[Adopted 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 01-3]
A. 
This article shall be known and may be cited as "An ordinance providing for a Sewage Management Program for Upper Frederick Township."
B. 
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 to 691.1001), 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 Upper Frederick 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 Upper Frederick 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.
C. 
The purpose of this article is to provide for the regulation, inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation of onlot 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.
A. 
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this article shall be as follows:
AUTHORIZED AGENT
An employee of the Township, Professional Engineer, Plumbing Inspector, Sewage Enforcement Officer or any other qualified or licensed person who is authorized to function within specified limits as an agent of Upper Frederick Township to administer or enforce the provisions of this article.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors of Upper Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
COMMUNITY SEWAGE SYSTEM
A sewage system, whether publicly or privately owned, for the collection of sewage from two or more lots, or two or more equivalent dwelling units, and the treatment of disposal, or both, of the sewage on one or more of the lots or at another site.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ("DEP").
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 this commonwealth, or by means of conveyance to another site for final disposal.
LOT
A part of a subdivision or a parcel of land used as a building site or intended to be used for building purposes, whether immediate or future, which would not be further subdivided. Whenever a lot is used for a multiple-family dwelling or for commercial, institutional or industrial purposes, the lot shall be deemed to have been subdivided into an equivalent number of single-family residential lots as determined by estimated sewage flows.
MALFUNCTION
A condition which occurs when an onlot 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 ground 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.
MUNICIPALITY
Upper Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
OFFICIAL SEWAGE FACILITIES PLANS
A comprehensive plan for the provisions 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.
ONLOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Any sewage system which uses a system of piping, tanks or other facilities for collecting, treating or disposing of sewage into a soil absorption area or spray field, or by retention in a retaining tank; this term includes both individual sewage systems and community sewage systems.
OWNER
Any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial, of any property located in the Township.
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 onlot 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 Clean Streams Law (Act of June 22, 1937, P.L. 1987, No. 394, as amended, 35 P.S. §§ 691.1 to 691.1001).
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
A person certified by DEP who is employed by the Township or County Health Department. Such person is authorized to conduct investigations and inspections, review permit applications and do all other activities as may be provided for such person in the Sewage Facilities Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and this or any other ordinance adopted by the Township or County Health Department. Only the Sewage Enforcement Officer employed by the County Health Department is authorized to administrate the sewage facilities permitting program under Chapter 72 of the regulations.
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
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 article, the Sewage Facilities Act, the Clean Streams Law, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and such other requirements adopted by the Board to effectively enforce and administer this article.
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
Upper Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
B. 
For the purposes of this article, any term which is not defined herein shall have that meaning attributed to it under the Sewage Facilities Act and the regulations promulgated thereto.
From the effective date of this article, its provisions shall apply in any portion of the Township identified in the Official Sewage Facilities Plan as a Sewage Management District. Within such an area or areas, the provisions of this article shall apply to all persons owning any property serviced by an onlot sewage disposal system and to all persons installing or rehabilitating onlot sewage disposal systems.
A. 
No building permit shall be issued for a new or expanded building which will contain sewage generating facilities until Act 537 Planning approval has been issued by the Department and appropriate OLDS permit issued by Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer.
B. 
No occupancy permit shall be issued for a new building which will contain sewage generating facilities until installation is approved by the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer.
C. 
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 from the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer for alteration or replacement of the existing sewage disposal system or until the structure's owner and the appropriate officials of the county or Township receive written notification from the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer that such a permit will not be required. The Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer shall determine whether the proposed alteration or conversion of the structure will result in increased sewage flows.
D. 
Sewage permits may be issued only by a Sewage Enforcement Officer employed by the Montgomery County Health Department.
A. 
Any onlot sewage disposal system may be inspected by the Township's authorized agent at any reasonable time as of the effective date of this article.
B. 
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.
C. 
An authorized agent shall have the right to enter upon land for the purposes of inspections described in this section.
D. 
An initial inspection shall be conducted by an authorized agent within one year of the effective date of this article for the purpose of determining the type and functional status of each sewage disposal system in the Sewage Management District. A written report shall be furnished to the owner of each property inspected, and a copy of said report shall be maintained in the Township records. The report may contain recommendations for improved operation and maintenance of the system.
E. 
A schedule of routine inspections may be established to assure the proper functioning of the sewage systems in the Sewage Management District.
F. 
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 notify the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer and shall order action to be taken to correct the malfunction. If total correction cannot be done in accordance with the regulations of DEP including, but not limited to, those outlined in Chapters 71 and 73 of Title 25 of Pennsylvania Code, or is not technically or financially feasible in the opinion of the authorized agent and Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer, then action by the property owner to mitigate the malfunction shall be required.
