1. The Township shall notify all owners of property served by a sewage system that their system must be pumped by the end of the calendar year in which the letter is received. The Township shall follow a schedule whereby one fourth of all the owners of properties within the Township served by a sewage system are notified annually of the pumping requirement, such that all owners are notified once every 4 years. The property owner must have the sewage system pumped within the time specified in the Township's letter, unless the owner can provide the Township with pumping certification indicating that the sewage system was pumped in the 1 year prior to the date of the Township's letter. A copy of the fully completed manifest shall be furnished to the Township within 30 days of the date of the pumping.
2. Commencing from the date of pumping as prescribed paragraph .A above, removal of septage or other solids from a sewage system shall be performed at least once every 4 years thereafter. The property owner shall furnish a copy of the manifest to the Township within 30 days of the date of the pumping.
3. The Township may allow a sewage system to be pumped out at less frequent intervals when the owner can demonstrate to the Township that the sewage system can operate properly without the need for pump-out for a period longer than 4 years. In no case shall such period extend beyond 8 years. The Township SEO shall determine if an extension of time should be granted and the length of the extension. In making his determination, the Township SEO shall take into account the sewage permit issued for the installation or rehabilitation of the sewage system, reports of inspection and maintenance of the sewage system, and other relevant information. The Township SEO shall conduct an on-site inspection. The number of years between pumping shall be determined from the Penn State Fact Sheet F-161, "Septic Tank Pumping," provided the inspection findings and all other information is satisfactory. The applicant shall pay a fee established by Township resolution for this request. The applicant shall receive a decision within 60 days of accumulation of all necessary information by the Township.
4. A sewage system shall be deemed to be pumped when all organic solids are removed and the total average liquid depth remaining in the tank is less than 1 inch.
5. The Township may require additional maintenance activity as needed including, but not limited to, cleaning and unclogging of piping; service of mechanical equipment; removal of obstructing roots or trees; and/or the diversion of surface water away from the absorption area.
6. The required frequency of pumping may be increased at the discretion of the Township, if:
A. A sewage system is found to be malfunctioning.
B. A sewage system is found to be undersized.
C. The treatment tanks are filled with solids in excess of one-third of the liquid depth of the tank or with scum in excess of one-third of the liquid depth of the tank.
D. The hydraulic load on the system increases significantly above average.
E. A garbage grinder is used in the building.
F. Other good cause can be shown.
7. Any person owning a building served by sewage system containing an aerobic treatment tank shall follow the operation and maintenance recommendations of the equipment manufacturer. In no case may the service or pumping interval for aerobic treatment tanks exceed that required for septic tanks.
8. Any person owning a structure served by a cesspool shall have that system pumped according to the schedule prescribed for septic tanks.
9. Holding tanks shall be pumped out at intervals that prevent the overflow, leakage, back-up, and other malfunctions characteristic of an overloaded system.
10. Each time a treatment tank or other sewage system is pumped, the contracted pumper shall provide to the owner of the system a fully completed and signed manifest.
11. The owner of a property upon which a sewage system is constructed shall maintain the area around such system so as to provide convenient access for inspection, maintenance, and pumping; and divert surface water and downspouts away from the absorption area and sewage system components.
12. Tanks shall only be pumped from/through the manhole/access port, i.e., the largest tank opening. Tanks shall not be pumped from/through the observation port.
13. The owner of a property upon which a sewage system is constructed shall, at all times, operate and maintain the sewage system in such condition as will permit it to function in the manner in which it was designed and to prevent the unlawful discharge of sewage.
(Ord. 2005-05, 10/10/2005, § 4)