[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 1]
The purpose of this Part is to establish procedures for the use and maintenance of existing and new holding tanks designed to receive and retain sewage whether from residential, commercial, institutional, recreational or other uses. It is hereby declared that the enactment of this Part is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this Township.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 2]
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this Part shall be as follows:
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A certified sewage enforcement officer, professional engineer or sanitarian, Plumbing Inspector, soils scientist or any other qualified or licensed person who is authorized by the Board of Supervisors of the Township to carry out the provisions of this Part.
HOLDING TANK
A watertight tank, whether permanent or temporary, which receives and retains sewage conveyed by a water carrying system and is designed and constructed to facilitate the ultimate disposal of the sewage at another site.
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.
OWNER
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial, of any property located in the Township.
PERSON
Any individual, association, partnership, public or private corporation for profit or not-for-profit, firm, trust, estate, department, board, bureau or agency of the commonwealth, political subdivision, municipality, district, authority, or any other legal entity whatsoever is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties. Whenever the term person is used in connection with 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.
SEWAGE
A substance that contains any of 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 Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law at 35 P.S. §§ 691.1 — 691.1001.
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
A person certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in accordance with 25 Pa. Code § 71, Administration of Sewage Facilities Program, to perform percolation tests, site and soil evaluations, and review and issue sewage permits for on-lot sewage disposal systems appointed by the Township Board of Supervisors.
TOWNSHIP
Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, its Board of Supervisors, their designated officials or authorized agent.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 3]
The Township is hereby authorized and empowered to undertake within the Township the control and methods of holding tank use, sewage disposal and sewage collection and transportation thereof, including the permitting of holding tanks.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 4]
The Township is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt such rules and regulations concerning sewage which it may deem necessary from time to time to effect the purposes herein.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 5]
All such rules and regulations adopted by the Township shall be in conformity with the provisions herein, all other ordinances of the Township, and all applicable laws, and applicable rules and regulations of administrative agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 6]
A fee and escrow, in an amount established by separate resolution of the Board of Supervisors and as amended from time to time, shall be deposited with the Township by the holding tank property owner to cover Township administrative costs for enforcement of this Part.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 7]
1. 
The Township will issue permits to owners of improved property utilizing a holding tank. Such permits must be obtained by owners within 60 days of the effective date of this Part.
2. 
The collection and transportation of all sewage from any improved property utilizing a holding tank shall be done solely by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection licensed hauler, and the disposal thereof shall be made only at such site or sites as may be approved by the Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
3. 
The Township will receive, review and retain pumping receipts from permitted holding tanks.
4. 
The Township will receive and retain annual or other inspection reports for each permitted holding tank.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 8]
1. 
The owner of an improved property that utilizes a holding tank shall:
A. 
Obtain a holding tank permit from the Township.
B. 
Prior to installation of the holding tank, the owner shall provide the Township with a copy of a fully executed contract between the owner and a hauler approved by the DEP, which provides for the pumping of the holding tank and disposal of the holding tank effluent to a DEP approved site for a period of not less than one year from the date of the contract, and which contract shall be renewed annually with proof of contract provided to the Township.
C. 
Maintain the holding tank in conformance with this or any ordinance of the Township, the provisions of any applicable law, and the rules and regulations of the Township and any administrative agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D. 
Permit only the Township, the Township authorized agent, Sewage Enforcement Officer, or a pumper/hauler licensed by the DEP, the right to enter the premises to inspect holding tanks as needed.
E. 
Permit only a pumper/hauler licensed by the DEP the right to collect, transport and dispose of the contents therein.
F. 
Permit the Township, the Township authorized agent or Sewage Enforcement Officer the right to investigate malfunctions or public health hazards.
G. 
Abate a malfunction or public health hazard through proper operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, replacement or other relief as directed by the Sewage Enforcement Officer.
H. 
If a property with a malfunctioning holding tank abuts or fronts an existing municipal sewer system, the Sewage Enforcement Officer may require the property owner to connect to the municipal sewer system at the property owner's sole expense. In this case, the Sewage Enforcement Officer may not approve the repair of the malfunctioning holding tank.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 9]
1. 
Owner of improved property which proposes to install a holding tank shall execute a hold harmless agreement with the Township.
2. 
In such agreement, owner agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Township from and against all claims, damages, losses and expenses, including attorney's fees and other expenses, arising out of or resulting from the holding tank requirements of this Part.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 10; as amended by A.O.]
1. 
Any person failing to comply with any provisions of this Part shall be given notice by the Township of the noncompliance. The person will be given 60 days to comply with this Part.
2. 
After 60 days, any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that such violation is continued after notice shall constitute a new and separate offense, punishable by like fine, penalty or imprisonment, and further notices to the offender shall not be required in order to constitute such continuances as an additional offense or offenses.
3. 
All fines, penalties and costs collected for the violation of this Part shall be paid over to the Township. Proceedings for the violation of this Part and for the collection of fines and penalties imposed thereby may be commenced by warrant or by summons at the discretion of the magisterial district judge before whom the proceedings is begun.
4. 
In addition to the rights as set forth in this subsection, the Township may take such other rights as are available to it to enforce the provisions of this Part including resorting to the courts of equity to seek compliance with the provisions of this Part.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 11]
In addition to any other remedies provided in this Part, any violation of this Part shall constitute a nuisance and shall be abated by the Township by either seeking mitigation of the nuisance or appropriate equitable or legal relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
[Ord. 2014-12, 12/10/2014, § 14]
This Part is adopted in accordance with the duties imposed upon Williams Township under the Clean Water Act and the Clean Streams Law and applies to the Township, the local agency and to persons using or planning holding tanks.