Modification could allow on-lot sewage disposal

 

By Freda R. Savana, Intelligencer, April 8, 2008

While terms of the settlement were already spelled out, Bucks County Court has approved a modification to an agreement between Plumstead and the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority.

According to the change, a developer, or anyone who wants to subdivide a property, cannot claim an on-lot sewage disposal system wouldn't work because it would result in the construction of fewer homes, explained Jeff Garton, the authority's solicitor.

In other words, if building fewer homes would mean an on-lot system would work, then the developer needs to install one.

The original agreement already stated that all new residential housing units within the newly established public sewer district had to demonstrate that it wasn't feasible to build an individual in-ground, on-lot sewage disposal system on each lot before connecting to the public system.

The settlement, completed earlier this year, ended a politically charged lawsuit that expanded the authority's footprint in Plumstead, linking public sewer to three approved developments and establishing a public sewer district that includes property between routes 413 and 611.

Last week, the BCWSA took over ownership of the on-site sewer treatment plant at the Timberly Farms development.

Article's URL:

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-04082008-1515582.html