[Adopted 9-28-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
The purpose of this Part 4 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 4 is necessary for the protection,
benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the
inhabitants of this municipality.
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise,
the meaning of terms in this Part 4 shall be as follows:
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).
An authority, as defined by the Municipality Authorities
Act of 2001 (2001, June 19, P.L. 287, No. 22, and as amended thereafter,
53 Pa.C.S.A. § 5601 et seq.).
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Any electric-motor-driven, submersible, centrifugal 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.
Any property within Towamencin 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.
Board of Supervisors authorized by law to enact ordinances
or adopt resolutions regarding sewage conveyance, treatment and disposal
in Towamencin Township.
Board of Supervisors of Towamencin Township, Montgomery 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 Towamencin 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
through 691.1001, as amended.
The connection of existing properties or proposed new land development
to an existing or proposed sewage 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 Municipality's
Act 537 Plan, approved by both the municipality and Department, designates
that the proposed properties be served by such a connection.
A.
Towamencin 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.
Towamencin 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 the municipality's borders,
including, but not limited to, sewage grinder pumps and any associated
force mains or low-pressure laterals.
A.
The Township 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 Part 4.
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 Towamencin Township,
which are adopted by resolution 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, which are adopted
by resolution from time to time.
E.
The Township shall maintain control over the type of grinder pumps
used and assure that full service capability is available locally
on short notice.
F.
Towamencin 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.
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 on the pump, including, but not limited to,
items designated as biodegradable in septic tanks.
C.
Each property owner served by a grinder pump shall close the sewage
system and cease operations during any period when the grinder pump
and/or low-pressure system serving a property is inoperable.
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 Office for the Recording of Deeds, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
