Section 57707 - Connection to water system(a) The board of commissioners may, by ordinance, require that a property owner connect with and use a water system of the township or municipal authority or a joint water system in either of the following cases:(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), if the nearest property line is located within one hundred fifty feet of a water system or any part or extension of the system.(2) If the property has no supply of water which is safe for human consumption.(b) With respect to water supplied for human consumption, a property owner who, after the effective date of this subsection, is subject to mandatory connection pursuant to subsection (a)(1), shall not be required to connect to the water system pursuant to that subsection if all of the following conditions exist:(1) The water system or part or extension of the system that is within one hundred fifty feet of the nearest property line was in existence on the effective date of this subsection.(2) The property has its own supply of water which is safe for human consumption.(3) Prior to the effective date of this subsection, the property owner was not required to connect to the existing system.(c) Those industries and farms which have their own supply of water for uses other than human consumption through installed and operating wells existing prior to the effective date of this subsection may continue to use their preexisting wells for that purpose but are required to use the water system of the township or municipal authority to provide water for human consumption.(d) A township may require any owner of property to install and maintain a backflow prevention device based on the degree of potential hazard of the connected property in accordance with other applicable law.(e) A township may assess penalties for the violation of ordinances pertaining to water connections or backflow prevention devices.(f)(1) A township may, by ordinance, impose and charge certain fees to property owners who desire or are required to connect to the water system owned or operated by the township, a municipal authority or a joint water board or who desire to increase their usage of the water system.(2) The fees in paragraph (1) may be a connection fee, a customer facilities fee, a tapping fee and other similar fees as enumerated and calculated under 53 Pa.C.S. § 5607(d)(24) (relating to purposes and powers).(3) The tapping fee may include a reimbursement part as provided in 53 Pa.C.S. § 5607(d)(24)(i)(C)(IV) to be refunded to the private person or corporation who paid for the construction of the water system or any part or extension thereof.(g)(1) If any property owner required under subsection (a) to connect with and use the system fails to do so within ninety days after notice to do so has been served by the board of commissioners, either by personal service or registered mail, the board of commissioners or their agents may enter the property and construct the connection.(2) The board of commissioners shall send an itemized bill of the cost of construction of the connection to the owner of the property to which connection has been made, which bill is payable immediately, or the board of commissioners may authorize the payment of the cost of construction of connections in equal monthly installments and the installments shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed six percent.1931, June 24, P.L. 1206, art. XXVII, § 2707, added 1970, Dec. 10, P.L. 907, No. 283, § 1. Amended 2020, Oct. 29, P.L. 782, No. 96, § 139, effective in 60 days [Dec. 28, 2020].