[Adopted 4-25-2022 by Ord. No. 1104]
The provisions of this article provide the rules, regulations, requirements and guidelines for the testing, rehabilitation or replacement of private sanitary sewer laterals at the time of sale. This article shall be required in addition to Article VII, Dye Test Prior to Sale, of this chapter, which requires testing and removal of roof drains, downspouts, area drains and other such facilities from the municipal sanitary sewer system prior to the time of sale of properties and certification of the same.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meaning indicated unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context.
Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Division.
Any commonly accepted method of testing whereby a video camera
is inserted into and travels throughout the private lateral sewer
line of real property to determine if any illegal stormwater, groundwater,
or surface water is entering the sanitary sewer system.
The form of application and certification provided by the
municipality to the owner or their registered master plumber identifying
the site to be subject to the terms of this article.
The Engineer duly appointed by the Board of Commissioners
to act on behalf of the Township.
The fee established by the Township to cover administrative
costs for the implementation of this article. The fee is established
in the schedule of fees resolution, adopted from time to time by the
Board of Commissioners.[1]
The sewer system owned and operated by the municipality which
conveys sanitary only sewage within one single pipe.
A rating of the conditions of a sewer line based upon the
stanards developed by the National Association of Sewer System Companies.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The pipe from its point of connection at the municipal sanitary
sewer to the privately owned building or structure and which is owned,
operated and maintained by the individual private property owner.
All buildings, structures, land and other such facilities
owned and maintained by individual landowners and not under the ownership
of the Township.
A plumber licensed under the laws and regulations of the
Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Division and holding a
current HP (health permit) license.
[1]
Editor's Note: The current fee resolution is on file at the
Township offices.
A.
Any person selling or mortgaging real property located with the Township
shall be required to provide to the purchaser and to the appropriate
Township officials, designated hereafter, a sanitary sewer certification,
attesting that there is no illegal stormwater or surface water entering
into the private sewer lateral.
B.
The property owner shall make application on a form furnished by
the Township at least 21 days before the date of sale or mortgage
and under the terms of this article perform the required testing of
their private sanitary sewer lateral in full accordance with the requirements
established by this article and obtain all necessary municipal approvals
at their total cost and at no cost to the Township.
C.
All work, including testing and rehabilitation and/or replacement
shall be performed by a registered master plumber, in full accordance
with all applicable requirements of the ACHD Plumbing Division, and
shall include the filing of the necessary plans and payment of all
associated fees. The registered master plumber shall, on behalf of
the property owner, submit the completed application form provided
by the Township and include the applicable municipal fee. The property
owner shall be responsible, at his expense, to procure and retain
the registered master plumber.
D.
Upon the completion of the CCTV, the registered master plumber shall
submit the video to the Township on a flash drive in a format that
is generally accepted for CCTV records. The registered master plumber
shall also submit a written report of his/her observations of the
testing. The written report of the visual inspection of the line(s)
shall, at a minimum, include the name and license of the registered
master plumber performing the work, the house address, the date and
time of CCTV, weather during the CCTV, entry point, diameter and size
of pipe, material of pipe, location of cleanout and any observed defects.
A Township NAASCO-certified employee shall review the video and written
report after receipt.
E.
CCTV of the entire private lateral as defined in § 333-68 herein shall be performed in full accordance with NASSCO requirements. Any condition rated 3 or greater shall constitute failure and require corrective action. Any multiple conditions rated 2 or greater or any observed leak shall constitute failure and require corrective action. CCTV inspections will be completed from the cleanout or fresh air vent to the Township sanitary sewer main and from the line(s) directly upstream from the fresh air vent or cleanout to the structure. During the CCTV inspection, water may be injected into the ground in the vicinity of the sanitary sewer later to determine if leakage is present. Lateral inspection testing requires laterals to be clear of obstruction/debris and for the pipe to be visible. If the reader of the CCTV is unable to discern the condition of the pipe because of debris in the pipe, the CCTV will fail and the lateral will need to be cleaned and retelevised.
