BUCKS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

**RULES AND REGULATIONS**

**GOVERNING INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS**

**AND CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS**

SECTION ONE - GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Legal Authority.

Under the provisions of the "Local Health Administration Law", Act No.
315, approved August 24, 1951, P.L. 1304; Chapter 109 Pennsylvania Safe
Drinking Water Act 1984, May 1 (35 P.S. §§ 721.1-721.17) these following
Rules and Regulations are hereby adopted.

1.2 Provisions.

The provisions of these Rules and Regulations shall apply to all
municipalities in Bucks County within the jurisdiction of the Department
and will apply equally to all persons. These Rules and Regulations shall
supersede the previously adopted Rules and Regulations effective
November 3, 2004, entitled, Rules and Regulations Governing Individual
Water Supply Systems.

3.  **Purpose.**

The purpose of these Rules and Regulations is to establish minimum
standards for location, construction, modification and abandonment of
individual residential drinking water supply wells and system
installation for the protection of the health and welfare of the public.

**1.4 Scope.**

No individual residential drinking water supply shall be constructed or
altered contrary to the provisions herein.

These regulations do not apply to water supply systems exclusively
regulated by the PA Department of Environmental Protection as set forth
under the PA Safe Drinking Water Act.

Monitoring, test, agricultural, and geothermal wells not used for human
consumption do not fall under these rules and regulations.

SECTION TWO - DEFINITIONS

2.1 List of Definitions.

**Abandonment** - The process of properly filling and sealing a well, in
accordance with these Rules and Regulations.

**Alteration** - Any action which necessitates entering a well with
drilling tools; treating a well to increase yield; altering the physical
structure or depth of the well; blasting; removal or replacement of well
casing; modifications concerning grouting, curbing; or well abandonment.

**Aggregate --** Sand, crushed stone or similar materials used to
eliminate the physical hazard and open space of abandoned well.
Aggregates **[shall]{.underline}** not prevent the flow of water through
the borehole

**Annular space** - The space between two cylindrical objects, one of
which surrounds the other, such as the space between a drill hole and a
casing pipe and a liner pipe.

**ANSI** - American National Standards Institute.

**API** - American Petroleum Institute.

**Aquifer** -- An underground geological formation that contains and
transmits water.

**ASTM** - American Society for Testing Materials.

**AWWA** - American Water Works Association.

**BCDH** - Bucks County Department of Health.

**Casing** - An impervious durable pipe placed in a well to prevent the
walls from caving in and to seal off surface drainage or undesirable
water, gas or other fluids and prevent them from entering the well.

**Coliform** - All of the aerobic and facultative anaerobic, gram
negative, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacteria that are capable of
fermenting lactose with gas formation within forty-eight (48) hours at
thirty-five (35C) degrees Celsius. Coliform is a group of bacteria
commonly found in waste from humans and animals, and also occurs
naturally in soil and surface water.

**Construction of wells** - All acts necessary to obtain groundwater, or
artificially recharge groundwater. Provided, however, such term does not
include acts necessary for obtaining or for prospecting for oil, natural
gas, minerals, or products of mining or quarrying, or for inserting
media to repressure oil, or natural gas formations for storing
petroleum, natural gas, or other products and services. This includes
the excavation or drilling of wells, but excludes installation of pumps
and pumping equipment.

**Decommissioned** **well** - Any well that is no longer equipped in
such a manner, as to be able to draw groundwater. This shall include
wells where the pump, piping and/or electrical components have been
disconnected or removed.

**Department** - means the Bucks County Department of Health (BCDH).

**Disinfection** - A process that inactivates pathogenic organisms in
water by chemical oxidants or equivalent means, such as ultraviolet
light.

**Drilling** - Any act of penetrating soil or rock such as by boring,
coring, washing, jetting, driving or digging for purpose of developing
an individual residential water supply well or test well.

**Drinking water well** - Any residential water well which provides or
is intended to provide water for human consumption.

