facilities that flow into them. Records providing proof of an employees' education program to minimize FOG discharge, including records providing proof of the implementation of such FOG reduction procedures, shall also be provided at that time. Such records must include, without limitation, those records that pertain to the design, operation, cleaning and maintenance of FOG facilities, including but not limited to the disposal of contents of the grease trap/interceptor, and the removal of FOG for rendering, reprocessing or disposal. Authorized Township employees or agents shall inspect commercial and other FOG-generating establishments without notice. Any failure to consent to such inspections shall constitute probable cause for the Township to secure an administrative search warrant in order to inspect such establishments. This section shall apply solely to commercial properties.
C. 
Reinspection fees - FOG-generating facilities. Any time an authorized agent of the Township of North Brunswick must reinspect the facilities of a FOG generator for the purpose of determining whether any condition of noncompliance with the FOG-related requirements of this chapter that were identified in a previous inspection has been adequately corrected, a fee of $100 shall be charged to recover the Township's cost of administering and conducting the reinspection.
The rates set forth in this chapter are subject to adjustment and change to such extent as the Mayor and Council of the Township of North Brunswick may deem necessary or advisable.
A. 
Notwithstanding any provisions hereinbefore set forth, no industrial or commercial waste shall be disposed into the sewer system of the Township of North Brunswick until an application has been made to the Township for a special permit permitting such disposal, and such application shall contain full information as to the type of business to be or being conducted, an estimate of the quantity and content of such waste and such technical information as may be required by the Township.
B. 
The application fee to cover the examination and processing of said application shall be $15, which fee shall be in addition to any charges set forth above and which fee shall not be returnable.
C. 
Within a reasonable time after the receipt of the filed application, the Sewer Department of the Township of North Brunswick shall examine said application and the premises to which it is applicable and the plans and specifications to determine the volume of such waste to be discharged into the Township sewer system and whether such volume would adversely or injuriously affect the operation of the sewage system or any part of its equipment or processes.
D. 
The special permit for the discharge of industrial or commercial wastes shall be issued by the Township of North Brunswick upon recommendation of the Sewer Department of said Township, upon such terms and conditions as shall be required in order to operate the sewage system of the Township in the most efficient and orderly manner.
Grease, oil and sand interceptors may be required and shall be provided wherever, in the opinion of the Township, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease or flammable substances. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the Township and shall be located so as to be readily accessible for cleaning and inspection. They shall be of substantial construction, capable of withstanding extreme changes of temperature and equipped with easily removable covers which shall be gastight and watertight.
[Amended 6-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-15]
A. 
Maintenance. All FOG and sand traps/interceptors shall be cleaned and maintained by the owner, at his or her sole cost and expense, in reasonably efficient operation at all times, in accordance with this chapter and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations. FOG generators, except for private residences, must maintain a continuous log of every cleanout and maintenance event for each grease trap/interceptors at their facilities as well as a copy of each receipt for the removal of the contents of grease traps/interceptors or the removal of concentrated FOG for reuse. These records must be kept available for the Township's physical inspection at the facilities where the grease traps/interceptors are located for a period of five years. In addition, FOG generators must send a copy of each receipt for the removal of the contents of grease traps/interceptors or the removal of concentrated FOG for reuse to the Township employee specified by the Township either by facsimile, e-mail or regular mail. The Township may require FOG-generating facilities to post prominent signs stating, "NO GREASE," at locations when the Township so designates.
B. 
Installation. Grease traps shall be installed when required by the Plumbing Code, the Health Department or any other regulatory agency with jurisdiction, and when the Township of North Brunswick Director of Public Works or his designee determines that they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing FOG, or any flammable solvents, sand or other harmful or noxious ingredients, except that such grease traps or grease interceptors shall not be required for private residential dwellings. All of the traps/interceptors shall be located so that they are readily and easily accessible for cleaning, maintenance, inspection, and sampling, including the final effluent from the trap; interceptor, all water flowing into the trap/interceptor is always below 150° Fahrenheit. If a waste flow is above 150° Fahrenheit, it must be routed around the trap/interceptor or cooled to below said temperature before entering the trap/interceptor.
C. 
Pretreatment of waste from FOG generators. Any establishments, except for private residential dwellings, that generate FOG shall, at their sole cost and expense, pretreat their waste with a Township-approved bacteriological product in a manner and dosage approved by the Township for the purpose of controlling and eliminating the introduction of FOG into the Township's sewers. This includes but is not limited to all retail food establishments, commercial food processors, meat processors or similar food processors or food service establishments, including schools, churches, banquet halls, clubs and/or other social or charitable associations, athletic facility food facilities, and/or any other private or commercial establishment that periodically prepares food for more than 25 persons in any one day.
(1) 
The bacteriological product must be free of wetting agents, surfactants, reducing agents and other additives, enzymes, solvents, and chemical degreasers and must be approved by the Township's Director of Public Works or his designee prior to application and/or installation of the feeding equipment or the start of application of the bacteriological product. The bacteriological product shall be introduced into the waste system upstream from the grease trap/interceptor once in every twenty-four-hour period or as directed by the Director of Public Works or his designee after the closing of business or during the period of time with the least business activity (at the beginning of the period of time with the least wastewater for the longest time). If the establishment fails to apply the bacteriological product correctly or sufficiently, the Township of North Brunswick shall have the right to require the use of an automated feed system or extended release block bacteriological product, regardless of whether such feed system or block increases the cost of treatment. Chemicals, cleaners, undiluted bleach or other disinfectants that are toxic to the bacteria being added must not be allowed to enter the grease trap/interceptor unless otherwise required by law.
The admission into the public sewers of any waters or wastes having a five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than 300 parts per million by weight, or containing more than 350 parts per million by weight of suspended solids, or containing any quantity of substance having the characteristics described in § 276-2, or having an average daily flow greater than 2% of the average daily sewage flow of the Township, shall be subject to the review and approval of the Township. Where necessary in the opinion of the Township, the owner shall provide at his expense such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to reduce the biochemical oxygen demand to 300 parts per million and the suspended solids to 350 parts per million by weight, or reduce objectionable characteristics or constituents to within maximum limits, or control the quantities and rates of discharge of such waters or wastes. Plans, specifications and any other pertinent information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the Township, and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until said approvals are obtained in writing.
When required by the Township, the owner of any property served by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessible and safely located and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the Township. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense and shall be maintained by him.
All measurements, tests and analyses shall be taken by the Township of the characteristics of waters and wastes and shall be determined in accordance with American Public Health Association "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Sewage" and shall be determined upon suitable samples taken in said control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected.
Whenever the Superintendent of Sewers shall determine any private sanitary sewer to be overloaded so as to become injurious to the health and safety of the people served by said sewer, he shall forthwith advise the Township of North Brunswick of his determination; thereafter the Township of North Brunswick shall cause notices to be given to the owners of the property served by said sanitary sewer to show cause why said sanitary sewer should not be forthwith repaired so as to comply with the standards of construction for private sanitary sewers as herein provided, and upon the failure of said property owners to comply with said order, the Township of North Brunswick shall have the right to condemn said private sanitary sewer and to order that the same be replaced with a public sewer, with the costs thereof to be assessed against the real estate served thereby, in accordance with the statutes in such case made and provided.
[Added 7-20-1964]
A. 
Each house shall be provided with entirely separate water and sewer connections from the main line to the building. Under no circumstances shall a single water and sewer connection be permitted to serve two or more separate buildings, even where same are owned by the same party.
B. 
In all cases where there is a sanitary sewer main within 100 feet or less of a person's property, it shall be unlawful to own, operate, maintain or use, or permit the maintenance, operation or use of, any cesspool, septic tank or outhouse.
C. 
The Township shall not be liable for any stoppage of the sewer lines between the main sewer line and the building served thereby nor for any damage resulting from said stoppage, and in no event will the Township provide any labor or material to free, clear or remove the obstructions from the said drainage system, but all such work shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the owner of the premises served.
[Added 7-20-1964]
Where any sewer pipe is damaged while in the course of installation, it must be immediately removed and replaced by the plumber.
[Added 4-6-1981[1]]
Each user shall be notified, at least annually, with the regular bill, of the rate and charges for wastewater treatment representing operating and maintenance costs of the Middlesex County Utilities Authority.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that the increased rates as stated therein shall be effective on the first billing date of each end user on or after April 1, 1981. This ordinance also provided for the renumbering of former §§ 276-29, 276-30, 276-31 and 276-32 to become §§ 276-32, 276-33, 276-34 and 276-35, respectively.
[Added 4-6-1981[1]]
Any flows or strengths which are not chargeable to a particular use, whether by reason of the user being exempted from the charges or by reason of the flow entering the system by infiltration or inflow, shall be charged to all users proportionately on the basis of flow.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that the increased rates as stated therein shall be effective on the first billing date of each end user on or after April 1, 1981. This ordinance also provided for the renumbering of former §§ 276-29, 276-30, 276-31 and 276-32 to become §§ 276-32, 276-33, 276-34 and 276-35, respectively.
[Added 4-6-1981[1]]
Any user who discharges into the system toxic pollutants which cause an increase in the cost of managing the effluent or the sludge of the treatment works shall pay for such increased costs.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that the increased rates as stated therein shall be effective on the first billing date of each end user on or after April 1, 1981. This ordinance also provided for the renumbering of former §§ 276-29, 276-30, 276-31 and 276-32 to become §§ 276-32, 276-33, 276-34 and 276-35, respectively.
[Amended 9-6-1977; 4-17-2006 by Ord. No. 06-06; 6-4-2007 by Ord. No. 07-15]
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Judge. The continuation of such violation on each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.