As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A sewage enforcement officer, employee of the Township, professional
engineer, plumbing inspector, or any other qualified or licensed person
who is authorized to function within specified limits as an agent
to administer or enforce the provisions of this article.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors, Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin
County, Pennsylvania.
CESSPOOL
A below ground cavity built of loose rock or blocks that
provides for the temporary storage of sanitary sewage until the sewage
drains into the surrounding area.
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.
DEP or DEPARTMENT
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 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
LOT
A designated parcel, tract, or area of land established by
a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed
or built upon as a unit.
MALFUNCTION
The condition occurring when an on-lot sewage disposal system
discharges sewage onto the surface of the ground, into ground waters
of the commonwealth, into surface waters of the commonwealth, backs
up into a building connected to the on-lot system or in any manner
causes a nuisance or hazard to the public health or pollution of ground
or surface water or contamination of public or private drinking water
wells. Systems shall be considered to be malfunctioning if any of
the conditions noted above occur for any length of time during any
period of the year.
MUNICIPALITY
Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
OFFICIAL ACT 537 SEWAGE FACILITIES PLAN
A comprehensive plan for the provision of adequate sewage
disposal systems, adopted by the Township and approved by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, as described in and required
by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act.
ON-LOT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
A comprehensive set of legal and administrative requirements
including this article, the Act, the Clean Streams Law, and all regulations
and requirements adopted by the Board to enforce and administer this
article.
ON-LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Any system for disposal of sewage involving pretreatment
and subsequent disposal of the clarified sewage into the soil for
final treatment and disposal; including both individual sewage systems
and community sewage systems.
OWNER
Any person having an equitable or legal interest in real
estate in Lower Paxton Township.
PERSON
Any individual, association, partnership, public or private
corporation whether for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, firm,
trust, estate, department, board, bureau or agency of the Commonwealth,
political subdivision, municipality, district, authority or other
legally recognized entity which is recognized by the 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 offices of any local agency or municipal, public or private corporation
for profit or not for profit.
REHABILITATION
Work done to modify, alter, repair, enlarge, or replace an
existing on-lot disposal system.
SEPTAGE
Any human excrement, other domestic or restaurant waste,
or other material or substance removed from a portable toilet, septic
tank, seepage pit, treatment tank, cesspool, or other enclosure used
for the storage or decomposition of sewage, but does not include liquid
industrial waste.
SEPTIC SYSTEM REPORT
Township form to be completed by the pumper/hauler for each
individual tank and forwarded to the Township after each inspection
and/or pumping.
SEPTIC TANK
A watertight tank that provides for the treatment of sanitary
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 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. 94), known as "the
Clean Streams Law," as amended.
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
An agent of the Township, certified by DEP to issue and review
permit applications and conduct such investigations and inspections
as are necessary to implement Act 537 and the rules and regulations
promulgated there under.
SEWAGE FACILITIES
Any method of sewage collection, conveyance, treatment, and
disposal, which will prevent the discharge of, untreated or inadequately
treated sewage into the waters of this Commonwealth or otherwise provide
for the safe and sanitary treatment and disposal of sewage.
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Any area or areas of the Township designated in the 537 Plan
adopted by the Board as an area where sewage management is to be implemented.
TOWNSHIP
Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
From the effective date of this article, its provisions shall
apply to every owner of a lot served by an on-lot sewage system within
Lower Paxton Township and all persons or businesses servicing on-lot
sewage systems (constructing, pumping, inspecting, or repairing on-lot
sewage systems) within the Township.
The Township, upon written notice from the SEO that an imminent
health hazard exists due to failure of property owner to maintain,
repair or replace an on-lot sewage disposal system as provided under
the terms of this article, shall have the authority to perform, or
contract to have performed, the work required by the SEO. The owner
shall be charged for the work performed and, if necessary, a lien
shall be entered therefor in accordance with law.
Any person failing to comply with any provision of this article
shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 and costs, and not
more than $5,000 and costs, or in default thereof shall be confined
in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days. Each day
of noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense.