[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
This Part shall be known and may be cited as "An Ordinance Providing for a Sewage Management Program for Northampton Township."
2. 
In accordance with municipal codes, the Clean Streams Law, Act of June 22, 1937, P.L. 1987, No. 394, as amended, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq., and the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. 1535, as amended, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq. (known as "Act 537"), it is the power and the duty of Northampton Township to provide for adequate sewage treatment facilities and for the protection of the public health by preventing the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated sewage. The Official Sewage Facilities Plan for Northampton Township indicates that it is necessary to formulate and implement a sewage management program to effectively prevent and abate water pollution and hazards to the public health caused by improper treatment and disposal of sewage.
3. 
The purpose of this Part is to provide for the regulation, inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation of on-lot sewage disposal systems; to further permit intervention in situations which may constitute a public nuisance or hazard to the public health; and to establish penalties and appeal procedures necessary for the proper administration of a sewage management program.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A Sewage Enforcement Officer of the Bucks County Department of Health, employee of the Township, professional engineer, plumbing inspector or any other qualified or licensed person who is authorized by the township to function within specified limits as an agent of Northampton Township to administer or enforce the provisions of this Part.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors, Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
COMMUNITY SEWAGE SYSTEM
A system, whether publicly or privately owned, for the collection of sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature from two or more lots and for the treatment or disposal of the sewage or industrial waste on one or more of the lots or at any other site.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PADEP).
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The Bucks County Department of Health.
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 waters of the Commonwealth.
MALFUNCTION
A condition which occurs when an on-lot sewage disposal system discharges sewage onto the surface of the ground, into groundwaters of this Commonwealth, into surface waters of this Commonwealth, backs up into a building connected to the system or in any manner causes a nuisance or hazard to the public health or pollution of groundwater or surface water or contamination of public or private drinking water wells. Systems shall be considered to be malfunctioning if any condition noted above occurs for any length of time during any period of the year.
OFFICIAL SEWAGE FACILITIES PLAN
A comprehensive plan for the provision of adequate sewage disposal systems, adopted by the Board and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, 53 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.
ON-LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Any system for disposal of domestic sewage involving pretreatment and subsequent disposal of the clarified sewage into a subsurface soil absorption area or retaining tank; this term includes both individual sewage systems and community sewage systems.
PERSON
Any individual, association, public or private corporation for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, firm, trust, estate, department, board, bureau or agency of the Commonwealth, political subdivision, municipality, district, authority or any other legal entity whatsoever which is recognized by 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 officers 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 sewage disposal system.
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 the 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. 394, known as the "Clean Streams Act," as amended, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq.
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
A person certified by PADEP who is employed by the Bucks County Department of Health. Such person is authorized to conduct investigations and inspections, review permit applications, issue or deny permits and do all other activities as may be provided for such person in the Sewage Facilities Act, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq., the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and this or any other ordinance adopted by the Township.
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT AREA
Any area or areas of the Township designated in the Official Sewage Facilities Plan adopted by the Board as an area for which a sewage management program is to be implemented.
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
A comprehensive set of legal and administrative requirements encompassing the requirements of this Part, the Sewage Facilities Act, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq., the Clean Streams Law, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq., the regulations promulgated thereunder and such other requirements adopted by the Board to effectively enforce and administer this Part.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or other parcel of land into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines. The enumerating of lots shall include as a lot that portion of the original tract or tracts remaining after other lots have been subdivided therefrom.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Northampton, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
2. 
For the purposes of this Part, any term which is not defined herein shall have that meaning attributed to it under the Sewage Facilities Act, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq., and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
From the effective date of this Part, its provisions shall apply in any portion of the Township identified in the Official Sewage Facilities Plan as a sewage management area. Within such an area or areas, the provisions of this Part shall apply to all persons owning any property serviced by an on-lot sewage disposal system and to all persons installing or rehabilitating on-lot sewage disposal systems.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
No person shall install, construct or request bid proposals for construction or alter an individual sewage system or community sewage system or construct or request bid proposals for construction or install or occupy any building or structure for which an individual sewage system or community sewage system is to be installed without first obtaining a permit from the Bucks County Department of Health, which permit shall indicate that the site and the plans and specifications of such system are in compliance with the provisions of the Clean Streams Law, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq., and the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq., and the regulations adopted pursuant to those Acts.
2. 
No system or structure designed to provide individual or community sewage disposal shall be covered from view until approval to cover the same has been given by the Bucks County Department of Health. If 72 hours have elapsed, excepting Sundays and holidays, since the Health Department received notification of completion of construction, the applicant may cover said system or structure unless permission has been specifically refused by the Health Department.
3. 
Applicants for sewage permits shall be required to notify the Health Department of the schedule for construction of the permitted on-lot sewage disposal system so that inspection(s), in addition to the final inspection required by the Sewage Facilities Act, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq., may be scheduled and performed by the Health Department.
4. 
