25 Pa. Code § 73.3 - Policy
(a) A person
planning or designing a facility or intending to utilize individual or
community sewage systems is advised of the importance of good water
conservation practices and the potential value of water conservation, recycle
or reuse systems as a means of prolonging the life of the sewage system, as
well as ensuring the availability of adequate water supplies in the
future.
(b) When considering
corrective measures for malfunctioning sewage disposal systems which have been
constructed in accordance with this chapter or applicable regulations at the
time of construction, the efforts of the local agency or the Department will
not be restricted by this chapter. It will be the policy of the Department and
local agencies administering this chapter to first consider all individual
onlot and community onlot sewage systems described in this chapter, excluding
holding tanks, in the correction of existing malfunctions and, when the systems
cannot be constructed in accordance with this chapter, to provide the best
technical guidance possible in attempting to resolve existing pollution or
environmental health problems. When application of best technical guidance
results in the absorption area or spray field encroaching on the regulated
isolation distance to a well, the proper well abandonment procedure or the
relocation of the well should be considered. The requirements of §
72.33 (relating to well distance
exemption) may be waived at the discretion of the local agency. This policy
will not limit or preclude the use of experimental systems as provided in
§§
73.71 and
73.72 (relating to experimental
sewage systems; and alternate sewage systems), small flow treatment systems
permitted under the Clean Streams Law or, when no other alternatives are
available, holding tanks.
(c) The
Department recognizes the existence of technologies related to onlot sewage
disposal which are not specifically addressed in this chapter as well as
technologies from other disciplines which may be applied to the design or
construction of an onlot sewage disposal system. Experimental sewage system
permits provide a method for the testing and evaluation of new concepts and
technologies applicable to onlot disposal in this Commonwealth. Experimental
permits may be limited in number on a Statewide basis. The Department will
determine the number of experimental permits that may be issued for a specific
experimental technology or design. An experimental onlot sewage disposal system
permit shall be required for all technologies, methods, system components,
systems and designs the Department deems experimental. Alternate sewage systems
provide a classification for innovative and alternative technology which has
been developed through the experimental program, by application of existing
technologies from other disciplines or through technological advances from
other areas of the United States. The alternate sewage system permit will
provide a method for utilizing proven technologies within this Commonwealth
without constant changes to this chapter. Systems shall be permitted only where
it is demonstrated that the proposed system will protect the public health and
prevent pollution of the waters of this Commonwealth.
Notes
The provisions of this § 73.3 amended under section 9 of the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (35 P. S. § 750.9); The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1-691.1001); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 510-20).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 72.33 (relating to well isolation distance exemption).
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