G. 
There may arise geographic areas where numerous onlot 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 DEP 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, the Montgomery County Health Department and/or the Department, represents a serious public health or environmental threat.
Only normal domestic wastes shall be discharged into any onlot 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 or ground water, including water from roof or cellar drains, springs, basement sump pumps and french drains.
E. 
Wastewater resulting from hair treatment at a multichaired beauty shop.
A. 
Each person owning a building served by an onlot sewage disposal system which contains a septic tank shall have the septic tank pumped within six months of the effective date of this article by a sewage pumper/hauler licensed by DEP and authorized by the Board or its agent. Thereafter, that person shall have the tank pumped 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 ___ of the liquid depth of the tank. Receipts from the pumper/hauler shall be submitted to the Township within the prescribed six months and three-year pumping periods.
B. 
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. If any person can prove that such person's septic tank had been pumped within three years of the six-month anniversary of the effective date of this article, then that person's initial required pumping may be delayed to conform to the general three-year frequency requirement, except where an inspection reveals a need for more frequent pumping frequencies.
C. 
Any person owning a property served by a septic tank shall submit, with each required pumping receipt, a written statement from the pumper/hauler or from any other qualified individual acceptable to the Township, that the baffles in the septic tank have been inspected and found to be in good working order. Any person whose septic tank baffles are determined to require repair or replacement shall first contact the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer for approval of the necessary repair.
D. 
Any person owning a building served by an onlot 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 submitted to the Township within six months of the effective date of this article. Thereafter, service receipts shall be submitted to the Township at the intervals specified by the manufacturer's recommendations. In no case may the service or pumping intervals for aerobic treatment tanks exceed those required for septic tanks.
E. 
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.
A. 
No person shall operate or maintain an onlot 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 DEP.
B. 
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 onlot sewage disposal system or which is discharging sewage without a permit.
C. 
Within seven days of notification by the Township that a malfunction has been identified, the property owner shall make application to the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer 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.
D. 
The Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer and the municipality's authorized agent shall both 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 areas, 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.
E. 
In lieu of, or in combination with, the remedies described in Subsection D above, the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer and the municipality's authorized agent 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.
F. 
In the event that the rehabilitation measures in Subsections A through E are not feasible or effective, the owner may be required to apply for a permit to DEP for a single residence treatment and discharge system. Upon receipt of said permit, the owner shall complete construction of the system within 30 days.
G. 
Should none of the remedies described in this section be totally effective in eliminating the malfunction of an existing onlot sewage disposal system, the property owner is not absolved of responsibility for that malfunction. The Township and the Montgomery County Health Department may require whatever action is necessary to lessen or mitigate the malfunction to the extent necessary.
The Township, upon written notice from the authorized agent or from the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer that an imminent health hazard exists due to failure of property owner to maintain, repair or replace an onlot sewage disposal system, as provided under the terms of this article, shall have the authority to perform, or contract to have performed, the work required by the authorized agent or the Montgomery County Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officer. The owner shall be charged for the work performed and, if necessary, a Lien shall be entered therefore in accordance with law.
A. 
All septage originating within the Sewage Management District 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 DEP. Approved sites or facilities shall include the following: septage treatment facilities, wastewater treatment plants, composting sites and approved farm lands.
B. 
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. §§ 6018.101-6018.1003) and all other applicable laws.
A. 
The Township shall fully utilize those powers it possesses through enabling statutes and ordinances to effect the purposes of this article.
B. 
The Township shall employ qualified individuals to carry out the provisions of this article. Those employees shall include an authorized agent and 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 article.
C. 
All records, reports, files and other written materials relating to the operation and maintenance and malfunction of onlot sewage disposal systems in the Sewage Management District 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.
D. 
The Township Board shall establish all administrative procedures necessary to properly carry out the provisions of this article.
E. 
The Township Board may establish a fee schedule and authorize the collection of fees to cover the cost to the Township of administering this program, consistent with local Municipal Code.
A. 
Appeals from final decisions of the Township, or any of its authorized agents, under this article shall be made to the Board of Supervisors in writing within 30 days from the date of written notification of the decision in question.
B. 
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.
C. 
A decision shall be rendered in writing within 30 days of the date of the hearing.
D. 
Hearings under this subsection shall be conducted pursuant to the Act of December 2, 1968, P.L. 1133, No. 353, known as the "Local Agency Law."
Any person failing to comply with any provision of this article shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 and costs, and not more than $300 and costs or, in default thereof, shall be confined in the county jail for a period of not more than 30 days. Each day of noncompliance shall a constitute a separate offense.