No building or occupancy permit will be issued for a new building proposing the use of an on-lot sewage disposal system until a valid sewage permit has been obtained from the Health Department.
5. 
No building or occupancy permit shall be issued, and no work shall begin on any alteration or conversion of any existing structure if said alteration or conversion will result in the increase or potential increase in sewage flows from the structure until either the structure's owner receives a permit for alteration or replacement of the existing sewage disposal system or until the structure's owner and the appropriate officials of the township receive written notification from the Health Department that such a permit will not be required. The Health Department shall determine whether the proposed alteration or conversion of the structure will result in increased sewage flows.
6. 
Sewage permits may be issued only by the Bucks County Department of Health.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
Any on-lot sewage disposal system may be inspected by an authorized agent at any reasonable time as of the effective date of this Part.
2. 
Such inspection may include a physical tour of the property, the taking of samples from surface water, wells, other groundwater sources, the sampling of the contents of the sewage disposal system itself and/or the introduction of a traceable substance into the interior plumbing of the structure served to ascertain the path and ultimate destination of wastewater generated in the structure.
3. 
An authorized agent shall have the right to enter upon land for the purposes of inspections described in this section.
4. 
A schedule of routine inspections may be established to assure the proper functioning of the sewage systems in the sewage management area.
5. 
An authorized agent shall inspect systems known to be, or alleged to be, malfunctioning. Should said inspections reveal that the system is indeed malfunctioning, the authorized agent shall order action to be taken to correct the malfunction. If total correction cannot be done in accordance with the regulations of PADEP including, but not limited to, those outlined in 25 Pa. Code, Chapter 73, or is not technically or financially feasible in the opinion of the authorized agent and a representative of PADEP, then action by the property owner to mitigate the malfunction shall be required.
6. 
There may arise geographic areas where numerous on-lot sewage disposal systems are malfunctioning. A resolution of these area-wide problems may necessitate detailed planning and a revision to the portion of the Sewage Facilities Plan pertaining to areas affected by such malfunctions. When a PADEP authorized Official Sewage Facilities Plan revision has been undertaken, mandatory repair or replacement of individual malfunctioning sewage disposal systems within the area affected by the revision may be delayed, pending the outcome of the plan revision process. However, immediate corrective action may be compelled whenever a malfunction, as determined by township officials and/or the Department, represents a serious public health or environmental threat.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
Only normal domestic wastes shall be discharged into any on-lot sewage disposal system. The following shall not be discharged into the system:
A. 
Industrial waste.
B. 
Automobile oil and other nondomestic oil.
C. 
Toxic or hazardous substances or chemicals, including, but not limited to, pesticides, disinfectants (excluding household cleaners), acids, paints, paint thinners, herbicides, gasoline and other solvents.
D. 
Clean surface water or groundwater, including water from roof or cellar drains, springs, basement sump pumps and french drains.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
Each person owning a building served by an on-lot sewage disposal system which contains a septic tank shall have their septic tank pumped by a qualified pumper/hauler at least once every three years or whenever an inspection reveals that the septic tank is filled with solids or with scum in excess of one-third of the liquid depth of the tank. Receipts from the pumper/hauler shall be kept by the owner and furnished to the Township upon their request.
2. 
The required pumping frequency may be increased at the discretion of an authorized agent if the septic tank is undersized, if solids buildup in the tank is above average, if the hydraulic load on the system increases significantly above average, if a garbage grinder is used in the building, if the system malfunctions or for other good cause shown.
3. 
Any person owning a property served by a septic tank shall have, with each required pumping, an inspection by the pumper/hauler, or any other qualified individual acceptable to the Township, of the baffles in the septic tank. Inspection records shall be kept by the owner and furnished to the Township upon their request. Any person whose septic tank baffles are determined to require repair or replacement shall first contact the Health Department for approval of the necessary repair.
4. 
Any person owning a building served by an on-lot sewage disposal system which contains an aerobic treatment tank shall follow the operation and maintenance recommendations of the equipment manufacturer. A copy of the manufacturer's recommendations and a copy of the service agreement shall be kept by the owner and furnished to the township upon their request. Service receipts shall also be kept by the owner and furnished to the township upon their request. In no case may the service or pumping intervals for aerobic treatment tanks exceed those required for septic tanks.
5. 
Any person owning a building served by a cesspool or dry well in an area of numerous malfunctions, or in an area where a repair is not technically feasible, shall have that system pumped according to the schedule prescribed for septic tanks to eliminate potential pollution. As an alternative to this scheduled pumping of the cesspool or dry well, and pending any scheduled replacement of the substandard system as identified in the Official Sewage Facilities Plan, the owner may apply for a sewage permit from the Health Department for a septic tank to be installed preceding the cesspool or dry well. For this interim repair system consisting of a cesspool or dry well preceded by an approved septic tank, only the septic tank must be pumped at the prescribed interval.
6. 
