Township of Collier, PA Chapter SD130 Holding Tanks

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Collier Township Municipal Authority 1-8-2009. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ SD130-1 State and local requirements.

A. County and state regulations. The installation of a sewage holding tank is regulated by the Allegheny County Health Department on-lot sewage disposal program. Additionally, Pennsylvania Code Title 25, Chapters 71 and 73, strictly regulates the installation of a sewage holding tank within any municipality. The Pennsylvania Code requires that the municipality adopt an ordinance regulating holding tanks.

B. Township regulations. The Collier Township Board of Commissioners enacted Ordinance No. 615, known as the "Holding Tank Ordinance." This ordinance closely follows the requirements of the Pennsylvania Code. Anyone considering the installation of a holding tank should become familiar with the Allegheny County Health Department rules and regulations and Ordinance No. 615. The Collier Township Municipal Authority ("Authority") administers Ordinance No. 615 for the Township of Collier and can provide copies of the ordinance upon request.

§ SD130-2 Circumstances for approval.

Holding tanks are generally approved by the Allegheny County Health Department in situations where all of the requirements of the Pennsylvania Code and Ordinance No. 615 are met and the holding tank is designed to be eliminated when public sanitary sewers become available. Generally, this is within a one-year to two-year period of time.

§ SD130-3 Construction specifications; removal and disposal of contents.

The minimum size of a holding tank is 1,000 gallons, and the holding tank must be a watertight receptacle that receives only sewage. The tank must contain a visual and audible warning device to indicate when the tank is 75% full. The contents of the tank must be removed by a licensed hauler and disposed of in a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved disposal site.

§ SD130-4 Approved installations; alternate systems.

A. Generally, holding tanks may only be installed for new construction when sanitary sewers are guaranteed to be developed in the area of the property within a one-year to two-year period.

B. In unsewered areas, an approved septic system or an approved sand mound system might be considered. These systems are also approved by and regulated by the Allegheny County Health Department.