No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connection with
or opening into, use, alter or disturb any part of the municipal sewage
system or appurtenances thereto without first obtaining a permit from
the Township.
Before making a connection with the sewer system, each property
owner shall make a written application therefor in the manner prescribed
by the Township and pay the permit fees, such as a connection fee,
customer facilities fee and/or a tapping fee, established pursuant
to a resolution of the Township. The connection fee should be based
upon the actual cost of construction of the lateral extending from
the Township's main to the property line of the property so connected,
or the right-of-way line of the public road, street or thoroughfare
on which the property fronts. The Township may also base such fee
upon an average cost for previously installed laterals of similar
type and size. In lieu of the payment of the fees, the Township may
require the construction and dedication of those facilities by the
property owner or owners requesting such connection. A customer facilities
fee shall not exceed an amount based upon the actual cost of facilities
serving the connected property, from the property line or right-of-way
line to the proposed dwelling or building to be served. The fee shall
be chargeable only in the event that the Township, and not the property
owner or owners, installs the customer facilities. In lieu of payment
of the customer facilities fee, the Township may require the construction
of those facilities by the property owner or owners requesting customer
facilities. In any situation where the property owner or owners perform
the construction, the Township is authorized to charge an inspection
fee to inspect the construction and test the connections before they
are covered over. Any tapping fee shall be established pursuant to
the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
All costs and expenses incidental to the installation and connection
of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall
indemnify the Township from any loss or damage that may be directly
or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.
Old building sewers may be used in connection with a building
only when such connection is approved by the Township, and they meet
the requirements of this Part or the rules and regulations adopted
by the Township pursuant hereto.
The building sewer shall be cast iron soil pipe or polyvinylchloride
(PVC) sewer pipe meeting ASTM specifications and other requirements
as listed in the standard specifications approved by the Township
by separate resolution. Joints shall be tight and waterproof.
The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject to
the approval of the Township, but in no event shall the diameter be
less than four inches. The slope of such four-inch pipe shall not
be less than 1/4 inch per foot.
Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the
building at an elevation above the basement floor. No building sewer
shall be laid parallel to or within four feet of any bearing wall
which might thereby be weakened. The depth shall be sufficient to
afford protection from frost. The building sewer shall be laid at
uniform grade and in straight alignment in so far as possible. Changes
in direction shall be made only with proper pipe and fittings.
In a building in which the building drain is too low to permit
gravity flow to the public sewer, sewage carried by such drain shall
be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building
sewer.
All excavations required for the installation of a building
sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the Township.
Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with ASTM
specifications, and as approved by the Township, except that no backfill
shall be placed until the work has been inspected and approved.
The connection of the building sewer to the municipal sewage
system shall be made to the end of the lateral, unless otherwise approved,
in writing, by this Township.
The permit holder shall notify the Township when the building
sewer is ready for inspection and connection with the public sewer.
The connection shall be made under the Township's supervision.
All excavations for building sewer installation and connection
shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect
the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks and parkways and other
public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored
in a manner satisfactory to the Township.