CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP
LANCASTER COUNTY
June 17, 2013
 INTRODUCTIONS
 CAERNARVON TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATIVES
 Township Rural/AG Character & Vision for Policies
 ACT 537 PLAN OVERVIEW (De-centralized sewer focus)
 VISION ENGINEERING-TOWNSHIP ENGINEER AND SEO
(SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER)
 ACT 537 PLAN OVERVIEW
 Sewage Management Ordinance component of ACT 537
 PURPOSE OF MEETING
 CONSIDERATION OF A NEW ORDINANCE (SEWAGE
MANAGEMENT) REGULATING ON-LOT SEWERS
 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 onlot sewers in accordance with the Sewage Facilities Act (Act
537).
 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.
 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 longterm 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
 Are for health, safety and welfare of the public
 Protects our environment and water resources
 Ensures maximum use & operation of on lot systems
(protection of resources)
…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)
 MAINTAIN RURAL CHARACTER OF TOWNSHIP
 AVOID EXCESS DEVELOPMENT ON THE
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
 UTILIZE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF ON-LOT
SEWAGE SYSTEMS
 VOLUTARILY COMPLY WITH PADEP
REGULATIONS FOR PRESERVATION OF
ENVIRONMENT AND AVOID COSTLY FINES AND
CHANGES (PUBLIC SEWER)
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)
 EDUCATE PUBLIC AND MONITOR PROPER
MAINTENANCE OF ON-LOT SYSTEMS
 BRING BENEFITS TO HOMEOWNERS, NEIGHBORS
AND COMMUNITY
 Longevity of on-lot system
 Maintain quality water resources (wells, aquifers,
streams)
 Public health and safety
 Minimize cost of sewage disposal
 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
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM IS KEY TO
IT’S LONGEVITY AND A SEWAGE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM
VIDEO
“DOWN THE DRAIN: SEPTIC SYSTEM SENSE”
 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
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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
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
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
ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS MAKING CAERNARVON
TOWNSHIP A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE