[Adopted 9-15-1999 by Ord. No. 99-210]
Unless the context specifically and clearly
indicates otherwise, the meanings of the terms used in this article
shall be as follows:
The Borough of Riverside, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Any licensed professional engineer retained or employed by
the Borough or any authorized member of the staff of such engineer.
That part of the main building or house drain or sewer line
inside the walls of the building and extending through the walls and
connecting to the service line.
A protected and trapped drain for the purpose of carrying
off spent waters from the basement of a dwelling, factory, laboratory,
workshop or other building, but excluding any drainage resulting from
rainwater, springs, wells or other groundwater or surface water.
Any on-lot sewage disposal system, excluding a septic tank.
Any structure or store, office or other structural units
thereof intended to be used wholly or in part for the purposes of
carrying on a trade, business or profession or for social, amusement,
educational, charitable or public use.
The jointure, or the process of making the jointure, of the
service line with the lateral sewer.
The cost of constructing the lateral.
Fee based upon cost of construction of the service line from
the building to the property line.
Any room, group of rooms, house trailer or other enclosure
occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters by
a family or other group of persons living together or by persons living
alone; also, any other dwelling or establishment as listed in the
Schedule of Classifications Outline in the Resolution Approving Rules
and Regulations and Imposing Sewer Rental Charges.[1]
Any property within or about this Borough upon which there
is erected any structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation,
occupancy or use by human beings or animals and from which structure
sanitary sewage and/or industrial wastes shall be or may be discharged.
Any property situate in the Borough used wholly or in part
for the manufacture, processing, cleaning, laundering, or assembling
of any product, commodity or article, or any other property situate
in this Borough from which wastes, in addition to or other than sanitary
sewage, are discharged.
That part of the sewer system extending from the right-of-way
line to the main.
Any outlet into a watercourse, ditch, pond, lake or other
body of surface water or groundwater.
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole
or partial, of any property situated in or about the Borough of Riverside.
Any individual, partnership, company, association, society,
corporation or other group.
Any receptacle intended to receive and discharge any liquid,
water or water-carried waste into a service line.
Any structure intended to be occupied as a whole by one family.
Toilets, sinks and other plumbing fixtures and related piping
intended to receive and discharge sanitary sewage into a service line.
Any substance that contains any of the waste products or
excrement or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals
and any noxious or deleterious substances being harmful or inimical
to public health or to animal or aquatic life, or to the use of water
for domestic water supply or for recreation, or which constitutes
pollution under the Act of June 22, 1937 (P. L. 1987, No. 394), known
as the "Clean Streams Law,"[2] as amended, excluding, however, the effluent from cesspools,
rain, stormwater and groundwater, as well as roof or surface water,
drainage of percolating or seeping waters, or accumulation thereof,
whether underground or in cellars or basements.
The system of pipes and facilities operated or caused to
be operated by the Borough and for the collection of sanitary sewage
in and for the Borough of Riverside sewer service area.
A watertight receptacle which receives sewage and is designed
and constructed to provide for sludge storage, sludge decomposition
and to separate solids from the liquid through a period of detention
before allowing the liquid to be discharged into a drain field.
Defined in Act 537,[3] approved by the Department of Environmental Protection,
for the Borough of Riverside sewerage collection and treatment system,
a copy of which can be found in the Borough office.
That part of the building main drain or sewer line extending
from outside the outer building wall or foundation wall to its connection
with the inlet end of the lateral.
Any pipe of four inches in diameter or larger carrying sanitary
sewage and located in public streets or the rights-of way of the Borough.
Any person who may, from time to time, be placed in general
charge of the sewer system.
All pipes, sewage ejector and/or pumping stations, sewer
force mains, and all appurtenant facilities operated by the Borough
in furnishing sewage service in a portion of the Borough of Riverside,
but excluding service lines and interior plumbing.
Is mandatory; "may" is permissive.
Any pipe receiving the discharge of one or more plumbing
fixtures.
A pipe or conduit which carries stormwater, surface water,
drainage and certain industrial water discharges, such as cooling
and air-conditioning waters.
A public way, including any highway, street, road, lane,
court, public square, alley or other passageway.
Any pipe extended vertically from a sewer soil pipe or waste
pipe to provide ventilation for the system of piping and to prevent
siphoning and back pressure.
A.
Connection required.
(1)
The owner of any improved property situate in the
Borough of Riverside and abutting on, adjoining or adjacent to any
street, easement or right-of-way in which there shall have been constructed
said sewer system, where said property is accessible thereto and any
part of the principal building constructed on such improved property
is within 150 feet of such sewer system, shall, at the owner's own
expense, install suitable sanitary facilities therein and connect
such facilities directly with such sewer system in accordance with
the provisions of this article within 60 days after the date of official
notice from this Borough to do so, which notice shall have been given
by personal service or certified mail.
