[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
The purpose of this Part 1 is to establish a system of public water within the Township; authorize the construction of a public water system therefor and therein; prohibit the construction of private wells by owners or occupiers of properties adjoining or adjacent to with the said public water areas; require connection to the public water system; require permits; prohibit certain uses providing for penalties; provide for rules and regulations; provide for specifications; provide for the collections of assessments, rentals, including fees, meter fees, maintenance fees, penalties and interest by lien, etc.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
Be it ordained and enacted by the Supervisors of Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and it is hereby ordained by authority of same, as follows.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
As used in this Part 1, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CROSS-CONNECTION
An arrangement allowing either a direct or indirect connection through which backflow, including back siphonage, can occur between the drinking water in an individual water supply well or a public water system and a system containing a source or potential source of contamination, or allowing treated water to be removed from any public water system, and returned to the public water system. The term does not include connections to devices totally within the control of one or more public water systems and connections between water mains.
DEPARTMENT
The Warminster Township Water and Sewer Department.
FEES
Water rates, tapping fees, meter fees, inspection fees, permit fees and any other fees associated with the public water system and adopted annually or as required by the Board of Supervisors.
FIRE HYDRANT
A discharge pipe with a valve and spouts or spouts at which water may be drawn from a water main for fire-fighting, water system maintenance or public health and safety considerations.
NOTICE
A written or printed notice, which shall be served upon the owner if he can be found within the Township, or if he cannot be found within the Township, said notice may be served by any of the following methods:
1. 
By registered or certified U.S. mail addressed to the last known address of owner; or
2. 
By leaving the same with the owner's agent or the party in possession; or
3. 
By posting the same on the most public part of the premises concerning which the notice is directed.
OCCUPIED BUILDING
Any structure erected and intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy or use by human beings or animals and for which structure public water is or may be required.
[Amended by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
ORDINANCES
Such ordinances of the Township of Warminster, herein or theretofore or hereafter adopted, concerning public water systems or private wells.
PERSON
Includes individuals, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships, joint stock companies and corporations.
PRIVATE WELL
Any water supply serving a particular tax parcel within Warminster Township. This definition includes all wells as described or defined in § 26-301.
PROPERTY ACCESSIBLE
Each lot or piece of land adjoining, abutting on or which is adjacent to the public water systems.
PUBLIC WATER
Any water supply and distribution system operated by the Department or any water supply and distribution system designated by written agreement with Warminster Township to operate within the Township boundaries.
PUBLIC WATER DISTRICT
Such area as shall hereinafter be defined or designated from time to time by the Supervisors of Warminster Township for the provision of public water.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
A system which provides water to the public for human consumption which has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. The term includes collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under control of the operator of the system and used in connection with the system. The term includes collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used in connection with the system. The term also includes a system which provides water for bottling or bulk hauling for human consumption. Water for human consumption includes water that is used for drinking, bathing and showering, cooking, dishwashing or maintaining oral hygiene.
TOWNSHIP
Township of Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
1. 
Public water area. A distribution system of public water is hereby established and ordained, including such distribution system as is currently displayed on a Township map dated August 20, 2003, as prepared by Carroll Engineering Corporation which is incorporated herein by reference.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said map is on file in the Township office.
2. 
Public water extensions. Any extension of the public water system beyond that displayed on the Township map dated August 20, 2003, shall be designated by ordinance, and said ordinance shall be incorporated by reference thereto the provisions of this Part 1 and any amendments thereto.
3. 
The public water system hereinbefore or hereinafter established, and designated on the maps and plans, which are made part of this and any ordinance adopted, shall be laid, as far as practicable along and within the lines of the public roads and highways of said Township, as on said plans or maps designated, and where such system diverges from said public roads or highways, as shown on the plan and maps, and passes through private property, the consent of the owners of such private property shall be first obtained by recorded easement, if possible, and if not, such public water system shall be constructed through such private property upon providing for compensation in accordance with the Act of Assembly in such a case made and provided.
4. 
In all cases where it becomes necessary to extend the Township public water system into an adjoining borough or township for the purpose of supplying water, the Supervisors of Warminster Township shall approve an agreement with such borough or township, or any of their authorized agencies, regarding rights-of-way through private property, ownership, maintenance and joint use of such lines.
