The intent of the article is to:
A. Promote the general health, welfare and safety of
the community;
B. Provide for the protection of pure water and the preservation
of a healthy environment;
C. Assure proper operation and maintenance of sewage
facilities;
D. Address long-term operation and maintenance of sewage
facilities;
E. Assure compliance with the Department of Environmental
Protection regulations, the Clean Streams Law and regulations promulgated
thereunder;
F. Provide for the resolution of existing sewage disposal
problems and for the future sewage disposal needs of the Township;
G. Provide owners of single-family residences, duplexes
and small commercial establishments with domestic-type sewage not
exceeding 2,000 gallons per day with guidelines for the design, installation
and operation of on-lot sewage treatment facilities. Systems in excess
of 2,000 gallons per day will require special exception through PADEP
with final approval of the Board of Supervisors.
H. Supplement the existing Act 537 Plan adopted by Allegheny
Township by Res. No. 18-1997 on October 20, 1997.
The Board of Supervisors specifically finds
as follows:
A. That the adequate disposal of sewage affects the public
health and safety of the residents of Allegheny Township;
B. All on-lot sewage treatment facilities should be monitored
to assure adequate treatment of sewage has occurred prior to discharge
of treated water;
C. That the danger of discharge of inadequately treated
sewage constitutes a public health and safety hazard;
D. In the event of malfunctioning, subdivisions and/or
issuance of a building permit, it is the duty of the Township, as
trustee of the public natural resources, to require persons in control
of private sewage facilities to submit to monitoring controls, inspection
and requirements of reporting in order to help assure each citizen's
right to clean air, pure water and the preservation of a healthy environment;
E. That there are adequate monitoring, reporting and
inspection requirements currently in place within Allegheny Township
to assure that single-residence sewage treatment facilities are monitored
and inspected;
F. That the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection (PADEP) has requested Allegheny Township and other municipalities
of the commonwealth to enact ordinances providing for inspection of
permitted facilities for the reason that examinations by the PADEP
of all on-lot sewage treatment facilities have shown that some systems
are not operating in accordance with the standards and permits under
which they were originally permitted.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ABSORPTION AREA
A component of an individual or community sewage system where
liquid from a treatment tank seeps into the soil. It consists of an
aggregate-filled area containing piping for the distribution of liquid
and the soil or sand/soil combination located beneath the aggregate.
ACT 537
The Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. 1535, as amended, 35 P.S.
§ 750.1 et seq., known as the "Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act."
AEROBIC UNIT
A mechanically aerated treatment tank that provides aerobic
biochemical stabilization of sewage prior to its discharge to an absorption
area.
ALTERNATIVE SEWAGE SYSTEM
A system employing the use of demonstrated technology in
a manner not specifically recognized by the PADEP.
AUTHORIZED AGENT
A certified Sewage Enforcement Officer who is delegated by
the Township to function within specified limits as the agent of the
Township to carry out the provisions of this article.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors, Allegheny Township, Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania.
CESSPOOL
A pit in the earth which receives the discharge of sewage
from a building sewer or part thereof and is designed and constructed
so as to permit settling of settleable solids from the liquid, digestion
of the organic matter by detention and discharge of the liquid through
the walls of the pit.
CHEMICAL TOILET
A permanent or portable nonflushing toilet using chemical
treatment in the retaining tank for odor control.
COMMUNITY SEWAGE SYSTEM
Any system, whether publicly or privately owned, for the
collection of sewage from two or more lots or structures and the treatment
and/or disposal of the sewage on one or more lots or at any other
site.
CONVENTIONAL SUBSURFACE ABSORPTION SYSTEM
Any of the several types of aggregate-filled sewage effluent
absorption areas installed below original soil grade level with ultimate
percolation into the original soil.
DEP
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
ELEVATED SAND MOUND
A type of the aboveground absorption area consisting of a
level layer of sand between the surface of the natural soil and an
aggregate distribution area, or any updated technologies, to insure
adequate renovation of sewage effluent.
EXPERIMENTAL SEWAGE SYSTEM
Any method of sewage disposal not described in the PADEP
Title 25 Rules and Regulations which is used for the purpose of testing
and observation.
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 this commonwealth.
IRSIS
Individual residence spray irrigation system.
LAKE or POND
An inland body of water, either natural or man-made, relatively
at rest.
LOT
A portion of a subdivision or other parcel of land intended
as a unit for transfer of ownership or for development or both. In
determining the area of a lot, no part of the right-of-way of a street,
alley or crosswalk may be included.
