[Ord. 65, 1/8/1985, Art. I]
This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Ralpho Township
Sewage Disposal System Maintenance Ordinance."
[Ord. 65, 1/8/1985, Art. II; as amended by Ord. 119, 4/14/1998]
ABSORPTION AREA — A component of a community
sewage system where the liquid from a septic tank or other treatment
tank seeps into the soil; it consists of an aggregate-filled area
containing piping for the distribution of liquid into the soil or
sand/soil combination located beneath the aggregate.
A system employing the use of demonstrated technology in
a manner not specifically recognized by Chapter 73 of the DEP rules
and regulations.
Any system, whether publicly or privately-owned, for the
collection of sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature from
two or more lots and for the treatment or disposal of the sewage or
industrial waste on one or more of the lots or at any other site.
Any method of sewage disposal not described in Chapter 73
of the DEP Rules and Regulations which is proposed for the purpose
of testing and observation.
Any liquid, gaseous, radioactive, solid or other substance
which is not sewage resulting from manufacturing or industry or other
plant or works and mine drainage, silt, coal mine solids, rock, debris,
dirt and clay from coal mines, coal collieries, breakers or other
coal processing operations. The term shall include all such substances
whether or not generally characterized as waste.
Any one or more of the following conditions:
Sewage flow is blocked or restricted in the sewage system which
causes the back-up of sewage into a building, structure or part thereof.
Sewage rises to the surface of the ground over a septic tank
or flows out of a septic tank vent.
Sewage rises to the surface of the ground over the absorption
area or downgrade from the absorption area at a bank or road cut.
Untreated or partially-treated sewage, liquid kitchen or laundry
wastes, or shower or bathtub washwater is discharged to the surface
of the ground or into the waters of the Commonwealth without specific
approval by DEP.
Sewage enters the water table without complete treatment resulting
in pollution of drinking water or the waters of the Commonwealth.
Any individual, association, public or private corporation
for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, firm, trust, estate.
The scum, grease, sludge and liquid which accumulates in
a septic tank.
A water-tight tank designed to retain sewage long enough
for satisfactory bacterial decomposition of the solids to take place
prior to its discharge to an absorption area.
Any substance that contains any of the waste products or
excrement or other discharges from the bodies of human being or animals.
The person or persons designated by the Township of Ralpho
to review and approve permit applications and conduct inspections
pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 71 and 73 of the DEP rules and
regulations.
Any alternate, experimental, community or individual sewage
system.
Very low or noncost ways to reduce water usage such as repairing
leaky faucets, running dish and clothes washers only when full, reducing
the length of showers, reducing the use of running water while shaving
or washing, etc.
Rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches,
watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, ponds, springs and
all other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and underground
water or any of their parts — whether natural or artificial
— within or on the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Ord. 65, 1/8/1985, Art. III]
1.
This Part applies to all community, alternate and experimental sewage
systems located within the Township of Ralpho.
2.
This Part shall not be interpreted in any way as governing, constraining
or limiting any actions that the Township or SEO may take regarding
any sewage system which is creating a nuisance or causing pollution
of the waters of the Commonwealth.
[Ord. 65, 1/8/1985, Art. IV; as amended by Ord. 119, 4/14/1998]
1.
Septic tanks shall be pumped to remove septage whenever the vertical
distance between the top of the sludge and the bottom of the outlet
baffle (distance A on Figure 1) is eight inches or less or whenever
the vertical distance between the bottom of the scum layer and the
bottom of the inlet baffle (distance B on Figure 1) is three inches
or less.
2.
The provisions of this subsection (1) notwithstanding, septic tanks shall be pumped to remove septage whenever three years or more have elapsed since the previous pumping.
3.
Roof drains, cellar drains, foundation drains, basement sump pumps
and other sources of rainwater or groundwater shall not be discharged
into any sewage system.
4.
The ground surface shall be graded so that stormwater runoff does
not pond or collect on the surface of the ground overlying the absorption
area.
5.
No industrial wastes shall be discharged into any sewage system without
first obtaining any permits required for such discharge by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection.
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6.
Solids such as coffee grounds, cigarette butts, etc., which degrade
slowly or do not settle well shall not be discharged into any sewage
system.
7.
Garbage grinders shall not be discharged into sewage systems which
experience a malfunction after the effective date of this Part unless
the system was completely replaced by a new system which fully meets
the requirements of Chapter 73 of the Department of Environmental
Protection Rules and Regulations.
8.
Gasoline, solvents, motor oils, other hydrocarbons, paints and other
chemicals which are not renovated by sewage systems shall not be discharged
into sewage systems.
9.
Pipes, tanks, joints, baffles, distribution boxes and all other parts
of sewage systems shall be maintained in sound working condition.
10.
Pumps, compressors, aerators, controls and other electrical or mechanical
equipment which are parts of sewage systems shall be maintained in
working order.
11.
Water conservation devices, as set forth in Ord. 63 [Chapter 26, Part 2], shall be installed and used in buildings which are served by sewage systems which experience a malfunction after the effective date of this Part. This provision shall in no way limit the applicability of said Ord. 63 as set forth in § 1 thereof [Chapter 26, § 201]. Rather, this Part shall be interpreted to expand the circumstances set forth in said Ord. 63 to which water conservation shall apply.
12.
If a sewage system which has an undersized septic tank according
to DEP regulations or no septic tank experiences a malfunction after
the effective date of this Part, the owner shall install a septic
tank which meets the requirements of Chapter 73 of the Department
of Environmental Protection Rules and Regulations.
[Ord. 65, 1/8/1985, Art. V]
1.
The SEO may enter at reasonable times any building, structure, premises,
lot or land for the purpose of making inspections to determine compliance
with the provisions of this Part.
2.
The SEO may request an owner of any sewage system to provide copies
of receipts or other evidence to substantiate when a septic tank was
last pumped in order to determine compliance with § 404(2).
3.
Whenever the SEO finds any condition or practice which is inconsistent
with the provisions of this Part, he may issue a written order to
the responsible person stating that the condition or practice found
is inconsistent with this Part and directing that the condition or
practice be abated, corrected or ceased within such time specified
in the order.
4.
After the expiration of the time period specified in any written
order, the SEO shall determine whether the order has been complied
with and notify the responsible person in writing if the order has
not been complied with.
5.
In the event of noncompliance with any order, the SEO may issue a
subsequent order stating again that the condition or practice found
is inconsistent with this Part and directing that the condition or
practice be abated, corrected or ceased within such time specified
in this order.
[Ord. 65, 1/8/1985, Art. VI; as amended by Ord. 119, 4/14/1998]
Any person, firm or corporation who fails to comply with an
order made by the SEO under § 405 of this Part, upon conviction
thereof in an action brought before a district justice in the manner
provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania
Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not
more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine
and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day
that a violation of this Part continues or each Section of this Part
which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate
offense.
