A.
The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the design,
installation, use and maintenance of community on-lot sewage disposal
systems (COLDS) for the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage.
B.
This article is intended to provide a method of sewage treatment
and disposal under circumstances where the Township does not have
the capability to convey, treat, and/or dispose of sewage via a Township
or Township authorized agency's publicly held conveyance, treatment,
and/or disposal system, and where the construction, use, and maintenance
that are or may be associated with individual on-lot sewage disposal
systems pose or may present potential health risks.
A.
As part of any subdivision or land development plan proposing the
use of a COLDS, compliance with these rules and regulations shall
be a condition of approval.
B.
Developments located outside the Act 537 CHPSA Regional Growth Boundary/Sewer
Service Area that wish to utilize a community on-lot sewage disposal
system (COLDS) shall comply with the following:
(1)
All COLDS shall be subject to the requirements set by the Board which
may include escrows, appointment of a responsible party, and periodic
inspections. All requests for permits shall be reviewed by the Board
prior to permit issuance.
C.
COLDS are permitted in all zoning districts.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings
herein described unless otherwise provided:
Centre Hall/Potter Sewer Authority (CHPSA).
The Board of Supervisors of Potter Township.
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
An interest-bearing revolving fund, established for or by
the authority with monies contributed by each COLDS developer/user,
for the purpose of financing major equipment and facility repair,
maintenance, and replacement or upgrade. A separate capital reserve
fund shall be established for each COLDS.
Any sanitary sewage treatment and disposal system which treats
and disposes of sewage generated from two or more equivalent dwelling
units (EDUs) by utilizing a subsurface absorption bed or land application.
This definition specifically excludes any treatment or disposal system
that serves only one dwelling unit or one dwelling unit with an absorption
field located off property.
Design standards for COLDS as established by DEP (25 Pa.
Code, Chapter 73) as well as relevant installation and locational
standards established by such regulations, and specifications for
the design, installation, and use of COLDS as set forth by the Township.
Any property within the Township upon which there is erected
a structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy
or use by human beings or animals and from which structure sanitary
sewage shall or may be discharged.
Any individual, partnership, company, association, corporation
or other group or entity.
Any substance that contains any of the waste products or
excrement or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals
and noxious or deleterious substances harmful or inimical to the public
health, or to animal or aquatic life or to the use of water for domestic
water supply or for recreation. This definition specifically excludes
wastewater of industrial origin.
The Potter Township Sewage Enforcement Officer.
Potter Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
A.
The Board hereby authorizes and empowers SEO/CHPSA to oversee within
the Township the design, installation, operation, and maintenance
of COLDS. Permits for COLDS shall be issued by the SEO or DEP.
B.
The Board hereby authorizes and empowers CHPSA as its acting agent
to enter into or acquire escrow agreements, construction and performance
bonds, and engineering services to ensure COLDS and related collection
systems are designed, constructed, and operated and maintained in
accordance with any applicable rules and regulations of the Board.
C.
The Board authorizes and empowers CHPSA to take ownership, operation
and maintenance of all operating COLDS within the Township following
the issuance of a permit by the SEO or DEP.
D.
The Board hereby authorizes and empowers the SEO/CHPSA to oversee,
operate, maintain, improve, and/or discontinue any COLDS within Potter
Township.
A.
All COLDS must be designed and constructed in accordance with the
specifications of the Board.
B.
The Board is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt such rules
and regulations concerning COLDS which it may deem necessary from
time to time to effect the purposes herein.
C.
All such policies, regulations and specifications of the Board shall
be in conformance with the provisions herein, all other ordinances
of the Township and all applicable laws, rules and regulations of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
All COLDS must have two absorption areas, designed according to site
characteristics, each with a capacity sufficient to serve all equivalent
dwelling units which can be connected to the system.
E.
COLDS must be designed to include an inspection portal which may
be used by the SEO to monitor the depth of solids in the tank. In
addition, each COLD system shall contain a riser which can be used
for pumping purposes.
F.
The owner of a COLDS within Potter Township approved after the enactment
of this article shall be responsible for the maintenance of such system.
The Board shall have the right and power to fix, alter, charge
and collect rates, assessments and other charges at reasonable and
uniform rates as authorized by applicable law.
The collection, treatment, and disposal of all sewage from any
improved property utilizing a COLDS shall be done solely by a DEP
permitted hauler and to a DEP permitted disposal plant.
A.
Any person who is the owner of any existing or proposed COLDS serving
as means of sewage disposal within the Township is subject to all
requirements of this article.
B.
The developer proposing a COLDS shall be responsible for obtaining
all required permits from the Township, DEP, and any other agencies
requiring permits for such an installation. The owner of any proposed
COLDS shall be responsible for its construction and startup in accordance
with the requirements of this article.
C.
The property owner(s) shall be responsible for the cost of maintenance
and repair of a COLDS.
D.
All COLDS shall be inspected by the SEO at least annually.
Any person failing to comply with any provisions of this article
shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 and costs, and not
more than $5,000 and costs, or in default thereof shall be confined
in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days. Each day
of noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense.
