Upper Makefield Township

Upper Makefield does not offer public water or sewer in most areas of the township, so residents must carefully dispose of wastewater, especially from sewage systems. Improper wastewater disposal could result in contamination of your own water supply, and that of your neighbors.

On-lot Sewage System Requirements

All owners of on-lot sewage disposal systems are required to have their tanks emptied by a licensed hauler at least every 3 years. After pumping the tank, the property owner must submit a copy of the hauler’s receipt to the Planning and Zoning Office.

 Septic services in the area include:

Sewage Facilities Planning

As a rural, residential community, Upper Makefield’s residents are served mostly by on-lot sewage disposal systems and wells. Public sewer and public water serve the 3 residential developments of Heritage Hills, Traditions, and Lakeside. Dutchess Farm is also served by a centralized sewer system. The Township maintains these public facilities.

The adequacy of both the public and private sewage disposal systems within the township must be periodically reviewed. To do that requires formal, comprehensive updates to the township’s PA Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan, first adopted by Upper Makefield officials in 1978. By 2010, an increasing number of on-lot treatment systems were malfunctioning, creating potential public health concerns.

ACT 537 Update:

Public Meetings Regarding Long-term Plans for On-lot Sewage Disposal

To comply with Pennsylvania’s laws regarding sewage facilities, Upper Makefield must address malfunctions of a number of on-lot sewage systems as identified by the Bucks County Health Department.

Residents from the Dolington and Taylorsville areas were invited to informational meetings in early 2013 to discuss on-lot sewage disposal system problems and possible solutions in their area. Meeting Minutes

Although Upper Makefield is responsible to the state to review and update its ACT 537 Sewage Facilities Plan, the Bucks County Health Department has the regulatory authority for management of on-lot sewage systems within Upper Makefield.  Act 537 is the short name for the state law, administered through the PA Department of Environmental Protection that requires municipalities to assure that the township can address its long-term sewage disposal needs.

Early reports from the Bucks County Health Department indicated that the Dolington and Taylorsville areas of the township had a significant number of on-lot sewage system problems which would require the evaluation and implementation of alternatives to address the long term sewage disposal needs of these areas.

Upon direct review of the Health Department records, there a significant number of inconsistencies between the Health Department’s initial summary information provided to the township and actual records found at the Health Department.  The inconsistencies have been resolved for the Dolington area; however, there are still issues regarding the Taylorsville area.  To resolve the inconsistencies in the Taylorsville area records, Upper Makefield’s Board of Supervisors has authorized a township-sponsored on-lot sewage system survey be conducted in  in the Taylorsville area during 2013 to assure an accurate assessment of the systems.

If you have questions now about your specific property, please call Township Manager Sally Slook at 215-968-3340.

For Updates: Upper Makefield updates the official township website several times per week. You may want to bookmark our homepage, where all news articles are listed, and from which you can link to meeting minutes.