If the owner or occupant of premises served
by any water utility shall neglect or fail to pay, for a period of
30 days from the due date thereof, any rental, rate or charge for
sewer, sewerage, or sewage treatment service imposed by the Township,
the supply of water to such premises shall be shut off until such
overdue rentals, rates and charges, together with any penalties and
interest thereon, shall be paid in full.
The water supply shall not be shut off to any
premises until 10 days after written notice of an intention so to
do has been mailed to the person liable for payment of the rentals
and charges and, in addition thereto, there has been posted a written
notice of such intention at a main entrance to the premises.
If, during such ten-day period, the person liable
for the payment of the water utility supplying water to the premises
has a written statement, under oath or affirmation, stating that he
has a just defense to the claim, or part of it, for such rentals or
charges, then the water supply shall not be shut off until such claim
has been judicially determined. The statement shall also contain a
declaration under oath or affirmation that it was not executed for
the purpose of delay.
The cost of such shut off services proceedings,
including estimated loss of water revenues resulting from such shutoff
and cost of renewing water service, shall be assessed against the
owner or occupant of the premises.
The Township Board of Supervisors is hereby
authorized and directed to execute and deliver to Western Pennsylvania
Water Company-Washington District an agreement whereby said water
utility shall be authorized to carry out the provisions of this article.