[Amended 12-9-2009 by Ord. No. 36-2009]
There is hereby established a Water/Sewer Utility Department. Water and sewer billing shall be the responsibility of the Utility Tax Collector. In order to protect the identity of water and sewer customers against identity theft, the Township hereby authorizes and adopts the identity theft prevention program attached herein as Exhibit A[1] and made a part hereof. All Township employees and any applicable independent contractor shall abide by its terms and conditions thereof. The identity theft prevention program may be supplemented, amended and revised by a resolution duly adopted by the Township Committee.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is on file in the Township offices.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CONNECTION DATE
The day following the service of a notice from the Township that a sewer is available to serve a house, building or structure except that in the case of a house, building, or structure completed subsequent to the availability of a sewer to the premises on which the house, building or structure is located, "connection date" shall mean the date of the initial occupancy of said building or the date of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy therefor, whichever of said dates occurs first.
GARBAGE
Solid wastes from the preparation, cooking, and disposing of foods, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.
GREASE TRAP
Shall be given its normal definition in the retail food industry. A device used to collect oil and grease at the entrance of the wastewater pipe system and preventing the oil and grease from traveling through the wastewater pipes into the wastewater system of the Township. A grease trap must be installed in such a manner as to facilitate easy inspection and cleaning.
[Added 3-12-2008 by Ord. No. 4-2008]
PERSON
An individual, family unit, firm, partnership, corporation, association, proprietorship, or any other group or persons or the legal successors or representatives thereof.
RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT
Shall be given its normal definition in the industry. "Retail food establishment" includes all retail businesses which process and/or serve food and food products.
[Added 3-12-2008 by Ord. No. 4-2008]
ROOMING HOUSE
A dwelling unit in which living quarters without kitchen facilities are available for rent to the general public.
SANITARY SEWER
A sewer which carries sewage to which storm, surface and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
SEWAGE
A combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business and other buildings or structures.
SEWAGE SYSTEM
All facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
SEWER
A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
TRASH
Useless waste or rejected matter other than sewage or garbage.
TREATMENT WORKS
Shall have the meaning as set forth in the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations published in the Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR 35:905.
[Amended 4-21-2004 by Ord. No. 7-2004; 3-12-2008 by Ord. No. 4-2008]
Monetary penalties may be assessed in an amount up to $1,000 for violations of the following:
A. 
For neglecting or failing to make payment of any bill for sewer minimum or excess charges rendered under this chapter within 60 days after the date the charge is due and payable. A written notice of the proposed discontinuance and the reasons therefor shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner of record of the property at least 10 days prior to the date of discontinuance.
B. 
For refusal of reasonable access to the property for purposes of inspecting, and for refusal of entry at all reasonable hours to the premises of any users of the sewer service for the purpose of examining the pipes, fixtures, and also to check the number of fixtures connected.
C. 
For fraudulent representation on the part of the consumer or the owner of the premises.
D. 
Persistent violation of rules and regulations.
E. 
For discharging or causing to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes in any portion of the sewer system:
(1) 
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150º F.
(2) 
Any water or waste which may contain more than 100 parts per million, by weight, of fat, oil or grease.
(3) 
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
(4) 
Any garbage or trash, with the exception of garbage that has been treated by a garbage disposal unit approved by the Construction Code Official.
(5) 
Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, paunch manure, 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 works.
(6) 
Any waters or waste having a pH lower than 5.3 or higher than 9.0 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of sewage works. "pH" shall mean the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
(7) 
Any waters or waste containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewer treatment process, or constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create any hazard in receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant.
(8) 
Any waters or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the sewage treatment plant.
(9) 
Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a public nuisance.
(10) 
No cellar drains, no area drains, no roof leaders, no sump pumps and no downspouts or any new connections from inflow sources shall be connected to the sewage system.
[Added 3-12-2008 by Ord. No. 4-2008]
A. 
Installation and maintenance of grease traps.
(1) 
All food establishments, catering establishments, commercial food preparation facilities, garage facilities, car wash facilities and other such businesses which generate sanitary sewage containing oil, fat or grease shall have and maintain grease removal equipment that meets the requirements of this article. Grease traps shall be maintained and inspected to ensure efficient operation. Grease traps shall be easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. The grease trap shall be in continuous operation at all times.
