[Adopted 8-16-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-2]
A.
Purpose. 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 the Township.
B.
Authority. The Township is authorized by law to enact ordinances
or adopt resolutions regarding sewage conveyance, treatment and disposal.
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise,
the meaning of terms used in this article shall be as follows:
The Township's official plan as defined in the Pennsylvania
Sewage Facilities Act, Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. (1965) 1535,
No. 537, as amended, 35 P.S. §§ 750.1 through 750.20a
("Sewage Facilities Act" or "Act 537").
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 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.
A change in the Township's Act 537 Plan to provide for
additional or newly identified future or existing sewage facilities
needs, as defined fully in Section 2 of the Sewage Facilities Act,
35 P.S. § 750.2.
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole
or partial, of any property located in the Township.
A plumber who is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and possesses adequate insurance as required by the Township.
Any substance that contains any of the waste products or
excrement or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals,
or 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
that constitutes pollution under the Clean Streams Law, 35 P.S. §§ 691.1
through 691.1001, as amended.
Thornbury Township and/or its Board of Supervisors.
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 Township's
Act 537 Plan, approved by both the Township and the Department, designates
that the proposed properties be served by such a connection.
A.
The Township is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt by resolution
such rules and regulations concerning sewage that it may deem necessary,
from time to time, to properly operate and maintain the sewer system.
Such rules and regulations shall be maintained at the Township building
for inspection during normal office hours.
B.
The 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 Township'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 effect the purposes of this article.
B.
The Township may enter into an agreement with each property owner,
or representative homeowner association representing multiple property
owners located within a development, 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.
The installation, use, operation, maintenance, service, repair and
replacement of all grinder pumps and low-pressure sewer systems shall
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Township and
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
All grinder pumps and low-pressure sewer systems shall be connected
to the sewage collection and conveyance system only after receiving
a permit from the Township. The Township shall also be responsible
for the permitting and inspection of any replacement, repair, or modification
of the sewer system located on a property owner's land.
E.
The Township shall prescribe the type of grinder pumps that may be
used by the Township residents and may maintain or make arrangements
for the provision of extra grinder pump replacement parts, including
pumps and controls for emergency repair or replacement on short notice.
F.
The Township shall maintain, repair, replace, and service only that
portion of each low-pressure sewage system that is located within
the public right-of-way, unless otherwise set forth in writing in
an agreement with a property owner.
A.
Each property owner whose sewer system contains a grinder pump shall
be responsible for all charges related to permitting, operations,
maintenance, and repairs to the low-pressure sewer system up to the
public right-of-way.
B.
Each owner whose property is served by a grinder pump shall bear
full responsibility for installing, using, operating, maintaining,
repairing, replacing, and servicing his/her grinder pump and its low-pressure
force main or lateral up to the public right-of-way, unless otherwise
set forth herein. Any work conducted on the grinder pump, pump components,
or the property owner's portion of the sewer system, other than
routine maintenance, cleaning, and emergency repairs, must be performed
by a qualified technician subject to a permit from the Township.
C.
For any emergency repair conducted on a property owner's sewer
system, including the grinder pump and its components, a permit is
not required to be obtained prior to such work being done. Upon completion
of emergency repairs, the property owner, whether from the property
owner or through his/her qualified technician, shall submit a report
to the Township describing the emergency repairs that were completed.
The property owner is responsible for any fees associated with a post-repair
inspection by the Township.
D.
Each owner whose property is served by a grinder pump shall have
responsibility for using and maintaining the pump consistent with
the manufacturer's instructions and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the Township and shall avoid introducing into the sewerage
system any material that could damage the impellers on the pump, including,
but not limited to, items designated as biodegradable in septic tanks.
E.
Each owner whose property is 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 the property is inoperable
for more than 90 days.
F.
Where the low-pressure force main or lateral is shared between property
owners, the property owners 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 run with the land and 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 installation of the system
until evidence is presented that the declaration has been recorded
in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
All rules and regulations adopted by the Township to effectuate
this article shall be in conformity with the provisions herein, all
other ordinances of the Township, and all applicable laws and applicable
rules and regulations of administrative agencies of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
