Effective
January 1, 2022, the seller of any property connected to the public
sewer system is required to have a video inspection of their private
sewer laterals by a master plumber or utility contractor to be reviewed
and approved by the Hatfield Township Municipal Authority before any
transaction of real estate can take place and before any Use and
Occupancy permit can be issued.
Inspections must be performed within 1-year prior to the sale of the
home or business, unless the existing lateral is entirely approved SDR
pipe installed within the past five (5) years, and has been inspected
and approved by the Hatfield Township Municipal Authority’s Inspector.
PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has strongly encouraged
Hatfield Township to prioritize reducing the amount of inflow and
infiltration (I&I) in its public sanitary sewer system.
I&I is when stormwater and groundwater enter a wastewater system.
This water, which ideally should drain into the ground or be routed to
storm drains, can easily overload wastewater systems – causing sewage
overflows to creeks, backups in basements, and impaired operations,
among other challenges.
Below you will find a link to Hatfield Township Ordinance #696, and an infographic outlining the new inspection requirements.
Hatfield Township Private Sewer Lateral Inspection Ordinance