Septic Tank Pumping in Northampton County, PA

• Coverage across the septic areas: Lower Mount Bethel, Upper Mount Bethel, Plainfield, Washington Township, Bushkill, Moore, Lehigh Township, Lower Saucon, Williams and the rural parts of Bethlehem Township.
• Crews run Route 33, Route 611, Route 512, Route 248 and I-78.
• Check your township's own on-lot management ordinance; schedules and fees differ from one municipality to the next.

• Pumping to meet a township three-year schedule
• Certified inspections for a sale or the first required pumping
• Baffle, riser and lid repairs found during a pump-out
• Drainfield repairs on shallow slate or wet soils
• Holding tank pumping
• Locating tanks on older farmhouses

• HomeGuide's published national pump-out range is $300 to $700, based on $0.30 to $0.70 per gallon of tank size.
• HomeGuide lists an inspection at $150 to $450; Bethlehem Township's ordinance requires a certified inspection the first time a tank is pumped under its program.
• Penalties: Bethlehem Township's Chapter 201 sets fines of $300 to $1,000 for violations, with each day a separate offense, so missing a pumping deadline costs more than the pump-out.
• Method: HomeGuide's per-gallon range scaled to your tank, plus township fees. Haul distance to a disposal site and steep slate-belt driveways add local cost.

• Step 1, SEO permit: under Act 537 (35 P.S. § 750.1 and following) and 25 Pa. Code Chapters 71 to 73, every on-lot system needs a permit from the municipal Sewage Enforcement Officer, including repairs.
• Step 2, township schedule: Bethlehem Township's Chapter 201 (§ 201-10) requires inspection and pumping at least every three years, with notice about one year ahead.
• Step 3, inspector: inspections under that ordinance must be done by an inspector certified by the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association and registered with the township. The ordinance lets the SEO grant a one-time extension of up to two years where a tank shows little buildup, but the total interval can't exceed five years, and holding tanks must be pumped at least once a year.
• Step 4, malfunctions: § 201-12 gives an owner 7 days to apply for a repair permit, 30 days to start work and 60 days to finish after notice.
• Step 5, penalties: § 201-14 sets fines of $300 to $1,000 per violation; ask your own township which ordinance applies.

• Slate belt: the Martinsburg Formation slate along the north of the county near Bangor, Pen Argyl and Wind Gap weathers into shallow, stony soils over rock, which limits trench depth.
• Karst: limestone and dolomite of the Lehigh Valley floor south of the slate belt can open sinkholes and move effluent quickly to groundwater.
• USDA NRCS soil survey data rate 78.3% of Northampton County (PA095) as very limited for septic tank absorption fields.
• Census ACS counts about 129,448 housing units, and about 40.7% were built before 1960, so many on-lot systems serve older homes.
• Cold winters and frost make access to buried lids harder in midwinter; risers help.

Lower Mount Bethel · Upper Mount Bethel · Plainfield · Washington Township · Bushkill · Moore · Lehigh Township · Lower Saucon · Williams · Bethlehem Township