General Regulations

Water/Sewer Regulations

Connection to Borough Water System Required
 

All buildings of any nature whatsoever, used for any purpose whatsoever, desiring water shall be connected with the water system of the Borough of Clayton and shall not use any private well, pump or other means for the furnishing of water to any of said premises unless it is unreasonable in terms of distance to require said connection.

Mandatory Connection; Application; Requirements (Sewer)

A. When the Sewer Department provides for sewer to pass immediately adjacent to a property owner’s boundary line and within two hundred (200) feet of buildings, structures or houses, upon written notice of the availability of sewer said property owner shall make the necessary arrangements to tie into the system provided for within ninety (90) days of delivery of the written notice. Such written notice shall be served by certified mail, return receipt requested.

B. Application for connection to said sewer shall be made in writing therefor at the Municipal Building, upon a form provided for said purpose by the Sewer Department.

Use of Water From Other Sources

The Water Department shall have the power to permit the owner of any building to construct and maintain wells, pumps and other equipment for the furnishing of water to the premises applied for, and such power shall be limited to irrigation, cooling, processing and other uses where water is not intended for human consumption.

Time Limit for Hookup

Said hookup shall be completed with in thirty (30) days after receiving notice as required by law.

Hookup of New Construction

The owners of new construction, before occupancy of any new construction, shall connect such new construction to the borough water system unless it is unreasonable in terms of distance to require said hookup.

Application for Connections

A. Application for connection to the water distribution system shall be made in writing to the Department and signed by the owner of the property for which said connection is being applied for by this authorized agent. The service connecting charge as hereinafter provided for shall be paid at the time the application is made. The application shall designate the name of the plumber who shall install connection applied for, the address of the premises applied for and the purpose of the connection.

B. New connections as approved by the borough shall be at the sole expense of the applicant, including tappings, fittings, pipe, labor and related materials. In addition, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to obtain the necessary permits and to restore the sidewalk and/or street paving. The applicant shall pay a connection charge as stated under these rules and regulations.  Upon inspection and approval of the installation by a representative of the borough, the new connection and lateral from the main to and including the curb stop and water box shall become property of the borough and shall be maintained by them.

(a) Residential uses.

Type of PropertyConnection Fee
Residence, private, single family$2,400.00
Residence, with apartments, each Additional apartment$2,400.00
Residence operating as a rooming house, additional$2,400.00
Apartment buildings, including condominiums and townhouses, etc., per apartment$2,400.00
Dormitories, motels, hotels, etc. per living unit$2,400.00

(b) Eating establishments and commerical and industrial uses.

Type of PropertyConnection Fee
Eating establishment without seating facilities$2,800.00
Eating establishment with seating facilities, including fast-food, soda fountain, luncheonette, diner, tavern, restaurant, etc. Seating capacity of 1 to 50$2,800.00
For each additional 25 seats or fraction thereof$1,400.00
General commerical, industrial and other buildings and uses: 
Per occupant occupying less than 3,000 square feet of gross floor area$2,800.00
Per occupant occupying 3,000 square feet or more of gross floor area, per 3,00 square feet or fraction thereof$1,000.00

C. Payment  for connections up to one (1) inch may be made over a six-year period in quarterly installments of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) without penalty. This subsection shall pertain only to existing single-family residential dwellings that are required to connect to the borough water system because of a water main extension by either the Borough Water Department or by new development.

Service Fee

All  water meters will be furnished by the borough upon payment of a  service fee equivalent to the cost of the meter and yoke and shall be installed under the supervision of the borough, and will remain the property of and under the control of the borough.  Meters shall be capable of being read on the outside of the premises being serviced.

Responsibility for Damage

Meters  will be maintained by the borough. Damage resulting from freezing, hot water or external causes due to negligence shall be paid for by the customer.

Cost of Reinstallation

The customer shall pay a the cost of a new meter due to damage or theft.