MALFUNCTION
The condition which occurs when an on-lot 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 the building connected to the system or otherwise 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 of
the conditions noted above occur for any length of time during any
period of the year.
MUNICIPALITY
Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
OCCUPIED BUILDING
Any structure erected and intended for continuous or periodic
human habitation and from which structure sanitary sewage and industrial
waste, or either thereof, is or may be discharged.
OFFICIAL SEWAGE FACILITIES PLAN
A comprehensive plan for the provision of adequate sewage
disposal systems, adopted by the Township and approved by the PADEP,
as described in and required by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act.
PADEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
PERMIT
A document issued and approved by the Township for the installation
of an on-lot sewage disposal system. Permit is valid for a three-year
period. Permit must have permit application, soils investigation and
percolation test forms, system design and property plot plan on file
as supporting documents. Permit must be signed by the SEO indicating
final inspection and turned in to Zoning Officer before occupancy
of dwelling can be approved.
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, township, district, authority or any other legal entity
whatsoever which is recognized by law as the subject of rights or
duties. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a fine
or imprisonment, the term 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.
PRIVY
A tank designed to receive sewage where water under pressure
is not available.
PUMPER/HAULER
Any person, company, partnership or corporation which engages
in cleaning community or individual sewage systems and transports
the septage cleaned from these systems.
RECYCLING TOILET
A device in which the flushing medium is restored to a condition
suitable for reuse in flushing.
REHABILITATION
Work done to modify, alter, repair, enlarge or replace an
existing on-lot sewage disposal system.
REPLACEMENT AREA
A portion of a lot or a developed property, sized to allow
the installation of sewage disposal area, which is reserved to allow
that installation in the event of the malfunction of the originally
installed on-lot sewage disposal system.
RETAINING TANK
A watertight receptacle which receives and retains sewage
and is designed and constructed to facilitate ultimate disposal of
the sewage at another site.
SEEPAGE PIT
A system consisting of a watertight receptacle (tank) which
receives the discharge of sewage from a building sewer or part thereof
and is designed and constructed so as to permit settling of settleable
solids from the liquid, digestion of the organic matter by detention
and discharge of the liquid portion into a pit for underground dispersion.
SEPTIC SYSTEM
A system consisting of a watertight receptacle (tank) which
receives the discharge of sewage from a building sewer or part thereof
and is designed and constructed so as to permit settling of settleable
solids from the liquid, digestion and the discharge of the liquid
portion into a distribution system for dispersion.
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 any 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. 394), known
as the "Clean Streams Law," as amended.
SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
The official of the local agency who issues and reviews permit
applications and conducts such investigations and inspections as are
necessary to implement Act 537 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
SEWER SYSTEM
Any portion of any sewage collection and conveyance system
which carries sewage to a permitted public sewage treatment, on-lot
sewage disposal system or any privately owned sewage treatment plant.
SLOW-RATE LAND APPLICATION (SRLA)
A method of disposal of treated sewage effluent whereby the
effluent is applied to the surface of the soil usually by spray irrigation
or drip at reduced rates.
SMALL FLOW TREATMENT FACILITY
An individual or community sewerage system designed to adequately
treat sewage flows not greater than 2,000 gallons per day for final
disposal using disinfection prior to discharge.
SPRING
An identifiable, continuous or intermittent flow of water
from under the ground to the surface.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or other parcel
of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other
divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the
purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court
for distribution to heirs or devises, transfer of ownership or building
or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease
of land for agricultural purposes into parcels or more than 10 acres,
not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential
dwelling, shall be exempted.
TOWNSHIP
Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
WATER OF THIS COMMONWEALTH
Rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches,
water courses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, ponds, springs and
other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and underground
water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or
on the boundaries of the commonwealth.
WETLANDS
Areas inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater
at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under
normal conditions do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically
adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Another indication
is the presence of hydric soils. Wetlands generally include swamps,
marshes, bogs and other similar areas.
ZONING OFFICER
An individual employed by the Township to administer and
enforce the Allegheny Township Zoning Ordinance.
Property owner and other persons or parties
in control of all sewage treatment facilities within the Township,
for themselves, their heirs, administrators, executors, successors
and assigns, shall at all times defend and hold the Township harmless
from any and all demands, claims, suits, legal expenses or judgments
which may be brought against the Township and/or against any Township
officials and employees and/or against the property owner or any of
their successors in title for any alleged adverse conditions casually
and directly related to the operation by property owner of the facility.
