As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ACT 537
The Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. 1535, as amended, 35 P.S.
§ 750.1 et seq., known as the "Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act."
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A person with demonstrated knowledge and experience regarding
on-lot sewage disposal system design, operation, and maintenance who
is authorized to function within specified limits as an agent of Westtown
Township to administer or enforce the provisions of this article.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors, Westtown Township, Chester County,
Pennsylvania.
COMMUNITY ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEM
A sewage system which serves two or more lots, or two or
more equivalent dwelling units, and uses a system of piping, tanks,
or other facilities for collecting, treating, and disposing of sewage
into a soil absorption area, retaining tank, or cesspool.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania (DEP).
INDIVIDUAL ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEM
A sewage system which serves a single lot and a single equivalent
dwelling unit, and uses a system of piping, tanks, or other facilities
for collecting, treating, and disposing of sewage into a soil absorption
area, spray field, retaining tank, or cesspool.
INITIAL TREATMENT UNIT
Term used to describe the on-lot disposal system receiving
unit to which sewage is delivered from a sewage generating facility.
The term includes, but is not limited to, septic tanks, aerobic treatment
units, and cesspools.
LIQUID WASTE
Septage pumped from septic tanks, cesspools, holding tanks,
privies, or chemical toilets which does not include any toxic, industrial,
or hazardous wastes.
LIQUID WASTE HAULER
Any person engaged in the business of pumping and transporting
liquid waste within Chester County using vehicles licensed by the
Chester County Health Department.
LOT
A parcel of land, undivided by any street or dedicated future
street right-of-way. Such parcel shall be separately described by
metes and bounds, the description of which is recorded in the office
of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County by deed description or
is described by an approved subdivision plan recorded in the office
of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County.
MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR
A private independent contractor who has been given training
by the original equipment manufacturer on the operations of applicable
sewage system components, has been authorized by the manufacturer
to service said components, or has demonstrated technical expertise
in the field of on-lot sewage system maintenance. All maintenance
contractors shall be approved by the Township to provide such maintenance
services within the borders of the Township.
MALFUNCTION
A condition which occurs when an on-lot sewage disposal system
discharges sewage onto the surface of the ground, into groundwaters
of this commonwealth, into surface waters of this commonwealth, backs
up into a building connected to the system or in any manner causes
a nuisance or hazard to the public health or pollution of ground-
or surface water or contamination of public or private drinking water
wells. Systems shall be considered to be malfunctioning if any condition
noted above occurs for any length of time during any period of the
year.
OFFICIAL SEWAGE FACILITIES ACT 537 PLAN
A comprehensive plan for the provisions of adequate sewage
disposal systems, adopted by the Board and approved by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, pursuant to the Pennsylvania
Sewage Facilities Act.
PERSON
Any individual, association, public or private corporation
for profit or not for profit, partnership, firm, trust, estate, department,
board, bureau or agency of the commonwealth, political subdivision,
municipality, district, authority, or any other legal entity whatsoever
which is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties. Whenever
used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty or imposing
a fine or imprisonment, the term "person" shall include the members
of an association, partnership or firm and the officers of any local
agency or municipal, public or private corporation for profit or not
for profit.
REHABILITATION
Work done to modify, alter, repair, enlarge or replace an
existing on-lot sewage disposal system.
RETAINING TANK
A watertight receptacle that receives and retains sewage
and is designed and constructed to facilitate the ultimate disposal
of the sewage at another site. This term is synonymous with the term
"holding tank."
SEPTAGE
The residual scum, sludge, and other materials pumped from,
but not limited to, initial treatment units, other treatment tanks,
retaining tanks, pump tanks, and the systems they serve.
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 substances 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 which constitutes
pollution under the Act of June 22, 1937 (P.L. 1987, No. 394), known
as "the Clean Streams Law," as amended.
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
A person certified by DEP who is employed by the Chester
County Health Department. Such person is authorized to conduct investigations
and inspections, review permit applications, and do all other activities
as may be provided for such person in the Sewage Facilities Act, the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and this article or any
other ordinance adopted by the Township or Chester County Health Department.
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
A comprehensive set of legal and administrative requirements
encompassing the requirements of this article, the Sewage Facilities
Act, the Clean Streams Law, the regulations promulgated thereunder
and such other requirements adopted by the Board to effectively enforce
and administer this article.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Westtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania.