[Amended 5-15-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-03]
A. 
The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the installation, use and maintenance of sewage grinder pumps and any associated force mains or low-pressure laterals.
B. 
The preferred method for discharge of sewage from an individual building (residence) or group of buildings to the Authority sewer system is by gravity flow. The owner of any improved property or property proposed to be developed that wants to utilize a grinder pump to discharge sanitary sewage to the sewer system must receive permission from the Authority prior to installing the grinder pump. The Authority will consider the connection of an individual residence or an individual property by a grinder pump or low-pressure system when sewer service, in the sole opinion of the Authority, cannot be reasonably discharged to the Authority's sewer system by gravity flow.
C. 
This Article applies to systems intended to convey sewage from a limited number of individual connections to the public sewer system (if the Authority determines that gravity flow is not feasible) and is not intended to apply to low-pressure systems servicing multiple connections or including a public low-pressure force main. The Authority may impose additional requirements on systems serving multiple connections.
D. 
Unless otherwise specifically authorized in writing by the Authority, all grinder pump systems shall be:
(1) 
Constructed in accordance with the Authority Rules and Regulations and the requirements herein;
(2) 
Owned and maintained by the property owner and/ or, where applicable, the homeowners' association;
(3) 
Installed on private property or adjacent property owned by a homeowners' association; and
(4) 
Warranted by the installer or manufacturer for not less than 12 months from the date of installation. The warranty shall cover both parts and labor.
When applicable, the connection of existing properties or a proposed new land development to an existing or proposed sewer system shall occur only after an official plan revision to the Township's Act 537 Plan, approved by both the Township and DEP.
The Township and the Authority are hereby authorized and empowered to adopt such rules and regulations concerning the use and maintenance of grinder pump systems which they may deem necessary from time to time to effect the purposes herein. The Township and the Authority are hereby authorized and empowered to take such other actions as are necessary, including, but not limited to, requiring property owners to enter an agreement with the Township and/or the Authority to assure proper operation and maintenance of grinder pump systems.
[Amended 5-15-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-03]
A. 
The Township shall exercise its powers and legal authority set forth herein, and under all applicable statutes, ordinances, and other laws, to effect the purposes of this article.
B. 
Each property owner who proposes to install or who has installed a grinder pump system shall enter into an agreement with the Township to ensure the short- and long-term operation and maintenance, use, service, repair or replacement of such system. The agreement shall be in a form acceptable to the Township and Authority Solicitor and shall be recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in Chester County, Pennsylvania, prior to the issuance of a building sewer permit to connect the property to the Authority's sewage collection and conveyance system. The agreement shall specify that the property owner is responsible for the short- and long-term operation and maintenance, use, service, repair or replacement of the grinder pump system. In the event that the grinder pump serving a particular property is located on adjacent property owned by a homeowners' association, the homeowners' association shall execute the agreement assuming responsibility for the short- and long-term operation and maintenance, use, service, repair or replacement of the grinder pump system. The agreement shall provide that if the property owner or homeowners' association fails to adequately maintain the grinder pump system, the Township may enter the property served by such system and maintain the same at the sole cost and expense of the property owner or homeowners' association. All of the Township's costs to maintain the grinder pump system, including administrative fees and legal fees, shall constitute a lien against the property until paid.
C. 
All grinder pump systems (and the installation, use, operation, maintenance, service, repair and replacement thereof) shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Township and the Authority which are then in effect.
D. 
The Authority shall establish the required standards and criteria for the grinder pump systems to be designed and installed in the Township. All applications to utilize a grinder pump system shall be reviewed and approved by the Authority prior to application for approval by DEP or Township issuance of building sewer permit approval.
E. 
The Township or its designated agent shall inspect and approve the installation of the grinder pump system prior to it being covered, backfilled or concealed.
F. 
The Township and the Authority shall bear no responsibility for the purchase, installation, use, operation, maintenance, service, repair, or replacement of the grinder pump system, except as otherwise set forth herein.
[Amended 5-15-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-03]
A. 
Each property owner of a property served by a grinder pump system shall bear full responsibility for providing, installing, using, operating, maintaining, servicing, repairing and replacing his/her grinder pump system. In the event that the grinder pump serving a particular property is located on adjacent property owned by a homeowners' association, the property owner and homeowners' association shall be jointly responsible for providing, installing, using, operating, maintaining, servicing, repairing and replacing his/her grinder pump system.
B. 
Each property owner of a property served by a grinder pump system shall enter into an agreement with the Township which imposes upon the property owner the duty of operating and maintaining the grinder pump system as further described in § 148-19B. In the event that the grinder pump serving a particular property is located on adjacent property owned by a homeowners' association, the homeowners' association shall also execute the agreement assuming responsibility for the short- and long-term operation and maintenance, use, service, repair or replacement of the grinder pump system.
C. 
Each property owner of a property served by a grinder pump system shall have full responsibility for using the pump consistent with the manufacturer's instructions and shall avoid introducing materials that may damage or clog the grinder pump or the Authority's sewer system, including, but not limited to, items designated as biodegradable in septic tanks.
D. 
If a property is using an on-lot septic system prior to the installation of the grinder pump system and connection to public sewer, the property owner shall within 90 days after connection to the public sewer decommission the existing on-lot system.
E. 
Each property owner of a property which is served by a grinder pump system shall immediately notify the Township and Authority of any alarm or other notification that the grinder pump system is malfunctioning. If the grinder pump system malfunctions or fails to operate as designed, the property owner shall immediately cease all discharge of sanitary sewage and operations of the grinder pump until malfunction is repaired and/ or equipment is replaced.
F. 
In the case where a grinder pump system requires property easement(s) from additional parcels to facilitate connection to the Authority's public sewer system, all declarations and covenants shall be in form acceptable to the Township and Authority Solicitors and recorded at the Chester County Recorder of Deeds Office prior to the issuance of a building sewer permit by the Township.
In addition to any other remedies provided in this article, any violation of § 148-20 above 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.