Ebensburg

Pennsylvania

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Cambria Township Ordinance

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Overview

The Township of Cambria has enacted Ordinance #2016-2 to regulate sanitary sewer connections and require certification before real estate sales or transfers. This ordinance applies specifically to areas of Cambria Township served by the Borough of Ebensburg Sanitary Sewer System.

Key Requirements

  • Pre-Sale Certification: Property owners must obtain a Certificate of Sewage Compliance before selling or transferring real estate.
  • Illegal Connections: It is unlawful to construct, install, maintain, or use illegal storm or surface water connections (e. g. , downspouts, sump pumps) into the sanitary sewer system.
  • Municipal Lien Letters: A Certificate of Sewage Compliance is required before the Township issues Municipal Lien Letters or Property Tax Verification Letters.

Process for Obtaining Compliance

  1. Application: The applicant must apply for a Certificate of Sewage Compliance at least seven (7) days before the sale or transfer date.
  2. Testing: A qualified contractor must perform an air pressure test on the sewer lateral.
  3. Notification: The contractor must notify the Authority at least seventy-two (72) hours before the test so an inspector can witness it.
  4. Issuance: If no illegal connections are found and the system passes inspection, the Authority issues the certificate upon payment of a fee.
  5. Repairs: If illegal connections or malfunctions are found, they must be repaired or the entire sewer lateral replaced from the foundation wall to the connection stub. The system must then be retested and inspected by the Borough.

Penalties

Violations of this ordinance are punishable by a fine of up to $600. 00, costs of prosecution, and/or imprisonment for up to thirty (30) days. Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.

Definitions

  • Authority: The Ebensburg Municipal Authority and its authorized representatives.
  • Borough: The Borough of Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
  • Building Drain: The lowest horizontal piping of a building’s drainage system.
  • Certificate of Sewage Compliance: An official statement confirming no illegal storm/surface water connections exist and the customer facilities have passed an air pressure test. Valid for five (5) years.
  • Connection Stub: The short section of pipe between the sewer main collection line and the customer’s viewport.
  • Customer: The individual or entity responsible for payment of sanitary sewer service.
  • Illegal Storm or Surface Water Connections: Discharge of ground/surface water, downspouts, roof drainage, etc. , into the sanitary sewer system.
  • Inspector: Person appointed by the Borough/Authority to inspect facilities.
  • Municipal Lien and Property Tax Verification Letter: Written letter from the Township of Cambria concerning municipal liens and property taxes.
  • Owner: Any person vested with title, legal or equitable, of a building or real estate.
  • Person: Any individual, syndicate, partnership, firm, corporation, etc. , recognized by law.
  • Rules and Regulations: The Rules and Regulations Governing Sanitary Sewer Services adopted by The Ebensburg Municipal Authority.
  • Sale: Any sale or transfer of ownership of real estate, including transfers within a family, inheritance, corporate transfers, etc. , with certain exemptions (e. g. , refinancing without conveyance, transfers to ordinary grantor trusts, transfers between spouses pursuant to marriage settlement agreements, sheriff’s sales where purchaser is mortgage holder/lien creditor, transfers from record owner to mortgage holder/lien creditor pursuant to Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure).
  • Service Charges: Customer facilities fee, connection fee, tapping fee (capacity, collection, special purpose, reimbursement fees), regular usage fees, surcharges, and other charges imposed by the Authority under Act 57 of 2003.
  • Sewer Lateral: All piping, including the property line viewport, on the customer’s side of the Connection Stub.
  • Temporary Certificate of Sewage Compliance: A temporary statement of certification issued by the Borough Manager pursuant to Section IV of this ordinance.

Effective Date

This ordinance becomes effective on January 1, 2017. It was enacted and ordained on October 19, 2016.

Repealer

Ordinance #218 of November 24, 2014, is specifically repealed in its entirety and replaced with this ordinance. This ordinance does not repeal Cambria Township’s existing Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Sewer and Sewage Disposal.

Signatories

  • Tim Bracken, Chairman
  • James Melnyk, Vice-Chairman
  • Robert Shook, Supervisor
  • Secretary (signature present)
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