Title 18—Conservation of Power and Water Resources--Volume 1
PART 430—GROUND WATER PROTECTION AREA: PENNSYLVANIA
§ 430.1   Policy.
The provisions of this part implement Commission Resolutions 80-18 and 80-27 relating to ground water protection in southeastern Pennsylvania.
§ 430.3   Purpose.
The purpose of this regulation is to protect the ground water resources in the Triassic lowland and adjacent area of southeastern Pennsylvania and the public interest in those resources. In particular this regulation is to:
(a) Assure the effective management of water withdrawals to avoid depletion of natural stream flows and ground waters and to protect the quality of such water.
(b) Assure that ground water withdrawals are undertaken consistent with the policies stated in the Comprehensive Plan.
(c) Protect the just and equitable interests and rights of present and future lawful users of water resources, giving due regard to the need to balance and reconcile alternative and conflicting uses in view of present and threatened shortages of water of the quality required to serve such uses.
(d) Provide a mechanism for the acquisition of additional information necessary to more accurately plan and manage water resources.
(e) Encourage all water users to adopt and implement reasonable water conservation measures and practices, to assure efficient use of limited water supplies.
§ 430.5   Definitions.
For purposes of this regulation, except as otherwise required by the context:
Aquifer means waterbearing formation that contains sufficient ground water to be important as a source of supply.
Comprehensive Plan means the plans, policies and programs adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan of the Delaware Basin in accordance with section 3.2 and Article 13 of the Delaware River Basin Compact.
Ground water means all water beneath the surface of the ground.
Ground water basin means a subsurface structure having the character of a basin with respect to the collection, retention and outflow of water.
Ground water protected area means the areas declared and delineated by the Commission to be a ground water protected area pursuant to Article 10 of the Delaware River Basin Compact and this regulation.
Ground water recharge means the addition of water to an aquifer by infiltration of precipitation through the soil, infilitration from surface streams, lakes or reservoirs, flow of ground water from another aquifer, or pumpage of water into the aquifer through wells.
Project means the same word as defined by section 1.2(g) of the Delaware River Basin Compact.
Protected area permit means a permit to divert or withdraw ground water within the ground water protected area for domestic, municipal, agricultural or industrial uses, granted pursuant to section 10.3 of the Delaware River Basin Compact and this regulation.
§ 430.7   Determination of protected areas and restriction on water use.
In consideration of the foregoing facts and for the purposes cited above:
(a) The Commission hereby determines and delineates the following area to be a protected area within the meaning and for the purpose of Article 10 of the Delaware River Basin Compact:
The “Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area” shall consist of those portions of the following listed counties and political subdivision located within the Delaware Basin:
(b) The Commission hereby determines that within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area demands upon available ground water supplies have developed or threaten to develop to such a degree as to create a water shortage or to impair or conflict with the requirements or effectuation of the Comprehensive Plan. Accordingly, no person, firm, corporation or other entity within the area shall withdraw ground water for any purpose at a rate exceeding 10,000 gallons per day, except as prescribed by this regulation.
§ 430.9   Comprehensive plan policies.
The water resources within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area shall be managed consistent with the Comprehensive Plan policies. For purposes of this ground water protected area, section 2.20.4 of the Water Code of the Delaware River Basin shall be applied using the following definition of the term “withdrawal limits”:
(a) Withdrawal limits. Except as may be otherwise determined by the Commission to be in the public interest, withdrawals from the underground waters of the basin shall be limited to the maximum draft of all withdrawals from a ground water basin, aquifer, or aquifer system that can be sustained without rendering supplies unreliable, causing long-term progressive lowering of ground water levels, water quality degradation, permanent loss of storage capacity, or substantial impact on low flows of perennial streams.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 430.11   Advance notice of exploratory drilling.
The Commission encourages consultation with any project sponsor who is considering development of a new or expanded ground water withdrawal that is being planned for any purpose when the daily average withdrawal during any calendar month exceeds 10,000 gallons to insure proper implementation of this regulation and to reduce the possibility of investment in new ground water development facilities which may not be approved hereunder. Such consultation should occur early in the planning stage of a new project and prior to initiation of exploratory drilling.
