(A) Each person owning a building served by an on-lot sewage disposal system which contains a septic tank shall have the septic tank pumped by a qualified pumper/hauler within six months of the effective date of this subchapter. Thereafter, that person shall have the tank pumped at least once every three years or whenever an inspection reveals that the septic tank is filled with solids or with scum in excess of one-third of the liquid depth of the tank. Receipts from the pumper/hauler shall be submitted to the township within the prescribed six-month and three-year pumping periods.
(B) The required pumping frequency may be increased at the discretion of an authorized agent if the septic tank is undersized, if solids buildup in the tank is above average, if the hydraulic load on the system increases significantly above average, if a garbage grinder is used in the building, if the system malfunctions or for other good cause shown. If any person can prove that such person’s septic tank had been pumped within three years of the six-month anniversary of the effective date of this subchapter, then that person’s initial required pumping may be delayed to conform to the general three-year frequency requirement except where an inspection reveals a need for more frequent pumping frequencies.
(C) Any person owning a property served by a septic tank shall submit, with each required pumping receipt, a written statement from the pumper/hauler or from any other qualified individual acceptable to the township that the baffles in the septic tank have been inspected and found to be in good working order. Any person whose septic tank baffles are determined to require repair or replacement shall first contact a sewage enforcement officer for approval of the necessary repair.
(D) Any person owning a building served by an on-lot sewage disposal system which contains an aerobic treatment tank shall follow the operation and maintenance recommendations of the equipment manufacturer. A copy of the manufacturer’s recommendations and a copy of the service agreement shall be submitted to the township within six months of the effective date of this subchapter. Thereafter, service receipts shall be submitted to the township at the intervals specified by the manufacturer’s recommendations. In no case may the service or pumping intervals for aerobic treatment tanks exceed those required for septic tanks.
(E) Any person owning a building served by a cesspool or dry well in an area of numerous malfunctions or in an area where a repair is not technically feasible shall have that system pumped according to the schedule prescribed for septic tanks to mitigate potential pollution. As an alternative to this scheduled pumping of the cesspool or dry well, and pending any scheduled replacement of the substandard system as identified in the Official Sewage Facilities Plan, the owner may apply for a sewage permit from a sewage enforcement officer for a septic tank to be installed preceding the cesspool or dry well. For this interim repair system consisting of a cesspool or dry well preceded by an approved septic tank, only the septic tank must be pumped at the prescribed interval.
(F) Additional maintenance activity may be required as needed, including, but not necessarily limited to, cleaning and unclogging of piping, servicing and the repair of mechanical equipment, leveling of distribution boxes, tanks and lines, removal of obstructing roots or trees, the diversion of surface water away from the disposal area and the like.
(1987 Code, § 105-23) (Ord. 3-93, passed 6-8-1993)