The property owner shall have the duty to indemnify and defend the
Township, its officials and employees against any claim or suit made
by any person who alleges that adverse conditions have been caused
by the operation by the property owner of the facility. In the event
the Township deems it necessary, at its sole discretion, the Township
may undertake its own defense as to any such claim and the property
owner shall reimburse the Township for any expenses it may incur,
including legal fees, engineering fees and other expert witness fees
and shall pay any judgment rendered against the Township as a result
of such suit. In the event the property owner, or its heirs, successors
or assigns, shall fail to pay the costs, legal fees, judgments, other
expenses or damages as herein provided and the Township is required
to pay same, the Township shall have the right to recover said funds
it has expended either by a civil action against the property owner,
or its heirs, successors or assigns, or by causing a lien to be recorded
on the property in an amount equal to the sums required to be expended,
pursuant to the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S. § 7101 et
seq., as amended.
It is hereby declared to be a violation of this
article and of the Clean Streams Act and the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act, resulting in a summary offense and public nuisance, for a permittee,
or the owner, occupant or person in control of an on-lot sewage treatment
facility:
A. To fail to monitor discharge as required by statute,
regulation or ordinance;
B. To fail to report the results of monitoring, testing,
sampling or inspection as required by statute, regulation or ordinance;
C. To suffer or permit the actual discharge of improperly
or incompletely treated waters;
D. To fail to report the discharge of improperly or incompletely
treated waters;
E. To refuse to permit reasonable inspection, testing,
sampling or monitoring of the facility for malfunctioning or subdivision
or building permits by the DEP or Allegheny Township representatives;
F. To fail to fulfill any of the standard or special
conditions of the permits issued for the on-lot sewage treatment facility
with surface discharge or to meet any other conditions, regulations
or requirement of statutes, regulations or ordinances relative to
such facility.
This article is enacted as the necessary and
existing framework for the prevention and abatement of nuisances resulting
from pollution caused by on-lot sewage treatment facilities with surface
discharge, to which the Clean Streams Act, by Section 701 (35 P.S.
§ 691.701), and the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act,
by Section 15 (35 P.S. § 750.15), are additional and accumulative.
This article is not intended and should not be construed to be in
conflict with the Clean Streams Act, nor the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act, nor the rules and regulations adopted thereunder, but solely
as a necessary framework to prevent and restrain violations of these
acts and the rules and regulations of the Department of Environmental
Protection adopted thereunder.
When a resident or property owner proposes the
construction or erection of an on-lot sewer treatment facility, the
applicant must provide the Township SEO and Zoning Officer with the
following in support of such proposal:
A. A preliminary hydrogeologic evaluation when the on-lot
treatment facility will use land disposal or a dry stream channel
discharge for final disposal. This evaluation shall include:
(1) The most recent 7 1/2 inch United States geologic
survey topographic map with the discharge accurately plotted;
(2) A discharge rate and quality, including seasonal variations;
and
(3) An identification on the topographic map of existing
groundwater uses for 200 feet in width on each side of the channel
downstream from the discharge from the system until perennial stream
conditions are reached.
B. Documentation, using the information developed in Subsection
A (above), which confirms that existing or proposed drinking water uses will be protected and the effluent will not create a public health hazard or a nuisance, as per the SEO.
C. Documentation that the proposed use of the on-lot
sewage facility does not conflict with comprehensive sewage planning
for the area.
D. An evaluation that establishes specific responsibilities
for operation and maintenance of the proposed system.
E. An evaluation of the alternatives available to provide
sewage facilities which documents the use of on-lot sewage treatment
facilities is the best environmentally accepted alternative.
In order to protect the health, welfare and
safety of the residents of Allegheny Township, it shall be the duty
of the owner, occupant and other person in control of all private
small flow sewage treatment facilities within the Township to comply
with all DEP requirements.
In the event Township or DEP inspections indicate
the need for repair, replacement and/or maintenance of any component
part or all of the system in order to bring the sewage treatment facility
into compliance with DEP regulations, the property owner shall complete
such repairs, replacement and/or maintenance and obtain certification
from the property owner's engineer or the Township's authorized representative
that the work has been completed in accordance with appropriate standards.