(a) Any person, firm corporation or other entity planning a new or expanded ground water withdrawal that may be operated at a daily average withdrawal during any calendar month in excess of 10,000 gallons shall notify the Executive Director not less than 30 days prior to initiation of exploratory drilling. Such notice shall be in writing and shall specify the location of proposed new facility, the anticipated rate of withdrawal, and the general purpose of the proposed water use. The notice shall also state the location of existing wells within the radius set forth in § 430.21(a).
(b) Whenever the Executive Director shall deem necessary, or upon request of a party proposing a new or expanded withdrawal of ground water, an informal conference may be scheduled to review the nature of the proposed withdrawal, the applicability of the Commission's standards relating to ground water, and the requirements of a protected area permit under this regulation.
§ 430.13   Protected area permits for new withdrawals.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity who proposes to develop a new ground water withdrawal or expand an existing ground water withdrawal for any purpose within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area shall be required to obtain a protected area permit under this regulation if the proposed new or increased rate of withdrawal from a well or group of wells operated as a system average more than 10,000 gallons per day over a 30-day period. Whenever the Executive Director, upon investigation or upon a reference from a state or federal agency, determines that a new or increased withdrawal from a group of wells within the protected area, whether or not such wells are operated as a system, may have a substantial effect on the water resources of the basin or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on other water uses within the protected area, the Commission may direct a notice to the owners or sponsors of such wells, and require such owners or sponsors to apply for and obtain a protected area permit under this regulation.
(a) Applications for a protected area permit shall be submitted to the Commission on forms approved by the Executive Director. Each application shall be accompanied by the following information:
(1) A map indicating the location of existing wells and perennial streams.
(2) A written report prepared by a hydrogeologist describing the expected effects of the proposed withdrawal on existing wells, flows of perennial streams and the long-term lowering of ground water levels.
(3) A log showing the nature of subsurface material encountered during the construction and installation of the exploratory or production well(s).
(4) The detailed results of extended pump tests, of not less than 48 hours duration, and records of observations during such pump tests from representative monitoring wells.
(b) Applications for a protected area permits whose daily average withdrawal during any calendar month is in excess of 10,000 gallons shall be accompanied by an application fee of $100. Government agencies shall be exempt from such application fee.
(c) If the application for a protected area permit is for a daily average withdrawal during any calendar month in excess of 100,000 gallons, it shall be accompanied by such other information or exhibits required by Article 3 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. In such cases, only the application fee required by the Rules will be assessed.
(d) To qualify for approval of a protected area permit, the owner or sponsor of the proposed withdrawal shall demonstrate that:
(1) The proposed withdrawal is consistent with the Commission's Comprehensive Plan and the policies and purposes of these regulations.
(2) Opportunities to satisy water requirements on a timely basis from existing available supplies and facilities have been explored and found infeasible.
(3) The proposed withdrawal, in conjunction with other withdrawals in the applicable ground water basin, will not exceed withdrawal limits of a ground water basin, aquifer or aquifer system.
(4) The proposed withdrawal will not significantly impair or reduce the flow of perennial streams in the area.
(5) Existing ground and surface water withdrawals will not be adversely impacted, or will be otherwise assured of adequate supplies in accordance with the requirements of § 430.19 of this part.
(6) The proposed withdrawal will not cause substantial, permanent adverse impact to the overlying environment.
(7) The owner or sponsor has adopted and will implement conservation and management programs as required by § 430.15 of this part.
(e) Ground water withdrawals for space heating or cooling purposes that are less than 100,000 gallons per day shall be exempt from obtaining a protected area permit provided that the water withdrawn is returned locally, and to the same ground water basin and aquifer system from which it is withdrawn, undiminished in quantity and quality (except temperature). Ground water withdrawals for space heating or cooling that are subsequently used for commercial or industrial water supply purposes are subject to Commission withdrawal and wastewater discharge regulations. Ground water withdrawals exempted pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the registration requirements of § 430.17.
(f) All ground water withdrawal projects exempted by subsection “e” above shall be constructed in conformance with accepted industry practice and as a minimum shall comply with the following standards:
(1) All wells shall be drilled by a Pennsylvania licensed well driller and a Water Well Inventory Report shall be completed and filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER);
(2) No wells shall be located within a 100-year floodway;
(3) All wells shall have top of casing extended a minimum of one foot above the 100-year flood elevation;
(4) All wells shall have the casing protruding a minimum of six inches above the immediate surrounding grade;
(5) The area around all wells or well pits shall be constructed and/or graded to prevent the entrance of surface waters;
(6) All wells shall be accessible for inspection and shall have an access hole for water level measurements;
(7) In order to protect against significant leaks of refrigerant, all ground water heat pump systems shall be equipped with an automatic shutdown device that senses abnormally low or abnormally high refrigerant pressures;
(8) Any drilled well holes that are abandoned shall be sealed with a minimum of ten feet of cement grout. Additional seals may be required to separate different water-bearing zones.
(g) Protected area permits shall be approved or disapproved by the Executive Director with the concurrence of the Pennsylvania member of the Commission or his alternate.
(h) Dockets and protected area permits may be issued for a duration of up to ten years and shall specify the maximum total withdrawals that must not be exceeded during any consecutive 30-day period. Such maximum total withdrawals shall be based on demands projected to occur during the duration of the docket or protected area permit.
(i) Ground water withdrawal limits shall be defined for subbasins in accordance with the provisions of (i)(1) or (2) of this section. The limits for specific subbasins are set forth in (i)(3) of this section.
(1) Baseflow frequency analyses shall be conducted for all subbasins in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area. The analyses shall determine the 1-year-in-25 average annual baseflow rate. The 1-year-in-25 average annual baseflow rate shall serve as the maximum withdrawal limit for net annual ground water withdrawals for subbasins. If net annual ground water withdrawals exceed 75 percent of this rate for a subbasin, such a subbasin shall be deemed “potentially stressed.” The Commission shall maintain a current list of net annual ground water withdrawals for all subbasins. “Net” annual ground water withdrawals includes total ground water withdrawals less total water returned to the ground water system of the same subbasin.
(2) Upon application by the appropriate governmental body or bodies, the withdrawal limits criteria set forth in (i)(1) of this section may be revised by the Commission to provide additional protection for any subbasin identified in (i)(3) of this section with streams or stream segments designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as either “high quality,” or “exceptional value,” or “wild,” or “scenic,” or “pastoral,” or to correspond with more stringent requirements in integrated resource plans adopted and implemented by all municipalities within a subbasin identified in (i)(3) of this section. Integrated resource plans shall be developed according to sound principles of hydrology. Such plans shall at a minimum assess water resources and existing uses of water; estimate future water demands and resource requirements; evaluate supply-side and demand-side alternatives to meet water withdrawal needs; assess options for wastewater discharge to subsurface formations and streams; consider stormwater and floodplain management; assess the capacity of the subbasin to meet present and future demands for withdrawal and nonwithdrawal uses such as instream flows; identify potential conflicts and problems; incorporate public participation; and outline plans and programs including land use ordinances to resolve conflicts and meet needs. Integrated resource plans shall be adopted and implemented by all municipalities within a subbasin and incorporated into each municipality's Comprehensive Plan.
(3)(i) The potentially stressed levels and withdrawal limits for all delineated basins and subbasins are set forth below:
1 mgy means million gallons per year.
(ii) Subject to public notice and hearing, this section may be updated or revised based upon new and evolving information on hydrology and streamflow and ground water monitoring or in accordance with paragraph (i)(2) of this section.
(j) Upon its determination that a subbasin is potentially stressed, the Commission shall notify all ground water users in the subbasin withdrawing 10,000 gallons per day or more during any 30-day period of its determination. If any such users have not obtained a docket or protected area permit from the Commission, they shall be required to apply to the Commission within 60 days of notification.
(k) In potentially stressed subbasins, dockets and protected area permit applications for new or expanded ground water withdrawals must include one or more programs to mitigate the adverse impacts of the new or expanded ground water withdrawal. The eligible programs are noted below. If the remainder of the application and the program(s) submitted are acceptable, the withdrawal may be approved by the Commission for an initial three-year period. The applicant shall implement the program(s) immediately upon Commission approval. If after the three-year period the program(s) is deemed successful by the Commission, the docket or permit duration may be extended for up to 10 years. The project sponsor shall be required to continue the program(s) for the duration of the docket or permit.
