[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
The purpose of this Part is to establish procedures for the
installation, use and maintenance of sewage grinder pumps and any
associated force mains or low-pressure laterals. It is hereby declared
that the enactment of this Part is necessary for the protection, benefit
and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants
of Lower Southampton Township.
[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise,
the meanings of terms used in this Part shall be as follows:
Lower Southampton Township's Official Plan as defined in
the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Act of January 24, 1966, P.L.
1535 (1965), No. 537, as amended, 35 P.S. §§ 750.1
through 750.20a ("Sewage Facilities Act" or "Act 537").
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Any electric-motor-driven, submersible, centrifugal pump
capable of macerating all material found in normal domestic sanitary
sludge, including reasonable amounts of objects such as plastics,
sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, rubber and the like, to a fine
slurry, and pumping this material through a small diameter discharge.
Any property within Lower Southampton 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 sewage
shall or may be discharged.
A change in Lower Southampton Township's Act 537 Plan to
provide for additional or newly identified future or existing sewage
facilities needs, as defined fully in Section 1 of the Sewage Facilities
Act, 35 P.S. § 750.1.
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole
or partial, of any property located in Lower Southampton Township.
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 substance 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 any substance
which constitutes pollution under the Clean Streams Law, 35 P.S. § 691.1
et seq., as amended.
Lower Southampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
The connection of existing properties or proposed new land development
to an existing or proposed sewerage system through the use of sewage
grinder pumps, their associated force mains, or low-pressure laterals
shall occur only after an official plan revision to the Township's
Act 537 Plan, approved by both the Township and Department, designates
that the proposed properties be served by such a connection.
[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
A.
The Township is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt such rules
and regulations concerning sewage which it may deem necessary from
time to time to effect the purposes herein.
B.
The Township is hereby authorized and empowered to take such other
actions as are necessary, including, but not limited to, entering
into agreements with property owners that assure proper operation
and maintenance of sewage facilities with the Township's border, including,
but not limited to, sewage grinder pumps and any associated force
mains or low-pressure laterals.
[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
A.
The Township shall exercise its powers and legal authority set forth
herein, and under all applicable statutes, ordinances, and other laws
to effect the purposes of this Part.
B.
The Township may enter into an agreement with each property owner
proposing to install or who has installed a sewage grinder pump or
low-pressure sewage system to assure the short and long-term operation
and maintenance, use, service, repair or replacement of such systems.
C.
All grinder pumps and low-pressure sewer systems (and the installation,
use, operation, maintenance, service, repair and replacement thereof)
shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Township in effect
from time to time.
D.
All grinder pumps and low-pressure sewer systems shall be connected
to the sewage collection and conveyance system in full compliance
with the rules and regulations of the Township in effect from time
to time.
E.
The Township shall establish minimum standards for the type of grinder
pumps to be utilized within the Township. The standards shall include
specific models and manufacturers in order to maintain a consistency
of equipment so that maintenance and replacement parts will be easily
obtainable.
F.
The Township shall bear no responsibility for the purchase, installation,
use, operation, maintenance, service, repair, or replacement of the
grinder pump and/or its low-pressure force main or lateral, except
as otherwise set forth herein.
[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
A.
Each property owner served by a grinder pump shall bear full responsibility
of providing, installing, using, operating, maintaining, servicing,
repairing and replacing his/her grinder pump and/or its low-pressure
force main or lateral, unless otherwise set forth herein.
B.
Each property owner served by a grinder pump shall have full responsibility
for using the pump consistent with the manufacturer's instructions
and shall avoid introducing into the sewerage system materials that
may damage the impellers or the pump, including, but not limited to,
items designated as biodegradable in septic tanks.
C.
Each property owner served by a grinder pump shall cease operations
during any period when the grinder pump and/or low-pressure system
serving a property is inoperable for more than 24 hours. Ceasing operations
shall mean stopping all internal activities which would generate water
flows to the grinder pump, including any activities which would utilize
water. This includes, but is not limited to, showering, washing of
clothes and flushing toilets.
D.
Where the low-pressure force main or lateral is shared between property
owners, they shall submit to the Township a declaration of easements,
covenants and restrictions in recordable form setting forth the agreement
of each benefited property owner with respect to the installation,
use, operation, maintenance, service, repair and replacement of the
low-pressure sewer system, which agreement shall bind all future property
owners. Following the approval of the low-pressure system by all applicable
agencies, the Township will not issue a permit for its installation
until evidence is presented that the agreement has been recorded in
the Recorder of Deeds Office of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than
$1,000 plus costs. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. No. 597, 3/23/2022]
