Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart C - Protection of Natural Resources › Article I - Land Resources › Chapter 73 - STANDARDS FOR ONLOT SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES › INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM STANDARDS › Section 73.167 - Operation and maintenance

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
Individual residential spray irrigation systems require
						  periodic maintenance by the property owner and entity established under §
												72.25(h)
						  (relating to permit requirements for operation and maintenance of individual
						  residential spray irrigation systems). Without proper maintenance, system
						  components will fail and pollution or a public health hazard will occur. This
						  may result in costly repairs and civil penalties. The system designer shall
						  provide an operation and maintenance manual, which may be supplemented with
						  manufacturer's manuals and instructions, to the permittee that includes, as a
						  minimum, the following required standards for operation and maintenance to be
						  met by the permittee:
(1) Septic
						tanks, dosing tanks, lift pump tanks and chlorine contact/storage tanks shall
						be inspected every 6 months for structural integrity of the tank, inlet and
						outlet baffles, solids retainer, pumps, siphons and electrical
						connections.
(2) Aerobic tanks
						shall be inspected every 6 months for structural integrity of the tank, inlets
						and outlet baffles, buoyed solids retainer, pumps, siphons and electrical
						connections. The inspection and concurrent pumping of excess solids shall be
						conducted in accordance with manufacturer's and NSF requirements.
(3) Free access sand filters, buried sand
						filters, chlorinators, the pressurized spray irrigation plumbing and spray
						nozzles and the spray fields shall be inspected periodically by the property
						owner and every 6 months by the maintenance entity established under §
												72.25(h). Each
						component shall be inspected for compliance with the following standards:
(i) Chlorine residual sampled after the
						contact/retention tank shall be maintained at a concentration of at least 0.2
						PPM.
(ii) The chlorinator shall be
						functioning within the specifications of the manufacturer. Bridging of chlorine
						tablets may not be occurring.
(iii)
						Solids may not be accumulated on the surface of the sand in the free access
						sand filter nor may 12 inches to effluent be ponded over the sand. The high
						water alarm shall be functional.
(iv) The surface of the free access sand
						shall be raked and porous and any sand removed shall be replaced with
						sufficient clean sand to maintain the depth at a minimum of 24
						inches.
(v) The plumbing in the
						free access sand filter tank shall be functional and free of leaks and splash
						plates shall be in place.
(vi) The
						free access sand filter tank and cover shall be structurally sound and
						unauthorized access equipment shall be in place. Insulation shall be in
						place.
(vii) The areas of the
						buried sand filter shall be free of ponded effluent and downgradient
						seepage.
(viii) The plumbing to the
						spray field shall be functional and free of leaks.
(ix) The spray nozzles shall be functioning
						within the design specifications and the extent of the designed wetted
						perimeter and each nozzle.