**Emergency well** - A well drilled to address conditions which pose an
immediate and significant danger to public health and welfare.

**Geothermal well** - Any borehole in the ground constructed for the
purpose of extracting heat from or transferring heat to the ground or
groundwater. This term does not include a trench necessary for
installation of horizontal closed-loop heat transfer systems.

**Grout** - A permanent water tight joint or connection made by filling
with concrete, neat cement, or other approved impervious material
between the casing and the undisturbed formation surrounding the well or
between two (2) strings of casing.

**Hydrofracturing** - (or hydrofracking) A process to increase yield
whereby water is pumped into a new or existing well to clear existing
fractures.

**Individual water supply well** -- A well that is used as a potable
water source for residential use and serves less than twenty-five (25)
people and/or less than fifteen (15) homes.

**Lot** - Any part of a subdivision or a parcel of land used as a
building site or intended to be used for building purposes, whether
immediate or future.

**Monitoring well** - A well used to observe water levels and/or obtain
samples of ground water and which will not be used as a drinking water
well.

**New construction** - Any building or structure which is constructed or
whose use is modified between residential, commercial or industrial
after the effective date of these regulations.

**PA DCNR** - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources.

**PA DEP** - Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

**Person** - Shall include any individual, landowner (which is defined
as any person holding title to or having a proprietary or equitable
interest in either surface or subsurface rights), landlord, lessor, land
occupier (including but not limited to easement owner, tenant, lessee or
occupant of a structure or land, whether the landowner or not), any
corporation, including public or private corporation for profit or not
for profit, association, partnership, firm, trust, trustee, estate,
executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix or other fiduciaries,
department, board, bureau or agency of the Commonwealth, political
subdivision, municipality, district, authority or any other legal entity
whatsoever which is recognized by law as the subject of rights and
duties, and any agent for any individual or corporation or other legal
entity set forth above. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and
imposing a penalty or imposing a fine or imprisonment the term "Person"
shall include all of the above set forth individuals and entities as
well as members, officers, and/or employees of any corporation, an
association, partnership or firm and the officers, directors of any
local agency, municipality, municipal authority and/or political
subdivision and the supervisors, councilmen, of any political
subdivision public or private corporation for profit or not for profit.

**Pitless adapter** - A device or assembly of parts which will permit
water to pass through the wall of the well casing or extension thereof,
and which provides access to the well and to the parts of the water
system within the well in a manner to prevent entrance of pollution into
the well and the water produced.

**Potable water** -- Water for human consumption that meets the
biological and chemical standards of Chapter 109 Safe Drinking Water
Act.

**Pumps** -- Any mechanical device which uses natural or artificially
generated pressure difference to withdrawal or obtain groundwater.

**Pumping equipment** -- Any materials connected to a pump including,
but not limited to, piping well seals and tanks, together with fittings
and controls.

**Sealant** -- Used in well abandonment to provide a watertight barrier
to the migration of water in the borehole. Sealants usually consist of
Portland cement based grouts, bentonite clay, or combinations of these
substances.

**Test well** - A well constructed for the purpose of obtaining
information on groundwater or hydrogeologic conditions including yield
and quality. Test wells are temporary and not considered individual
supply wells. Once the intended use of the well has been completed the
well shall be abandoned, or decommissioned.

**Well seal** - An approved device or method used to protect a well
casing or water well system from the entrance of any external pollutant
at the point of entrance into the casing of a pipe, electric conduit, or
water level measuring device.

**Well yield** - The quantity of water per unit of time that may flow or
be pumped from a drinking water well under specified conditions.

SECTION THREE - APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCT

1.  **General.**

a\. It shall be unlawful to install a new well or modify an existing
well without a valid completed well water permit.

b\. Prior to constructing a new well or modifying an existing well, the
property owner shall file with BCDH the appropriate application and pay
all applicable fees.

c\. The application to construct must be filed on behalf of the current
property owner or equitable owner. The well application must be in the
same name as the current owner of a valid on-lot sewage disposal
application (Act 537) for the property if applicable.

d\. BCDH shall approve or deny the application within seven working days
of receipt of an administratively complete application and fee. BCDH
shall notify applicants if the application is determined to be
incomplete or contains information that cannot be verified. Upon receipt
of the supplemental information, BCDH has an additional seven working
days to approve or deny the application.

e\. Any requirement to obtain a well permit by a local municipality
shall not supersede the requirement to obtain a valid well permit from
BCDH.

f\. All sewage system component locations within 125 ft. of the proposed
well on said property and all neighboring properties must be clearly
staked prior to approval of the well construction permit and the
commencement of well drilling.

g\. Verification of property lines and all isolations distances required
by these of any other statute, regulation or ordinance is the
responsibility of the applicant.

h\. Any relocation of the proposed well site from the permitted location
must be submitted in writing and approved by BCDH.

i\. If well construction is not completed within three years of the
application approval date, the approval to construct shall expire.

**SECTION FOUR - CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS**

**4.1 Well Location.**

a.  For the proposed well, minimum isolation distances shall be
    maintained from designated facilities and potential pollution
    sources as listed in the table below :

b.  Any proposed deviation from the isolation distances in the
    referenced section, must be submitted in writing to the Department.
    See Section Eleven (Variance Procedures).

**Individual Residential Water-S**upply Isolation Distances:

+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
|    | Potential Pollution Source                            | Is      |
|    |                                                       | olation |
|    |                                                       |         |
|    |                                                       | D       |
|    |                                                       | istance |
|    |                                                       | (ft.)   |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 1  | Delineated wetlands or 100-year floodplain            | 25      |
| \) |                                                       |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 2  | Storm drains, retention basins, storm water           | 25      |
| \) | stabilization ponds, and                              |         |
|    |                                                       |         |
|    | rainwater pits                                        |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 3  | Community spray irrigation sites, sewage sludge and   | 100     |
| \) | septage disposal sites.                               |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 4  | Lakes, ponds, streams or other surface waters.        | 50      |
| \) |                                                       |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 5  | Farm silos, barnyards, manure pits or tanks or other  | 200     |
| \) | storage areas of animal manure.                       |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 6  | Subsurface sewage absorption areas, elevated sand     | 100     |
| \) | mounds, cesspools, sewage seepage pits, single family |         |
|    | spray irrigation system, etc.                         |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 7  | Septic tanks, aerobic tanks, sewage pump tanks,       | 50      |
| \) | holding tanks.                                        |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 8  | Gravity sewer lines and drains carrying domestic      | 50      |
| \) | sewage or industrial waste (unless item 9 applies).   |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 9  | Gravity sewer lines and drains using cast iron pipe   | 10      |
| \) | with watertight lead caulked or neoprene gasketed     |         |
|    | joints, or Schedule 40 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe  |         |
|    | with solvent welded joints.                           |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 10 | Sewer lines and drains carrying domestic sewage or    | 50      |
| \) | industrial waste under pressure (except welded steel  |         |
|    | pipe or concrete encased pipe).                       |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 11 | Commercial preparation area or storage area of        | 300     |
| \) | hazardous spray materials, fertilizers or chemicals;  |         |
|    | salt piles.                                           |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+
| 12 | Drip irrigation absorption zones.                     | 102     |
| \) |                                                       |         |
+----+-------------------------------------------------------+---------+

**4.2 Casing.**

a.  All wells supplying individual residential water supplies shall be
    equipped with water-tight steel casing of a minimum thickness of .28
    inch and weight of nineteen (19) lbs./ft. The casing shall be
    carried to a minimum depth of thirty (30) feet and five (5) feet
    into hard bedrock or other impervious strata, whichever is deeper,
    and grouted in place. A minimum annular clearance of 1.5 inches must
    be maintained so that grout may be placed in accordance with the
    provisions of Section 4.3. The criteria established in AWWA Standard
    A 100-90 must be followed.

