On-Site Sewage Information

[ Education ] [ On-Site Sewage Infromation ]

ON-SITE SEWAGE SYSTEM INFORMATION

FOR: NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR OF EXISTING SYSTEMS IN UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP

The process of putting an On-lot Sewage Disposal System on a property is as follows:

Call the Upper Milford Township SEO (Sewage Enforcement Officer) at (610) 966 - 3223 to set up an appointment.
At the appointment, an application for an On-lot Sewage Disposal System permit will be completed. After completing the application, the fee structure will be explained. (Please have payment available at this time.)
After a completed application and payment have been received, the SEO will instruct you to select where on your property you will want to place your house (new only), well and sewage and disposal system. You must obey the isolation distances below:
1. Minimum distances from septic tank(s), dosing tanks, pump tank, filter tanks
  - 10 feet from property line, easement or right-of-way
  - 10 feet from occupied buildings, swimming pools, driveways
  - 50 feet from wells or water supply suction line
  - 10 feet from water supply line under pressure
  - 25 feet from streams, lakes or other surface water
  - 25 feet from a cistern used as a water supply
2. Minimum distances from absorption area
  - 10 feet from property line, easement of right-of-way
  - 10 feet from occupied buildings, swimming pools, driveways
  - 100 feet from wells or water supply suction line
  - 10 feet from water supply line under pressure
  - 50 feet from streams, lakes or other surface water, watercourses (wetlands are not surface areas)
  - 5 feet from other on-lot systems
  - 10 feet from large rock formations
  - 10 feet from any slope greater than 25%
  - 25 feet from a cistern used as a water supply
  - 10 feet from detention basins, retention basins, storm water seepage pits / areas Step
You must then contract with someone with excavation equipment (backhoe) to do test probes (minimum of two (2) needed per site area).
The backhoe operator MUST call PA One Call at (800) 242 – 1776 a minimum of three (3) days prior to doing the excavation. The serial number obtained should be called into the SEO when the appointment for viewing the probes is made. The SEO can refuse to schedule the probe viewing until this serial number is given, and the minimum of three (3) days notification elapsed.
The backhoe operator (or yourself) must call the Township SEO to arrange for an appointment to meet at your property. The SEO will instruct the backhoe operator to dig two (2) (or more) seven (7) foot + deep trenches in the area(s) you desire your sewage system. The soils will then be examined by the SEO. If the soils are found to be suitable for an on-lot system, the SEO will inform the property owner or your agent that you may proceed to Step No. 7.
If suitable soils are found, the SEO will ask that a percolation test (s) be done within ten feet of the soil probe deemed to be the most acceptable for on-site sewage disposal. The landowner will then make arrangements for these tests to be conducted at the specified area. The person conducting the testing is to notify the SEO several days prior to the dates the test will be run. This allows the SEO to witness all testing done or your may choose to have the SEO run the test. Following the test, the area tested is to be staked at the four (4) corners. NO FURTHER TRAFFIC SHOULD BE ALLOWED ONTO THIS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
The SEO will calculate the results of the percolation testing along with the results of the soil probes done previously. Written documentation as to the suitability of the site tested to support an on-site sewage system will be sent to the applicant.
If the area is found to be acceptable for an on-site sewage system, the landowner must then contract with appropriate parties to design an appropriate sewage system. The designer should contact the SEO for necessary information needed in designing the sewage system.
The completed design is then submitted to the SEO for review along with permit review and issuance fee assigned by the Township. Upon review, the design will be evaluated for accordance with all regulations. If corrections or changes are necessary, the designer will be asked to modify original submitted plans accordingly. FOUR (4) COPIES OF PLANS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW. If the submitted plans are in accordance with regulations and correct, they will be approved for permit issuance.
The SEO will then issue a permit allowing the construction of the on-site sewage system on the property which is valid for a period of three (3) years from the date of issue. “A permit shall expire if construction of installation of an individual on-lot sewage system and structure for which the system is to be installed has not begun within three (3) years after permit issuance.” The permit (colored copy should be posted at site) will be mailed to you with a single design copy with any corrections or changes to the submitted design. It is important that any changes be added to copies your designer may have given you; also the contractor constructing the on-site system shall have this updated copy to construct the sewage system off of!
When the property owner decides to begin construction on his house / sewage system, he is to contract the necessary parties to build his sewage system. The person(s) building the system are to contact the SEO several days prior to beginning construction on the new system so that inspection dates may be arranged to view construction progress at various times. NOTE: PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT NOTES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.
When the construction has started, the SEO will make periodic inspections / tests at the site to confirm that the system is being constructed according to all regulations, plans and that isolation distances are being adhered to. These appointments are arranged by the contractor constructing the sewage system.
When the sewage system has been completed, the final inspection will be made by the SEO to assure everything is operational. The landowner’s copy of the application, along with percolation results and other related information will be forwarded to the owner for his files. (Please advise SEO of any changes in address that may have occurred since the application was first completed.)