(2) 
Grease traps must be maintained and inspected to ensure that they are never allowed to reach more than 3/4 of their capacity. Grease trap cleaning shall be done biweekly. A maintenance log, including the time, date and signature of the person performing the cleaning, shall be kept on the premises and shall be readily available for inspection by the Township. If it is determined that the system is not sufficient, the cleaning shall be increased or a larger unit shall be installed. Inspection records shall be maintained for a minimum period of five years.
(3) 
Grease trap additives shall only be used with the approval of the Township. All removed material shall be disposed of in accordance with all state and federal regulations. All maintenance logs and manifests shall be maintained on the premises and made available upon request at the time of inspection by the Township. These logs and records shall be maintained for a minimum period of five years.
(4) 
An inspection fee in the amount of $100 shall be imposed as follows:
(a) 
For each inspection carried out pursuant to a complaint when such inspection results in a determination that said establishment is in violation of the State Sanitary Code or of any municipal ordinance or state and federal regulation relating thereto.
(b) 
For each reinspection carried out after either a failure of the regular inspection or failure of an inspection carried out pursuant to a complaint as set forth in this section.
(5) 
For all new construction or installation, waste disposals and commercial dishwashers shall not discharge into the grease trap.
[Amended 3-13-2002 by Ord. No. 10-2002; 3-11-2009 by Ord. No. 1-2009; 11-24-2009 by Ord. No. 32-2009; 5-11-2011 by Ord. No. 11-2011; 4-11-2012 by Ord. No. 6-2012; 6-13-2012 by Ord. No. 8-2012; 12-19-2018 by Ord. No. 25-2018; 12-14-2022 by Ord. No. 28-2022; 12-4-2024 by Ord. No. 19-2024]
The quarterly minimum rental charge for use of the Township's sewer collection system shall be $121.76 (2025), $125.41 (2027), $129.17 (2029), $133.05 (2031) and $137.04 (2033) per dwelling unit. Excess sewerage use shall be charged at the rate of $2.21 (2025), $2.28 (2027), $2.35 (2029), $2.42 (2031) and $2.49 (2033) per 1,000 gallons of water or any part thereof over the first 31,250 gallons of water consumed as recorded on the water meter installed for each house or other building or unit in each quarterly meter reading cycle. In case of commercial, industrial, public or multifamily users, the annual charge shall be based upon equivalent dwelling units. The following schedule shall constitute the basis for said charge:
Schedule of Equivalent Dwelling Units
Type
Number of Equivalent
Dwelling Units
Single-family dwelling
1
Multipurpose (apartments, multifamily homes, assisted living, congregate care facilities, trailer, store or other similar use):
First family
1
Each additional family
1
Motel, hotel, rooming or lodging
1
Plus, for each office
1
Plus, for each manager's or owner's apartment
1
Industrial, commercial, service or office enterprise:
With 20 or fewer employees or occupants
1 per 8-hr. shift
For each additional 20 persons or part thereof
1/2 per 8-hr. shift
Licensed alcoholic beverage establishment:
For the first 20 permitted occupants
1
For each additional 20 permitted occupants or part thereof
1/2
Restaurant, luncheonette or soda fountain:
For first 20 seats
1
For each additional 20 seats or part thereof
1/2
Municipal buildings:
With 20 or fewer employees or occupants
1
For each additional 20 persons or part thereof
1/2
Professional office located in a residential dwelling
1 1/3
School:
Per 100 students and/or personnel or part thereof
3 1/2
With food preparation facilities, per 100 students or personnel or part thereof an additional
1 1/2
With showers per 100 students or personnel or part thereof an additional
1 1/2
House of worship, fire company, first aid squad or nonprofit club or organization
1
Hospitals, nursing homes, rest or convalescent homes:
Each bed
1/5
Laundromat:
Each washing machine
1/4
Garage or service station
2
Car wash:
Self service, for each station/bay
1
Automatic, for each car washing lane
5
Recreational facilities:
Bowling alley:
For each 10 lanes or part thereof
1
Additional for each 10 lanes or part thereof it if has a bar
1
Tennis or racquet ball:
For each 10 courts or part thereof
2
Additional for each 10 courts or part thereof if it has a bar
2
Skating rink:
Per 1,000 square feet of skating area or part thereof
1
Mobile homes for each permitted trailer
1
A. 