(1) A conjunctive use program that demonstrates the applicant's capability to obtain at least 15 percent of its average annual system usage from a reliable surface water supply. An acceptable program shall include either reservoir storage or an interconnection with a surface water supplier and an agreement or contract to purchase water from the supplier for the duration of the docket or permit.
(2) A water conservation program that exceeds the requirements of § 430.15. For existing water utilities, the program shall reduce average annual per capita water usage by at least five percent. All conservation programs shall include water conservation pricing, either inclining block rates, seasonal rates, or excess-use surcharges, and plumbing fixture rebate or retrofit components. For self-supplied users, the program shall include water efficient technologies such as recycling, reuse, xeriscaping, drip or micro irrigation, or other innovative technology approved by the Commission.
(3) A program to monitor and control ground water infiltration to the receiving sewer system. The program must quantify ground water infiltration to the system and document reductions in infiltration. The program should include such measures as leakage surveys of sewer mains, metering of sewer flows in mains and interceptors, analysis of sewer system flows to quantify infiltration, and remedial measures such as repair of leaks and joints, main lining, and main replacement.
(4) An artificial recharge or spray irrigation program that demonstrates a return of at least 60 percent of the total new or expanded annual withdrawal to the same ground water basin and aquifer system from which it is withdrawn. The program shall not impair ground water quality.
(5) An alternative program approved by the Commission to mitigate the adverse impacts of the new or expanded ground water withdrawal.
(l) The durations of all existing dockets and protected area permits may be extended by the Commission for an additional five years if the docket or permit holder successfully implements in either (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this section. If the docket or permit holder successfully implements both options, the docket or permit may be extended for an additional ten years. The Executive Director shall notify all docket and permit holders potentially affected by this resolution of their right to file an application to determine their eligibility for extension.
(m) It is the policy of the Commission to prevent, to the extent reasonably possible, net annual ground water withdrawals from exceeding the maximum withdrawal limit. An application for a proposed new or expanded ground water withdrawal that would result in net annual ground water withdrawals exceeding the maximum withdrawal limit established in paragraph (i)(3) of this section shall set forth the applicant's proposal for complying with the Commission's policy, with such supporting documentation as may be required by the Executive Director. Notification of the application shall be given to all affected existing water users who may also submit comments or recommendations for consideration by the Commission on the pending application. In taking action upon the application, the Commission shall give consideration to the submissions from the applicant and affected water users. If the Commission determines that it is in the public interest to do so, it may reduce the total of proposed and existing ground water withdrawals within a subbasin to a level at or below the withdrawal limit. Unless otherwise determined by the Commission, docket and permit holders shall share equitably in such reductions.
§ 430.15   Conservation requirements.
The following conservation requirements shall apply to all existing, new or expanded ground water withdrawals for municipal, public, industrial or commercial water supply whose cumulative daily average withdrawal from one or more wells during any calendar month exceeds 10,000 gallons.
(a) Each person, firm, corporation or other entity withdrawing ground water within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area for purposes of municipal or public water supply shall comply with the following conservation requirements:
(1) Water connections shall be metered, and water charges collected shall be based on metered usage.
(2) A water conservation program shall be initiated and diligently pursued within the service area of the municipal or public water supply. Such program shall include a program for leakage control providing for the monitoring, prevention and repair of significant leakage, and the provision of customer information relating to water-saving devices.
(3) Interconnections with adjacent water systems shall be considered to assure more reliable supplies of water during emergencies.
(4) A drought emergency plan specifying actions which would be taken to reduce demand and assure supplies to priority uses in the event of drought conditions shall be prepared in cooperation with the municipalities in the service area. The plan shall be filed with the Commission.
(b) Each person, firm, corporation or other entity withdrawing ground water within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area for purposes of industrial or commercial water supply shall comply with the following conservation requirements:
(1) Opportunities for water conservation shall be investigated and all feasible conservation measures shall be implemented at the earliest practicable time.
