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 copy of Hatfield Township Ordinance #696, and an infographic outlining the new inspection requirements.