b.  Steel casings shall be new pipe meeting ASTM or API specifications
    for water well construction. If minimum thickness is not considered
    sufficient to assure reasonable life expectancy of the well,
    additional thickness will be provided. Steel casing will be equipped
    with a drive shoe, if needed, and have full circumference welds or
    threaded pipe joints.

c.  Water-tight well casing and grout must be placed at a sufficient
    depth to prevent entrance of surface pollution from surface run-off
    and polluted aquifers.

d.  The casing and well head shall extend above the finished grade a
    minimum of twelve (12) inches or to such height as is necessary to
    prevent entrance of surface water from run-off or flooding,
    whichever is greater. The ground level shall be graded to drain away
    from the casing in all directions.

e.  Where surface installations (i.e. pump rooms, etc.) are used, a
    watertight reinforced concrete platform at least four (4) inches
    thick and extending for at least two (2) feet in all directions from
    the center of the casing shall be poured around the casing to
    provide an effective watertight seal with casing, or shall be made
    watertight with an effective permanent seal. The surface of the
    platform shall slope to the edges. The casing shall extend through
    the slab for at least twelve (12) inches. All pumping equipment
    shall be protected against freezing. If a pump room is proposed, it
    shall be so sized to allow adequate working space.

f.  All casings shall be fitted with a metal, bolted, water-tight,
    vermin resistant well cap.

g.  Well screens, when used shall, provide the maximum amount of open
    area while still maintaining structural strength, have the size of
    openings in the screen based on a sieve analysis of the material
    contained in the surrounding geological formation or gravel pack, be
    constructed of materials resistant to damage by chemical action of
    the ground water or cleaning operations, have sufficient diameter to
    provide adequate specific capacity and low aperture velocity.
    Usually, the entrance velocity should not exceed 0.1 feet per
    second, be installed so that the pumping water level remains above
    the screen under all conditions, be designed and installed to permit
    removal or replacement without adversely affecting water-tight
    construction of the well, and be provided with a bottom plate or
    washdown bottom fitting of the same material as the screen.

h.  Pitless installations are those installations where the casing
    terminates above the ground surface. Where pitless installations are
    used, they shall be of a design that provides an effective seal
    against the entrance of ground or surface water into the well,
    access casing, and into the piping leading to the pump. All buried
    suction lines shall be effectively encased, or otherwise protected
    to prevent external damage or contamination. Pitless installations
    must be designed as to be structurally sound and to provide for
    ready removal of drop piping without excavation.

i.  Where venting is required, an overlapping cover or pipe with the
    opening facing downward shall be required. Such venting shall be
    effectively protected against the entrance of insects and rodents.

**4.3 Grout Materials.**

The annular space of all well installations must be filled with one of
the following listed grout materials:

a.  Neat cement grout shall consist of a mixture of API Class G (or
    Class B similar to ASTM C150 Type II) and water in the ratio of 0.67
    cu. Ct. (0.019 m³) of water per 94 lb. (42.7 kg) sack weighing
    approximately 228 lbs./cu. ft. A maximum of six percent by weight
    bentonite and two percent by weight of calcium chloride may be
    added.

b.  Pozmix-cement grout shall consist of a mixture of fifty percent by
    volume of Pozzolan A (74 lbs. cu. ft 3) (1185kg/m³) and fifty
    percent by volume of API Spec. 10, Class G. Cement with 0.77 cu. ft.
    (0.02m³) of water per 84 lbs. (38.2 kg) of mixture. To this mixture
    may be added a maximum of two (2) percent by weight, bentonite and a
    maximum of two percent of calcium chloride, at the discretion of the
    contractor.

c.  Concrete grout shall contain 5.3 sacks of Portland cement (ASTM C150
    Type II) per cubic yard of concrete and a maximum of 7 gal. (0.026
    m³) of water per 94 lb (42.7 kg) sack of cement. The maximum slump
    shall be 4 in. The aggregate shall consist of 47 percent sand and 53
    percent coarse aggregate, conforming to ASTM Designation C-33. The
    maximum size aggregate should be 0.75 in. Concrete grout shall not
    be placed in an annulus of less than 3 in.