F.
The absence of a fresh air vent or cleanout shall constitute a failure
of the lateral inspection. Adequate means of access to the entire
lateral must be provided by the property owner at their expense. Such
alternative access may need to be installed by a registered master
plumber and inspected by Allegheny County.
G.
When, as a result of the CCTV inspection, it is determined that there
is a defect in the private sanitary lateral whereby stormwater, surface
water or groundwater is being allowed to flow into the private sanitary
lateral, no certification will be executed until the private lateral
line is repaired and confirmation of such repair is certified by a
plumber registered and licensed by the ACHD. The plumber shall provide
a post-repair CCTV on a flash drive in a format acceptable to the
Township to verify completion of all required repairs.
H.
Upon completion of all required corrective actions, the registered
master plumber shall, on behalf of the owner, submit to the Township
a certificate of completion and compliance from the ACHD Plumbing
Division and the application and certificate of compliance form provided
for herein as Appendix A.[1] The Township will then provide the duly executed certificate of compliance and issue a no lien letter. Closing of any sale shall be withheld until all approvals have been granted by the Township. Temporary approval shall not be granted unless circumstances as detailed in § 333-71 occur.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
All required municipal fees shall be paid to the Township at
the time of submission of the application. The municipal application
fee shall be as established in the schedule of fees resolution, as
adopted from time to time. Fees required by the ACHD shall be paid
separately to the ACHD.
A.
Property owners shall be fully cognizant of all requirements as set forth in § 333-69 of this article and all other requirements and approvals necessary prior to the issuance of the duly executed certificate of compliance (no lien letter). Property owners shall allocate necessary time to complete all said requirements.
B.
A temporary closing document (Appendix B)[1] shall be issued by the Township only if inclement weather
conditions preclude any indicated or required corrective action work
from being performed. Any other circumstances shall be subject to
approval by the Township and if deemed not acceptable will result
in the delay of issuance of the certificate of compliance (no lien
letter) and ultimately delay in the owner's Closing.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix B is included as an attachment to this chapter.
C.
Should a temporary closing document be granted, the property owner
shall be required to place in an escrow account with the Township
the amount to be determined by the Township but not less than $5,000
for which written proof of deposit shall be provided by the Township
and shall remain in escrow until the executed certificate of compliance
is granted and written confirmation of the following terms and conditions:
(1)
A written, detailed explanation of the need for the temporary certificate;
and
(2)
An executed agreement by the purchaser/transferee accepting responsibility
for all costs in excess of the cash security (escrow); and
(3)
A written easement or other license executed by the purchaser/transferee
permitting the Township to enter upon the property in order to complete
the work in case of default by the applicant.
The following are exempt from the requirements of this article:
A.
Real property which is not served by the municipal sanitary sewer
system.
B.
New homes that have been constructed in accordance with applicable
building codes and which have not been formerly occupied.
C.
The sale or transfer or real estate between spouses in the event
of marriage, divorce or death or the interfamilial transfer of real
estate.
D.
The transfer of real estate into a trust in which the current owner(s)
is exclusively named as a beneficiary.
E.
Instances of refinancing or the assignment of mortgages.
F.
Real property being sold or transferred that has undergone inspection
and testing in accordance with this article within two years of the
current sale date, unless there is reasonable cause for concern or
suspicion of a problem as determined at the discretion of the Township
or its authorized agent.
The Township, by granting any permit or taking any other action
pursuant to this article does not waive, reduce, lessen or impair
the lawful police powers vested in the Township under the applicable
federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Any person who violates or permits the violation of any provision
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof be subject to a penalty
of not more than $500 for each violation, or in the alternative, a
penalty of not more than the maximum provided by other Township or
commonwealth laws that may apply. Once a person or persons are notified
of a violation of this article, each day that such violation occurs
or continues shall constitute a separate violation. In addition to
and not in lieu of the foregoing, the Township may seek equitable
and legal relief to compel compliance with this article.
