As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ACT
The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Act of January 24,
1966, P.L. (1965) 1535, No. 537, as amended, 35 P.S. § 750.1
et seq., known as "Act 537."
AEROBIC TREATMENT TANK
A mechanically aerated treatment tank that provides aerobic
biochemical stabilization of sewage prior to its discharge to an absorption
area.
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A certified sewage enforcement officer (SEO), employee of
the Township, professional engineer or sanitarian, certified on-lot
sewage disposal inspector, plumbing inspector, soils scientist, water
quality coordinator, or any other person who is employed, contracted
out, or designated to carry out the provisions of this article as
the agent of the Board of Supervisors of Potter Township.
BUILDING
Any structure that has water under pressure.
COMMUNITY SEWAGE SYSTEM
Any system, whether publicly or privately owned, for the
collection of sewage from two or more lots and the treatment and/or
disposal of the sewage on one or more lots or at any other site.
DEPARTMENT (DEP)
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
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 any waters of this commonwealth.
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, or 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 groundwater
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 PLAN
A comprehensive plan for the provision of adequate sewage
disposal systems adopted by the Board of Supervisors and approved
by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, pursuant
to the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act.
ON-LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Any system for disposal of domestic sewage involving pretreatment
and subsequent disposal of the clarified sewage into a subsurface
soil absorption area or retaining tank; this term includes both individual
sewage systems and community sewage systems.
OWNER/OCCUPANT
Any individual who owns, rents, leases, or occupies property
within the jurisdictional boundaries of Potter Township.
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, private or public corporation for profit or not-for-profit.
PLANNING MODULE FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT
A revision to, or exception to the revision of, the Official
Plan, submitted in accordance with DEP regulations, and in connection
with the request for approval of a subdivision or land development
plan.
PUMPER/HAULER
Any sole proprietor, company, partnership or corporation
which engages in cleaning any or all components of a community or
individual on-lot system and evacuates and transports the septage
cleaned therefrom, whether for a fee or free of charge.
REGULATIONS
The Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Chapters 71, 72 and 73.
REHABILITATION
Work done to modify, alter, repair, enlarge, or replace an
existing on-lot sewage disposal system.
REPAIR
Work done to modify, alter, rehabilitate or enlarge an existing
on-lot system.
SEPTAGE
The residual scum, sludge and other materials pumped from
septic or aerobic treatment tanks and the systems they serve.
SEPTIC TANK
A treatment tank that provides for anaerobic decomposition
of sewage prior to its discharge to an absorption area.
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 Township.
Such person is authorized to conduct investigations and inspections,
review permit applications, issue or deny permits 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.
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 Township to effectively
enforce and administer this article.
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.