Certification must be provided within 120 days of the date of Township
or DEP notice. In the event the property owner or his representative
fails or refuses to achieve timely compliance with the provisions
for repair, replacement and/or maintenance of the sewage treatment
facility, the Township shall have the right to enter upon the premises
and to perform any repairs, replacement and/or maintenance with respect
to the sewage treatment facility, all of which shall be made at the
cost and expense of the property owner. Municipal action to effectuate
needed repairs or maintenance shall occur no sooner than 30 days after
notice was sent to the property owner. During the period of time when
the facility is inoperable and/or incapable of treating the discharged
effluent so as to meet and/or exceed those standards of the DEP as
aforementioned, the property owner, at the property owner's expense,
shall make the necessary arrangements to remove said effluent and
arrange for the appropriate disposition of same at a properly certified
and licensed sewerage disposal facility. In the event the property
owner shall fail to make the necessary arrangements for the removal
of said effluent, the Township shall have the right, upon 48 hours'
written notice to the property owner, to enter upon the premises and
cause said effluent to be removed. In the event that the Township
causes such effluent to be removed, the property owner shall reimburse
the Township for all costs and expenses related thereto. Where the
property owner causes the effluent to be removed, he shall, upon request
of the Township, provide an agreement with a hauler providing for
the removal. The property owner agrees to continue hauling effluent
until such time as the system has been properly certified as being
operable by the Township SEO or the PADEP. If the Township makes appropriate
finding, the Township may declare the subject property uninhabitable
and order the owner to vacate the premises for failure to comply.
To ensure that the property owner is operating
and maintaining the sewer treatment facility in accordance with this
agreement, the property owner shall pay a bond or cash escrow sufficient
to cover the costs of maintenance, inspection, repair and/or replacement
of the sewer treatment facility. The amount of said bond or escrow
shall be established by the Allegheny Township Board of Supervisors
on a case-by-case basis. All payments of escrow shall be made contemporaneously
with any agreements entered into between Allegheny Township and the
property owner for the operation of an on-lot sewer treatment facility.
Only normal domestic wastes shall be discharged
into any on-lot sewage disposal system. The following shall not be
discharged into the system:
B. Automotive oil and other nondomestic oil;
C. Toxic or hazardous substances or chemicals, including
but not limited to pesticides, disinfectants, 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.
When the results of monitoring, testing, sampling,
inspection or other evidence indicates a violation of the Clean Streams
Act, the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, the Rules and Regulations
of the Department or this article, the Township SEO shall notify the
appropriate officials of the DEP and shall report same to the Township
board of supervisors. The Township SEO is authorized by the board
of supervisors to serve notice upon the violator and to proceed in
court to abate any nuisance or to restrain or prevent any violation
of the Clean Streams Act in accordance with Section 601 and 602 thereof
(35 P.S. §§ 691.601 and 691.602) or to abate any nuisance
or to restrain any violation of the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act in accordance with Sections 12 and 13 thereof (35 P.S. §§ 750.12
and 750.13). If it appears to the Township SEO that a violation of
this article has occurred, the Township SEO shall initiate enforcement
proceedings by sending an enforcement notice as provided in this section.
The enforcement notice shall be sent to the owner of record of the
parcel on which the violation has occurred, to any person who has
filed a written request to receive enforcement notices regarding that
parcel or to any person requested in writing by the owner of record.
The enforcement notice shall state at least the following:
A. The name of the owner of record or any other person
against whom the Township intends to take action;
B. The location of the property in violation;
C. The specific violation with the description of the
requirements which have not been met, citing in each instance the
applicable provisions of the ordinance;
D. The date before which the steps for compliance must
be commenced and the date before which the steps must be completed;
E. That the recipient of the notice has the right to
appeal to the DEP within a prescribed period of time indicated in
the enforcement notice;
F. All costs applicable to the enforcement shall be charged
to the violator.
Percolation tests shall be conducted in accordance
with the following procedure:
A. Number and location. Six or more tests shall be made
in separate test holes spaced uniformly over the proposed absorption
area site.
B. Results. Percolation holes located within the proposed
absorption area shall be used in the calculation of the arithmetic
average percolation rate.
C. Type of hole. Holes having a uniform diameter of six
inches to 10 inches shall be bored or dug as follows:
(1) To the depth of the proposed absorption area, where
the limiting zone is 60 inches or more from the mineral soil surface.
(2) To a depth of 20 inches if the limiting zone is identified
as seasonal high water table, whether perched or regional, rock formation,
other stratum, or the soil condition which is so slowly permeable
that it effectively limits downward passage of effluent, occurring
at less than 60 inches from the mineral soils surface.