Metered Connection

All connections shall be metered, and a use of water without a meter makes the property owner liable for an amount of water consumed as estimated by the Department, in addition to any penalties  imposed under this chapter. The borough, upon repeated offenses, may order the water supply to be discontinued.

Location of Meter

A. The location provided by a property owner for a water meter shall be readily accessible for reading and maintenance purposes and shall be such as to offer adequate protection against damage to the meter.  All meters shall be installed in the cellars of buildings and if no cellars are under said buildings, then in a utility room.

B. No fixture of any kind from which water might be drawn shall be placed on the street side of the meter. The meter shall not be installed unless the location and facilities provided for said meter the approval of the Department.

C. A wheel-handled round-way stop cock or gate valve, shall be placed by the customer on the service line directly ahead of the meter, and a stop and waste cock or valve on the outlet side of the meter.  A suitable and approved check valve should be placed by the customer between the stop and waste cock or valve and meters.  When a check valve is installed, a safety valve should be inserted at some convenient point in the house piping to relieve excess pressure due to heating water.

Connections, Repairs and Adjustments

No person, except an employee of the Department, shall connect, disconnect, repair, adjust or tamper in any way with a water meter.

Filing Complaints of Faulty Meters

Should a consumer believe that a meter is not registering properly, the consumer shall file a complaint with the Department. If it is found a register against the consumer more than three percent (3%), there will be charge for removing, repairing and resetting the meter.If,however, the meter is found to register against the consumer less than three percent (3%), the consumer shall be charged for all costs incurred by the borough to have a meter tested. The minimum charge for any test shall be the actual cost of removal and testing, payable up front.  The Department shall have the right to make periodic tests of all meters at not cost to the consumer.

Access to Premises for Inspections

The Department shall have access at all reasonable hours to the premises connected to the water distribution system for the purpose of inspecting and maintaining water meters and associated equipment. The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. shall be considered reasonable hours for this purpose.

Meters Property of Borough

All water meters are the property of the Borough of Clayton. The size of meters to be attached to water connections shall be determined by the Department. All meters shall be wired so they can be read from the outside of any building.

Maintenance by Customer

All connections, service, lines and fixtures furnished by the applicant shall be maintained by the customer in good order, and all valves, meters and appliances furnished and owned by the Department and on the property of the customer shall be protected properly and cared for by the customer. Any leak in the service between the curb stop and meter must be immediately repaired by the owner or occupant of the premises. Failure to comply will necessitate shut off. The customer shall be responsible for notifying the Department of the plumber engaged in any maintenance being commenced, and said plumber shall not backfill any trench until the work has been inspected and approved by the Department’s representative. Any work not acceptable shall be immediately removed and replaced by work that is acceptable.

Maintenance by Customer; Inspection by Sewer Department

All connections, service laterals, sewer cleanouts and fixtures furnished by the customer shall be maintained by said customer in good order, and all piping and connections furnished and owned by the Sewer Department and on the property of the customer shall be protected properly and cared for by the customer. All leaks in the service lateral or any other pipe or fixture in or upon the premises served must be repaired immediately by the owner or occupant of the premises. The customer shall be responsible for notifying the Sewer Department of the party, e.g., plumber, engaged by said customer to do any maintenance work in the customer’s service lateral prior to the work being commenced, and said party shall not backfill any trench until the work has been inspected and approved by the Sewer Department’s authorized representative. Any work not acceptable shall be immediately removed and replaced by work which is acceptable.

Tampering With Water Meter

Where the meter has been inspected and found to have been removed, damaged or tampered, the customer will be notified by letter that a service charge will be required to repair the meter. If the customer refuses entry to the premises, service will be discontinued and an additional fee will be charged to restore the service.

Prohibited Connections for Sewer

Under no circumstances will any of the following be connected to the sanitary sewers, either directly or indirectly:

A. Foundation underdrains or sump pumps.

B. Floor drains, area drains or yard drains or drains from swimming pools.

C. Rain conductors or downspouts.

D. Grease pits.

E. Air-conditioning equipment, except that which will be permitted under conditions approved by the Sewer Department.

F. Stormwater inlets or catch basins.

G. Drains from pieces of equipment or manufacturing processes, except when specifically authorized under the provisions of these rates, rules and regulations.

