[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Township of East
Amwell 11-12-1991 by Ord. No. 91-04BH. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Individual sewage disposal systems — See Ch. 171.
[Amended 3-20-2001 by Ord. No. 01-01BH]
Words, terms, and phrases used in this chapter are defined in N.J.A.C.
7:9A-2.1 of the "Standards for the Construction of Individual Subsurface Sewage
Disposal Systems, 1989" and shall have the same meaning as set forth in said
section.
A.
A closed sewage tank or holding tank as a means of sewage
disposal may be constructed and used only by special permission by the Board
of Health. Such permission will be considered only in cases where soil tests
and an engineer's report or certification indicate that the septic system
will not function properly within the meaning of the "Standards for the Construction
of Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, 1989" and the conditions
set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-3.4 et seq. have been met, and in cases where no
other satisfactory method of handling sewage is available at the time of such
application.
B.
The Board of Health shall have the power to hear and decide such application where the provisions of Subsection A above have been met. The Board may grant such special permission where a showing of one of the following conditions has been made to its satisfaction: where prior existing methods of sewage disposal as to the lot in question have failed and where the Board is satisfied that such failure cannot be rectified.
C.
No permission will be granted with respect to closed
sewage tanks or action taken under the terms of this section unless the Board
is satisfied that such relief can be granted without danger to the health
and welfare of the residents of the township.
The use of a closed sewage tank by more than one property, dwelling,
commercial unit or other premises is prohibited unless such property, dwelling,
commercial unit or other premises is constructed, designed, located or plumbed
in such manner that it is impossible to construct separate closed sewage tanks
for the same pursuant to the provisions of this section. Permission may be
granted by the administrative authority for joint use of a closed sewage tank
only if these facts are established and assurance is given in that only one
person will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the system.
A construction permit will require the owner of the property to comply
with the following conditions:
A.
The tank shall be fabricated or reinforced concrete or
of twelve-gauge steel or better that is properly treated with an asphaltum
material both inside and outside. The only openings to the tank shall be a
vent pipe and a cleanout that will be capped or plugged.
B.
The tanks shall be equipped with a gauge to indicate
the amount of effluent in the tank, the gauge being located in an easily accessible
place in the dwelling. Additionally, an electrically activated alarm to indicate
when the tank is full shall also be required.
C.
In the case of a residential property, the tank shall
hold a minimum of 3,000 gallons. The capacity of the tank shall be increased
by no fewer than 500 gallons for each bedroom in excess of three. For nonresidential
properties, the tanks shall have a minimum capacity of 2,500 gallons and an
additional capacity of 500 gallons for each five persons or fraction thereof
over 20 persons usually or seasonally employed in the establishment to be
served by such tank.
D.
The design, layout and specifications of the vault and
of the entire system must be approved by the designated authorized agent of
the East Amwell Board of Health before construction and installation begins,
and an additional approval from such authority when completed but before the
tank is covered.
E.
Every realty improvement utilizing a closed sewage tank
or holding tank that is not connected to a public water supply shall be equipped
with a water meter which shall be installed outside of the building it serves
so that it may be read without the necessity of gaining access to the interior
of the premises. The owners of the realty improvements served by closed sewage
tanks or holding tanks preexisting adoption of this section shall have until
120 days after date of the ordinance to install the required water meter.
A.
A use permit will be granted to the owner of property
on which a closed sewage system has been installed only on the following conditions:
(1)
Receipt by the Board of Health of a statement signed
by the owner that he or she is cognizant of the costs of maintaining such
a system, recognizes his or her responsibility for its maintenance at all
times, and understands that any malfunction of the system must be corrected
immediately. In the case of a corporation, the statement required in this
subsection and the following subsection shall be signed by the president and
secretary of such corporation.
(2)
Receipt by the Board of Health of a copy of the pumping
contract signed by the owner and pumping contractor, stipulating that the
tank will be emptied as required. This contract must be renewed yearly or
upon the expiration thereof and a copy filed within the Board of Health.
B.
No person or corporation shall convey to another title
to any premises or part thereof that contains a closed sewage system, commonly
known as a "holding tank," without first obtaining from the Board of Health
a certificate stating that such holding tank complies with the requirements
of this chapter. However, title may be conveyed notwithstanding any such noncompliance
in cases where the grantee first executes an agreement with the township,
in form satisfactory to the Township Attorney, undertaking to bring the premises
into compliance within a specified period. The premises so conveyed shall
not be occupied until certified by the Board of Health to be in compliance
with the aforementioned chapter.
The owner of property on which a closed sewage system has been installed
shall make application for a continuing use permit within one calendar year
following the issuance of the initial use permit for the subject property.
Upon receipt of a complete application and the proper fee, the designated
authorized agent of the East Amwell Board of Health shall review the records
on file for the system and inspect the system itself for continued compliance
with the terms of this chapter. Upon completion of the inspection and correction
of any violations, a continuing use permit will be issued for a term of one
year. The process will be repeated each year by the owner as long as the closed
sewage system is in use.
A.
The tank or tanks of a closed sewage system shall be
emptied immediately when full, and no tank shall be permitted to run over
or leak. Tanks may be emptied only by persons holding a license to engage
in such business.
B.
The owner of any property served by a closed sewage tank
or holding tanks shall provide written notification to the Board of Health
every time the tank is emptied within five days of the tank having been emptied.
Said notification shall be completed on forms supplied by the Health Department
and shall include the following information:
(1)
The date of pumping.
(2)
The time of pumping.
(3)
Identification and phone number of the pumping company.
(4)
Total gallons removed.
(5)
Destination of tank contents.
(6)
The water meter reading at the time of pumping or within
12 hours of the time of pumping.
(7)
A copy of the pumping company's receipt verifying the
pumping.
The following fees and charges are established:
Any person violating any of the provisions of or any order promulgated
under this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty
set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:9A 1.7.