d.  Sand cement grout shall consist of a mixture of Portland cement
    (ASTM C150 Type II), sand and water in the proportion of not more
    than two parts by weight of sand to one part of cement with not more
    than 6 gal. (0.002 m³) of water per 94 lb. (42.7 kg) sack of cement.

e.  Bentonite grout shall be pure bentonite with at least 20% solids by
    weight when mixed with water. Hydration of the bentonite must be
    delayed until the bentonite mix has been placed down the well. This
    can be done by using additives with the dry bentonite or in water,
    mixing calcium bentonite with sodium bentonite, or by using granular
    bentonite, which has less surface area. In all well installations if
    rapid loss of grout material occurs during placement, coarse fill
    material (e.g. sand gravel, crushed stone dry cement) may be used in
    the zone or zones in which the rapid loss is occurring. The
    remainder of the annular space shall be grouted as provided below.
    In no case shall pouring, dumping or shoveling of grout material
    into the annular space be deemed an approved method of grout
    placement.

f.  When drilling is to be continued after grouting, a curing time of
    twelve (12) hours for Type III cement, and twenty-four (24) hours
    for Type I or II cement must be provided during which drilling is
    not permitted, unless a bentonite plug with cement grout or
    bentonite grout is used.

**4.4 Grout Placement.**

a.  **Grout Pipe Outside Casing.** The minimum annular space of 1 ½
    inches around the entire outside of the casing shall be provided by
    drilling a borehole 3 inches larger than the outside diameter of the
    casing to be inserted. All grout shall be placed by pumping through
    the grout pipe. The entire interval to be grouted shall be open and
    without obstructions. Washing or jetting with water is required for
    cleaning the borehole and may serve to remove obstructions caused by
    caving which otherwise would prevent a proper grout. It is required
    that the grout pipe extend from the surface to the bottom of the
    interval to be grouted. The grout pipe may remain extended to the
    bottom of the interval during and after grouting, or it may be
    raised slowly as the grout is placed provided that the discharge end
    of the grout pipe remains submerged on the emplaced grout at all
    times until grouting is completed. In the event of interruption in
    the grouting operations, the bottom of the grout pipe shall be
    raised above the grout level and should not be resubmerged until the
    air and water have been displaced from the grout pipe.

b.  **Grouting Depth Greater than 30 ft.** The minimum length of grout
    pipe that shall be inserted into the annular space is 30 feet.

c.  **Grouting Depth of 30 ft. and less.** Grout may be placed by a
    tremie pipe inserted only a short distance (approximately 5 feet)
    into the annular spaced provided that the entire interval to be
    grouted is clearly visible from the surface and is dry. An annular
    space larger than the minimum of 1 ½ inches may be required to
    assure visibility from the surface

d.  **Grout Pipe Casing.** The bottom of the casing is fitted with a
    packer arrangement, also referred to as a cementing shoe or float
    shoe, and the casing is placed in the borehole a short distance off
    the bottom. The float shoe allows grout to be pumped through the
    grout pipe and upward into the annular space, while preventing grout
    leakage into the casing during grouting and after removal of the
    grout pipe. Grouting is continued until cement appears at the
    surface at which time the grout pipe is disconnected from the float
    shoe. The float shoe is drilled out after the grout sets and hardens
    sufficiently.

e.  **Interior Method Two Plug.** The first plug separates the grout
    from the fluid in the casing and the other separates the grout from
    water pumped in above it. First, the casing is placed a short
    distance off the bottom. After pumping water through the casing to
    circulate fluid in the annular space and clear any obstructions from
    the hole, the first plug is inserted, and the casing is capped. A
    measured volume of grout is pumped in, which is sufficient to fill
    the annular space. The casing then is opened and the second plug
    inserted. A measured volume of water is pumped in above the second
    plug until it is pushed to the bottom of the casing and most of the
    grout is expelled up and into the annular space. The water in the
    casing is held under pressure to prevent the backflow of grout until
    it has set and hardened.

f.  **Interior Method Upper Plug.** The casing is placed a short
    distance off the bottom, and the water is pumped into the casing to
    circulate fluid through the annular space to clear any obstructions
    from the hole. A measured quantity of grout slightly greater than
    that needed to fill the annular space is pumped into the capped
    casing. Because this grout is in direct contact with the drilling
    fluid, there will be a narrow zone of weak grout between the
    drilling fluid and good grout; however, this zone should remain
    inside the casing and not be forced into the annular space. The
    casing is opened, and a drillable plug is inserted. A measured
    volume of water is pumped in above the plug until it is pushed to
    the bottom of the casing and most of the grout is expelled up and
    into the annular space. The water in the casing is held under
    pressure until the grout sets and hardens.

g.  **Interior Method Capped Casing.** The casing is placed a short
    distance off the bottom, and water is pumped into the casing to
    circulate fluid in the annular space and clear any obstructions from
    the hole. The grout pipe passes through an airtight cap at the top
    of the casing and is positioned 3 to 4 feet above the bottom of the
    casing. The grout pipe is assembled so that it can be pulled through
    the cap a distance of about 20 feet after the injection of grout is
    completed. A bleeder valve is provided to release air from inside
    the casing as it is filled with water. With the upper end of the
    casing closed, grouting is started by forcing the cement through the
    grout pipe upward into the annular space. Grouting is continued
    until the cement overflows around the casing at ground surface. Just
    enough water is pumped to clear the cement from the grout pipe, and
    the grout pipe is lifted free of the grout. Both the casing and
    grout pipe shall be kept tightly closed under pressure until the
    cement sets and hardens.

h.  **Grout Displacement Method.** The hole is filled with the estimated
    volume of grout required to fill the annular space, and the casing
    is lowered into the hole. The bottom of the casing is closed with a
    tight drillable plug. Guides often are used to keep the casing
    centered in the hole. As the casing is lowered, the grout is forced
    upward around it to fill the annular space. If the pipe does not
    sink to the bottom under its own weight, it is filled with water.

i.  **Unconsolidated Formations.** When drilling through an
    unconsolidated formation, a steel drive shoe shall be required.
    Grouting shall be done in accordance with the following:

    1.  If caving conditions are experienced on wells deeper than 30
        feet, the annular space shall be grouted from the point where
        caving occurred or from a depth of 30 feet, whichever is
        greater, to land surface.

    2.  If the annular space cannot be grouted in accordance with these
        regulations, the well shall be abandoned and sealed.

    3.  Other grouting methods and materials may be used subject to
        prior written approval of the Department.

j.  **Packers.** Packers, when used, shall be of materials that will not
    impart taste, odor, toxic substances or bacterial contamination to
    the well water.

k.  **Gravel Packs.** Gravel packs when used shall be well rounded
    particles, 95 percent siliceous material, that are smooth and
    uniform, free of foreign material, properly sized, washed and
    disinfected immediately prior to or during placement, shall be
    placed in one uniform continuous operation.

l.  **Gravel Refill Pipes.** Gravel refill pipes, when used, shall be
    Schedule 40 steel pipe incorporated within the pump foundation and
    terminated with screwed or welded caps at least 12 inches above the
    pump house floor or concrete apron, gravel refill pipes located in
    the grouted annular opening shall be surrounded by a minimum of 1.5
    inches of grout. Protection from leakage of grout into the gravel
    pack or screen shall be provided.

Section Five-Inspection

**5.1 Drilling Inspection.**

a.  Notice of drilling or well modification must be given to BCDH a
    minimum of two (2) working days prior to commencement of the work.

**5.2 Well Casing and Grouting.**

a\. A BCDH representative is to be on site to observe the installation
of the well casing,

b\. A BCDH representative is to be on-site to observe the grouting of
the well and any other inspection during the well construction.

