This article shall be known as the "North Codorus
Township On-Lot Management Ordinance."
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ACT 537
The Act of January 24, 1966, PL 1535 as amended, 35 P.S.
§ 750.1 et seq., known as the "Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act."
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A certified sewage enforcement officer, code enforcement
officer, professional engineer, plumbing inspector, municipal secretary,
or any other qualified or licensed person who is delegated by the
Township to carry out the provisions of this article within specified
limits.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors of North Codorus Township, York
County, Pennsylvania.
COMMUNITY SEWAGE SYSTEM
Any system, whether publicly or privately owned, for the
collection of sewage from two or more lots, and the treatment and/or
disposal of the sewage on one or more lots or at any other site.
DEP or DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
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 any waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
MALFUNCTION
The condition occurring when an on-lot system causes pollution
to groundwater or surface waters, contamination of private or public
drinking water supplies, nuisance problems or is a hazard to public
health. Any septic or holding tank observed to be leaking, or any
instance where sewage is backing up into a building connected to the
system, is considered a malfunction. Systems shall be considered to
be malfunctioning if any of the conditions noted above occur for any
length of time during any period of the year.
OFFICIAL ACT 537 SEWAGE FACILITIES PLAN OR PLAN
A comprehensive plan for the provision of adequate sewage
disposal systems, adopted by the Township and approved by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, as described in and required
by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act. Hereinafter called the
"Plan," it shall mean the North Codorus Township Act 537 Plan, as
amended.
ON-LOT DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Any system for disposal of sewage involving pretreatment
and subsequent disposal of the clarified sewage into the soil for
final treatment and disposal, including both individual sewage systems
and community sewage systems.
ON-LOT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
A comprehensive set of legal and administrative requirements
encompassing the requirements of this article and other administrative
requirements adopted by the Township to effectively enforce and administer
this article.
ON-LOT MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS
Those areas identified in the maps attached as Exhibit "A"
and identified in the Township's Act 537 plan; this term shall include
any additional areas of the Township identified and so designated
by the Board in the future.
OWNER or OWNERS
The owner or owners of property, which shall include individuals,
partnerships, corporations, or any other ownership entity. For purposes
of this article, the singular shall include the plural, and one gender
shall include all genders.
PUMPING CERTIFICATION
A properly executed York County Solid Waste and Refuse Authority
Sludge/Septage Manifest.
QUALIFIED PUMPER/HAULER
Person or organization licensed by the York County Solid
Waste Authority to conduct septage pumping and hauling within York
County.
REHABILITATION
Work done to modify, alter, repair, enlarge, or replace an
existing on-lot disposal system.
SEPTIC SYSTEM REPORT
A Township form to be completed by the qualified pumper/hauler
and forwarded to the Township after each inspection and/or pumping.
SEPTAGE
Any substance pumped out of a septic tank.
SEO or SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
An agent of the Township, DEP certified, whose responsibility
is to issue and review permit applications and conduct such investigations
and inspections as are necessary to implement Act 537 and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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 Act of June 22, 1937 (P.L. 1987, No. 94), known
as "The Clean Streams Law," as amended.
TOWNSHIP
North Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.
In all On-Lot Management Districts, all on-lot
disposal systems shall be subject to the following:
A. An initial inspection and subsequent periodic inspections
shall be conducted when an on-lot system is pumped. Inspections shall
be conducted by a qualified pumper/hauler for the purpose of determining
a system's functional status. The individual property owner is responsible
to contact and make arrangements directly with the pumper/hauler.
B. A written report of the inspection shall be prepared
by the pumper/hauler and furnished to the owner of each property inspected.
The owner shall provide a copy of the said report to the Township
within 30 days of the inspection.
C. Written reports shall be recorded on the North Codorus
Township septic system report form. The pumper/hauler shall fully
complete the form to address all requested information.
D. An authorized agent of the Township shall inspect
systems known, or alleged, to be malfunctioning. Should the inspection
reveal that the system is indeed malfunctioning, the Township's authorized
agent shall take action to require the correction of the malfunction.