Additional maintenance activity may be required as needed including, but not necessarily limited to, cleaning and unclogging of piping, servicing and the repair of mechanical equipment, leveling of distribution boxes, tanks and lines, removal of obstructing roots or trees, the diversion of surface water away from the disposal area, etc.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
No person shall operate or maintain an on-lot sewage disposal system in such a manner that it malfunctions. All liquid wastes, including kitchen and laundry wastes and water softener backwash, shall be discharged to a treatment tank. No sewage system shall discharge untreated or partially treated sewage to the surface of the ground or into the waters of the commonwealth unless a permit for such discharge has been obtained from PADEP.
2. 
A written notice of violation shall be issued to any person who is the owner of any property which is found to be served by a malfunctioning on-lot sewage disposal system or which is discharging sewage without a permit.
3. 
Within seven days of notification by the Township that a malfunction has been identified, the property owner shall make application to the Health Department for a permit to repair or replace the malfunctioning system. Within 30 days of initial notification by the Township, construction of the permitted repair or replacement shall commence. Within 60 days of the original notification by the Township, the construction shall be completed unless seasonal or unique conditions mandate a longer period, in which case the Township shall set an extended completion date.
4. 
The Bucks County Department of Health shall have the authority to require the repair of any malfunction by the following methods: cleaning, repair or replacement of components of the existing system, adding capacity or otherwise altering or replacing the system's treatment tank, expanding the existing disposal area, replacing the existing disposal area, replacing a gravity distribution system with a pressurized system, replacing the system with a holding tank or any other alternative appropriate for the specific site.
5. 
In lieu of, or in combination with, the remedies described in Subsection 4 above, the Health Department may require the installation of water conservation equipment and the institution of water conservation practices in structures served. Water using devices and appliances in the structure may be required to be retrofitted with water saving appurtenances or they may be required to be replaced by water conserving devices.
6. 
In the event that the rehabilitation measures in Subsections 1 through 5 are not feasible or effective, the owner may be required to apply to PADEP for a permit to install an individual spray irrigation treatment system or a single residence treatment and discharge system. Upon receipt of said permit, the owner shall complete construction of the system within 30 days.
7. 
Should none of the remedies described in this section be totally effective in eliminating the malfunction of an existing on-lot sewage disposal system, the property owner is not absolved of responsibility for that malfunction. The Township may require whatever action is necessary to lessen or mitigate the malfunction to the extent necessary.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
The Township, upon written notice from the Health Department that an imminent health hazard exists due to failure of a property owner to maintain, repair or replace an on-lot sewage disposal system as provided under the terms of this Part, shall have the authority to perform, or contract to have performed, the work required by the Health Department. The owner shall be charged for the work performed and, if necessary, a lien shall be entered therefore in accordance with law.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
All septage originating within the sewage management area shall be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Solid Waste Management Act (Act 97 of 1980), 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq., and all other applicable laws and at sites or facilities approved by PADEP. Approved sites or facilities shall include the following: septage treatment facilities, wastewater treatment plants, composting sites and approved farmlands.
2. 
Pumper/haulers of septage operating within the sewage management district shall operate in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act (Act 97 of 1980), 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq., and all other applicable laws.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
The Township shall fully utilize those powers it possesses through enabling statutes and ordinances to effect the purposes of this Part.
2. 
The Township shall employ qualified individuals to carry out the provisions of this Part. Those employees may include an administrator and such other persons as may be necessary. The Township may also contract with private qualified persons or firms, as necessary, to carry out the provisions of this Part.
3. 
All permits, records, reports, files and other written material relating to the installation, operation and maintenance and malfunction of on-lot sewage disposal systems in the sewage management area shall become the property of, and be maintained by the Township. Existing and future records shall be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the official office of the Township. All records pertaining to sewage permits, building permits, occupancy permits and all other aspects of the sewage management program shall be made available, upon request, for inspection by representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
4. 
The Township shall establish all administrative procedures necessary to properly carry out the provisions of this Part.
5. 
The Township may establish a fee schedule and authorize the collection of fees to cover the cost to the Township of administering this program.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997]
1. 
Appeals from final decisions of the Township or any of its authorized agents under this Part shall be made to the Board of Supervisors, in writing, within 30 days from the date of written notification of the decision in question.
2. 
The appellant shall be entitled to a hearing before the Board of Supervisors at its next regularly scheduled meeting, if a written appeal is received at least 14 days prior to that meeting. If the appeal is received within 14 days of the next regularly scheduled meeting, the appeal shall be heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The municipality shall thereafter affirm, modify or reverse the aforesaid decision. The hearing may be postponed for a good cause shown by the appellant or the Township. Additional evidence may be introduced at the hearing, provided that it is submitted with the written notice of appeal.
3. 
A decision shall be rendered, in writing, within 30 days of the date of the hearing.
[Ord. 427, 9/10/1997; as amended by Ord. 561, 4/25/2012]
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 a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.