[Adopted 12-13-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-09]
[1]
Editor's Note: These regulations are applicable
to both the DARA and Eagleview service areas.
The purpose of this article 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 article is necessary
for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety
and welfare of the inhabitants of Uwchlan Township.
Unless the context specifically and clearly
indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this article shall
be as follows:
A municipality'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. §§ 750.1-750.20a ("Sewage
Facilities Act" or "Act 537").[1]
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Any electric motor driven, submersible, centrifugal or semi-positive
displacement pump capable of macerating all material found in normal
domestic sanitary sewage, 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.[2]
[Amended 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
Uwchlan Township, Chester County Pennsylvania.
A change in the Municipality'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 the Municipality.
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. §§ 691.1-691.1001,
as amended.
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 Uwchlan Township's Act 537 Plan, approved by both Uwchlan Township
and Department, designates that the proposed properties be served
by such a connection.
A.
Uwchlan 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.
Uwchlan 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 within Uwchlan Township's
borders, including, but not limited to, sewage grinder pumps and any
associated force mains or low-pressure laterals.
A.
The Municipality shall exercise its powers and legal
authority set forth herein, and under all applicable statutes, ordinances,
and other laws to affect the purposes of this article.
B.
The Municipality 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
Uwchlan 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 Municipality in effect
from time to time.
E.
Uwchlan Township shall maintain control over the type
of grinder pumps used and assure that full service capability is available
locally on short notice.
F.
Uwchlan 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.
G.
The Municipality shall own, maintain, and operate
low-pressure force mains serving multiple properties and located within
the public right-of-way or right-of-way granted to Uwchlan Township
and which connect to the Uwchlan Township sewer system.
A.
Each property owner served by a grinder pump shall
bear full responsibility for 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 other rotating assembly
on the pump, including, but not limited to, items designated as biodegradable
in septic tanks.
[Amended 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
C.
Each property owner served by a grinder pump shall
isolate the private pressure lateral from the public low pressure
system and cease operations during any period when the grinder pump
and/or low-pressure system serving a property is inoperable for more
than 30 days.
[Amended 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
D.
Low-pressure force mains and laterals that pump to
a public sewer adjoining the property shall be owned and maintained
by the property owner. Low-pressure laterals or force mains may not
be shared by multiple property owners, except for low-pressure force
mains approved by the Township as jointly used force mains that are
located within the public right-of-way or right-of-way granted to
Uwchlan Township.
[Added 4-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-02]
A.
In those structures where it is deemed by the Township
Engineer and the Township Sanitation Superintendent that it is impractical
to service a structure by a gravity-fed sewer line, individual sewage
grinder pumps shall be permitted to be installed but only in accordance
with the guidelines listed below:
[Amended 10-22-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-04; 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
(1)
In all such instances, two pumps shall be required, one acting as
a backup unit, with a check valve and gate valve system required.
A switch panel, consisting of automatic and manual switches, shall
be provided to allow automatic alternate use of each pump.
(2)
The pump system shall include an alarm system that will alert the
property owner of a disruption of service.
(3)
The pumps shall be a duplex grinder type, capable of pumping at a
velocity of at least two feet per second.
(4)
The tank volume required shall be a minimum of 150 gallons and constructed
of fiberglass, concrete or high density polyethylene plastic and shall
be placed below grade. In no instance shall aboveground tanks be permitted.
It shall be illegal to allow drainage water to flow into this tank.
(5)
The pump should be fitted with a suitable gastight cover, and should
be properly vented.
(6)
The placement of electrical controls for the pump system and the
tank shall be located in accordance with the recommendation of the
Township Sanitation Superintendent or his authorized representative.
(7)
Prior to an occupancy permit being issued, the purchaser shall have
given to him, by the seller, a manual of operation for the sewer grinder
pump system.
(8)
For each individual pump system, an inspection fee as set by resolution
of the Board of Supervisors shall be paid by the property owner. The
inspection of the pump system shall be done by the Township Sanitation
Superintendent or his authorized representative. Approval of the system
must be received before an occupancy permit will be issued.
B.
When subdivision plan is received, contours will be
checked to make sure, wherever possible, basement sewage service is
available to individual structures.
C.
Any person, partnership, firm or corporation who shall
violate any provision of this section shall be served by the Township
with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing
a ten-day period within which any such violation shall be corrected
to the satisfaction of the Township Sanitation Superintendent or his
authorized representative.
D.
Any person, partnership, firm or corporation who continues
any violation beyond the ten-day period shall be guilty of a summary
offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000,
plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant
may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days.
A new and separate violation shall be deemed to have been committed
for each day any violation continues beyond the ten-day period. Enforcement
of this article shall be by action brought before a Magisterial District
Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses
under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Township Solicitor
may assume charge of the prosecution without the consent of the District
Attorney.
[Amended 3-24-1997 by Ord. No. 97-05[1]]
E.
All fines and penalties imposed for violation of any
provision of this section shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Township
for the use of the Township. Default in payment of the fine and costs
shall make the defendant liable to imprisonment for a term not to
exceed 30 days.
[Amended 3-24-1997 by Ord. No. 97-05]
F.
Any person, partnership, firm or corporation violating
any provision of this section shall also be liable to the Township
for any expense, loss or damage caused to the Township by reason of
such violation. A continuing violation may also be cause for the Township
to disconnect service to the property. Such disconnection shall only
take place after the affected party shall have received written notification
of such possible action by certified mail. In the certified letter
it will again be explained exactly what violation is existing.
All such rules and regulations adopted by Uwchlan
Township to effectuate this article shall be in conformity with the
provisions herein, all other ordinances of Uwchlan Township, and all
applicable laws, and applicable rules and regulations of administrative
agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