(2)
In the event any owner of any improved property shall
refuse or neglect to connect such property with such sewer system
within the sixty-day period, the Borough, or the agents of the Borough,
may, at its option, enter upon such property and construct such connection.
In such case, the proper officials of this Borough shall forthwith,
upon completion of the work, send an itemized bill of the cost of
construction of such connection to the owner, which bill shall be
payable forthwith. In case of neglect or refusal by the owner of such
property to pay the bill within six months after completion of construction
of the connection, it shall be the duty of the officials of this Borough
to cause a municipal lien for the construction to be filed, the same
to be subject in all respects to the general law provided for the
filing and recovery of municipal liens.
B.
All sanitary sewage from any improved property, after connection of such improved property with the sewer system as required under Subsection A, shall be discharged into the sewer system, subject to such limitations and restrictions as shall be established herein or otherwise shall be established from time to time by this Borough.
C.
It shall be unlawful to discharge or permit the discharge
of sanitary or industrial waste or other polluted water into any natural
outlet within this Borough, unless such discharge is pursuant to a
permit issued by, or with the approval of, the Department of Environmental
Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
It shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any
privy, privy vault, cesspool, septic tank, sinkhole or similar receptacle
or any absorption area intended for the disposal of sanitary sewage
within this Borough where such sewage emanates from any improved property
which the owner thereof is required to connect to the sewer system,
except in the Sunny Acres Area where sewerage is discharged into a
four-inch- or six-inch-diameter main sewer. In that instance, existing
septic tanks shall be retained, and effluent from these tanks shall
be conveyed to the main sewer after treatment in the septic tanks.
E.
No privy, privy vault, cesspool, septic tank, sinkhole
or similar receptacle or any absorption area shall be connected with
the sewer system at any time, except in the Sunny Acres Area where
sewerage is discharged into a four-inch- or six-inch-diameter main
sewer. In that instance, existing septic tanks shall be retained,
and effluent from these tanks shall be conveyed to the main sewer
after treatment in the septic tanks.
F.
Except for septic tanks retained pursuant to Subsection E above, each such privy, privy vault, cesspool, septic tank, sinkhole or similar receptacle or absorption area shall be abandoned upon the making of such connection to the sewer system, and the same shall be pumped and filled with suitable earth or stone under the direction and supervision of the Borough.
G.
Any such privy, privy vault, cesspool, septic tank, sinkhole or similar receptacle or absorption area not so abandoned, cleansed and filled shall constitute a nuisance, and such nuisance shall be abated as provided by law at the expense of the owner of such improved property; however, this provision shall not apply to retained septic tanks pursuant to Subsection E above.
H.
There is hereby reserved to the Borough the right
to refuse to any person the privilege of connecting any improved property
to the sewer system or to compel discontinuance of the use of the
sewer system by any person or to prohibit the discharge of industrial
wastes in order to prevent discharge into the sewer system of wastes
which may be deemed by the Borough or the Borough Engineer to be harmful
to the sewer system or to have a deleterious effect on sewage treatment
processes or to be injurious to personnel operating the sewer system.
I.
During the initial sewer system construction period,
the Borough shall furnish a simplex pumping station for pickup and
installation by the property owner if the following conditions are
satisfied:
J.
Except as provided above, any property that can receive
gravity flow service to the main sewer but desires basement service,
and all properties requiring connection after the initial sewer system
construction period, shall furnish and install a simplex pumping station
pursuant to Borough construction standards, a copy of which is available
at the Borough office.
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 obtaining a permit,
in writing, from the Borough or its authorized agent.
B.
Application to the Borough for a permit required under
this article shall be made by the owner of the improved property to
be served, in such form as may be prescribed by the Borough. The application
shall be accompanied by any applicable connection fee and the tapping
fee required by the Borough.
C.
No person other than the Borough, or its agents, shall
make or cause to be made the connection of any improved property with
the sewer system until such person shall have fulfilled each of the
following conditions:
(1)
Such person shall have notified the Borough or its
authorized agent of the desire and intention to connect to the sewer
system;
(2)
Such person shall apply for and obtain a permit as
required by this article;
(3)
Such person shall have given the Borough or its authorized
agent reasonable notice of at least 24 hours' notice of the time when
such service line is to be connected, and such connection made so
that the Borough, or its agents, may inspect the service line before
covering the area in which the service, lateral and all connections
were constructed.
D.
All costs and expenses of construction of a service
line and lateral and all costs and expenses in connection of such
service line to the sewer system shall be borne by the owner of the
improved property to be connected, and such owner shall indemnify
and save harmless the Borough and its agents from all loss or damage
that may be occasioned, directly or indirectly, as a result of the
construction of a service line or the connection of a service line
to the sewer system.
