[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Penn Township 4-21-2008 by Ord. No.
690. Amendments noted where applicable.]
From the effective date of this chapter, its provisions shall
apply in all portions of Penn Township. The provisions of this chapter
shall apply to all persons and all other entities owning any property
serviced by an on-lot or a community on-lot disposal system.
A.
SEWAGE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
SEWAGE SYSTEM REHABILITATION
The definitions as set forth in Chapter 142, the Penn Township Ordinance of Definition, are hereby incorporated into this chapter. In addition, the following definitions shall apply:
The condition occurring when an on-lot system causes pollution to ground or surface waters, contamination of private or public drinking water supplies, nuisance problems or is a hazard to public health. Any treatment tank or holding tank observed to be leaking, or any instance where sewage is backing up into a building connected to the system is considered a malfunction. (Any component in a treatment tank or septic system that is broken or deteriorated is considered a malfunction. Systems shall be considered to be malfunctioning if any of the conditions noted above occur for any length of time during any period of the year.) See § 242-3C.
Work done to modify, alter, repair, enlarge, or replace an
existing on-lot disposal system, or component thereof.
B.
Any word or term not otherwise defined in this chapter shall have
the meaning as set forth in 25 Pa. Code § 73.1, as may be
amended.
A.
An initial inspection and subsequent periodic inspections of a sewage
system shall be conducted when a sewage system is pumped. Inspections
shall be conducted by a qualified pumper/hauler for the purpose of
determining the functional status of a sewage system. The individual
property or on-lot system owner shall contact and make arrangements
directly with the qualified pumper/hauler for the inspection of an
on-lot sewage system.
B.
The qualified pumper/hauler shall complete Sections A through E of
the York County Sludge/Septage Manifest and Report. The property or
system owner shall provide a copy of the said report to the Township
within 30 days of the inspection.
C.
The Township shall inspect any sewage system known to be, or suspected
to be, malfunctioning. Should the Township inspection reveal that
the sewage system is malfunctioning, the Township's authorized
agent shall take action to require the correction of the malfunction.
(1)
The Township may inspect any sewage system at any time upon reasonable
notice to the property owner or occupant of the property. "Reasonable
notice" shall mean at least 24 hours' advance notice, either oral
or written, except in cases of emergency where an imminent health
hazard exists.
(2)
The Township shall have the right to enter upon land for the purpose
of inspections as described herein.
(3)
Inspections by the Township may include a physical tour of the property,
the taking of samples from surface water, wells or other groundwater
locations, the sampling of the contents of the sewage system itself
and/or the introduction of a tracing substance into the interior plumbing
of the structure served to ascertain the path and ultimate destination
of wastewater generated in the structure.
A.
The Township shall provide written notification to all owners of property served by a sewage system that their system must be pumped by the end of the calendar year in which the letter is received. The Township shall follow a schedule whereby 1/4 of all the owners of properties within the Township served by a sewage system are notified annually of the pumping requirement, such that all owners are notified once every four years. The notified property owner(s) must have the sewage system pumped within the time specified in the Township's letter, unless the owner(s) can provide the Township with pumping certification indicating that the sewage system was pumped in the one year prior to the date of the Township's notice letter. A copy of the fully completed Manifest shall be furnished to the Township within 30 days of the date of the pumping, as described in § 242-3 above.
B.
Commencing from the date of pumping as prescribed in Subsection A above, removal of septage or other solids from a sewage system shall be performed at least once every four years thereafter. The property owner shall furnish a copy of the pumping certification to the Township within 30 days of the date of the pumping.
C.
The Township may allow a sewage system to be pumped out at less frequent
intervals when the owner can demonstrate to the Township that the
sewage system and/or uses thereof are unique and do not require pumping
every four years. In no case shall such period extend beyond eight
years. The Township SEO shall determine if an extension of time will
be granted and the length of the extension. In making his determination,
the Township SEO shall take into account the sewage permit issued
for the installation or rehabilitation of the sewage system, reports
of inspection and maintenance of the sewage system, use of the system,
and other relevant information. The Township SEO shall conduct an
on-site inspection. The number of years between pumping shall be determined
from the Penn State Fact Sheet F-161, "Septic Tank Pumping," provided
the inspection findings and all other information supporting this
conclusion. The property or system owner shall apply and shall pay
a fee established by Township resolution for the review, analysis
and determination of this request. The property or system owner applicant
shall receive a decision within 60 days of accumulation of all necessary
information by the Township.
