City Code, ExplainedBetaPardon our dust while we build this out — expect some changes along the way.

This chapter sets water conservation standards for new or altered plumbing fixtures and establishes the rules for connecting to and using the public water system operated by the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority.

Who this affects

Anyone building, remodeling, or altering plumbing in a building that requires a permit must use water-conserving fixtures, and owners of improved property abutting a water main must connect to and continue using the public water system.

Key rules

• Water closets may not use more than an average of 1.6 gallons per flush cycle, tested per ANSI A112.19.2M and ANSI A112.19.6M.
• Urinals may not use more than an average of 1.5 gallons per flush cycle, tested per the same ANSI standards.
• Showerheads may not discharge more than 3.0 gallons per minute, tested per ANSI A112.18.1M.
• Sink and lavatory faucets may not discharge more than 3.0 gallons per minute, tested per ANSI A112.18.1M.
• Special-purpose fixtures such as emergency showers, aspirator faucets, and blowout fixtures are exempt from these performance standards.
• Owners may apply to City Council for an exemption by showing an alternative saves as much water, or that compliance would cause undue hardship.
• Owners of improved property abutting a main must connect to the public water system within 45 days of notice and may not disconnect once connected.
• Cross-connecting a private water source to the public water system is unlawful; a private source may continue in use only if not used for domestic purposes or interconnected with the public system.
• Owners must allow the Authority's inspector full access to water system facilities for inspection.
• No one may uncover, connect to, open, alter, or disturb a main, lateral, or other part of the water system without first obtaining a written permit from the Authority.
• Before connecting to a main, a person must notify the Authority, obtain a permit, give at least 48 hours' notice of the connection time, and show proof that any required tapping/connection/customer facility fees have been paid.
• Each improved property must be connected separately through its own building main; grouping properties on one building main requires special written permission from the Authority.
• All costs of constructing and connecting a building main are borne by the property owner, who must indemnify the City and the Authority against related loss or damage.
• A building main must be connected at the place designated by the Authority with a smooth, neat, secure, and watertight joint.
• If an owner fails to connect after 45 days' notice, the City may enter the property, construct the connection itself, and collect the costs from the owner.
• If an improved property has its own water system, house water lines must be broken from the public water system and may not connect to it, though the private source may continue for non-domestic use.
• No building main may be covered until inspected and approved by the Authority; if covered first, it must be uncovered for inspection at the owner's expense.
• Owners must maintain their building main in a sanitary and safe operating condition.
• Excavations for a building main must be guarded with barricades and lights, and any disturbed street, sidewalk, or public property must be restored at the owner's expense.
• If an owner fails to remedy an unsatisfactory building main condition within 60 days of notice, the City or Authority may refuse water service until it is fixed.

Penalties

Under Article I, violating the water conservation restrictions is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, a fine of not more than $600, or both. Under Article II, violating the article is punishable, upon summary conviction, by a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs of prosecution for each offense, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense.

Notable and archaic details

• The conservation-standards article was adopted in 1992, years before low-flow fixtures became standard nationally.
• The chapter states its purpose is 'necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of inhabitants of this City.'