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Sewer Management Program

Brief History

The Department of Environmental Protection approved Franconia Township’s Act 537 Plan on December 14, 2004. A major component of this plan is the Sewer Management Program (SMP) that required inspections of all on-lot disposal systems. On March 21, 2005, Franconia’s Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance No. 328 which authorizes the Sewer Management Program and outlines the process. On May 15, 2006 the Ordinance was amended. The changes to the Ordinance were two text changes that better clarified the inspection procedure and revised the cycles.  The Ordinance governs the municipal management of on-lot subsurface sewage disposal facilities which regulates inspection, maintenance, and rehabilitation of these facilities within the Township’s limits. A copy of the Ordinance is available at the Township, or you can view it online by clicking on the Township Code Book located on this website.

Under the approved Ordinance, all property owners are required to maintain their system. This includes a pump-out of your system every three years. Documentation of the pump-out is to be submitted to the Township for their records. According to Ordinance No. 328 - Documentation is to be submitted to the Township within seven days of the pumping/hauling operations.  In addition, a written statement from the pumper/hauler or from any other qualified individual (acceptable to the Township) that the baffles in the septic tank have been inspected and found to be in good working order is required.  This written statement must be provided to the individual property owner, and a copy of such statement should be submitted to the Township along with the pump-out receipt. 

SEWER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends that all on-lot systems be pumped out every three (3) years.  The township routinely sets up inspections of on-lot systems to verify their health.  At this time, the township is not doing inspections of on-lot systems.

It is important for you to know that according to Ordinance 328 (attached below) if public sewer is available (within 150 feet of your residence), you would have to connect to public sewer rather than repair or replace a failing on-lot system.  Additionally, you are required to connect to public sewer (again if you are within 150 feet) if an entire area of the township is required to connect or when you sell your home, regardless of the health of your on-lot system.  Presently, the township has not made any requirements regarding connecting to sewer in a given area.