Township of Springfield, PA Swimming Pools

Any structure or device, whether prefabricated or not and whether permanent, semipermanent, movable or portable, intended to be used for bathing or swimming purposes shall be included within the meaning and intent of this chapter, provided that such structure or device has such capacity at any point therein as to be able to hold water to a depth of three feet or more.

Any structure or device otherwise covered by the provisions of this chapter, but which does not have a dimension of width, length, breadth or diameter of 10 feet, shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter, except for the requirements with respect to the installation of a fence and gate specified in § 98-5.

§ 98-2 Permits required.

Any person or persons, club, firm, corporation, partnership, institution or association desiring to construct, add to or modify, or to operate or continue to operate, any bathhouse, bathing or swimming place or swimming pool, natatorium or any structure intended to be used for bathing or swimming purposes, indoors or outdoors, shall, in addition to any other permits required by law, first secure a permit from the Building Inspector, and also a permit from the Health Officer of Springfield Township.

§ 98-3 Application for permits; issuance.

Permits shall be obtained in the following manner:

The applicant shall submit to the Building Inspector such plans, drawings, specifications, maps or other data as may be required by him as shall satisfactorily indicate:

(1)

The location and nature of the fence and gate required by § 98-5 of this chapter.

(2)

The method and manner by which the device or structure is to be emptied, showing whether such emptying is contemplated to be made into the sanitary sewer or the storm sewer or into a stream or upon open land, together with the nature of the connections thereto.

After investigation and upon such advice and assistance from the Health Officer as the Building Inspector may deem necessary, the Building Inspector shall issue his permit if he shall conclude that the proposed structure is to be located in accordance with applicable construction and fencing requirements of the township, and upon payment of the necessary fees.

The Health Officer, after investigation, shall issue his permit if he shall determine that the method or manner of emptying the pool and the connections to such sanitary sewer, storm sewer or open stream, as shown on such plans and data accompanying the application, are not contrary or dangerous to the public health and are not otherwise contrary to the public interest or maintenance of the public sanitary sewer system or storm sewer system, or other property owners.

§ 98-4 Location restrictions.

No pool shall be constructed within 10 feet of a property line, which is herein defined to mean the line dividing a property from an adjacent property or from a public right-of-way or alleyway.

§ 98-5 Fencing requirements.

A fence of the nature to be approved by the Building Inspector shall be erected and thereafter maintained completely around the perimeter of any outdoor swimming pool, bathing pool, structure or device covered by this chapter. Such fence shall be at least four feet in height, shall have a self-locking type gate, and shall be such as to prevent stray animals or children from going under or through.

§ 98-6 Fees.

[Amended 11-11-1970 by Ord. No. 600]

The following fees shall be paid to the Township for the issuance of such permit for the pumping of all swimming pools:

[Amended 7-11-1984 by Ord. No. 725; 5-11-2011 by Ord. No. 910]

(1)

A fee of $20 for each permit, plus an additional $10 for each 5,000 gallons or part thereof of capacity of such pool, up to 25,000 gallons, if it is to be emptied to the sanitary sewer.

(2)

The sum of $20 for each permit, plus an additional $5 for each 5,000 gallons or part thereof of capacity of such pool, up to 25,000 gallons, if sanitary sewers are not available, and the pool is to be emptied into the storm sewer in accordance with Ch. 88, Stormwater Management.

Each year subsequent to the issuance of the permit and in respect to the device or structure for which the permit applies, the same sum shall be paid to the township for the use of such sewers, except that the twenty-dollar fee need not be paid.

§ 98-7 Inspections and tests.

The Health Officer shall from time to time inspect the pool and its appurtenances and test the water for the purpose of determining whether the same is maintained and treated so as not to be a health menace and so as to be in accordance with all requirements and standards of the Department of Health and any other statutes or regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Health Officer shall promptly in writing notify any owner and/or operator of such pool and the Pennsylvania Department of Health of such deficiencies in such maintenance and treatment, and such owner or operator shall promptly remedy the same.

§ 98-8 Regulations for construction and maintenance.

The following regulations promulgated by the Health Officer regarding the construction, maintenance and use of swimming pools are hereby approved by the Board of Township Commissioners:

No pool shall be emptied other than in accordance with the permit so issued, nor shall any pool in any event be emptied to grade or directly upon or into any ditch, gutter or street.

Notwithstanding the issuance of such permit, no pool shall be emptied except upon at least 24 hours' prior notice to the Health Officer as to the exact time for such emptying and approval by the Health Officer as to the contemplated time.

Water supply, recirculating and drainage piping must be of an approved material, and cast iron or an approved equal, as determined by the Health Officer, shall be used on all underground waste lines.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code]

The water supply must be provided with an approved air gap to prevent backflow.

Filter backwash and pool discharge piping shall be provided with an approved safe waste connection.

Filter backwash and pool drainage piping shall be discharged in a manner approved for drainage systems. In the event sewers are not available, a separate private disposal system must be provided.

In unsewered areas, the discharge from a swimming pool shall be disposed through a loose well of regulation size, four feet in diameter, with a liquid capacity of 10 feet below the inlet to the well.

The soil, percolation test and construction of the well shall be approved by the Plumbing Inspector.

When a disposal system is used, there shall be a house trap with a fresh-air inlet to grade installed on the fixture side of the loose well. A main stack shall be installed if the catch basin is located a greater distance than 12 feet from a vented line.

Discharge in sewered areas shall be to a sanitary sewer, unless other approved methods of discharge are sanctioned by the Health Officer.

An approved filtration system with backwash filter and chlorinator shall be installed.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code]

§ 98-9 Intent; other laws and regulations.

It is the intent of this chapter to be supplementary to and not contrary to any laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or regulations of any of its executive agencies.

§ 98-10 Violations and penalties.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code; 7-13-1988 by Ord. No. 756]

Any person or persons, club, firm, corporation, partnership, institution or association violating any of the provisions of this chapter or failing to comply with any of the provisions hereof shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 and costs. Each day that such violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense and be punishable as herein provided.