In areas where public sanitary sewers are not physically available
and operational, but are intended to be the means of wastewater management
according to the adopted Water Quality Management Plan (WMP) applicable
to an area, interim use of individual subsurface sewage disposal systems
(ISSDSs) by existing and proposed development is allowed. However,
at such time as the sanitary sewers are made available and operational,
connection of buildings or structures served by an ISSDS to the sewers
is required in accordance with this article.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ADOPTED SEWER SERVICE AREA
The area designated in the applicable adopted Water Quality
Management Plan (WMP), as updated by modifications adopted in accordance
with the Water Quality Management Planning Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:15,
within which wastewater that is generated is to be conveyed to the
wastewater treatment facility associated with the sewer service area.
INDIVIDUAL SUBSURFACE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM or ISSDS
A system for the disposal of less than or equal to 2,000
gallons per day of sanitary sewage into the ground. Typically such
systems are designed and constructed to treat sanitary sewage in a
manner that will retain most of the settleable solids in a septic
tank and discharge the liquid effluent to a disposal field, but similar
designs are also included (for example, those that include seepage
tanks or pits for effluent disposal and cesspools that may have been
constructed prior to current codes).
SANITARY SEWAGE
Any wastes, including wastes from humans, households, commercial
establishments and industries, that are discharged to or otherwise
enter a domestic treatment works.
Except as otherwise provided in this article, an owner of a
building or structure equipped with an ISSDS located on a property
abutting any street or sewerage easement in which a gravity sanitary
sewer line is operation and available shall promptly connect thereto
in a manner complying with the applicable state regulations and Township
ordinances, and cause all sewage on such premises to be discharged
into said sanitary sewer, provided that the building or structure
is located within the adopted sewer service area of the wastewater
treatment facility to which the sanitary sewer line is connected and
use of the ISSDS is discontinued.
This article shall not apply to buildings or structures for
which a sanitary sewer line is considered not to be available in accordance
with N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.6(e), as amended or supplemented, or is not operational
in accordance with a valid treatment works approval. Sanitary sewers
which are considered not available or not operational for the purposes
of this article include:
A. Those connections to the sanitary sewer line that cannot be accomplished
without requiring the installation of a pumping station; blasting
of bedrock; the acquisition of an easement or right-of-way to cross
an adjoining property; or the crossing of a watercourse, railway,
major highway or other significant obstacle;
B. Where the sanitary sewer line is located 100 feet or more from the
building or structure to be served;
C. Where the sanitary sewer has received a Stage II "construction only"
treatment works approval in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-22.9 and
has not yet received a Stage III treatment works approval, which is
an approval to operate the treatment works in accordance with N.J.A.C.
7:14A-22.10, until such time as the Stage III treatment works approval
is approved; or
D. Where the sanitary sewer line or receiving sewage treatment plant
is subject to a sewer connection ban in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-22.17,
until such time as the sewer connection ban is lifted.
Such connection shall be accomplished on or before the expiration
of 90 days following the date the sanitary sewer line becomes available
and operational or the effective date of this article, whichever should
occur later.
Upon connecting to the sanitary sewer, the ISSDS shall be pumped
and all its contents removed by a licensed septic cleaner. The lid
of the septic tank and/or cesspool shall then be broken or removed
and the tank and/or cesspool backfilled with clean fill.
In the event of noncompliance with the terms of this article,
the Township Health Official or Zoning Officer is authorized to order
such connection by written notice signed by the Zoning Officer or
Health Official and served either upon the owner(s) personally or
by mail. If, following service of such an order in the manner described
above, the owner(s) should fail to connect within 30 days of receipt
of the aforesaid order, the owner(s) shall be subject to a fine of
up to $300 per day.