[Adopted 9-9-1986 by Ord. No. 229-A (Ch. 18, Part 3, of the 2010 Code of Ordinances)]
The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the use and maintenance of holding tanks designed to receive and retain sewage from commercial and residential uses where connection to sanitary sewers is imminent, and it is hereby declared that the enactment of this article is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Borough of Chalfont.
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of the terms used in this article shall be as follows:
BOROUGH
The Borough of Chalfont, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
COMMERCIAL USE
Retail stores designed primarily to provide daily service to residents of the surrounding area, personal service shops such as beautician or clothes cleaning and pressing, retail service shops such as a bakery, ice cream, grocery or similar shops, custom tailoring or millinery shops, clock, watch or jewelry shops or household appliance repair shops, offices and studios and banks or similar financial institutions.
HOLDING TANK
A. 
A watertight receptacle which receives and retains sewage and is designed and constructed to facilitate ultimate disposal of the sewage at another site.
B. 
Holding tanks include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Chemical toilet. A toilet using chemicals that discharges to a holding tank.
(2) 
Retention tank. A holding tank where sewage is conveyed to it by a water-carrying system.
(3) 
Vault pit privy. A holding tank designed to receive sewage where water under pressure is not available.
OWNER
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial of any property located in the Borough.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, company, association, corporation or other group or entity.
PROPERTY OWNER
The owner of property and/or of a holding tank.
RESIDENTIAL USE
An approved residential unit with a sanitary sewer lateral constructed and in place for use as soon as sanitary sewers are available.
SEWAGE
Any substance that contains any of the waste products or excrements or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals and any noxious or deleterious substance being harmful to the public health or to animal or aquatic life or to the use of water for domestic water supply or for recreation.
The Borough Council members and their duly authorized agents are authorized and empowered to undertake within the Borough the control and methods of holding tank sewage disposal for commercial and residential use in the collection and transportation thereof.
The Borough Council 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.
All such rules and regulations adopted by the Borough shall be in conformity with the provisions herein, all other ordinances of the Borough and all applicable laws and regulations of administrative agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The collection and transportation of all sewage from any commercial or residential use utilizing a holding tank shall be performed under the direction and control of the Borough and the disposal thereof shall be only at such site or sites as may be approved by the Bucks County Department of Health.
Before a holding tank may be installed to service a commercial or residential use, the property owner shall:
A. 
Obtain a permit for the holding tank from the Bucks County Department of Health.
B. 
File a copy of the Bucks County Department of Health permit, application and sketch with the Borough Secretary.
C. 
File with the Borough Secretary a copy of a written agreement between the property owner and a contractor covering the periodic cleaning of the tank.
D. 
Deposit and/or post the sum of money or security, in the form and/or amount as provided by the rules and regulations promulgated for this article. These funds are to be held by the Borough and used only in the event the Borough is required to perform any services or pay for any services relative to the holding tank.
E. 
A fee to the Borough for the holding tank permit in accordance with the schedule of fees adopted by the Council, from time to time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current Fee Schedule is on file in the Borough offices.
F. 
Execute an agreement to hold the Borough harmless in the event of a claim against the Borough arising from the operation of the holding tank.
The owner of a property that utilizes a holding tank shall:
A. 
Maintain the holding tank in conformance with this article or any ordinance of this Borough, the provisions of any applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Borough and any administrative agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
B. 
Permit only persons authorized by the Borough to collect, transport and dispose of the contents therein.
C. 
Be responsible for the periodic cleaning or emptying of the holding tank as well as the cost thereof.
Any obligation or duty assumed by the Borough under this article shall be limited to holding tanks installed and used after the effective date hereof.
[Amended 12-18-2001 by Ord. No. 326]
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, 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 30 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each section of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Where sanitary sewer lines are to be constructed as a part of a development plan or as required by final approval developments, the lines shall be installed according to the approved specifications and capped. Whenever the sanitary sewer becomes available for use, the holding tank shall be disconnected and disposed of and proper connection made to the sanitary sewer within 45 days after notice to make connection.
In addition to any other remedies provided in this article, any violation of this article shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated by the Borough by either seeking appropriate equitable or legal relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
Determination of eligibility shall be as follows: (The items in Subsections A through D shall be submitted to the Borough).
A. 
Application, form, fee (as adopted by resolution of the Borough Council from time to time).