Blockages

A. While the Sewer Department has no responsibility beyond the curbline, it will, as a public service, clear the curb cleanout at the request of the customer on his initial request. The Department will also verify that the portion of the service line between the curb and main is clear and, when necessary, take action to clear that section of the line.

B. If the curb cleanout is so positioned on the property that there is a distance between it and the curb, the Sewer Department may clear the line, and if it is determined that the blockage was between the curb cleanout and the curb, the Department will charge the customer for clearing the blockage, if requested. The Sewer Department will not be held responsible for any damages to piping or property.

C. If the customer requests that the Sewer Department open the street to clear a blockage and the result of the excavation clearly indicates that the blockage is on the service line belonging to the customer, the customer will be assessed all costs of the excavation, service and repairs.

D. If the customer has not curb cleanout, any blockage in the service line between the dwelling and the main shall be considered the responsibility of the customer.

Replacement of Curb Cleanout Caps

When the Sewer Department inspection indicates that a sewer cap is missing or damaged, the customer will be notified that the cap must be repaired or replaced within seven (7) days. After that time period, the Department will repair or replace the cleanout cap, and the customer will be charged for parts and service.

Quarterly Charges for Multifamily Dwellings

A. For any multifamily dwelling currently served by one meter, quarterly charges will be charged on a per unit basis. Total gallons used will be divided by number of units. A minimum charge and excess of minimum used will be billed per unit.

B. In special cases not contemplated in the above schedule of rates or not clearly defined therein, the Borough Council of the Borough of Clayton is hereby authorized to establish special rates or rentals under such schedules or formulas as the Borough Council of the Borough of Clayton aforesaid may deem necessary to keep and maintain the Water Department on self-liquidating basis and to make, execute and deliver such contracts with such special consumer as the circumstances may require.

Billings for Water Service

Billings for water service or water used will be rendered quarterly on or before the first day of March, June, September and December. Bills remaining unpaid for a period of 15 days after the billing date shall be subject to an interest charge on the unpaid balance from the original billing date (March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, or December 1st, of 1.5% per month.  Water may be shut off in the event that any bill for any of the aforesaid services remains unpaid for a period of 45 days after the same has been rendered, and the services shall not be renewed until the arrears, penalties, and reconnection charges are paid by cash, certified check, or money order only.

Billing for Sewer

A bill for sewerage services will be rendered quarterly to each customer.  Sewerage charges will be based on the quarterly billing for the designated year.  Sewerage charges are billed in advance for the quarter beginning with the billing date.

Deadlines for Payment; Interest

If a bill is not paid within thirty (30) days of the date of billing, the interest rate shall be the maximum amount allowed by statute. In the case of a disputed bill terminating substantially in favor of the customer, the payment is due within ten (10) days of the termination of the dispute.

Turn Off and Turn on Charges

A. When requested by the owner or agent, the Department shall discontinue service to a property. A Turnoff charge of $25 shall be made for discontinuing the service during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, or $50 after business hours or weekends. A turn-on charge of $25 shall be made when the service is restored during regular business hours from Monday through Friday or $50 after business hours or weekends.  Wherever service shall have been temporarily turned off, the service charge herein before established shall continue against said premises.

B. No adjustments of water charges due to failure of the Department to disconnect or restore water service as requested by an owner shall be made unless the request for discontinuance or restoration is in writing and duly filed with the Water Department.

C. In the event that an account is delinquent for two consecutive quarterly periods or longer and the water service has been turned off as a result thereof and the owner thereafter makes payment and requests that service be restored, a charge of $25 shall be made to the owner for turning on said service.

State Fee

A rate of $0.01 per 1,000 gallons will be assessed to every water customer for state tax.