As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AGGREGATE
Coarse material manufactured from stone, gravel or slag,
having Type B characteristics as described in Department of Transportation
specifications, Form 408, Section 703.3, Table B, and uniform size
and grading equivalent to American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials No. 57, as described in Form 408, Section
703.3, Table C.
AGRICULTURAL AREAS
Areas used primarily for the production of crops and where
the soil is without vegetative cover during certain periods of the
year.
BONDED DISPOSAL SYSTEM
An individual sewage system located on a single lot serving
a single-family residence, where soil mottling is within 20 inches
of the mineral soil surface, the installation, operation and replacement
of which is guaranteed by the property owner.
BUILDING SEWER
Piping carrying liquid wastes from a building to the treatment
tank or holding tank.
BURIED SAND FILTER
A system of piping, sand media, aggregate and collection
piping in a buried liner used for the intermittent filtration and
biochemical treatment of sewage.
CONVENTIONAL SEWAGE SYSTEM
A system employing the use of demonstrated on-lot sewage
treatment and disposal technology in a manner specifically recognized
by this article. The term does not include alternate or experimental
sewage systems.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
DOSING PUMP
The pump housed in a dosing tank which provides a measured
volume of sewage effluent to the pressurized distribution system in
an absorption area.
EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT
For the purpose of determining the number of lots in a subdivision
only as it relates to the determination of planning exemptions and
fees for planning module reviews under this article, that part of
a multiple-family dwelling or commercial or industrial establishment
with flows equal to 400 gallons per day (GPD). These flow figures
are not intended to be used for the calculation of flows for the design
of community sewerage systems or for the allocation of flows related
to community sewerage systems. Community sewerage system flows for
design and permitting purposes shall be calculated using the procedures
established in the Department's Domestic Wastewater Facilities Manual
(DEP-1357).
EXPERIMENTAL SEWAGE SYSTEM
A method of on-lot sewage treatment and disposal not described
in this article which is proposed for the purpose of testing and observation.
FILTER TANK
The tank housing the piping and sand of the free-access sand
filter.
FORESTED AREAS
Areas where the predominant vegetative cover is comprised
of trees with a closed canopy.
FREE-ACCESS SAND FILTER
An accessible system of tanks, dose piping, sand media, aggregate
and collection piping used for the intermittent filtration and biochemical
treatment of sewage.
GEOTEXTILE
Material consisting of mesh polypropylene, polyester, nylon
or similar material, used to prevent migration of fine aggregate into
coarser aggregate.
GRASSED AREA
An area where the predominant vegetative cover is comprised
of grasses, bushes or trees not forming a closed canopy.
INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM
An individual sewage system which serves a single dwelling
and which treats and disposes of sewage using a system of piping,
treatment tanks and soil renovation through spray irrigation.
INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE SYSTEM
A system of piping, tanks or other facilities serving a single
lot and collecting and disposing of sewage in whole or in part into
the soil or into waters of this commonwealth or by means of conveyance
to another site for final disposal.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE
A 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 includes substances whether or
not generally characterized as waste.
LIFT PUMP
A submersible pump used to convey effluent to the sand filter
and from the sand filter to the chlorine/retention tank.
LIMITING ZONE
A soil horizon or condition in the soil profile or underlying
strata which includes one of the following:
A.
A seasonal high-water table, whether perched or regional, determined
by direct observation of the water table or indicated by soil mottling.
B.
A rock with open joints, fracture or solution channels, or masses
of loose rock fragments, including gravel, with insufficient fine
soil to fill the voids between the fragments.
C.
A rock formation, other stratum or soil condition which is so
slowly permeable that it effectively limits downward passage of effluent.
LOCAL AGENCY
A municipality (or any combination of municipalities acting
cooperatively or jointly under the laws of the commonwealth), county,
county department of health or joint county department of health.
LOT
A part of a subdivision or a parcel of land used as a building
site or intended to be used for building purposes, whether immediate
or future, which would not be further subdivided. Whenever a lot is
used for a multiple-family dwelling or for commercial, institutional
or industrial purposes, the lot shall be deemed to have been subdivided
into an equivalent number of single-family residential lots as determined
by estimated sewage flows.
MUNICIPALITY
A city, incorporated town, township, borough or home rule
municipality other than a county.
NSF
National Sanitation Foundation.
OFFICIAL PLAN
A Comprehensive Plan for the provision of adequate sewage
systems adopted by a municipality possessing authority over the provision
of the systems and submitted to and approved by the Department as
provided by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (35 P. S. § 750.1
et seq.) and 25 Pa. Code Ch. 71 (relating to administration of sewage
facilities program).
PERMIT ISSUANCE
A.
No person may install, award a contract for construction or
construct an individual or community on-lot sewage system or install,
construct, occupy or use a building to be served by that system without
first obtaining a permit from the local agency, except as provided
in Subsections C through E.
B.
A permit shall be required by the local agency for alterations
or connections to an existing individual or community on-lot sewage
system when the alteration or connection requires the repair, replacement
or enlargement of a treatment tank or retention tank or the repair,
replacement, disturbance, modification or enlargement of a soil absorption
area or spray field or the soil within or under the soil absorption
area or spray field.
PERSON
Includes an individual; association; public or private corporation
for profit or not for profit; partnership; firm; trust; estate; department;
board; bureau or agency of the United States or the commonwealth;
political subdivision; municipality; district; authority; or other
legal entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights and
duties. The term includes the members of an association, partnership
or firm and the officers of a local agency or municipal, public or
private corporation for-profit or not-for-profit.
QUALIFIED REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
A person registered to practice engineering in this commonwealth
who has experience in the characterization, classification, mapping
and interpretation of soils as they relate to the function of on-lot
sewage disposal systems.