(3) To a depth eight inches above the limiting zone or
20 inches, whichever is less, if the limiting zone is identified as
rock with open joints or with fractures or solution channels or as
masses of loose rock fragments, including gravel, with insufficient
fine soils to fill the voids between the fragments, occurring at less
than 60 inches from the mineral soil surface.
D. Preparation. The bottom and sides of the hole shall
be scarified with a knife blade or sharp-pointed instrument in order
to completely remove any smeared soil surfaces and to provide a natural
soil interface into which water may percolate. Loose material shall
be placed in the bottom of the hole to protect the soil from scouring
and clogging of the pores.
E. Procedure for presoaking. Holes shall be presoaked
according to the following procedure to approximate normal weather
or in-use conditions in the soil:
(1) Initial presoak. Holes shall be filled with water
to a minimum depth of 12 inches over the gravel and allowed to stand
undisturbed for eight to 24 hours prior to the percolation test.
(2) Final presoak. Immediately before the percolation
test, water shall be placed in the hole to a minimum depth of six
inches over the gravel and readjusted every 30 minutes for one hour.
F. Determination of measurement interval. The drop in
the water level during the last 30 minutes of the final presoaking
period shall be applied to the following standard to determine the
time interval between readings for each percolation hole:
(1) Where water remains in the hole, the interval for
readings during the percolation test shall be 30 minutes;
(2) Where no water remains in the hole, the interval for
readings during the percolation test may be reduced to 10 minutes.
G. Measurement. After the final presoaking period, water
in the hole shall be adjusted to approximately six inches over the
gravel and readjusted when necessary after each reading.
(1) Measurement to the water level in the individual percolation holes shall be made from a fixed reference point and shall continue at the interval determined from Subsection
G(6) for each individual percolation hole until a minimum of eight readings are completed or until a stabilized rate of drop is obtained. A stabilized rate of drop shall mean a difference of 1/4 inch or less of drop between the highest and lowest readings of four consecutive readings.
(2) The drop that occurs in the final period in percolation
test holes, expressed as minutes per inch, shall be used to calculate
the arithmetic average percolation rate.
(3) Where no measurable rate is obtained in a percolation
hole, the rate of 240 minutes per inch shall be assigned to that hole
for use in calculating the arithmetic average percolation rate.
(4) Where no measurable rate is obtained in 1/3 or more
of the percolation holes, the proposed absorption area tested is unsuitable
and a permit shall be denied for that area.
(5) Every hole in the percolation test must be included
in the calculation of the average percolation rate. Holes may not
be dropped from the average unless they are outside the proposed absorption
area. An applicant may request a second percolation test on the same
site. The applicant must be advised by the SEO that all 12 percolation
holes will be used in determining the average percolation rate. If
the proposed absorption area is relocated, new tests must be performed.
(6) Percolation tests with the following characteristics
are unsuitable:
(a)
Arithmetic average is outside the limits set
by Section 73.16(a) of the DEP regulations.
(b)
One-third or more of the test holes have a zero
rate of drop. For a six-hole test, two or more holes with a zero reading
constitutes a failed test.
(c)
One-third or more of the test holes are too
rapidly permeable to measure using ten-minute intervals.
(7) Percolation test results from tests conducted prior
to the effective date of the latest revisions to Chapter 73 of the
DEP regulations may be accepted by the SEO if these tests were conducted
in accordance with the regulations in effect at that time and the
tests were confirmed, conducted or otherwise verified by the SEO.
H. Acceptance of prior testing results. The sewage enforcement
officer may accept the results of percolation tests performed before
the effective date of these sections, provided that the tests were
observed, conducted or otherwise verified to have been conducted in
conformance with the regulations in effect at that time.
Whenever seepage beds are employed, they shall meet the requirements of §
197-66B(5),
(6),
(8) and
(10) to
(15) (relating to standard trenches), in addition to the following specifications:
A. The maximum slope of the undisturbed soil of a proposed
absorption area where a seepage bed may be permitted is 8%.
B. The required absorption area may be provided by one
or more seepage beds:
(1) Where gravity distribution is used, the individual
beds of a single on-lot system shall be separated by a minimum of
five feet.
(2) Where pressure distribution is utilized, the individual
beds of a single on-lot system shall be separated by a minimum of
20 feet.
(3) The bed shall contain a minimum of two laterals.
(4) Laterals shall be equally spaced a maximum of six
feet on center, except where pressurized distribution design is utilized
whereupon laterals may be spaced consistent with the requirements
of 25 Pa. Code § 73.44.
