There is established a Water and Sewer Utility Department within
the Township of Ocean for the operation of water and sewer services,
and the charging of rates and establishing rules and regulations governing
the providing of water and sewer service in the Township of Ocean;
and those customers formerly served by the Ocean Township Municipal
Utilities Authority.
As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly
appears in the context, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any building or structure heretofore or hereafter constructed,
designed, erected or assembled, which is used or intended for supporting
or sheltering any use or occupancy.
Where used with respect to a building constructed, erected or
assembled, the 90th day following the date of initial operation of
such sanitary sewer pipeline or water pipeline as part of the sanitary
sewer or water system to be owned or operated by the Ocean Township
Water and Sewer Utility Department.
[Amended 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-5]
When used with respect to a building constructed, erected or
assembled subsequent to the date of such initial operation, the 90th
day following the date of completion of such construction, erection
or assembly or date of occupancy of such building, whichever date
shall first occur.
The passing of simple title from one person or legal entity
to another person or legal entity by a deed or other means of conveyance.
Any sanitary sewer pipeline or main designated or used for
the collection sanitary sewer owned and operated by the Ocean Township
Water and Sewer Utility Department located in any public street, easement
or private street in the Township.
[Added 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-5]
A change of possession from one party to another party either
by lease or otherwise for a period of in excess of one year.
Any water pipeline or main designated or used for the distribution
of potable water and owned and operated by the Ocean Township Water
and Sewer Utility Department located in the any public street, easement,
or private street in the Township.
[Amended 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-5]
[Amended 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-5]
A.
The owners of every building located on any lot or lots in the Township on which said buildings are located not more than 200 feet from a water pipeline or sanitary sewer pipeline shall, upon notice that such sanitary sewer pipeline and/or water pipeline is available to service such building, connect such building and all sanitary and/or water facilities therein to such sanitary sewer and/or water pipelines on or before the connection dates, except as provided in Subsection B of this section.
B.
Any building which utilizes a well for its potable water supply or septic system for its sanitary sewer disposal shall be exempt from the connection requirements set forth in Subsection A of this section; provided said well and/or septic system has been installed pursuant to a valid permit issued by the Ocean County Health Department, on or after April 1, 1987, and further provided that said well and/or septic system has received a final certification to operate from the Ocean County Health Department prior to the owner's receipt of a notice to make connection issued pursuant to this chapter.
C.
No person shall sell or transfer a building located on a lot otherwise exempt from the connection requirements of this chapter until such time as the building, sanitary sewer facilities, and all water facilities therein are connected to an available sanitary sewer pipeline and/or water pipeline as otherwise required in Subsection A of this section. If a property is unable to connect prior to the closing of title, the buyer and seller shall execute an agreement for water and sewer connection in the form that is on file in the office of the Township. The form shall be filed with the posting of all connection fees and all permits required to connect to the Township's water and sewer infrastructure prior to the closing of title. Within 60 days of the date of the closing of title, the property shall connect to the Township water and sewer infrastructure.
D.
On lots where there are two buildings, such buildings shall be separately
connected to the water pipeline and/or sewer pipeline with their own
water or sewer service lines on or before the connection date.
E.
The owners of any building connected to a water pipeline and/or sanitary
sewer pipeline shall utilize said water or sanitary sewer pipeline
exclusively for the building and all water and sewer facilities therein.
F.
All new buildings adjoining any public street in the Township of
Ocean in which a sewer and/or water pipeline is now or may hereafter
be constructed shall be required to connect to the sewer line and/or
waterline regardless of the distance between the building and the
sewer line.
G.
Requests for exemptions from this chapter may be made, in writing,
to the Township Utility Engineer and shall be supported by engineering
and/or technical data. After a review of the exemption request and
supporting documents, the Township Utility Engineer shall render a
decision to grant or deny the exemption.
H.
All property owners granted a waiver under this section shall be
required to connect to the water and/or sewer system in the event
that a new well or septic system is required.
I.
A building or structure not more than 400 feet to the sanitary sewer
pipeline, and said buildings or structures can achieve gravity connection
from the building to the sewer line, shall connect and shall not qualify
for the exemptions put forth in this chapter.
When public water is available, all new habitable structures
or buildings shall be required to supply and install a meter set,
a water meter and assembly in accordance with the rules and regulations
of the Ocean Township Water and Sewer Utility Department.
A.
Meters required. All water taps made and services installed must
be metered.
B.
No person, other than an employee or agent of the Ocean Township
Water and Sewer Utility Department, shall remove, replace or, in any
manner, interfere or tamper with a meter attached to a water pipe
used or intended to be used to supply water to any buildings. This
applies whether the meter is set within or without a building. Any
plumbing configuration intended to bypass the meter is prohibited
and shall be considered theft of service, as well as a violation of
this section.
[Amended 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-5]
The sewer and water pipeline connecting the building to the
sewer collection system and the water distribution line shall be made
in accordance with the Ocean Township Water and Sewer Utility Department
and the State Uniform Construction Code. The size of the sewer line
and waterline connecting the building with the sewer collection system
and water distribution line shall be in accordance with the requirement
of the Ocean Township Water and Sewer Utility Department and the State
Uniform Commercial Code.
[Amended 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-5]
Upon the availability of any sewer line and/or waterline to
serve buildings on any property in the Township, each owner of property
affected thereby shall be notified of that fact by the Ocean Township
Water and Sewer Utility Department and shall be directed in said notice
to connect each building on said property with said sewer line and
waterline in accordance with the terms of this chapter.
[Amended 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-5]
All notices shall be addressed to the owners of said property
as the names of said property owners appear in the last tax duplicate
of the Township of Ocean; shall describe the property by lot and block
designation as the same appears on the Tax Map of the Township of
Ocean and by the street address if a street address exists; and shall
state that, by order of the Ocean Township Water and Sewer Utility
Department, the owner is required to connect each building on said
property to the sewer line and or waterline, in accordance with the
terms of this article, on or before the connection date with respect
to such building, or if such connection date shall have passed, within
90 days of service of such notice as hereinafter provided; and said
notice shall also describe the penalty which may be imposed hereunder
for failure to comply with said notice and order in accordance with
the terms of this chapter. Said notice may be served on the owner
personally or by leaving it as his/her usual place of abode with a
member of his/her family above the age of 18 years. Said notice may
also be served within or without the limits of the Township of Ocean
by mailing the same, by certified mail, to the last known post office
address of said owner as the same appears on the last tax duplicate
of the Township of Ocean.