E.
Whenever the surface of any public street, private
property, sidewalk or cartway is disturbed by the construction of
a service line and/or lateral, it shall be the responsibility of the
applicant for a connection to obtain street opening permits from this
Borough or highway occupancy permits from the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation. Unless otherwise required, all surfacing materials
must be restored in like kind, thickness and construction to the satisfaction
of the Borough or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
F.
After the initial sewer system construction is completed,
it shall also be the responsibility for any property owner to furnish
and install a lateral and connect to the main sewer, if there is no
lateral service to the property.
B.
No service line, lateral or connection to the sewer
system shall be covered until the same has been inspected and approved
by the Borough. If any part of the service line, lateral or connection
to the sewer system is covered before being so inspected and approved,
such service line, lateral or such connection shall be uncovered for
inspection, at the request of the Borough, at the cost and expense
of the owner of the improved property to be served through the aforesaid
facilities.
C.
Every service line or connection to the sewer system
shall be maintained in a sanitary and safe operating condition by
the owner of the improved property served. Whenever the Borough has
reason to believe any service line or connection to the sewer system
has become defective, such service line or connection shall be subject
to test and inspection at the expense of the owner. Defects found
upon such inspection shall be corrected as required by the Borough,
at the cost and expense of such owner.
D.
In the event that the owner is unavailable, or refuses
or neglects to cooperate with the Borough with respect to suspected
defects as described herein, the Borough may, at its option, enter
upon such property and make the necessary repairs to such service
line or connection. In such case, the proper officials of this Borough
shall forthwith, upon completion of the work, send an itemized bill
of the cost of the necessary repairs to the owner, which bill shall
be payable forthwith. In case of neglect or refusal by the owner of
such property to pay the bill within six months after completion of
the necessary repairs to the service line or connection, it shall
be the duty of the officials of this Borough to cause a municipal
lien, or other legal remedy, for the repairs to be filed, the same
to be subject in all respects to the general law provided for the
filing and recovery of municipal liens.
Any individual, builder or developer desiring or required by law to construct or install sewers, lateral sewers, service lines, and appurtenances to serve a house or any housing unit within a real estate development prior to their use or sale shall make proper written application to the Borough for a special permit, pursuant to rules and regulations of the Borough applicable thereto. This action shall be taken concurrently with the applicant filing an application for subdivision approval and land development approval, pursuant to Chapter 250, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Borough of Riverside. All costs shall be paid by said individual, builder, or developer.
No person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently
damage, destroy, deface, block or otherwise tamper with any sewer
or any other facility, structure or equipment which is part of the
sewer system or discharge any substance into the sewer system contrary
to or in violation of any present or future resolutions or rules and
regulations of the Borough which, among others, prohibit discharge
of wastes into the sewer system.
The Borough Engineer, and/or other duly authorized
representatives or employees of the Borough bearing proper credentials
and identification, shall be permitted, at all reasonable times, to
enter upon any premises connected or about to be connected or required
to be connected to the sewer system for the purpose of inspections,
observation, measurement, sampling and testing in accordance with
the provisions of this article.
A.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article, other than § 225-43, or any rules or regulations of the Borough adopted hereunder, shall be served with a written notice stating the nature of the violation and requiring the satisfactory correction thereof within 30 days from the date of the notice. The offender, within the period of time stated in such notice, shall permanently cease all violations.
B.
Except as set forth in Subsection C of this section, any person who shall continue any such violation beyond such time limit, or otherwise violate this article or any rules or regulations adopted hereunder, shall be punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days. Each day a violation shall continue shall be deemed and shall be taken to be a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.[1]
C.
Any person who shall violate any provision of § 225-43 shall be subject to a civil penalty summary conviction and be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 for each violation, together with costs in each case.
D.
Penalties and costs imposed under the provisions of
this article shall be enforceable and recoverable in the manner and
the time provided by applicable law, and any such penalties received
shall be used solely for the operation, maintenance and/or replacement
of said sewer system.
E.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this
article or any rules or regulations adopted hereunder, in addition
to becoming liable for penalties and costs, shall also be liable to
the Borough for any professional fees, expenses, costs, losses or
damages occasioned the Borough by reason of such violation or by reason
of enforcing the provisions of this article.
It is hereby declared that the enactment of
this article is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation
of the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the Borough.
The Borough Council is authorized by proper
resolution to adopt any necessary rules and regulations necessary
to carry out the provisions of this article and/or its declaration
of purposes.
The remedies contained herein are cumulative
and in addition to all others, civil or criminal, available to the
Borough of Riverside.
