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Why has the Township’s Sewer Use Ordinance been amended?

The Sewer Use Ordinance was amended on March 30, 2004 as Ordinance No. 2004-4 to better define regulations dealing with responsibilities for different parts of the system, permits and inspections and proper use of the system.

Who is responsible for what maintaining what parts of the sanitary sewer system?

Millcreek Township is responsible for the sewer mains, which usually are located within a street’s right of way. The owner of the property served by the system is generally responsible for all parts of the sewer system from that private property to the public mains.

Is it unusual for property owners to have to maintain the sewer on their property?

No. The City of Erie and most area systems require owners to do this.

If my sewer backs up or doesn’t work right, what should I do?

You should contact a plumbing or other contractor who has experience working on sewers. Millcreek is now requiring that contractors doing work on the sewer system hold a license issued by the Township. Most problems in the sewer system are found on private properties, and can be caused by tree roots, broken piping and other conditions.

If I call the plumber and he or she finds that there is a problem in the main, what should the plumber or I do then?

If it is truly believed that there is an obstruction or other problem in the main, the Township’s Sewer Department should be contacted immediately. The Sewer Department should not be contacted unless there really is good reason to believe there is a problem with the main.

The Supervisors also adopted Rules and Regulations - why did they do that?

The Sewer Use Ordinance says that details on many issues are to be provided in Rules and Regulations for the sanitary sewer system. The Rules and Regulations adopted on March 30, 2004 are the first detailed regulations for the system.

Does the Township have a say as to whether I can have an on-lot sewage system?

Yes. While the Department of Environmental Resources, through Erie County’s Health Department, has established standards for how an on-lot system has to be designed, the municipality has authority to decide whether an on-lot system is allowed in the first place.

This document is publicly available on the Millcreek Township website under Sanitary Sewer.