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.