[Adopted 6-2-1975 by Ord. No. 2-1975; amended in its entirety 12-28-1983]
This article shall be known as the "Springfield Township Sewage Disposal Ordinance."
[Amended 1-4-1988]
A. 
No person, firm, or corporation shall construct or install an individual or community sewage disposal system of any type, or construct or install any building of any type to which or with which an individual or community sewage disposal system shall be used or connected, in Springfield Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, until a permit has been obtained indicating that the site, plans and specifications of such proposed individual or community sewage disposal system comply with the terms and provisions of Act 537, known as the "Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act"[1] and the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection of Pennsylvania pursuant to such Act.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.
B. 
This article shall apply to all individual or community sewage disposal systems hereafter installed, constructed or connected to in Springfield Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, regardless of the size of the sewage system, except that if the size or acreage of the parcel of land in or on which the sewage system may be installed or constructed is 50 acres or more in size, then no permit is required, unless a permit is otherwise required by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors from time to time shall be paid to the Township Secretary, or such other person as may be designated by the Supervisors, when an application is made for any individual or community sewage disposal system.
[Amended 1-4-1988]
The Supervisors of Springfield Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, shall adopt any forms or regulations which in their judgment may be required pursuant to this article.
[Added 1-4-1988]
Any person wanting to connect an additional dwelling to a sewage disposal system that is already in use by a structure and said system has not been designed and permitted for that addition shall appear before the Board of Supervisors to ask for a hardship exemption to permit requirements. Upon approval of the Supervisors and approval of the Sewage Enforcement Officer, a permit may be issued for a limited time period.
[Added 1-4-1988]
A. 
A tap-in permit may be issued if the existing sewage disposal system has been in use in the previous six months from date of application and there is no evidence of malfunction of the sewage disposal system.
(1) 
To determine if there is any malfunction, a dye test of the sewage system shall be done by the Sewage Enforcement Officer or, in lieu of a dye test, the septic tank shall be uncovered and the site shall be checked for any sign of malfunction. The homeowner would have the chance to repair the system if possible. If repairs are not feasible, the backup system must be installed.
B. 
When a sewage disposal system has not been in use for more than six months from the date of application, in addition to the above procedures, complete testing according to the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act shall be done at an alternative site on the property for a backup system. If a suitable site is found, a permit may be issued with the condition that the Sewage Enforcement Officer will dye test the sewage system after the system has been in use for not more that 12 months to determine if it is malfunctioning. Should the system show signs of malfunction, the applicant must install the backup system permitted for the alternate site, and it must be installed within 90 days.
[Amended 12-30-1985; 1-4-1988]
The Board of Supervisors of Springfield Township, alone or in conjunction with other municipalities and or townships, shall employ and set the compensation for a Sewage Enforcement Officer certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to inspect, permit and approve individual or community sewage disposal systems constructed, installed or connected to within Springfield Township.
Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $300 or, in default thereof, shall be confined in the Mercer County Jail for a period not exceeding 30 days.