1. Any person owning a building served by an on-lot sewage disposal system shall have the septic tank pumped by a qualified pumper/hauler after the effective date of this Part. Thereafter that person shall have the tank pumped at least once every 4 years. Receipts from the pumper/hauler shall be submitted to the Borough as required in subsection .6.
2. Any person providing a receipt or other written evidence showing that their tank had been pumped within 3 years of the first year anniversary of the effective date of this Part, then the Borough may delay that person’s initial required pumping to conform to the general 4-year frequency requirement.
3. The Borough may allow septic tanks to be pumped out at less frequent intervals when the owner can demonstrate to the Borough that the system can operate properly without the need for pump out for a period longer than 4 years, but in no case shall such period extend beyond 6 years. Such a request must be made no sooner than 6 months prior to the date when the next required pumping is to be completed. The request must be in writing with all supporting documents attached. The Borough in making its determination, shall take into account the information submitted by the applicant, the sewerage permit issued by the Borough SEO upon installation or rehabilitation of the system and supporting documentation, reports of inspection and maintenance of the system, and other relevant information, and may conduct an on-site inspection. The applicant shall bear the cost of any inspection, surface or subsurface, and soil or wastes sampling conducted for the purposes of evaluating the request. The applicant shall receive a decision within 60 days of accumulation of all necessary information by the Borough. [Ord. 2012-03]
4. The required pumping frequency may be increased at the discretion of the 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.
5. Each time a septic tank or other subsurface waste disposal system tank is pumped out, the Borough, its authorized agent, or a private septage pumper/hauler, whichever provides the service, shall provide to the owner of the sub-surface waste disposal system a signed pumpers report/receipt containing at a minimum the following information:
A. Date of pumping.
B. Name and address of system owner.
C. Address of tank’s location, if different from owner.
D. Description and diagram of the location of the tank, including the location of any markers, riser, and access hatches and size of the tank.
E. The date existing system was installed.
F. Last date of pump out.
G. List of other maintenance performed.
H. Any indications of system malfunction observed.
I. Amount of septage or other solid or semi-solid material removed.
J. List or recommendations.
K. Destination of the septage (name of the treatment facility).
6. Upon completion of each required pumping, the Borough, its authorized agent, or a private septage waste hauler, shall fill out and submit a pumper report/receipt, copies of which shall be provided by the Borough to all licensed pumpers/haulers. The Borough’s authorized agent, or private septage pumper/hauler shall provide one copy of the pumper's report/receipt to the owner and one copy to the Borough. Copies must be received at the Borough's business office within 30 days of the date of pumping. The pumper’s report/receipt will include verification that the baffles in the septic tank have been inspected and found to be in good working order.
7. Any person owning a building served by an alternative system or 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 Borough within 6 months of the effective date of this Part. Thereafter, service receipts shall be submitted to the Borough at the intervals specified by the manufacturer’s recommendations. In no case may the service or pumping intervals exceed those for those required for septic tanks.
8. Any person owning a building served by a cesspool or dry well shall have that system pumped according to the schedule prescribed for septic tanks in subsection .1.
9. The Borough may require additional maintenance activity 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 form the disposal area, etc. Repair permits issued by the certified SEO must be secured for these activities.
(Ord. 02-06, 9/3/2002, §309, as amended by Ord. 2012-03, 12/4/2012)