IN Canon-Mac Winter 2019 | Page 47

sewer bill which you will receive in the mail on a postcard in the middle of January, April, July, and October throughout the year. Well water readings provided by the resident and readings from Pennsylvania American Water Company supply NSTMA with the information needed to prepare the quarterly sewer bill. The sewer rate charged in 2019 is $9.83 / 1,000 gallons of water used and NSTMA generates the bills in house in order to offer personalized service and direct response. NSTMA offers a program with a reasonable fee to pay your sewer bill using a credit card and a free automatic payment program that will withdraw your sewer bill charges directly from your bank account quarterly. If you are interested in this program, stop by or call the NSTMA office for more details. Please note that the NSTMA office can no longer accept cash payments starting January 1, 2020. DEDUCT METERS Residents who have pools or regularly water their lawns may wish to install deduction meters at their residences. These meters measure the amount of water used for non-sanitary sewage use at their premises. A certified plumbing contractor can install deduction meters. NSTMA inspects the deduction meter prior to its being placed in operation. There is a nominal fee of $35.00 / year to inspect the deduction meters. NSTMA requests that the meter is installed at a reasonable height for ease of reading / inspecting and prefers meters to have outside reading mechanisms in order to serve our customers without entry to the building. Deduction meter inspections usually occur during the months of February and March. MANHOLES ON YOUR PROPERTY Residents are not permitted to cover sewer manholes for any reason whatsoever. In the event of an emergency, or during regular maintenance checks, NSTMA or its designated contractor, must be able to access manholes at all times. Manholes may not be covered with dirt, gravel, asphalt, concrete, fences, plants, pools, planters, rocks, etc. WHAT NOT TO FLUSH Please note that NSTMA cannot accept any fats, oil, and grease into our Sanitary Sewer System. These compounds clog our lines and your lines, coat our wet wells and equipment, and emit foul odors throughout the entire system. Please do not dump oil down the drain. Disposable does not always mean flushable. Newly marketed pre-moistened paper and cloth like disposable towels for cleaning bathroom and other household surfaces clog our pumps. Other items that cannot be accepted into our Sanitary Sewer System include: dental floss, latex materials, cotton swabs, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, plastic tampon applicators, baby and medical diapers, baby wipes, cigarette butts, paint, gasoline, engine oil, prescription medication, bandages, razor blades, pins, needles, and mop strings. Please watch your kids, they love flushing things down the commode. We find pacifiers, balls, action figures, and matchbox cars at our facilities frequently. These flushed belongings may clog our main lines or your line costing both of us money in the long run. If you have any further questions or concerns, please stop by or call the NSTMA office. WINTER TEMPERATURES HAVE ARRIVED. REMEMBER THESE IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that you cannot see, taste or smell and because of this, is often called the “invisible killer.” It is created when fuel-burning appliances, such as heating devices, grills, clothes dryers and vehicles, do not burn all the fuel they need to function. Young children process CO differently than adults, so they may experience more severe side effects and show signs of poisoning quickly. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea and drowsiness. At its worst, CO can cause severe side effects or even death. However, there are steps you can take to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. RESTRICTIONS PLOWING Township residents are reminded that it is unlawful to plow or shovel snow onto or across public streets and roadways. Piles of snow left on or near a road can freeze into a solid mass, creating a hazardous situation for vehicles or snowplows. Accidents and /or damages caused by snow piles placed in the roadway may result in liability to the property owner. Please do not park on Township streets or roads during winter storms so the salt and plow trucks can clear the areas more effectively. Any vehicle left parked or standing in violation of this section may deemed a hazard and towed at the owners expense. Said vehicle may be removed to and stored in the designated impounding facility. Said vehicle may not be released to the owner or operator until all costs of removing, towing, and storage of the vehicle shall first be paid to the impound facility. CANON-MAC ❘ WINTER 2019 45