caernarvon township lancaster county june 17, 2013
TRANSCRIPT
CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP
LANCASTER COUNTY
June 17, 2013
CONSIDERATION OF A SEWAGE MANAGEMENT
ORDINANCE
INTRODUCTIONSCAERNARVON TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATIVES
Township Rural/AG Character & Vision for PoliciesACT 537 PLAN OVERVIEW (De-centralized sewer focus)
VISION ENGINEERING-TOWNSHIP ENGINEER AND SEO (SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER)ACT 537 PLAN OVERVIEWSewage Management Ordinance component of ACT 537
PURPOSE OF MEETINGCONSIDERATION OF A NEW ORDINANCE (SEWAGE
MANAGEMENT) REGULATING ON-LOT SEWERS
WELCOME
Act 537, enacted by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1966, requires that every municipality in the state develop and maintain an up-to-date sewage facilities plan.
OR IN OTHER WORDS…
Caernarvon Township has been delegated by PADEP as the local authority to oversee and manage the Township’s on-lot sewers in accordance with the Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537).
IT’S THE LAW…
71.11. General requirement.Municipalities are required to develop and implement comprehensive official plans which provide for the resolution of existing sewage disposal problems, provide for the future sewage disposal needs of new land development and provide for the future sewage disposal needs of the municipality. Official plans shall be developed, submitted to the Department for approval and implemented by municipalities under the act and § § 71.12—71.14, 71.21, 71.22, 71.31, 71.41—71.44 and Subchapters C—F.
PENNSYLVANIA’S ACT 537 OF 1996PA CODE: TITLE 25, CHAPTER 71
71.71. General requirements. Municipalities are required to assure the proper operation and
maintenance of sewage facilities within their borders. Proper operation and maintenance of sewage facilities is essential to the provision of adequate sewage treatment and disposal over the functional life of a sewage treatment system. Municipalities shall, therefore, address long-term operation and maintenance in official plans and revisions to official plans. Subchapters B and C (relating to official plan requirements; and new land development plan revisions) and this subchapter provide the planning requirements to identify, evaluate and implement the operation and maintenance needs of existing and proposed sewage facilities within a municipality. The establishment of a sewage management program as part of an official plan or revision to an official plan provides a method of assuring proper operation and maintenance of sewage facilities. The evaluation and implementation of operation and maintenance needs through a sewage management program shall be consistent with the provisions of this subchapter.
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS PA CODE: TITLE 25, CHAPTER 71
SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMSAre for health, safety and welfare of the publicProtects our environment and water resourcesEnsures maximum use & operation of on lot
systems (protection of resources)
IN SIMPLE TERMS…
…keeping our Township in proper balance
IF THE TOWNSHIP’S ON-LOT SEWER SYSTEMS ARE NOT MAINTAINED (i.e. malfunctions and violations)…public sewer may be required to comply with PADEP regulations.
TYPICAL EFFECTS OF PUBLIC SEWER
COSTLY INFRASTRUCTURE (revenue needed)
INCREASED DEVELOPMENT (farmland lost)
WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE?
MAINTAIN RURAL CHARACTER OF TOWNSHIPAVOID EXCESS DEVELOPMENT ON THE
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITYUTILIZE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF ON-LOT
SEWAGE SYSTEMSVOLUTARILY COMPLY WITH PADEP
REGULATIONS FOR PRESERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT AND AVOID COSTLY FINES AND CHANGES (PUBLIC SEWER)
CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP ‘S DESIRED APPROACH
IS CONSIDERED A DECENTRALIZED APPROACH,(an individual or cluster approach to managing sewer,
that is more cost effective and more affordable)
rather than…
A CENTRALIZED APPROACH(a traditional or public sewer approach to managing
sewer that is less cost effective and less affordable)
CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP ‘S DESIRED APPROACH …
EDUCATE PUBLIC AND MONITOR PROPER MAINTENANCE OF ON-LOT SYSTEMS
BRING BENEFITS TO HOMEOWNERS, NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITYLongevity of on-lot systemMaintain quality water resources (wells,
aquifers, streams)Public health and safetyMinimize cost of sewage disposal
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES-SEWAGE MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE:
COMMON IMPLEMENTATION IN RURAL
AREAS SUCH AS CAERNARVON
TOWNSHIP FOR DECADES
MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO
WASTEWATER TREATMENT THAN
CENTRAL SEWER PLANTS
REQUIRES PROPER USE AND
MAINTENANCE FOR LONG TERM
EFFECTIVENESS
HISTORIC BACKROUND OF ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS)
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM IS KEY TO IT’S LONGEVITY AND A SEWAGE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
VIDEO“DOWN THE DRAIN: SEPTIC SYSTEM
SENSE”
UNDERSTANDING TODAYS ON-LOT SEWAGE SEPTIC SYSTEMS
AVERAGE PUMPING COST$200-$250/3-year cycle (about $5-$7 a month)
AVERAGE PUBLIC SEWER COST$65 or more per month (in rural areas)
COST OF REPAIRS OR NEW SYSTEM$5,000-$25,000
IT PAYS TO MAINTAIN
TO DATE Model DEP Ordinance has been utilized to develop draft
Caernarvon Township Sewage Management Program (DEP provides technical assistance, but no longer financial aid)
Feedback from other local communities/programs has been obtained
Printed copies of the draft ordinance are available upon request
Draft ordinance will also be posted on the Township website
THE PROCESS Public meeting for resident education and input Board of Supervisors to review and evaluate resident input
and feedback Board to consider adoption of Ordinance
PROPOSED SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
PLANNING AND PREPARATION
REGIONAL ROTATIONS Township equally divided into three districts-North, South
& Central Pumping cycles will be on a rotating three year cycle. Each
district will pump their system every three years. Residents who had their system recently pumped (prior to
the programs implementation) can be considered as compliant.
THE REGIONS & POTENTIAL TIME FRAMES District #1: Central Region-Churchtown Area, 2014 District #2: Southern Region-Beartown Area, 2015 District #3: Northern Region, 2016
PROPOSED SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMREGIONAL AREAS AND ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
PROPOSED SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
REGIONAL AREAS
NOTIFICATIOINS AND REMINDERS TO RESIDENTS Initial notification and permit Quarterly reminders of those not completing maintenance (post card) Residents responsible for:
Completing permit application Paying permit fee Sending completed pumping inspection report to Township
REGISTRATION OF AREA HAULERS Haulers help track required inspections and complete inspection
forms Haulers must comply with Township requirements
PROPOSED SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
WHAT TO EXPECT
ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS MAKING CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE
PROPOSED SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
IN CONCLUSION
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?