[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 1]
This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Burnham Borough
Sewer Ordinance of 1988."
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 2]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases
used in this Part shall have the meaning herein indicated:
Burnham Borough Authority, a Pennsylvania municipality authority
created by the Borough pursuant to the Municipality Authorities Act
of 1945, P.L. 382, as amended.
The Borough of Burnham, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.
The Borough Council acting as the governing body of the Borough.
Any structure erected and intended for continuous or periodic
habitation, occupancy or use by human beings or animals and from which
structure sewage is or may be discharged.
An individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation,
board or group.
Any parcel of real estate which adjoins, abuts upon or is
adjacent to any street or alley in which there is located a sewer,
or any parcel of real estate in which a sewer or sewer lateral is
provided at any point thereof or at any point on the boundary thereof.
As used herein the term "sewer" shall include all sewers forming a
part of the sanitary sewer system of Burnham Borough as shown on the
plans prepared by the Albright and Friel, Inc., under date of November
11, 1957, and Gannett Fleming Environmental Engineers, Inc., under
date of June 1987, a copy of said plans being on file and available
for inspection at the Borough offices, Burnham Municipal Building,
Burnham, Pennsylvania, together with any alterations, amendments,
revisions, or changes in said plans as may from time to time be developed
and approved by the Borough. A premises shall be deemed accessible
to a sewer where the first floor level of the dwelling house or main
building thereon is at least 24 inches above the invert of the sewer
lines in the adjoining, abutting or adjacent street or alley or which
is provided at any point on the said premises or at any point on the
boundary thereof, but not otherwise.
All fecal matter, human excrement, kitchen, commercial, industrial
and laundry waste, and all the normal water-carried household and
toilet wastes from residences, business places, institutions and commercial
and industrial establishments.
All facilities for collecting, treating and disposing of
sewage situated in or adjacent to the Borough and owned by or leased
by the Borough, including the sewage treatment plant and intercepting
and outfall sewers.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 3]
Every occupied building now in existence in the Borough on premises
accessible to a sewer shall be connected with such sewer by the owner
thereof and at his expense within 120 days from and after the effective
date of this Part for the purpose of the discharge of all sewage for
such premises. Every occupied building on premises hereafter made
accessible to a sewer by virtue of extension of sewer lines shall
be connected with such sewer by the owner thereof and at his expense
within 60 days after the premises becomes accessible to the sewer.
Occupied buildings hereafter constructed or buildings which may hereafter
be put to use as occupied buildings shall be connected with such sewer
by the owner thereof and at his expense within 60 days after construction
or use as an occupied building. All sewage created or originating
on premises accessible to a sewer shall be discharged into the sewer.
Every premises shall be connected separately and independently with
the sewer through the service connection directly opposite the premises,
unless, for cause shown, the Borough shall approve in writing an alternative
arrangement. Groupings of buildings upon one house sewer shall not
be permitted, unless, for cause shown, the Borough shall approve in
writing an alternative arrangement. In the case of a duplex or row
house, each house or dwelling shall be deemed a separate building
and shall have a separate building sewer. This provision aforesaid
relating to a duplex or a row house shall not apply to installations
made prior to the enactment of this Part and the regulations thereto.
Sewage shall be discharged into the sewer by direct connection and
not through any septic tank, cesspool, privy vault or similar receptacle.
Occupied buildings on premises accessible to a sewer which are now
discharging sewage into a septic tank, cesspool, privy vault or similar
receptacles shall make the necessary alterations to comply with this
Part within 120 days after the effective date hereof.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 4]
It shall be unlawful for any person owning any premises accessible
to a sewer to erect, construct, use or maintain or cause to be erected,
constructed, used or maintained, any privy, cesspool, sinkhole, septic
tank or other receptacle on such premises for receiving sewage after
the expiration of 120 days after the effective date of this Part,
or otherwise at any time to erect, construct, use or maintain any
pipe, conduit, drain or other facility for the discharge of sewage
including washwater drains except into the sewer.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 5]
Within 120 days after the effective date of this Part, the owner
of any premises accessible to a sewer upon which exists any privy,
cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank or other receptacle heretofore used
as a receptacle for sewage shall clean and close the same in a manner
approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.
