[Adopted 1-21-1998 by Ord. No. 98-355 (Ch.
36, Art. V, of the 1996 Code)]
The purpose of this article is to establish
procedures for the design, installation, use and maintenance of community
on-lot sewage disposal systems (COLDS) for the collection, treatment
and disposal of sewage. It is hereby declared that the enactment of
this article is necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation
of the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this Township.
[Amended 5-28-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-496]
As part of any subdivision or land development
plan proposing the use of a COLDS, compliance with these rules and
regulations and the policies, regulations and specifications of the
University Area Joint Authority shall be a condition of approval.
All COLDS, as herein defined, to be constructed shall have as the
official permittee the University Area Joint Authority. Upon the issuance
of a permit for a COLDS by the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer,
the COLDS shall be dedicated by the developer to the Authority. No
COLDS shall be accepted for dedication except in accordance with these
rules and regulations and the specifications of the University Area
Joint Authority. COLDS are only permitted in areas zoned A-1 (Rural),
R-1 (Rural Residence) and R-2 (Low-Density Residence) that are located
outside of the Centre Region Act 537 Sewage Facility Plan's existing
and five-year sewer service areas.
A.
Exemptions. An on-lot sewage disposal system that serves two or three nonresidential structures on the same parcel, with a combined estimated sewage generation that is less than two equivalent dwelling units (EDUs), shall be exempt from the requirements found under Article V, and such systems shall be subject to the requirements found under Article III of this chapter along with other requirements that may be required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
[Added 4-28-2021 by Ord.
No. 2021-615]
As used herein, the following terms shall have
the meanings herein described unless otherwise provided:
The University Area Joint Authority (UAJA).
The Board of Supervisors of Patton Township.
An interest-bearing revolving fund, established for or by
the Authority with moneys contributed by each COLDS user, for the
purpose of financing major equipment and facility repair, replacement
or upgrade.
Any sanitary sewage treatment and disposal system which collects,
treats and disposes of sewage generated from two or more equivalent
dwelling units (EDUs) by utilizing a subsurface absorption bed. The
calculation of EDUs will be determined as per 25 Pa. Code Chapter
73.
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
Design standards for COLDS as established by DEP (25 Pa.
Code Chapter 73) as well as all relevant installation and locational
standards established by such regulations and specifications for the
design, installation and use of COLDS as set forth by the Authority.
The Township's or Authority's duly appointed engineer or
engineering firm which provides the Board or Authority with technical
and engineering consultation.
Any property within the Township upon which there is erected
a structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy
or use by human beings and from which structure sewage shall or may
be discharged.
Any individual, partnership, company, association, corporation
or other group or entity.
The Patton Township Sewage Enforcement Officer.
A substance that contains waste products or excrement or
other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals and noxious
or deleterious substances 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. For the purposes of this article,
the term includes substances which constitute pollution under the
Clean Stream Law,[1] with the exception of wastewater of industrial origin.
Patton Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq.
A.
The Board hereby
authorizes and empowers the Authority to undertake within the Township
the control of methods of COLDS design, installation and operation
and maintenance. Permits for COLDS shall be issued by the Township-appointed
SEO.
B.
The Board hereby
authorizes and empowers the Authority, as its acting agent, to enter
into or acquire escrow agreements, construction and performance bonds
and engineering services to ensure COLDS are designed, constructed,
operated and maintained in accordance with any applicable specifications,
rules and regulations of the Board.
C.
The Board authorizes
the Authority to take ownership of all operating COLDS within the
Township following the issuance of a permit by the Township Sewage
Enforcement Officer. Method and manner of possession of COLDS will
be as dictated by the Board's rules and regulations and the laws of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
The Board hereby
authorizes and empowers the Authority to oversee, operate, maintain,
improve and/or discontinue the use of any COLDS within Patton Township.
A.
COLDS can only
be used in locations outside of the Centre Region Act 537 Sewage Facility
Plan's existing and five-year sewer service area.
B.
All COLDS must
be designed and constructed in accordance with the specifications
of the Authority.
C.
The Authority
is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt such rules and regulations
concerning COLDS which it may deem necessary from time to time to
effect the purposes herein. Any proposed regulations proposed by the
Authority shall be provided to Patton Township for review and comment.
D.
All such policies,
regulations and specifications of the Authority shall be in conformance
with the provisions herein, all other ordinances of the Township and
all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
E.
All COLDS must
have two absorption areas, designed according to site characteristics,
each with a capacity sufficient to serve all equivalent dwelling units
which can be connected to the system.
F.
COLDS must be
designed to include an inspection portal which may be used by the
Authority to monitor the depth of solids in the tank. In addition,
each COLD system shall contain a riser which can be used for pumping
purposes.
G.
The Authority
shall be responsible for the maintenance of all COLDS within Patton
Township approved after the enactment of this article.
The Authority shall have the right and power
to fix, alter, charge and collect rates, assessments and other charges
at reasonable and uniform rates as authorized by applicable law.
The collection, treatment and disposal of all
sewage from any improved property utilizing a COLDS shall be done
solely by the Authority or its authorized representative.
The developer of any proposed COLDS shall be
responsible for obtaining all required permits from the Township,
the Authority, the DEP and any other agencies requiring permits for
such an installation. The developer of any proposed COLDS shall be
responsible for its construction and start up in accordance with the
requirements of this article and the specifications of the Authority.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which
shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction
thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus
costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment thereof, shall be
imprisoned for a term not to exceed 30 days. Every day that a violation
of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.
