[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Bethlehem as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-23-1986 as Ord. No. 226-2-86; readopted 4-17-1991 by Ord. No. 257-91; amended in its entirety 6-3-2021 by Ord. No. 226.8.2021]
The results of permeability, percolation and soil log tests,
regardless of whether they are passing or failing tests, shall be
submitted to the Township Board of Health or its authorized agent,
the County Department of Health, and also, in the event that said
tests are done in connection with a subdivision, to the Township Planning
Board by the applicant or a representative designated by the applicant.
Each percolation test shall include the results in minutes per inch;
the date of the tests; the location, by block and lot number, of the
property upon which the test occurred; the date of most recent precipitation;
prevailing weather conditions; the groundwater encountered; the number
of preliminary tests made to determine the apparent saturation of
the soil; and the results in equalization of distance and time. Each
soil log shall state the type or types of soil encountered using the
unified soil classification system, the thickness of said soil layers
and any additional factors pertinent to the percolation test results.
A.
An applicant shall arrange directly with the Clerk of Percolation
Test Record Results for the scheduling of percolation tests.
B.
The applicant shall pay to the Township for the services of the Clerk
of Percolation Test Record Results. The applicant shall pay all fees
owed due to the Township at least one business day prior to the scheduled
test. Failure to pay the fees shall result in the cancellation of
the scheduled test.
C.
Said fee shall not be refundable if the applicant or designated representative
for the applicant fails to appear within one hour of the time scheduled
for each test.
[Amended 2-16-2023 by Ord. No. 226.8.2023]
The percolation test witness fee shall be $550 per day per existing
and/or proposed block and lot.
On April 2, 2012, new regulations concerning the location, design,
construction, use, installation, operation and maintenance of subsurface
sewage disposal systems became effective. A copy of those regulations
is attached hereto and made a part hereof without the inclusion of
the actual text of the regulations in this article, pursuant to N.J.S.A.
26:3-69.1 to 26:3-69.6. Pursuant to authority granted under N.J.S.A.
26:3-69.1 through 26:3-69.6 and N.J.A.C. 7:9C-3.1, the Board of Health
hereby adopts these regulations.
The regulations established and adopted by this article are
described and commonly known as "Standards for Individual Subsurface
Sewage Disposal Systems" and are set forth in the New Jersey Administrative
Code, Title 7, Chapter 9A, commonly cited as N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.1 et
seq. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:3-69.2, three copies of the regulations
have been placed on file in the office of the Secretary of the Board
of Health upon the introduction of this article and will remain on
file until final action is taken on this article for the use and examination
by the public.
No person shall locate, construct, improve, expand or alter
any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location,
construction, alteration or repair of said sewage disposal system
shall have been issued by the administrative authority as defined
in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-2.1.
A.
All new individual subsurface sewage disposal systems shall be located
in accordance with the principal building setbacks of the lot to be
served by the system and must be shown on a site plan. In addition,
an alternate site for any new individual subsurface sewage disposal
system must be shown on a site plan.
B.
An individual subsurface sewage disposal system replacing a failed
existing system or altering an existing system shall be subject to
the following setback requirements:
(1)
All tanks, piping and disposal fields proposed at or below existing
grade shall be located in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9A-4.3 required
separation distances.
(2)
Mounded disposal fields are not permitted in the front yards and
shall be set back from all side and rear property lines a minimum
distance of 50% of the required building setback in the zone or as
permitted in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-4.3, whichever is greater.
C.
Any difficulty of compliance with this requirements of this article
or deviations from N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.1 et seq. requiring municipal approval
shall be presented to the Municipal Planning Board for review.
The administrative authority may issue a permit if the application
is determined to be in compliance with the regulations adopted under
this article and applicable local ordinances.
All individual subsurface sewage disposal systems constructed,
repaired or certified for operation after the effective date of this
article shall comply with the operation and maintenance requirements
set forth under N.J.A.C. 7:9A-12.1.
New individual subsurface sewage disposal systems shall not
be placed in operation, nor shall any dwellings or buildings or additions
thereto be sold or occupied, which rely on such a system for sewage
disposal, until the administrative authority shall have issued a certificate
indicating that the subsurface sewage disposal system has been located
and constructed in compliance with the terms of the permit issued,
the provisions of the Municipal Code and the provisions of N.J.A.C.
7:9A-1.1 et seq.
Any approved application for the location, construction and/or
alteration of an individual subsurface sewage disposal system shall
be valid for a period of five years from the date of issue. Thereafter,
a new approved application must be obtained which will be reviewed
under the regulations in effect at the time of the new application.
The following fees and charges are herewith established:
A.
The fee for the filing of an application and plans to locate and
construct a new, altered or repaired individual sewage disposal system,
plan review, site inspection, issuance of permit and installation
inspections shall be payable to the Hunterdon County Health Department
in accordance with their fee schedule.