Any person who erects, constructs, uses or maintains a privy, cesspool,
sinkhole, or septic tanks, or other receptacle for the collection
of sewage on any premises accessible to a sewer in violation of this
Part, shall be deemed and shall be declared to be in violation of
this Part, shall be deemed and shall be declared to be erecting, constructing
and maintaining a nuisance, which nuisance the Borough is hereby authorized
and directed to abate at the expense of the owner of the premises
in the manner provided by law.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 6]
No connection shall be made to a sewer except in compliance
with the ordinances and resolutions of the Borough as well as such
rules and regulations as may from time to time be enacted, adopted,
approved or promulgated by the Borough.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 7]
The discharge of all sewage on premises not accessible to a
sewer shall be made into a septic tank or other type facility approved
by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources. In each
instance, written approval shall be received from the Borough for
the use of such facility within 120 days after the enactment of this
Part. The owner of premises not accessible to a sewer shall submit
to the Borough a proposal in writing of the type of sewage facilities
proposed to be used. The Borough shall have the power and duty to
approve such proposed facilities or to prescribe alternate facilities.
Upon the failure of the owner of any premises not accessible to a
sewer to submit a written proposal of sewage facilities as prescribed
herein, the Borough shall have the right to issue a written order
prescribing the type of facilities to be maintained on such premises.
Written approval or order of the Borough issued under this Section
shall be complied with by the property owner within 60 days.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 8]
If the owner of any premises shall fail to take any action as
prescribed by this Part within the time specified herein, the Borough
may take the action and collect the cost thereof, if the same has
not been paid, from such owner by municipal lien or in a civil action/assumpsit
action as is provided by law.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 9]
The Borough reserves the right to, and may from time to time,
adopt, revise, amend and readopt such rules and regulations as it
deems necessary and proper for the use and operation of the sewer
system and all such rules and regulations shall be and become a part
of this Part.
[Ord. 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 10; as amended by
Ord. 1995-2, 3/14/1995]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a
fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment
of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30
days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute
a separate offense.
[Ord, 1988-8A, 12/27/1988, § 13]
The following shall apply in interpreting this Part and the
rules and regulations promulgated hereunder:
A.
The provisions of this Part and the rules and regulations promulgated
hereunder, so far as they are the same as those of the ordinance or
ordinances and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder in
force immediately prior to adoption of this Part (specifically Ord.
1959-7, as amended by Ord. 1960-7, and the rules and regulations promulgated
under Ord. 1959-7, as amended by Ord. 1960-7), are intended as a continuation
of such ordinance and/or ordinances and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and not as new enactments.
B.
This Part and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder are
intended to revise and supplement the prior ordinance, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, by updating
and revising certain provisions of said prior ordinances, as amended,
specifically Ord. 1959-7, as amended by Ord. 1960-7 and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
C.
The provisions of this Part shall not affect any act done or liability
incurred nor shall they affect any suit or prosecution pending or
to be instituted to enforce any right or penalty or to punish any
offense, under the authority of any ordinance in force prior to the
adoption of this Part and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
and specifically Ord. 1959-7, as amended by Ord. 1960-7, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 1]
The definitions as set forth in the said Ord. 1988-8A enacted
by the Borough Council on December 27, 1988, [Part 1A] are hereby
incorporated in these rules and regulations by reference thereto and
as though said definitions were herein set forth in full. In addition,
the following terms as used in these rules and regulations shall have
the following meanings unless the context requires a different meaning:
That part of the main horizontal drain and its branches inside
the walls of the building or vault and extending to and connecting
with the service line.
Applied to any receptacle intended to receive and discharge
any liquid, water or water carried wastes into a service line.
