The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the
use and maintenance of existing and new privies and holding tanks
which are designed to receive and retain sewage.
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise,
the meaning of terms used in this article shall be as follows:
AGENT
Any person empowered by the Township and/or the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania to enforce the provisions of this article. The term
agent shall include, but shall not be limited to, any certified Sewage
Enforcement Officer duly appointed by the Board of Supervisors of
the Township of Potter.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Potter, Centre
County, Pennsylvania.
HOLDING TANK
A watertight receptacle, whether permanent or temporary,
which receives and retains sewage conveyed by a water carrying system
and is designed and constructed to facilitate the ultimate disposal
of the sewage at another site. For purposes of this article, a holding
tank shall have a capacity of no less than 1,000 gallons.
IMPROVED PROPERTY
Any property within the 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.
MUNICIPALITY
Township of Potter, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
OWNER
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole
or partial, of any property located in the Township.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, company, association, corporation
or other group or entity.
PRIVY
A watertight tank designed to receive sewage where water
under pressure or piped water are not available.
SEWAGE
Any substance that contains any of the waste products, 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. Sewage shall include
"gray water," which is further defined as discharge from any shower,
tub, sink, washing machine or other facility used for bathing or washing,
including dishwater and water softener discharge.
The Board is hereby authorized and empowered to regulate as
specified herein, within the Township, the methods of holding tank
use, privy use, sewage collection, transportation and disposal resulting
from such use.
The Board 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 purpose herein. All such rules and regulations
adopted by the Board shall be in conformity with the provisions herein,
all other ordinances of the Township, and all applicable laws, rules
and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Board shall have the right and power to fix, alter, charge,
and collect fees, assessments and other charges as may be authorized
by applicable law and as may be deemed necessary to implement the
provisions of this article.
In addition to any other remedies provided in this article, any violation of §
156-24 of this article shall constitute a nuisance and shall be abated by the Township or its agent either by seeking mitigation of the nuisance or appropriate relief from a court of competent jurisdiction. The owner of improved property shall be responsible for any cost to the Township or its agent relative to abatement of nuisances.
Any person failing to comply with any provisions of this article
shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 and costs, and not
more than $5,000 and costs, or in default thereof shall be confined
in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days. Each day
of noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense.