(A) Any on-lot sewage disposal system and any small stream discharge sewage disposal system may be inspected by an authorized agent at any reasonable time as of the effective date of this subchapter.
(B) Such inspection may include a physical tour of the property, the taking of samples from surface water, wells, other groundwater sources, the sampling of the 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.
(C) An authorized agent shall have the right to enter upon land for the purposes of inspections described in this section.
(D) An initial inspection shall be conducted by an authorized agent within one year of the effective date of this subchapter for the purpose of determining the type and functional status of each sewage disposal system in the sewage management district. A written report shall be furnished to the owner of each property inspected and a copy of said report shall be maintained in the township records.
(E) A schedule of routine inspections may be established to assure the proper functioning of the sewage systems in the sewage management district.
(F) An authorized agent shall inspect systems known to be, or alleged to be, malfunctioning. Should said inspections reveal that the system is indeed malfunctioning, the authorized agent shall order action to be taken to correct the malfunction. If total correction cannot be done in accordance with the regulations of DEE, including but not limited to those outlined in 25 Pa. Code Chapter 73, or is not technically or financially feasible in the opinion of the authorized agent and a representative of DER, then action by the property owner to mitigate the malfunction shall be required.
(G) There may arise geographic areas where numerous sewage disposal systems are malfunctioning. A resolution of these area-wide problems may necessitate detailed planning and a revision to the portion of the Sewage Facilities Plan pertaining to areas affected by such malfunctions. When a DER-authorized Official Sewage Facilities Plan Revision has been undertaken, mandatory repair or replacement of individual malfunctioning sewage disposal systems within the area affected by the revision may be delayed, pending the outcome of the plan revision process; immediate corrective action may be compelled whenever a malfunction, as determined by township officials and/or the Department, represents a serious public health or environmental threat.
(1987 Code, § 105-21) (Ord. 3-93, passed 6-8-1993; Ord. 1-2010, passed 3-4-2010)