That part of the main drain or sewer extending from a point
five feet outside of the outer wall of a building or vault to its
connection with the public street sewer.
Any vertical line of pipe (which may extend through the roof)
receiving the discharge of one or more water closets, with or without
other fixtures.
Is applied to any pipe extending through the roof provided
to ventilate the system of piping, and to prevent trap siphonage and
back pressure.
Any pipe receiving the discharge from any fixtures except
water closets.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 2; as amended by Ord.
1998-2, 3/2/1998, § 2; and by Ord. 1999-8, 11/1/1999, § 1]
Any person desiring to make, alter or disconnect any connection with the sewer system shall first apply for and obtain from the Borough a building permit as required by the Burnham Borough Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27] and in the event that a sewer tap is required shall pay a connection fee of $1,200, all per Resolution adopted by the Burnham Borough Authority, dated October 19, 1999, which resolution is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 3]
No person owning any premises connected with the sewer system,
or tenant of such premises, shall permit another person or premises
to connect with his service line or house drain, except upon written
permission from the Borough.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 4]
1.
Service lines from the curb to the building shall be laid at the
expense of the property owner, but shall be subject at all times to
the inspection and approval of the Borough or its duly authorized
representatives. The service line shall be constructed at the expense
of the property owner, and it shall be constructed of either bitumastic-coated
service weight hub and spigot cast-iron pipe conforming with ASTM
A-74 with lead and oakum joint, or compression type elastomeric gasket
joint conforming to ASTM C-564; or polyvinyl chloride pipe, conforming
with either ASTM D-1785, Schedule 40 with solvent weld joint, or ASTM
D-3034, SDR 35 with rubber gasket joint. The service line shall have
permanently tight joints, be laid at a minimum grade of 1/4 inch per
foot with the best possible alignment, have a minimum of four feet
of cover and have a minimum inside diameter of four inches. The service
line shall be provided with a stone bedding consisting of PA No. 1B
course aggregate. A minimum of four inches of stone is required underneath
the pipe and a minimum of one foot above the pipe.
2.
At least one vent pipe shall be provided for each building sewer
where there are no vent pipes on each plumbing fixture. The terminus
of the vent pipe shall be raised at least six inches above the grade
of the ground surface, as applicable. The top of the vent shall be
covered with a vent screen or hood.
3.
On house drains a cleanout shall be provided immediately inside the
foundation wall and shall be fitted with a gastight lid.
4.
In the event the Borough does work on a service line between the
curbline and the building, the charge for such work shall be divided
among all premises connected to the service line in equal shares.
5.
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to installations made
before the enactment of this Part; provided, however, that future
repairs or replacements of existing installations shall be made in
compliance with these rules and regulations; and, provided, further,
that the Borough Council shall have the right at any time in the future
upon written notice to the owner or occupier of any premises to require
the compliance with the provisions of this Section, in whole or in
part, where this action is deemed necessary.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 5]
1.
It shall be the duty of every person constructing or owning any house
drain, soil pipe, waste pipe, vent pipe, plumbing fixtures or any
other passage or connection between a sewer and any house, ground,
building, erection or establishment and of their agents, servants,
plumbers and/or contractors, and in like manner it shall be the duty
of owners of all houses, grounds, buildings, erections, establishments
and all parties interested therein or there at and of their agents,
servants, plumbers and/or contractors, to cause and to require that
such house drains, soil pipe, waste pipe, vent pipe, plumbing fixtures
and every other passage or connection to the sewer shall be adequate
for its purpose, and shall at all times allow to pass freely all material
that enters or should enter the same.
2.
No change of drainage, sewage or the sewer connection of any grounds,
house, building, erection or establishment shall be permitted unless
prior notice thereof shall have been given the Borough, and assent
thereto obtained in writing.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 6]
1.