**5.3 Pitless Adapter and Well Seal.**

a\. The BCDH must inspect the pitless adapter installation and the
installation of a water tight well seal.

**5.4 Failure to Comply.**

a.  Failure to comply with the BCDH inspection may result in termination
    of the drilling or alteration activities, and may cause the
    revocation of the Approval to Construct.

**Section Six - Well Drillers**

**6.1 Driller License.**

a.  Only well drillers with a PA DCNR license shall be permitted to
    construct individual residential water supply wells.

b.  All drilling rigs must also be licensed by the PA DCNR.

**Section seven - disinfection of well distribution system**

**7.1 General.**

a.  Following completion of construction and installation of the pumping
    equipment, or alteration of a well, the well shall be pumped until
    the water discharge is clear. The well and distribution system shall
    be disinfected according to PA DEP disinfection procedures.

**Section Eight - Water Quality**

**8.1 General.**

a.  Water analysis of the completed new well must be conducted by a PA
    DEP Certified Drinking Water Laboratory.

b.  Water analysis must include the Primary DEP regulated
    contaminants*:* total coliform, 21 regulated volatile organic
    chemicals, arsenic, nitrates and the secondary contaminants: pH,
    iron, manganese, total dissolved solids, and chlorides.

c.  Analyses for additional parameters may be required if BCDH has
    reason to suspect that substances may be present in the water that
    could affect potability.

**8.2 Treatment.**

a.  If any parameter tested exceeds the maximum contaminant level
    established by PA DEP, treatment is recommended.

Section Nine - Certificate to Operate

**9.1 General.**

a.  Upon completion of the well or alteration, the following information
    must be submitted to the Department for approval to operate the
    individual residential water supply:

    1.  Completed forms SA-130 Application to Construct/modify an
        Individual Residential Well, SA-131 Residential Well Work Sheet.

    2.  Water analysis results as required in Section 8.

    3.  Description of any treatment system that was installed.

b.  A Certificate to Operate an individual residential water supply
    system shall be issued or denied within seven days of receipt of the
    information required in section 10.1 a.

c.  No individual residential water supply well constructed after
    promulgation of these Rules and Regulations shall be used unless the
    individual residential water supply system receives a Certificate to
    Operate from BCDH.

> **SECTION TEN - WELL ABANDONMENT**

**10.1 General.**

a\. A permit must be obtained prior to abandoning all wells.

b\. Abandonment procedures shall be subject to BCDH inspection.

c\. Failure to comply with proper abandonment procedures will result in
an order to terminate site activities.

d\. Well abandonment procedures must minimally comply with the
specifications referenced in the PA DEP/DCNR Water Well Abandonment
Guidelines.\*

e\. A copy of the PA DEP/DCNR Water Well Abandonment Form\* shall be
submitted to BCDH within ten days of abandonment.

**\***Available from BCDH or PA DEP Southeast Regional Office.

**10.2 Well Preparation.**

a\. The borehole must be cleared of obstructions prior to abandonment.
Pumps, pipes, wiring, and air lines must be pulled. An attempt to remove
the casing should be made as long as it will not jeopardize the
integrity of the borehole. If the casing cannot be removed, it should be
cut below the land surface.

b\. Damaged, poorly constructed or dilapidated wells may need to be
redrilled in order to apply proper abandonment techniques.

**10.3 Materials and Methods**

a\. Aggregates

1\. Aggregates may be used in the following circumstances: a) There is
no need to penetrate or seal fractures, joints or other openings in the
interval to be filled, b) A watertight seal is not required, c) The hole
is caving, d) The interval does NOT penetrate a perched or confined
aquifer, e) The interval does not penetrate more than one aquifer.

2\. Aggregates should be uncontaminated and of consistent size.

3\. If aggregate is used, a casing seal must be installed. Generally,
this can be accomplished by filling at least the upper ten feet of open
borehole and the lower five feet with sealant. The length of open
borehole sealed should be increased if extenuating circumstances exist.
This would include a history of bacterial contamination or possibly deep
fracture zones.

b\. Sealants -- Sealants are used to provide a watertight barrier to the
migration of water in the well bore. An abandoned contaminated well or a
well in an area where the groundwater is at a high risk for future
contamination require complete and uniform sealing of the well from the
bottom to the surface.