When multiple uses or enterprises exist within a single system user or on a single property, separate unit user charges shall be applied to each applicable type or use contained therein as set forth in this schedule, except for owner-occupied premises with not more than two single-family dwelling units.
B. 
Any person not covered by the foregoing classifications will be subject to rates to be determined by the Township Committee after due and proper investigation of the sewage requirements of the person and as near as possible in the same ratio as the above classifications.
C. 
In the event that a use may fall into two or more classifications, the classifications carrying the highest sewer rental shall apply.
In accordance with the law, authorized officers, agents or employees of the Township may enter into all premises in the Township in order to determine the use made or to be made of the sewage system by the owners, tenants or occupants of the premises.
A. 
The sewer rental charges shall be reviewed annually and shall be revised periodically to reflect actual operation and maintenance costs of the treatment works.
B. 
Each user which discharges any toxic pollutants which causes an increase in the cost of managing the effluent or the sludge of the Township's works shall pay for such increased costs.
C. 
The cost of operation and maintenance for all flow not directly attributable to users (i.e., infiltration inflows) shall be distributed among all users of the Township's treatment works system based upon either of the following:
(1) 
In the same manner that the Township distributes the cost of operation and maintenance among the Township's users (or user classes) for actual use; or
(2) 
Under a system which uses one of the combinations of the following factors on a reasonable basis:
(a) 
Flow volume of the users;
(b) 
Land area of the users;
(c) 
Number of hookups or discharges of the users.
D. 
Notification. Each user shall be notified at least annually in conjunction with a regular bill of the rate and that portion of the user charges which are attributable to waste flow treatment services.
E. 
New connections. All new sewers and connections to the sewer system shall be properly designed, constructed and inspected prior to operation.
[Amended 3-11-2009 by Ord. No. 1-2009; 11-24-2009 by Ord. No. 32-2009]
Any new sewer connection shall be charged the quarterly minimum charge for the applicable classification for each quarter or part thereof between the commencement of service and the date the customer will receive the first quarterly bill, and shall be allowed a prorated water gallonage allowance for such period.
The foregoing sewer rental charges shall be a lien upon the premises connected from the date that the charges become due and until paid, and the Township shall have the same remedies for the collection thereof with interest, costs and penalties, as it has by law for collection of taxes upon real estate.
The owner of every existing house, building or structure and the owner of every house, building or structure hereafter to be constructed or acquired, which may be occupied or used by human beings located on a property along the line of any public sewer now or hereafter constructed or acquired in Township shall within 60 days of receipt of notice of the mandatory connection date connect and hook up the sewerage facilities emanating from such house, building or structure to such sewerage system.
[Amended 6-13-2012 by Ord. No. 8-2012]
Upon the failure by the owner to so connect or hook up to the sewerage system as required by § 222-45, the Township may cause such connection to be made under its direction and supervision or award one or more contracts for the making of such connection. The cost and expense thereof shall be filed under oath with the Township Clerk by the appropriate Township official in charge of the department making said connection. The governing body shall examine the charges and if properly made shall confirm it and file the statement with the collector of taxes who shall record the charge in the same manner as other assessments. Until such time as a connection is completed, a fee will be charged every quarter equivalent to the quarterly sewer minimum in § 222-40 under sewer rental charges.
Every such charge shall bear interest and penalties at the same rate as local improvements and from the time of confirmation shall be a first and paramount lien against the respective property so connected and shall be enforced and collected in the same manner as assessments for local improvements, all as provided in N.J.S.A. 40:63-54 et seq.
A. 
