[Adopted 3-2-2026 by Ord. No. 2-2026]
A. 
As used in this article, words in the singular include the plural, and those in the plural include the singular. The words "shall" and "will," for the purpose of this article, are defined as mandatory.
B. 
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following definitions shall, for purpose of this article, have the meaning indicated herein. Any pertinent word or term not a part of this article shall be construed to have the meaning attributed to it under Act 537[1] and the regulations promulgated thereunder:
ACT 537
Shall mean the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act.[2]
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Shall mean the Board of Supervisors of Cecil Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
DEP
Shall mean the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
EFFLUENT
Shall mean liquid sewage discharged as waste.
PROPERTY OWNER or OWNER
Shall mean the individual(s) owning the property on which an SFTF will be installed.
REGULATIONS
Shall mean the current regulations of the DEP as set forth under the Pennsylvania Code Title 25, as amended from time-to-time.
SMALL FLOW SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITY or SFTF
Shall mean an individual or community sewage system designed to adequately treat sewage flows not greater than 2,000 gallons per day for final disposal using stream discharge, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer discharge or discharge to the surface of the ground.
TOWNSHIP
Shall mean Cecil Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
Shall mean the official Township Engineer of Cecil Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.
A. 
The SFTF shall be designed in accordance with the design standards and requirements of the DEP. The property owner shall submit the design standards to the Township Engineer for approval prior to the commencement of construction activities. In addition to all other requirements, each SFTF's design standards shall include the following:
(1) 
Easy access for inspection and periodic maintenance shall be provided for all SFTF facilities. A readily accessible effluent sampling point, located at either one of the stream discharge point, municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) discharge point, discharge point onto the surface of the ground, or a sampling port that is provided at an approved point along the discharge pipe, shall be provided.
(2) 
An alarm shall be provided for all pumps and aeration devices. Alarms shall include both visual and audible devices located so as to be readily noticeable by occupants of property. An appropriate high level alarm in the dosing tank and an alarm for the aeration monitor (if used) are needed.
(3) 
Reasonable vehicular access shall be provided to the SFTF for periodic removal of sludge.
A. 
The property owner must submit a sewage planning module to the Board of Supervisors prior to construction. The planning module must be approved by both the Board of Supervisors and DEP.
B. 
The property owner must obtain all necessary DEP permits prior to commencing construction of the SFTF.
C. 
The property owner shall provide the Township with a complete set of as-built plans once construction of the SFTF has concluded.
Any property owner within the Township that submits an application to the Township and DEP for the installation of a SFTF, and a corresponding modification to the Township's Act 537 Sewage Management Plan, shall execute an operation and maintenance agreement with an individual, firm, or corporation experienced in the operation and maintenance of sewage treatment systems (the "qualified contractor"). The operation and maintenance agreement shall be for the duration of the life of the SFTF. The property owner shall deliver a copy of the agreement to the Township within 30 days after application to the Township as set forth in this section.
A. 
In the event that an inspection indicates the need for repair or replacement of any component, part, or all of an SFTF in order to bring the SFTF into compliance with this Article or DEP regulations, the owners of the SFTF shall complete such repairs or replacement and obtain certification from the Township Engineer or the designee thereof that the repair or replacement has been completed in accordance with the appropriate standards.
B. 
In the event that an inspection indicates the need for maintenance on any component, part, or all of an SFTF in order to bring an SFTF into compliance with this Article or DEP regulations, the owners of the SFTF shall complete such maintenance and obtain certification from the Township Engineer or the designee thereof that the work has been completed in accordance with the appropriate standards.
If, after the approval of coverage under this Article, DEP approves a municipal sewage facilities official plan or an amendment to an official plan under Act 537, in which sewage from the property owner's herein approved SFTF will be treated and disposed of at other planned facilities, the property owner, shall upon notification from the Township or DEP, provide for the conveyance of their sewage to the planned facilities, abandon use and decommission the SFTF, including the proper disposal of solids, and notify DEP accordingly. The property owner shall adhere to schedules in the approved official plan, amendments to the plan, or other agreements between the property owner and the Township. The approval of this article coverage shall then, upon notice from DEP, terminate and become null and void.
In the event that a property owner fails or refuses to achieve timely compliance with the provisions for SFTF repair, replacement, or maintenance, the Township has the right to pursue enforcement of the matter. The qualified contractor, as set forth in § 187-41, shall have the right to enter upon the premises and to perform any repairs, replacement, or maintenance with respect to an SFTF, all of which shall be made at the cost and expense of the property owner.
Pursuant to the Second Class Township Code, at 53 P.S. § 66601, any persons who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof before a Magisterial District Judge, be subject to a penalty or fine of not less than $100, but no more than $1,000, together with the costs of prosecution for each such violation, and may, upon default of payment of fine and costs, be sentenced to imprisonment in accordance with the law.
In order to secure any costs which may be incurred by the Township, the property owner shall deposit the sum of $1,000 prior to officially recording the SFTF plans to be held in an escrow fund of the Township. The escrow fund account shall be an interest-bearing account and interest shall be retained by the Township for administration of the account. When said escrow has been depleted to $500, property owner shall replenish the account to $1,000 for the life of the SFTF. Any amount remaining in the Escrow account upon successful cessation of the STFT shall be refunded to the property owner.
All provisions of Cecil Township Code of Ordinances which are contrary to this Article are expressly repealed.
The provisions of this Article are declared to be severable, and if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or part thereof is, for any reason, held to be invalid to unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of any remaining sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or part of this Article.