Source: https://ecode360.com/28470274
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 00:48:42+00:00

Document:
§ 1056.01 Intent and purpose.
§ 1056.03 Use of retaining tanks.
§ 1056.04 Rights and privileges granted.
§ 1056.05 Rules and regulations.
§ 1056.06 Rules and regulations to be in conformity with applicable law.
§ 1056.07 Rates and charges.
§ 1056.08 Exclusiveness of rights and privileges.
§ 1056.09 Duties of property owner.
§ 1056.10 Application and permit.
§ 1056.12 Abatement of nuisances.
1056.03 Use of retaining tanks.
1056.04 Rights and privileges granted.
1056.06 Rules and regulations to be in conformity with applicable law.
1056.08 Exclusiveness of rights and privileges.
1056.09 Duties of property owner.
The Council of Upper Providence Township recognizes that there are currently limited opportunities in the Upper Providence Township for public or community sewerage facilities to serve the residents of Upper Providence Township. In an effort to address the potential failure of on-lot sewerage facilities within the municipal boundaries of the Township, the Council has determined that certain measures are necessary for the protection, benefit and preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the Township.
The Council desires to establish procedures for the use and maintenance of retaining tanks designed to receive and retain sewage whether from residential or commercial property uses, when the property owner adequately demonstrates that no other viable alternative means of sewage disposal is available to the property. It is specifically intended that such retaining tanks are temporary in nature and permitted only as specifically approved by the Township Engineer as part of a plan providing a more permanent solution of sewage disposal.
OWNER — Shall mean any person vested with ownership, legal or equitable, sole or partial, of any property located within the municipal boundaries of Upper Providence Township.
PERSON — Shall mean any individual, partnership, company, association, corporation or other group or entity.
RETAINING TANK — Shall mean a watertight receptacle, whether permanent or temporary, which receives and retains sewage and is designed and constructed to facilitate the ultimate disposal of the sewage at another site.
SEWAGE — Shall mean 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 substance 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 any substance which constitutes pollution under the Clean Stream Laws, as amended.
The property owner shall provide evidence to the Township that the on-lot septic system, which serves the property, has failed and that no other viable alternative means of sewage collection and disposal are available to the property.
The property is otherwise suitable for a retaining tank, and the use, if approved, will be susceptible to regulation or restriction by appropriate conditions and safeguards, including but not limited to, audible and visual warning devices (visible from street level) to indicate when the retaining tank is within 75% of its capacity. In addition, for retaining tanks with a capacity of 10,000 gallons or more, an automated alarm system shall be installed to contact the approved sewage disposal contractor when the retaining tank is 2/3 full.
The retaining tank shall be constructed and maintained in conformance with the provisions of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code, as may be amended and supplemented from time to time.
The use of a retaining tank will serve as a temporary measure, only until a suitable alternative method of sewage disposal is available to the property.
The use of a retaining tank will serve the best interests of the Township, the convenience of the community, where applicable, and the public health, safety and general welfare and/or will serve to abate a nuisance or public health hazard.
Tank shall be installed below grade.
That the Council of Upper Providence Township is authorized and empowered to undertake within the Township the control and methods of retaining tank use, sewage disposal and sewage collection and transportation thereof.
That the Council is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt such rules and regulations concerning sewage which it may deem necessary from time to time to effect the purposes herein, including but not limited to, requiring the posting of financial security and execution of a written maintenance agreement by the property owner.
All such rules and regulations adopted by the Council shall be in conformity with the provisions herein, all other ordinances of the Township, and all-applicable laws, and applicable rules and regulations of administrative agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Council shall have the right and power to fix, alter, charge and collect rates, assessments, and other charges in the area served by its facilities at reasonable and uniform rates as authorized by applicable law, all of which may be amended by resolution from time to time.
The collection and transportation of all sewage from any property utilizing a retaining tank shall be done only by an approved sewage disposal contractor, and the disposal thereof shall be made only at such site or sites as may be approved by the Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Council or its authorized agent shall receive, review and retain pumping receipts from permitted retaining tanks, which shall be provided by the property owner or the approved sewage disposal contractor, within five days of the date the retaining tank was pumped.
The Council or its authorized agent shall receive, review and retain, annual inspection reports for each permitted retaining tank, which shall be provided by the property owner.
Provide for the use of a retaining tank only as a temporary, interim receptacle for the disposal of sewage as part of an overall, more permanent sewage disposal plan.
Install and maintain the retaining tank in conformance with this or any ordinance of this Township, the provisions of any applicable law, and the rules and regulations of the Council and any administrative agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Require an approved sewage disposal contractor to inspect the retaining tank(s) on an annual basis, and provide a written report of the inspection, which shall also be provided to the Township.
Permit only an approved sewage disposal contractor, to collect, transport, and dispose of the contents therein.
Submit to the Township, on an annual basis, an executed contract for the maintenance of the retaining tank, with an approved sewage disposal contractor. Such contract shall be renewed or replaced and kept in full force and effect during the entire period in which a retaining tank is utilized. Failure to maintain such a contract or submit the contract to the Township shall cause an immediate revocation of the retaining tank permit.
At the time the permanent system is operational, fill the retaining tank with an approved material, remove and properly dispose of the tank or, with the permission of the Township, incorporate the tank in the permanent system.
Submit to the Township for its review and retention all pumping receipts.
Any person desiring to own, construct, operate or maintain a retaining tank shall file an application therefore with the Township, together with all plans (including but not limited to, planning modules and site plan) and other materials necessary to demonstrate compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter. Upon approval by the Township, the application shall be forwarded to the Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, if appropriate, which shall, if it finds the application, plans and approvals to be in accordance with this chapter, process the application in accordance with the regulations administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, and, upon approval, issue permits.
The Township shall retain the right, but not the obligation, to undertake any of the duties or responsibilities of the property owner hereunder, in the event that the property owner fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter. Any costs, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the Township shall be chargeable against the property owner and the Township may place a municipal lien against the property for such amounts.
In addition to any other remedies provided in this chapter, any violation of this chapter shall constitute a nuisance and shall be abated by the Township by either seeking mitigation of the nuisance or appropriate equitable or legal relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
The criminal fine, imposed by the Council or its authorized agents for each violation of this chapter shall be $1,000 upon determining a violation of this chapter has, or is, occurring, and except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Township shall issue a notice of violation ("notice") upon the violator.
In the event that the notice is not complied with and the criminal fine is not voluntarily paid to the Township, the Township shall initiate a summary enforcement proceeding before a district justice, as provided by the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, in which case the Township Solicitor may assume charge of the prosecution without the consent of the District Attorney as required under Pa. R. Crim. P. Sec. 83(c).
Each day or portion thereof that the violation shall be found to exist, or each section of this chapter which is found to have been violated shall give rise to a separate offense under this chapter.

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