[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Cheltenham 5-24-2005 by Ord. No. 2086-05.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The intent of this chapter is to establish rules and
regulations governing the installation, use and discharge of sump pumps or
other groundwater conveyance systems and to establish the penalty structures
required to enforce said rules and regulations.
B.
The rules and regulations governing the use of sump pumps
or other groundwater conveyance systems are being established:
A.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant or user
of any premises to direct into or allow any stormwater, surface water, groundwater,
well water or water from industrial or commercial air-conditioning systems
(residential properties may have a twenty-gallon-per-day maximum discharge
from air-conditioning systems) to drain into the wastewater collection system.
No rainspout, or other form of surface drainage and no foundation drainage
or sump pump shall be connected or discharged into any wastewater collection
system.
B.
Any new or existing construction in which a sump and pump have been or will be installed shall be required to install a rigid pipe connection discharge in accordance with § 211-3. It shall be unlawful to maintain any connection with the sanitary sewer carrying roof water, groundwater, surface water or any other natural precipitation.
C.
Exemptions:
(1)
Exemptions may be granted in the form of a seasonal waiver, which would allow the property owner to temporarily discharge directly into the wastewater collection system between the dates of November 30 and March 31. The holder of a seasonal waiver shall allow a Township employee or designated representative to certify that, prior to March 31 of each subsequent year, the discharge water connection has been removed from the township wastewater collection system. Failure to provide such certification shall place the seasonal waiver holder in violation and subject to the surcharge penalty as required under § 211-6. Seasonal waiver requests shall be submitted on the official form provided by the Township Engineer.
(2)
Exemptions may be granted in the form of a nonseasonal
waiver for a particular property owner who can demonstrate undue hardship
because of unique or extenuating circumstances. A nonseasonal waiver would
allow the property owner to discharge directly into the sanitary sewer system
without seasonal restrictions. The nonseasonal waiver request shall be submitted
to the Township Engineer in writing and, at a minimum, identify the property
for which the waiver is being requested, the name of the property owner/applicant,
and a detailed description of the circumstances justifying the request. Nonseasonal
waiver requests shall be submitted on the official form provided by the Township
Engineer.
D.
Any person granted a seasonal waiver shall be charged
an additional monthly fee on his sewer bill to cover the cost of compliance
inspections and the cost for treating the extra discharge water during the
waiver period. The seasonal waiver amount shall be set by resolution of the
Board of Commissioners. Any person granted a nonseasonal waiver shall be charged
an additional monthly fee on his utility bill to cover the cost for treating
the extra discharge water on a year-round basis. The nonseasonal waiver amount
shall be set by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
E.
If a seasonal waiver is granted, the owner of the property may place a pipe connecting the sump pump to the sanitary sewer, which must have a shut-off valve. Township employees or designated representatives, on or around March 31 of each year, will inspect the system to verify that the valve is closed so no prohibited water is discharged into the sanitary sewer. By applying for the waiver, the owner has granted permission for Township employees or designated representatives to inspect the connection at any time between March 31 and November 30 to verify compliance with this section. Such inspections shall be made between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and only when a resident of the premises is on site. Failure to allow such an inspection or to allow Township employees or designated representatives entry for verification of compliance shall result in automatic revocation of the seasonal waiver and imposition of the surcharge penalty pursuant to § 211-6.
A.
A discharge pipe shall be installed through the outside
foundation wall of the building with rigid pipe (plastic, copper or galvanized)
one-inch inside diameter minimum, without valves or quick connections that
would alter the path of discharge. The discharge shall be directed away from
the foundation wall.
B.
No discharge shall be directed so as to impact neighboring
properties.
C.
Where a sump pit exists in any building, it shall have a pump installed with rigid piping as specified in § 211-3A above.
D.
Where a sump pit exists and the property owner decides
not to utilize a pump, the pit shall be permanently filled with concrete.
E.
Any plumber registered in the Township of Cheltenham
who knowingly installs a sump, pump or piping that is not in conformance with
this chapter will lose his registration privileges in the Township of Cheltenham
for a period of two years.
F.
A plumbing permit is required for installation or alteration
of sump pump plumbing.
Property owners shall allow a Township employee or a designated representative
to inspect the buildings to confirm that there is no sump pump or other prohibited
discharge into the wastewater collection system. The Township may periodically
reinspect any building or premises to determine compliance with the requirements
of this chapter.
A.
Any property owner who previously made any connection or installation in violation of this chapter shall immediately remove such connection or correct such an installation. If not removed or corrected within 30 calendar days after notice of the violation has been delivered personally or by certified mail to the owner, the Township shall impose a surcharge in the amount provided in § 211-6. Such a surcharge shall also be imposed upon any property owner, after a thirty-calendar-day notice has been delivered, if the owner refuses to allow their property to be inspected. The owner of a building or premises found to be not in conformance with this chapter during periodic reinspections shall be subjected to a surcharge as provided in § 211-6, surcharge starting from the previous date of inspection.
[Amended 12-20-2005 by Ord. No. 2099-05]