(1) An authorized agent of the Township may inspect any
on-lot sewage disposal system at any time given reasonable notice.
(2) An authorized agent of the Township shall have the
right to enter upon land for the purpose of inspections as described
above.
(3) Inspections by an authorized agent of the Township
may include a physical tour of the property, the taking of samples
from surface water, wells or other ground water sources, the sampling
of 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.
In all On-Lot Management Districts, all on-lot
disposal systems shall be subject to the following:
A. The Township shall notify all owners of property served
by an on-lot disposal system that their system must be pumped by the
end of the calendar year in which the letter is received. The Township
shall follow a schedule whereby the property owners within two of
the eight identified On-Lot Management Districts are notified annually
of the pumping requirement, such that all owners are notified once
every four years. The property owner must have his on-lot disposal
system pumped within the time specified in the Township's letter,
unless he can provide the Township with a Pumping Certification indicating
that the system was pumped within one year prior to the date of the
Township's letter. In such a circumstance, the owner shall remain
on the same notification schedule as he was.
B. A copy of the fully completed septic system report as required by §
146-28 shall be furnished to the Township within 30 days of the date of the pumping. The property owner shall mail or hand-deliver the septic system report to the Township Administration Building at 1986 Stoverstown Road, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania 17362.
C. Commencing from the date of pumping as prescribed in Subsection
A above, removal of septage or other solids from treatment tanks shall be performed at least once every four years thereafter. The property owner shall furnish a copy of the septic system report to the Township within 30 days of the date of the pumping. Septic system reports may be mailed or hand-delivered as described in Subsection
A above.
D. Tanks shall be deemed to be pumped when all organic
solids are removed and the total average liquid depth remaining in
the tank is less than one inch.
E. The Township may require additional maintenance activity
as needed, including, but not limited to: cleaning and unclogging
of piping; service and repair of mechanical equipment; leveling of
distribution boxes, ranks and lines; removal of obstructing roots
or trees; and/or the diversion of surface water away from the absorption
area.
F. The required frequency of pumping may be increased
at the discretion of the Township, if:
(1) A system is found to be malfunctioning;
(2) A system is found to be undersized;
(3) The treatment tanks are filled with solids in excess
of 1/3 of the liquid depth of the tank or with scum in excess of 1/3
of the liquid depth of the tank;
(4) The hydraulic load on the system increases significantly
above average;
(5) A garbage grinder is used in the building; or
(6) Other good cause can be shown.
G. Any person owning a building served by an on-lot disposal
system containing an aerobic treatment tank shall follow the operation
and maintenance recommendations of the equipment manufacturer. In
no case may the service or pumping interval for aerobic treatment
tanks exceed that required for septic tanks.
H. Any person owning a structure served by a cesspool
shall have that system pumped according to the schedule prescribed
for septic tanks.
I. Holding tanks shall be pumped out at intervals that
prevent the overflow, leakage, backup, and other malfunctions characteristic
of an overloaded system.
J. Each time a septic tank or other subsurface waste
disposal system tank is pumped, the contracted pumper shall provide
to the owner of the system a fully completed and signed septic system
report.
K. The owner of a property upon which an on-lot system
is constructed shall maintain the area around such system so as to
provide convenient access for inspection, maintenance, and pumping,
and shall divert surface water and downspouts away from the. absorption
area and on-lot system components.
L. Tanks shall only be pumped from or through the manhole/access
port, i.e., the largest tank opening. Tanks shall not be pumped from
or through the observation port.
M. The owner of a property upon which an on-lot system
is constructed shall, at all times, operate and maintain the on-lot
system in such condition as will permit it to function in the manner
in which it was designed and will prevent the unlawful discharge of
sewage.
When an imminent health hazard exists due to
failure of a property owner to maintain, repair, or replace an on-lot
sewage disposal system as provided under the terms of this article,
the Township shall have the authority to perform, or contract to have
performed, the work required to abate the health hazard, pollution,
or nuisance. The owner shall be charged for the work performed, and,
if necessary, a lien shall be entered therefor in accordance with
law. The Township reserves the right to pursue all other lawful remedies.