B. 
Project description.
C. 
Construction plan.
D. 
Public sewer potential, statement from Chalfont-New Britain Township Joint Sewer Authority.
E. 
Review by Borough Engineer, Borough Planning Commission, Zoning Officer and Borough Council.
[Amended 12-18-2001 by Ord. No. 326]
Permit processing shall be as follows:
A. 
Review agencies.
(1) 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
(2) 
Bucks County Board of Health.
(3) 
Bucks County Planning Commission.
(4) 
Borough of Chalfont Planning Commission.
(5) 
Borough of Chalfont Engineer.
(6) 
Borough of Chalfont Zoning Officer.
B. 
Review and report of various agencies.
(1) 
The above agencies shall review the proposed installation plan to determine compatibility with the intent and requirements of the following documents:
(a) 
Comprehensive Plan.
(b) 
Chapter 370, Subdivision and Land Development.
(c) 
Chapter 440, Zoning.
(d) 
This article.
(e) 
Official sewer plan.
(f) 
Building and plumbing codes.
(2) 
These agencies and officials shall report their findings and recommendations to the Borough Council.
A. 
All holding tanks installed within the Borough of Chalfont shall be subject to written agreement between the authorized officials of the Borough of Chalfont and the property owner.
B. 
This agreement shall determine the conditions of the holding tank installation, including the following items:
(1) 
Location of tank.
(2) 
Size of tank.
(3) 
Type of tank.
(4) 
Alarm hookup to tank.
(5) 
Fencing type and size, if any.
(6) 
Connection to building.
(7) 
Connection to public sewer.
(8) 
Method of disconnection and disposal, removal of tank.
(9) 
Amount of escrow required.
A. 
Escrows are to be determined by Borough Council within the written agreement, subject to minimum fees set forth in the fee resolution as adopted by Borough Council from time to time.
B. 
All escrows shall be established with the Borough of Chalfont by way of cash or certified check or irrevocable letter of credit or bond with surety to be held by the Borough of Chalfont. This escrow may be used by the Borough of Chalfont, when necessary, should an emergency situation call for the expenditure of public funds to alleviate such emergency.
C. 
In the event the escrow funds are used by the Borough of Chalfont as per Subsection B above, the owner of the holding tank shall reimburse the escrow fund for all funds spent plus 20% of the expended funds, which shall be retained by the Borough of Chalfont to cover the administration expenses incurred. Failure to reimburse the escrow fund within 45 days of written notice from the Borough of Chalfont shall be considered a violation of this article and cause the forfeit of the holding tank permit, at the Borough's option. Upon the complete removal of the holding tank, the Borough of Chalfont shall return to the owner all escrow funds then held by the Borough.
D. 
A permit fee shall be required in addition to the application fee, review fee and escrow fee, which shall be for the purpose of reimbursement to the Borough of Chalfont for the expenses incurred as a result of plumbing inspections required by the installation of said tank. The permit fee shall be in an amount equal to 10% of the established escrow fee.
[Amended 12-18-2001 by Ord. No. 326]
No permit shall be issued by the Borough of Chalfont until such time as the following requirements have been met:
A. 
The application fee has been paid.
B. 
The review fee has been paid, including any additional expenses.
C. 
Written agreement has been approved by the Borough Council and executed by both parties.
D. 
Escrows have been paid.
E. 
Permit from Bucks County Board of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection, if required, has been forwarded to the Borough of Chalfont.
F. 
Permit fee has been paid.
A. 
The applicant shall give no less than three days' notice to the Borough of Chalfont prior to commencing installation.
B. 
All tank installations are to conform to the requirements of this article. The Borough of Chalfont reserves the right to suspend installation at any time by way of verbal and/or written notification should the tank installation at any time be in violation of this article, state, county or local regulations, including Uniform Construction Code provisions, and the holding tank agreement.
C. 
No construction may begin or restart until such time approval is given by the Borough of Chalfont Building Official.
All removal and disposal of the holding tank shall be in compliance with the written agreement and shall require notice to the Borough of Chalfont no less than 15 days prior to the start of removal or disposal.
The owner of each holding tank shall agree to maintain and be responsible for the holding tank, subject to the terms and conditions stated in the previous sections, until such time as a new agreement and escrow has been established between the next property owner and the Borough of Chalfont.