Floor drain sewer connections shall be prohibited except where these
have been in service prior to the adoption of this Part and then only
when it can be shown to the satisfaction of the Borough that their
use is absolutely necessary and where such drains are not a source
of surface or subsurface water drainage into the sewer system. Where
such drains are in use, arrangements shall be made by the owner of
the premises to maintain a permanent water seal in the traps and provided
with check or back water valves and the plumbing waste pipe therein
shall be so connected that the use of fixtures on or above the first
floor of said building be not interfered with by the shutting off
of said valve.
2.
A written consent must be received from the Borough before any floor
drain may be attached to the house drain.
3.
No permission for a basement drain shall be granted until the owner
of the building or his agent has executed and signed a written agreement
upon a form furnished by the Borough releasing the Borough from any
damage that may result from the basement being flooded by the stoppage
of sewers, which agreement shall be filed with the Borough.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 7]
No connection shall be made after the enactment of this Part
which will cause roof water to be discharged into the sanitary sewer
system. In cases where roof water is being discharged into the sanitary
sewer system prior to the enactment of this Part, the Borough Council
shall have the right at any time in the future to require that such
roof water be eliminated from discharge into the sanitary sewer system
at the expense of the property owner.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 8]
1.
Traps shall be protected from siphonage or air pressure by special
vent pipes. Traps should not be more than approximately 24 inches
from the vertical lines serving the trap, and of a size conforming
to good practice.
2.
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to installations made
before the enactment of this Part; provided, however, that future
repair or replacement of existing installations shall be made in compliance
with this Part; and, provided further, that the Borough Council shall
have the right at any time in the future upon written notice to the
owner or occupier of any premises to require the compliance with the
provisions of this Section, in whole or in part, where this action
is deemed necessary.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 9]
All hotels, restaurants, boardinghouses and public eating places
before discharging waste into said sewer system shall install grease
traps on the house drains. These grease traps shall be of an approved
make or style and of a size approved by the Borough. Grease traps
shall be opened and the grease removed as often as necessary and at
least once each month. Grease removed from the traps shall be disposed
of in a manner approved by the Borough.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 10]
Suitable, approved traps shall be installed by garages washing,
cleaning or repairing automobiles to insure that no inflammable or
explosive mixture enters the public sewers. No establishment shall
cause or permit to flow into the sewers any substance which may form
a deposit in the sewer, injure the sewer in any way or interfere with
the operation of the disposal works. No cleaning fluid or inflammable
liquids shall be discharged through the sewer system. All establishments
discharging matter likely to obstruct the sewers or injure the same
or, the disposal works, or to cause a nuisance, shall not connect
to any sewer except through one or more intervening treatment devices
as may be prescribed by the Borough and if the substance discharged
by the establishment cannot, in the opinion of the Borough, be rendered
harmless to the sewer or to the disposal works it shall be excluded
from the sewer entirely.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 11]
Representatives of the Borough shall have the right of access
at all reasonable times to all parts of any premises connected with
the sewer system and to examine and inspect the connections thereto
and the plumbing fixtures for any improper connection, installation,
maintenance or use. The Borough may make reasonable charges for such
inspections to users of the sewer system. The Borough also reserves
the right of approval of equivalent material or equipment as defined
herein.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 12]
1.
In consideration of the right to connect to the sewer system, the
Borough shall not be liable for any damage or expense resulting from
leaks, stoppages or defective plumbing or from any other cause occurring
to any premises or within any house or building; and it is hereby
expressly agreed by all persons making connection with the sewer system
that no claim shall be made against the Borough on account of the
breaking or stoppage of, or any damage to, any service line or connection
when the cause thereof is found to be in such house lateral or connection.
2.
The Borough shall not be liable for a deficiency or failure when
occasioned by an emergency, or repairs or failure for any cause beyond
its control.
[Ord. 1988-8B, 12/27/1988, § 13]
The Borough reserves the right to, and may, from time to time,
revise, amend and readopt such rules and regulations as it may deem
necessary and proper for the use and operation of the sewer system,
and all such rules and regulations shall be and become a part of this
Part.
