As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated below, unless the context indicates otherwise.
For the purposes of this article, any term which is not defined herein
shall have that meaning attributed to it under the Sewage Facilities
Act and regulations promulgated thereto:
ABSORPTION AREA
A component of an individual or community sewage system where
liquid from a septic tank seeps into the soil; it consists of an aggregate
filled area containing piping for the distribution of liquid and the
soil or sand/soil combination located beneath the aggregate.
ACT 537
The Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. 1535, as amended, 35 P.S.
§ 750.1 et seq., known as the "Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act."
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A person with demonstrated knowledge and experience regarding
on-lot sewage disposal system design, operation, and maintenance who
is authorized to function within specified limits as an agent of the
Township to administer and enforce the provisions of this article.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors of East Caln Township, Chester County,
Pennsylvania.
COMMUNITY ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEM
A sewage system which serves two or more lots, or two or
more equivalent dwelling units, and uses a system of piping, tanks
or other facilities for collecting, treating, and disposing of sewage
into a soil absorption area, retaining tank, or cesspool.
HOLDING TANK
A watertight receptacle which receives and retains sewage
and is designed and constructed to facilitate the ultimate disposal
of the sewage at another site. A "holding tank" shall not include
a privy, chemical toilet or other facility designed to receive sewage
where there is no water under pressure.
INDIVIDUAL ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEM
A sewage system which serves a single lot and a single equivalent
dwelling unit, and uses a system of piping, tanks, or other facilities
for collecting, treating, and disposing of sewage into a soil absorption
area, spray field, retaining tank, or cesspool.
LICENSED SEWAGE HAULER
Any person engaged in the business of pumping and transporting
liquid waste within Chester County. Each vehicle used for such purpose
shall be licensed by the Chester County Health Department.
ON-LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM (OLDS)
Any system for disposal of sanitary sewage involving pretreatment
and subsequent disposal of the clarified sewage into the soil through
either a cesspool, an absorption area, or a sprayfield (individual
residential spray irrigation systems) for final treatment and disposal,
including both individual on-lot sewage systems and community on-lot
sewage systems.
PERSON
Any individual, company, association, public or private corporation
for profit or not for profit, partnership, firm, trust, estate, department,
board, bureau or agency of the commonwealth, political subdivision,
municipality, district, authority or any other legal entity whatsoever
which is recognized by law as having rights and duties. Whenever used
in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty or imposing a fine,
the term "person" shall include the members of an association, partnership
or firm and the officers of any local agency or municipal, public
or private corporation for profit or not for profit.
RETAINING TANK
A watertight receptacle that receives and retains sewage
and is designed and constructed to facilitate the ultimate disposal
of the sewage at another site. This term is synonymous with the term
"holding tank."
SEPTAGE
The residual scum, sludge, and other materials pumped from,
but not limited to, initial treatment units, other treatment tanks,
retaining tanks, pump tanks, and the systems they serve.
SEWAGE
Any substance that contains any of the waste products or
excrement or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals
and any noxious or deleterious substances being 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 or which constitutes
pollution under the Act of June 22, 1937 (P.L. 1987, No. 394), known
as "The Clean Streams Law," as amended.
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
A person certified by the Department of Environmental Protection
who is employed by the Chester County Health Department. Such person
is authorized to conduct investigations and inspections, review permit
applications, and do all other activities as may be provided for such
person in the Sewage Facilities Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and this
article or any other ordinance adopted by the Township or Chester
County Health Department.
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
A comprehensive set of legal and administrative requirements
encompassing the requirements of this article, the Sewage Facilities
Act, the Clean Streams Law, the regulations promulgated thereunder and such other
requirements adopted by the Board to effectively enforce and administer
this article.
SMALL FLOW SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES (SFSTF)
A sewer facility that serves single-family residences, duplexes
and small commercial establishments with domestic type sewage not
exceeding 2,000 gallons per day. These facilities ultimately discharge
treated wastewater directly to surface waters.
TOWNSHIP
East Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
TREATMENT TANK
A tank that provides for aerobic or anaerobic decomposition
of sewage to take place prior to discharge to an absorption area.
This term shall also include all types of cesspools.
This article shall be effective throughout the Township and
shall apply to all portions of the Township served by OLDS. Within
such an area or areas, this article shall apply to all persons owning
a property served by an OLDS and to all persons installing or repairing
an OLDS.
Authorized agents of the Township are authorized to inspect
the pumping, maintenance, service, or repair of an OLDS or SFSTF upon
presentation of proper credentials and reasonable notice to the property
owner.
The Board, or its authorized agents, is hereby authorized to
give notice, by personal service or by the United States mail, to
the person who owns the property on which an on-lot sewage disposal
system or small flow sewage treatment facility is located, requiring
such owner to pump, inspect, or repair the on-lot system and provide
the Township with a receipt and other specified information documenting
the date on which the on-lot sewage system was pumped, inspected or
repaired.