(5) Laterals shall be placed no further than five feet
nor less than two feet from the sidewall of the bed.
(6) Laterals shall be placed in the bed so that the first
and last discharge holes may be no more than five feet nor less than
two feet from the ends of the bed.
Dosing tanks shall be constructed to the following
specifications:
A. Dosing tanks shall be constructed of materials to
the specifications outlined in Section 73.31(b) (relating to standards
for septic tanks) of the DEP regulations.
B. For all systems other than individual residential
spray irrigation systems, the dosing tank shall be designed so that
the estimated daily flow shall be discharged to the absorption area
in one or more doses. Minimum dose volume shall be five times the
internal liquid capacity of the delivery pipe, manifold and laterals,
or 100 gallons, whichever is greater. When a siphon is used in a pressure
distribution system, the minimum dose volume shall be equal to the
internal liquid capacity of the delivery line plus five times the
internal liquid capacity of the manifold and laterals.
C. The dosing tank shall have a minimum liquid capacity
equal to or greater than two times the designed dose volume.
D. Sufficient space shall be provided for electrical
connections and proper pump control operation.
E. Unless otherwise regulated by the local electrical
codes, all electrical connections shall be moisture resistant and
at a point higher than the inlet pipe or mounted above grade outside
of the dosing tank or manhole extension within a tamper resistant,
lockable control box.
F. A watertight manhole, at least 20 inches square or
24 inches in diameter, attended to grade, shall be provided for access
to the dosing tank. Manhole covers shall meet the specifications of
Section 73.31(d) of the DEP regulations.
Retaining tanks are individual sewage systems
and require permits. They shall only be used where the SEO finds and
gives written notice to the approving body that all DEP requirements
relating to administration of sewage facilities planning have been
met.
A. A holding tank shall be constructed to meet the specifications of §
197-52 (relating to standards for septic tanks).
B. The minimum capacity of a holding tank shall be 1,000
gallons or a volume equal to the quantity of waste generated in three
days, whichever is larger.
C. The holding tank shall be equipped with a warning
device to indicate when the tank is filled to within 75% of its capacity.
The warning device shall create an audible and visual signal at a
location frequented by the homeowner or responsible individual. Any
alteration of or failure to maintain any warning device will be considered
a violation.
D. The homeowner will schedule pumping of the holding
tank once the tank reaches seventy-five-percent capacity.
E. Disposal of waste from a holding tank shall be at
a site approved by the DEP.
F. Operation and maintenance agreements are required
for any holding tank system.
G. Noncompliance with any of the above regulations shall constitute a violation as set forth in §
197-78.
Any person, association, corporation or partnership
who violates any provision of this article is guilty of a summary
offense and, upon conviction thereof before a District Justice, shall
be subject to a fine of not more than $300 per day for every day out
of compliance or as set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
The operation or maintenance of a single-family
residence sewage facility contrary to the Clean Streams Act, the Pennsylvania
Sewage Facilities Act, the Rules and Regulations of the Department
of Environmental Protection and the standard or special conditions
of any applicable permit or this article is hereby declared to constitute
a public nuisance. Upon the discovery of such state of affairs, Allegheny
Township shall notify the landowner to remove or abate the nuisance.
In default of the removal or abatement of the nuisance, the Township
may:
A. Proceed pursuant to Section 702 of the Second Class
Township Code (53 P.S. § 65702) to remove any nuisance or dangerous structure on public
or private grounds after notice to the landowner to do so and, in
his default, to collect the cost of such removal together with a penalty
of 20% of the actual costs of removal or abatement;
B. To institute proceedings in equity; and
C. To institute summary proceedings for violation of
statute, rules and regulations of the DEP or for violation of this
article. The Township is specifically authorized to proceed under
any one or more of the above-mentioned courses of action.
Any costs and expenses, both direct and indirect
and including necessary attorney fees, incurred by Allegheny Township
resulting from the need to remove effluent, repair the system and/or
inspect or maintain the sewage treatment facility shall be paid by
the property owner to the Township within 30 days after said costs
or expenses are incurred by the Township. If said costs or expenses
are not paid to the Township within said time period, the Township
shall have the right to file and enforce a lien with interest and
penalties at current Township borrowing rate against the property
described in Exhibit A pursuant to the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S.
§ 7101 et seq., as amended.
The Sewage Enforcement Officer fees will be
set by motion at the organizational meeting by the Board of Supervisors
held each January.