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 › GENERAL › Section 73.3 - Policy

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) A person
						planning or designing a facility or intending to utilize individual or
						community sewage systems is advised of the importance of good water
						conservation practices and the potential value of water conservation, recycle
						or reuse systems as a means of prolonging the life of the sewage system, as
						well as ensuring the availability of adequate water supplies in the
						future.
(b) When considering
						corrective measures for malfunctioning sewage disposal systems which have been
						constructed in accordance with this chapter or applicable regulations at the
						time of construction, the efforts of the local agency or the Department will
						not be restricted by this chapter. It will be the policy of the Department and
						local agencies administering this chapter to first consider all individual
						onlot and community onlot sewage systems described in this chapter, excluding
						holding tanks, in the correction of existing malfunctions and, when the systems
						cannot be constructed in accordance with this chapter, to provide the best
						technical guidance possible in attempting to resolve existing pollution or
						environmental health problems. When application of best technical guidance
						results in the absorption area or spray field encroaching on the regulated
						isolation distance to a well, the proper well abandonment procedure or the
						relocation of the well should be considered. The requirements of §
												72.33 (relating to well distance
						exemption) may be waived at the discretion of the local agency. This policy
						will not limit or preclude the use of experimental systems as provided in
						§§
												73.71 and
						73.72 (relating to experimental
						sewage systems; and alternate sewage systems), small flow treatment systems
						permitted under the Clean Streams Law or, when no other alternatives are
						available, holding tanks.
(c) The
						Department recognizes the existence of technologies related to onlot sewage
						disposal which are not specifically addressed in this chapter as well as
						technologies from other disciplines which may be applied to the design or
						construction of an onlot sewage disposal system. Experimental sewage system
						permits provide a method for the testing and evaluation of new concepts and
						technologies applicable to onlot disposal in this Commonwealth. Experimental
						permits may be limited in number on a Statewide basis. The Department will
						determine the number of experimental permits that may be issued for a specific
						experimental technology or design. An experimental onlot sewage disposal system
						permit shall be required for all technologies, methods, system components,
						systems and designs the Department deems experimental. Alternate sewage systems
						provide a classification for innovative and alternative technology which has
						been developed through the experimental program, by application of existing
						technologies from other disciplines or through technological advances from
						other areas of the United States. The alternate sewage system permit will
						provide a method for utilizing proven technologies within this Commonwealth
						without constant changes to this chapter. Systems shall be permitted only where
						it is demonstrated that the proposed system will protect the public health and
						prevent pollution of the waters of this Commonwealth.
The provisions of this §
														73.3 amended under section 9 of
							 the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (35 P. S. §
															750.9); The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S.
							 §§
															691.1-691.1001); and section
							 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §
															510-20).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
														72.33 (relating to well isolation
							 distance exemption).