Township of Upper Hanover, PA Article I On-Lot Sewage Disposal Facilities Site Investigations

[Adopted 7-9-1991 by Ord. No. 91-5]

§ 383-1 Title.

This article shall be commonly known and may be cited as the "Upper Hanover Township Site Investigation Requirements for On-Lot Sewage Disposal Facilities."

§ 383-2 Site investigation requirements.

Soil testing shall comply with the following:

A. The requirements of Chapter 73 of the Rules and Regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection;[1] and

[1] Editor's Note: See 25 Pa. Code § 73.1 et seq.

B. A minimum of two soil profile excavations per absorption area shall be required to be tested, as follows:

(1) On all locations where the installation of an absorption area is proposed, at least two excavations for examination of the soil profile shall be provided. Both excavations must indicate acceptable soil conditions for the type of absorption area proposed, and the two excavations shall be located to the extent possible at opposite ends of the proposed absorption area.

(2) Any and all lots, tracts, parcels of ground or subdivision/land development as defined by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[2] and any residue tract of land remaining after or during or caused by a subdivision or land development aforesaid shall either:

(a) Have an existing sewage disposal system which has been inspected by the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer and determined by him to be functioning satisfactorily and, if constructed since August 2, 1971, should be in accordance with DEP Chapter 73 standards; or

(b) Have an area which has been determined by percolation tests and at least two acceptable soil profile excavations to be capable of sustaining an acceptable on-lot sewage disposal system.

[2] Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10107.

(3) For any and all existing sewage systems, the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to determine whether the sewage system is functioning properly and whether additional tests must be conducted. He shall also have the authority to prescribe all test procedures and to evaluate the results of all such tests.

(4) On each lot (including any residue tract) created by land subdivision where on-lot sewage is proposed or now in use, a suitable backup area where another absorption area could be installed shall be identified on the plan. At least one excavation indicating an acceptable soil profile for the backup system must be made within that area, and it must be located on the plan.

§ 383-3 Waivers.

If the literal compliance with any mandatory provisions of this article is shown by a property owner or developer, to a majority of the Township Supervisors present at a prescheduled public meeting, to be unreasonable and to cause undue hardship as they apply to his property or subdivision and/or land development, the Township Supervisors may grant a waiver to the owner or developer from such mandatory provisions if the waiver will promote the public interest.