[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the
installation, use and maintenance of existing and new residential,
commercial or industrial sewage grinder pump systems and any associated
force mains or low-pressure laterals ("sewage grinder pumps").
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise,
the meaning of terms used in this article shall be as follows:
ACT 537 PLAN
The 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 - 750.20a and which
may be further amended or supplemented ("Sewage Facilities Act" or
"Act 537").
COUNCIL
The Council of Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
DEPARTMENT
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
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.
OFFICIAL PLAN REVISION
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 1 of the Sewage Facilities Act.
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 §§ 691.1-691.1001,
as amended.
SEWAGE GRINDER PUMP
Any electric-motor-driven, submersible, centrifugal pump
capable of macerating all material found in normal residential, commercial
and industrial 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.
TOWNSHIP
Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
The connection of existing or new properties to an existing
or new sewerage system through the use of sewage grinder pumps shall
occur only after an Official Plan Revision to the Township's
Act 537 Plan is approved by both the Township and the Department.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
(a) The Township is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt, by resolution
from time to time, such rules and regulations concerning sewage grinder
pumps which it may deem necessary to effect the purposes herein.
(b) The Township is further authorized and empowered to take such other
actions deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, entering
into agreements with property owners to assure the proper installation,
use and maintenance of sewage grinder pumps within the Township.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
(a) Each property owner whose property is served by a sewage grinder
pump shall bear full responsibility for providing, installing, using,
operating, maintaining, servicing, repairing and replacing the sewage
grinder pump.
(b) Each property owner whose property is served by a sewage grinder
pump shall have full responsibility for the installation, use and
maintenance of the sewage grinder pump consistent with the manufacturer's
instructions and shall avoid introducing into the sewage grinder pump
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 whose property is served by a sewage grinder
pump shall close the sanitary sewer lateral servicing the property
and cease use of the property during any period when the sewage grinder
pump is inoperable for more than 24 hours.
(d) Where the sewage grinder pump is shared between property owners whose
properties are served by a sewage grinder pump, such property owners
shall submit to the Township a declaration of easements, covenants
and restrictions in recordable form setting forth the obligations
of the property owners with respect to the installation, use, operation,
maintenance, service, repair and replacement of the sewage grinder
pump, which declaration shall be legally binding on the property owners,
their successors and assigns. The Township will not issue a permit
for the installation, use or maintenance of such sewage grinder pump
until evidence satisfactory to the Township that the declaration of
easements, covenants and restrictions has been recorded in the Office
for the Recording of Deeds, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, is received.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
All such rules and regulations adopted by the Township shall
be in conformity with the provisions of this article, other ordinances
of the Township and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations
of the Department and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
Council shall have the right and power by resolution from time
to time to fix, alter, charge and collect rates, assessments, bonds
and other charges, fees or costs, as may be necessary to properly
administer and enforce this article.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article
shall, upon conviction thereof by summary proceeding, be sentenced
to pay a fine not to exceed the sum of $1,000 dollars and in default
of said fine and costs to undergo imprisonment in the county prison
for a period not in excess of 30 days.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
In addition to any other remedies provided in this article,
any violation of this article shall constitute a nuisance and may
be abated by the Township by seeking appropriate equitable or legal
relief from any court of competent jurisdiction.
[Ord. No. 1466, § 1, 9-11-2006]
All ordinances or resolutions or parts of ordinances or resolutions,
insofar as they are inconsistent herewith, be and the same are hereby
repealed.