5. 
All persons owning an occupied building now erected upon property accessible to the public water system shall at their own expense connect such building with the public water system within 90 days after notice to do so from the Township, or notice to do so from the Warminster Township Water and Sewer Department.
A. 
All persons owning a property accessible to the public water system upon which a building is later erected shall upon the time of such erection and at their own expense connect such building with the public water system.
B. 
All persons owning any occupied building upon property which hereafter becomes accessible to the public water system shall, at their own expense, connect such building to the public water system within 90 days after receipt of notice to do so.
6. 
All connections with said public water system shall be made only upon application and permit in prescribed form and shall be made in accordance with such rules and regulations and upon such terms and conditions as the Warminster Township Water and Sewer Department shall from time to time adopt and prescribe. Said rules and regulations when adopted shall have the same force and effect as if set at length in this Part 1.
7. 
After the expiration of the periods specified in Subsection 5 of this section, if any owner of an occupied building on property accessible to the public water system shall have failed to connect such property with the public water system as required by said notice, the Warminster Township Water and Sewer Department may cause to be served on the owner of such property, so failing to connect to said public water system, and also upon the occupants of the building in question, a copy of this Part 1 and a written or printed notice requiring such connection to be made, and such notice shall further state that its requirements shall be complied with within 90 days from the date thereof.
8. 
Upon failure of any such owner, who has been duly notified as hereinabove provided, to comply with the requirements of any such notice or with the provisions of this Part 1, the Warminster Township Water and Sewer Department shall cause the necessary connection to be made and, upon completion of the work for the same, shall render a bill covering the cost of said work to the owner of such premises.
9. 
In the event that any property owner shall fail to pay the assessment as hereinabove provided, it will be the duty of the Warminster Township Water and Sewer Department to take the necessary action to effect the collection of such unpaid bills in the manner provided by law.
[Amended by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
10. 
All persons owning an occupied building now erected upon property accessible to the public water system, and said property is served by a private well system, may maintain the private well under the conditions set forth in Part 3.
11. 
All persons owning an occupied building now erected upon property accessible to the public water system and property is served by a private well system may abandon such well under conditions set forth in Part 3.
12. 
All persons owning an occupied building now erected upon property accessible to the public water system is prohibited from drilling or constructing a private well for the purpose of domestic or household water supply. This includes all commercial and industrial properties.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
1. 
The Township Water and Sewer Department will maintain a set of rules and regulations for the Warminster Township public water system. These rules and regulations will be adopted by the Board of Supervisors and thereby be incorporated as part of this Part 1.
2. 
These rules and regulations may be updated from time to time to assure the security and the public safety of the Warminster Township public water system.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
1. 
The Township Water and Sewer Department will maintain a set of specifications for the Warminster Township water system. These specifications will be adopted by the Board of Supervisors and thereby be incorporated as part of this Part 1.
2. 
These specifications may be updated from time to time to assure the security and the public safety of the Warminster Township public water system.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
1. 
Annually, the Warminster Township Board of Supervisors will adopt a fee schedule, including all water rates, tapping fees, meter fees, inspection fees, permit fees and any other fee associated with the public or a private water system.
2. 
This fee schedule may be modified within the annual time period if required to reflect changes in economic conditions, legislation or any other condition which may impact the financial well being of the public water system.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
Any person, partnership or corporation who or which has violated or permitted the violation of the provisions of this Part 1 shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by Warminster Township, pay a judgment of not more than $500 plus any court costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by Warminster Township as a result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be imposed, levied or payable until the date of the determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, Warminster Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation, unless the Magisterial District Judge determining that there has been a violation further determines that there was a good faith basis for the person, partnership or corporation violating this Part 1 to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the fifth day following the date of the determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge and thereafter each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. All judgments, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees collected for the violation of water ordinances shall be paid over to Warminster Township.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
1. 
From time to time as required, the Township may allow other public water suppliers whose distribution system exists within the Township or on its borders with adjoining townships or boroughs to serve Warminster Township residents.
2. 
Any Warminster Township resident who is served by said other public water suppliers will be subject to all rules, regulations, specifications, fees and penalties of said supplier.