QUALIFIED REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST
A person registered to practice geology in this commonwealth
who has experience in the characterization, classification, mapping
and interpretation of soils as they relate to the function of on-lot
sewage disposal systems.
QUALIFIED SOIL SCIENTIST
A person certified as a sewage enforcement officer and who
has documented two years' experience in the characterization, classification,
mapping and interpretation of soils as they relate to the function
of on-lot sewage disposal systems and either a bachelor of science
degree in soils science from an accredited college or university or
certification by the American Registry of Certified Professionals
in Agronomy, Crops and Soils.
RETAINING TANK
A watertight receptacle, which receives and retains sewage
and is designed and constructed to facilitate ultimate disposal of
the sewage at another site. The term includes the following:
A.
CHEMICAL TOILETA permanent or portable nonflushing toilet using chemical treatment in the retaining tank for odor control.
B.
HOLDING TANKA tank, whether permanent or temporary, to which sewage is conveyed by a water-carrying system.
C.
PRIVYA tank designed to receive sewage where water under pressure is not available.
E.
COMPOSTING TOILETA device for holding and processing human and organic kitchen waste employing the process of biological degradation through the action of microorganisms to produce a stable, humus-like material.
F.
RECYCLING TOILETA device in which the flushing medium is restored to a condition suitable for reuse in flushing.
SEWAGE
A substance that contains the waste products or excrement
or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals; a substance
harmful to the public health, to animal or aquatic life or to the
use of water for domestic water supply or for recreation; or a substance
which constitutes pollution under the Clean Streams Law.
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
An official of the local agency who reviews permit applications
and sewage facilities planning modules and issues permits as authorized
by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (35 P. S. § 750.1
et seq.) and conducts the investigations and inspections that are
necessary to implement the Act and regulations thereunder.
SEWAGE FACILITIES
A system of sewage collection, conveyance, treatment and
disposal which will prevent the discharge of untreated or inadequately
treated sewage or other waste into waters of this commonwealth or
otherwise provide for the safe and sanitary treatment and disposal
of sewage or other waste. The term includes:
A.
INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE SYSTEMA system of piping, tanks or other facilities serving a single lot and collecting and disposing of sewage in whole or in part into the soil or into waters of this commonwealth or by means of conveyance to another site for final disposal.
(1)
INDIVIDUAL ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEMAn individual sewage system which uses a system of piping, tanks or other facilities for collecting, treating or disposing of sewage into a soil absorption area or spray field or by retention in a retaining tank.
(2)
INDIVIDUAL SEWERAGE SYSTEMAn individual sewage system which uses a method of sewage collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal other than renovation in a soil absorption area, or retention in a retaining tank.
B.
COMMUNITY SEWAGE SYSTEMA sewage facility, whether publicly or privately owned, for the collection of sewage from two or more lots or two or more equivalent dwelling units and the treatment or disposal, or both, of the sewage on one or more of the lots or at another site.
(1)
COMMUNITY ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEMA community sewage system which uses a system of piping, tanks or other facilities for collecting, treating and disposing of sewage into a soil absorption area or retaining tank.
(2)
COMMUNITY SEWERAGE SYSTEMA publicly or privately owned community sewage system, which uses a method of sewage collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal other than renovation in a soil absorption area, or retention in a retaining tank.
SEWAGE PERMIT
A written permit issued by the Sewage Enforcement Officer,
permitting the construction of an individual sewage system under this
article.
SMALL FLOW TREATMENT FACILITY
Individual or community sewerage system designed to adequately
treat sewage flows not greater than 2,000 GPD for final disposal using
a stream discharge or other methods approved by the Department.
SOIL HORIZON
A layer of soil approximately parallel to the soil surface
with characteristics produced by soil-forming processes.
SOIL MOTTLING (REDOXIMORPHIC FEATURES)
A soil color pattern consisting of patches of different colors
or shades of color interspersed with the dominant soil color which
results from prolonged saturation of the soil.
SOIL PROFILE
The collection of soil horizons, including the natural organic
layers on the surface.
SOLIDS RETAINER
A deflection device at the outlet tee or baffle of a septic
tank designed to deflect buoyed solids from escaping the tank.
SPRAY FIELD
Piping, spray heads and ground surface to the outside edges
of the wetted perimeter, used for the application and treatment of
the sewage effluent in an individual residential spray irrigation
system.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or other parcel
of land into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions
of land, including changes in existing lot lines. The enumerating
of lots shall include as a lot that portion of the original tract
or tracts remaining after other lots have been subdivided therefrom.
TREATMENT TANK
A watertight tank designed to retain sewage long enough for
satisfactory bacterial decomposition of the solids to take place.
The term includes the following:
A.
SEPTIC TANKA treatment tank that provides for anaerobic decomposition of sewage prior to its discharge to an absorption area.
B.
AEROBIC SEWAGE TREATMENT TANKA mechanically aerated treatment tank that provides aerobic biochemical stabilization of sewage prior to its discharge to an absorption area.
UNDISTURBED SOIL
Soil or soil profile, unaltered by removal or other man-induced
changes, except for agricultural activities, that would adversely
affect the siting or operation of on-lot systems.
WATERS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH
Rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches,
watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, ponds, springs and
other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and underground
water, or of their parts, whether natural or artificial, within or
on the boundaries of this commonwealth.
This article shall be enforced by action brought before a Magisterial
District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of
summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity who or which
violates or permits a violation of the provisions of this article
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not
more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution, and, in default of
the payment of the fine and costs of prosecution, shall be imprisoned
for a period not exceeding 30 days.