A.
Only sewage and normal domestic wastes shall be discharged into any
sewage system. The following shall not be discharged into the system:
(1)
Industrial wastes;
(2)
Automobile oil and other nondomestic oil;
(3)
Fats and grease;
(4)
Toxic or hazardous substances or chemicals, including, but not limited
to, pesticides, herbicides, acids, paints (including latex or water
based paints), paint thinners, gasoline, and other solvents; and
(5)
Clean surface or groundwater, including spring water, water from
roof or cellar drains, water from basement sump pumps, and water from
French drains.
B.
All water used within a residence, including kitchen and laundry
wastes and water softener backwash, and all sewage shall be discharged
into a sewage system treatment tank.
A.
Any sewage system or component thereof found to be malfunctioning
shall be repaired, modified or replaced pursuant to the direction
of the Township or its authorized agent to correct the conditions
causing the malfunction. Rehabilitation shall be performed in accordance
with 25 Pa. Code Chapter 73, Standards for On-lot Sewage Treatment
Facilities, and any other applicable rules and regulations of the
Department of Environmental Protection. The Township Sewage Enforcement
Officer shall inspect the rehabilitated sewage system and certify
its compliance with local and state standards.
B.
A permit exemption declaration must be filed with the Township's
SEO a minimum of 48 hours prior to any soil fracturing or use of the
terralift procedure on a sewage system.
When an imminent health hazard exists due to failure of a property
owner to maintain, repair, or replace a sewage system as provided
under the terms of this chapter, the Township shall have the authority
to perform, or contract to have performed, the work required to abate
the health hazard, pollution, or nuisance. The property and/or system
owner shall be charged for the work performed, and, if necessary,
a lien shall be recorded in the property record in accordance with
law. The Township reserves the right to pursue all other lawful remedies
in addition to and not exclusive of any abatement and lien process.
A.
The Township shall fully utilize those powers it possesses through
enabling statutes and ordinances to effect the purposes of this chapter.
B.
The Township shall employ qualified individuals to carry out the
provisions of this chapter. Those employees may include a Sewage Enforcement
Officer, a Codes Enforcement Officer, a secretary, an administrator,
or other persons, as required. The Township may also contract with
other private qualified persons or firms as necessary to carry out
the provisions of this chapter.
C.
All permits, records, reports, files and other written material relating
to the installation, operation, maintenance, and malfunction of a
sewage system in the Township shall become the property of the Township.
Existing and future records shall be available for public inspection
during normal business hours at the official Township office. All
records pertaining to sewage permits, building permits, occupancy
permits, and all other aspects of the Township's sewage management
program shall be made available, upon request. A fee for copying may
be charged.
D.
All reports, inspections, appraisals, certification or records required
or produced by the Township, its officials, employees or agents, as
required by this chapter, shall be for the use and benefit of the
Township only and shall not be accepted, utilized or relied upon by
any other person or party by way of certification or otherwise.
E.
The Township may establish all administrative procedures necessary
to properly carry out the provisions of this chapter.
F.
The Township may establish a fee schedule and subsequently collect
fees to cover the cost of administering the on-lot maintenance program.
The fee schedule shall be adopted by resolution.
G.
The discharge by the Township of its obligations as set forth in
this chapter shall create no liability upon the Township, its officials,
employees or agents.
A.
Appeals from decisions made under this chapter shall be made to the
Board in writing within 15 days from the date of the authorized agent's
decision in question.
B.
The appellant shall be entitled to a hearing before the Board at
its next regularly scheduled meeting, if the appeal is received at
least 14 days prior to that meeting. If the appeal is received within
14 days of the next regularly scheduled meeting, the appeal shall
be heard at the not regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Township
shall thereafter affirm, modify, or reverse the aforesaid decision.
The hearing may be postponed for a good cause shown by the appellant
or the Township.
The provisions of this chapter, so far as they are the same
as those of ordinances in force immediately prior to the enactment
of this chapter, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances
and not as new enactments. Provisions of this chapter shall not affect
any act done or liability incurred, nor shall they affect any suit
or prosecution pending or to be instituted to enforce any right or
penalty or to punish any offense under the authority of any ordinance.