Application for the use of the sewage system shall be made to the Township of Wall, upon forms prescribed by the Township, and payment of the annual sewer rental charge and connection fee shall be made at the time of the application. A plumbing permit for the installation of a house connection sewer pipe from the street line to the house or other building shall be issued by the Construction Official only after payment of the sewer rental charge and connection fee and compliance with other ordinances and regulations relating to such installations. The Construction Official shall have the authority to adopt regulations relating to the installation of the house connection lines which shall be enforceable as if fully set forth herein. No sewer connection shall be made prior to payment of the sewer rental charge and connection fee and the issuance of a plumbing permit; and, no use thereof shall be made until final approval by the Construction Official.
B. 
Every connection required by this article shall be made in a manner to discharge into said sewerage system all waste and sanitary sewage originating in the house, building or structure in accordance with this article and said connection shall be subject to the right of inspection and approved by the Township. All connection charges, service charges and inspection fees imposed by Township shall be paid when due.
C. 
All delinquent bills, for sewer rental charges, sewer connection fees and/or inspection fees, which exceed $500 shall be paid in cash or by certified check.
D. 
Sewer connection fees shall be charged as follows:
[Added 6-11-2008 by Ord. No. 8-2008; amended 2-26-2014 by Ord. No. 2-2014; 9-10-2024 by Ord. No. 12-2024]
Description
Connection Fee
Connection fee for existing/new residential dwelling units
$4,343
Connection fee for existing/new buildings other than residential; labor and materials by developer
$4,343 per EU
Calculation of equivalent units (EUs): estimated average water system consumption (gallons per day) divided by average flow per single-family dwelling unit.
The charge for making a four-inch lateral connection from the sewer main to the curbline, including street excavation not exceeding 35 lineal feet, shall be $400 if the connection is made by the Township's sewer contractor during the course of sewer construction. Otherwise, a minimum fee of $400 shall be payable, or the actual cost, whichever is greater, for the above-mentioned four-inch connection. Connections with larger than four-inch pipes are to be made only on special arrangements with the Sewer Utility Department and the applicant shall pay the full and actual cost of the material, labor and equipment for the installation, but in no case less than a minimum charge of $400 as stated above.
Maintenance, cleaning and replacement of the sanitary sewer service line from the main to the building serviced thereby shall be the responsibility and at the expense of the property owner.
A structure in the Township which furnishes its own water from a private well but which discharges its sewerage and other waste water into the sanitary sewer system of the Township shall have a meter installed to measure the sewage entering the sanitary sewer system. The meter shall be installed by the Wall Township Water/Sewer Utility Department with the actual costs thereof being charged to the property owner pursuant to the procedure set forth under §§ 222-46 and 222-47 above.
The requirements of this article and the rates herein shall take precedent over and control and govern any other agreements previously entered into by the Township for the treatment of sewerage by the Township's treatment works.
A. 
The owner of a property required to connect to the Township sewerage system pursuant to § 222-45 and 222-46 hereof may apply to the Township Committee, on an application form to be prepared by the Township Clerk, for a waiver from the mandatory sewer connection requirement, should the property satisfy one of the following categories of exemption from the sewer connection requirement:
(1) 
Distance exemption. An existing single-family dwelling which is located at a distance from the sewer line greater than twice the minimum lot width required by Chapter 140, Land Use and Development Regulations, for the zone in which the property is located may be exempt from the mandatory connection requirement. Any property located in the RR-5 or RR-6 Zone which meets the minimum standards for exemption in the RR Zone may be exempt from the mandatory connection requirement. This exemption shall not apply to a new flag lot noted by a subdivision approval. Any new flag lot noted shall be required to connect to the sewer system.
(2) 
Extraordinary circumstances. The owner of an existing house, building or structure may apply for a mandatory connection waiver based upon extraordinary circumstances, where a mandatory connection would require a stream or wetlands crossing or there exists another similar environmental condition requiring extensive regulatory permits from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection or other county or state regulatory agencies.
B. 
No waiver from the mandatory sewer connection requirement shall be granted by the Township Committee unless the property in question contains an individual sewerage disposal system which is operational and may continue to operate in compliance with all applicable local, county and state health codes or other regulations.
C. 
The grant of a waiver from a mandatory sewer connection requirement by the Township Committee shall not affect in any way the obligation of the property owner to pay any applicable sewer assessment levied against the property in question.