EBENSBURG, Pa. -- An Amish man must pay $1,000 in fines and get a school outhouse up to code, a judge ruled Thursday.

Andy Swartzentrubber has 30 days to bring the outhouse up to code. The ruling is the result of a two-year dispute over the Amish school's sewage disposal.

Neighbors who live near the Barr Township school previously told the water authority they were concerned about their wells because the sect disposed of raw sewage on their land.

Officials said the Amish are allowed to dispose of the sewage, but they must have a permit. However, Sam Yoder, another Amish man, argued that it was against their religion to sign contracts.

Water authority officials said they are willing to compromise.

"Are we willing to try to accommodate their sincere withheld religious beliefs? Absolutely. If they show why some rules should be treated differently because of their beliefs, we will always consider it," Prosecutor William Barbin said.

The judge dismissed charges against Yoder because he is not the landowner.

The Amish recently put in a bigger concrete septic tank, but officials said it doesn't comply with state rules. They now have two options: hire a pumping company to pump out the sewage or test sewage before they dump it.

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