The purpose of this chapter 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
chapter is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health,
safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this Hatfield Township.
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise, the
meaning of terms used herein shall be as follows:
ACT 537 PLAN
Hatfield 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 to 750.20a ("Sewage Facilities
Act" or "Act 537").
AUTHORITY
The Hatfield Township Municipal Authority.
DEPARTMENT
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
GRINDER PUMP
Any electric-motor-driven, submersible 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.
HATFIELD TOWNSHIP
Hatfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a First-Class
Township having an address of 1950 School Road, Hatfield, PA 19440.
IMPROVED PROPERTY
Any parcel of real estate located within Hatfield 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 structure sewage
shall or may be discharged.
PLANNING APPROVAL
Those approvals required by the Sewage Facilities Act, ordinances
of Hatfield Township and/or regulations of the Authority prior to discharging
sewage (as defined herein) into the Authority's sanitary sewer system,
and may include the following:
A.
OFFICIAL PLAN REVISIONA change in the Hatfield Township 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, subject to those exemptions contained in 25 Pa.Code 71.51(b).
B.
UPDATE REVISIONA comprehensive revision to the Act 537 Plan required when the Department or Hatfield Township determines the official plan or one or more of its parts is inadequate for the existing or future sewage facilities needs of Hatfield Township or its residents or landowners.
C.
SPECIAL STUDYA study, survey, investigation, inquiry, research report or analysis which is directly related to an update revision. The studies provide documentation or other support necessary to solve specific problems identified in the update revision.
PROPERTY OWNER
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial,
of any property located in Hatfield Township.
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 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 Stream Law, 35 P.S. §§ 691.1 to 691.1001, as amended.
The connection of proposed new land development or a proposed new improved
property 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 receiving planning approval from the Authority, Hatfield
Township and the Department. All existing improved properties containing a
grinder pump prior to the passage of this chapter are exempt from the provisions
contained herein.
In the event Hatfield Township or the Authority elects to perform the
property owner's obligations contained in this chapter or any agreements
entered into by the property owner and Hatfield Township or the Authority,
Hatfield Township and/or the Authority shall charge the property owner the
cost incurred by Hatfield Township or the Authority in performing any of the
property owner's obligations, and the property owner shall reimburse
Hatfield Township and/or the Authority for all such costs within 30 days after
such costs are billed.
In the event of the property owner's failure to perform under this
chapter or any subsequent agreements resulting herefrom, Hatfield Township
and/or the Authority shall have the right to pursue whatever legal or equitable
remedy they shall deem appropriate, including but not limited to bringing
an action for specific performance against the property owner to compel compliance
with this chapter or any subsequent agreement resulting herefrom. Hatfield
Township and/or the Authority shall also have the right to file a lien against
the property to secure to Hatfield Township and/or the Authority any reimbursement
of costs due to them.
In addition to any other remedies provided in this chapter, any violation of §§
156-5 and
156-6 above shall constitute a nuisance and shall be abated by Hatfield Township or the Authority by either seeking mitigation of the nuisance or appropriate equitable or legal relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
All rules and regulations adopted by the Authority to effectuate this
chapter shall be in conformity with the provisions herein, all other ordinances
of Hatfield Township, and all applicable laws, and applicable rules and regulations
of administrative agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.