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?