1\. Sealing mixtures should be formulated to minimize shrinkage.

2\. A pump and tremie pipe are preferred for delivering the sealant to
the bottom of the well.

> 3\. If aggregate is to be placed above the sealant, sufficient amount
> of curing time must pass before placing the aggregate above the seal.
>
> 4\. Types of sealant: a) *neat cement grout*: a ratio of one 94 lb.
> Bag of Portland cement to no more than 6 gallons of water, b)
> *concrete grout*: a ratio of one 94 lb. Bag of Portland cement to no
> more than 6 gallons of water and an equal volume of sand, c) *grout
> additives*: some bentonite (2% to 8%) can be added to neat cement or
> concrete grout to decrease the amount of shrinkage. Other additives
> may be used to alter the curing time or the permeability of the grout,
> such as calcium chloride can be used as a curing accelerator, d) *high
> solids sodium bentonite*: composed of 15% to 20% solids content by
> weight of sodium bentonite when mixed with water, e) *chip bentonite*:
> chip (coarse grade) or palletized bentonite will form adequate seals.
> When placed above the water level, water must be added frequently to
> hydrate the bentonite.

Section ELEVEN - VARIANCE PROCEDURES

Should an applicant believe that these regulations impose an undue
hardship upon them, an applicant may apply to BCDH for an administrative
hearing by submitting a hearing request and proper fee for a hearing. At
any administrative hearing, it shall be the burden of the applicant or
prove via clear and convincing evidence that 1) the applicant is
suffering an undue hardship; and 2) that the applicant has taken
sufficient steps to ensure that any variance from these regulations will
not adversely affect any aspect of the public health or environmental
health. The administrative hearing officer shall have discretion to
weight the evidence to determine whether the applicant has met their
burden.

Section TWELVE - severability

If any section, subsection, paragraph, clause, or provision of these
Rules and Regulations shall be declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity
of the Rules and Regulations as a whole or any part thereof. It is
hereby declared to be the intention of the Bucks County Department of
Health, the Bucks County Board of Health and the Bucks County
Commissioners that the remainder of the Rules and Regulations would have
been enacted if such invalid section had not been enacted and that it is
their intent, intention and desire that the remaining portion of the
Rules and Regulations remain in effect.

section tHIRTEEN - penality provisions

**13.1 Summary Offense.**

In accordance with the provisions of Act No. 315, approved August 24,
1951, P.L. 1304, as amended, any person who violates any of the
provisions of these Rules and Regulations or who interferes with the
Health Director or any other agent of the Bucks County Department of
Health in the discharge of their official duties or who refuses to
permit the Director of the Bucks County Department of Health or their
authorized representatives to inspect any premises when such inspection
is authorized by a properly issued search warrant, shall, for the first
offense, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding before a
District Justice of Bucks County, be sentenced to pay the costs of
prosecution and a fine of not less than Thirty (\$30.00) Dollars nor
more than Three Hundred (\$300.00) Dollars, and in a default thereof, to
undergo imprisonment of not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty
(30) days.

**13.2 Misdemeanor Offense.**

Any person who violates any of the provisions of these Rules and
Regulations, or who interferes with the Health Director or any other
agent of the Bucks County Department of Health in the discharge of their
official duties, or who refuses to permit the Director of the Bucks
County Department of Health or his authorized representative to inspect
any premises when such inspection is authorized by a proper issued
search warrant, convicted of a second or subsequent offense, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not less than Five Hundred (\$500.00) Dollars nor more
than One Thousand (\$1,000,00) Dollars or to undergo imprisonment not
exceeding one (1) year, or both.

**Approved Bucks County Board of Health: January 11, 2007**

**Approved Bucks County Board of Commissioners**

**Effective Date:     **