(2) Water uses shall be monitored, and a systematic process shall be adopted and implemented to provide for the detection and expeditious correction of leakage.
(3) A drought emergency plan specifying the actions to be taken to reduce demand in the event of drought conditions shall be prepared and filed with the Commission.
(c) Permits issued pursuant to these regulations shall be conditioned upon compliance with the requirements of this section.
§ 430.17   Registration of existing withdrawals.
(a) Existing users of ground water within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area whose lawful use commenced prior to the effective date of this regulation, whose cumulative monthly average daily withdrawal from one or more wells exceeds 10,000 gallons and whose withdrawal has not previously been approved by DRBC, pursuant to section 3.8 of the Compact, shall, prior to July 1, 1981, register their use with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources acting as agent for the Commission. Registration is required as a condition for such existing users being eligible for the protection afforded by this regulation. Such registration shall include withdrawals from quarries that are not fed by surface streams.
(b) Registrations shall be filed on forms approved by the Executive Director of the Commission. Each registrant shall provide, without limitation thereto, the following:
(1) A description of the location, size and depth of each well and the pump facilities installed therein.
(2) The estimated quantity of water withdrawn from each well, or related group of wells, during each month of 1980.
(3) The purposes for which the water is withdrawn, its place of use, and the approximate quantity of water used for each purpose.
(4) The location and method of wastewater disposal and discharge.
(5) A registration fee of $5 for each well.
§ 430.19   Ground water withdrawal metering, recording, and reporting.
(a) Each person, firm, corporation, or other entity whose cumulative daily average withdrawal of ground water from a well or group of wells operated as a system exceeds 10,000 gallons per day during any 30-day period shall meter or measure and record their withdrawals and report such withdrawals to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources. Withdrawals shall be measured by means of an automatic continuous recording device, flow meter, or other method, and shall be measured to within five percent of actual flow. Meters or other methods of measurement shall be subject to approval and inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources as to type, method, installation, maintenance, calibration, reading, and accuracy. Withdrawals shall at a minimum be recorded on a daily basis for public water supply use and on a biweekly basis for all other water uses, and reported as monthly totals annually. More frequent recording or reporting may be required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources or the Commission.
(b) The following water uses and operations are exempt from the metering or measurement requirements of paragraph (a): Agricultural irrigation; snowmaking; dewatering incidental to mining and quarrying; dewatering incidental to construction; and space heating or cooling uses that are exempt from permit requirements in § 430.13. Except for space heating and cooling uses described herein, persons engaged in such exempt withdrawals in excess of 10,000 gallons per day during any 30-day period shall record the pumping rates and the dates and elapsed hours of operation of any well or pump used to withdraw ground water, and report such information as required in paragraph (a). Space heating and cooling uses that are exempt from permit requirements in § 430.13 shall also be exempt from the requirement for recording and reporting.
(c) Pursuant to section 11.5 of the Compact, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources shall administer and enforce a program for metering, recording, and reporting ground-water withdrawals in accordance with this regulation.
§ 430.21   Protection of existing users.
(a) Protected area permits issued under this regulation for new or expanded withdrawals of ground water shall include conditions to protect the owners of existing wells in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) Any person, firm, corporation or other entity who commences a new or expanded withdrawal of ground water that is subject to the requirement of a protected area permit under this regulation shall provide mitigating measures if the withdrawal significantly affects or interferes with any existing well. Mitigation measures may consist of:
(1) Providing an alternative water supply, of adequate quantity and quality, to the effected well owner(s);
(2) Providing financial compensation to the affected well owner(s) sufficient to cover the costs of acquiring an alternative water supply of adequate quantity and quality; or
(3) Such other measures as the Commission shall determine to be just and equitable under the circumstances present in the case of any individual application.
§ 430.23   Technical determinations and procedures.
(a) The radius to be considered in assessing the potential impact of a proposed new or expanded ground water withdrawal, as required by §§ 430.11 and 430.13 of this part shall be as follows:
(b) Ground water withdrawal limits, as defined in section 2.20.4 of the Water Code of the Delaware River Basis and § 430.9 of this part, shall be calculated on the basis of the average recharge rate to the basin, aquifer, or aquifer system during repetition of a period which includes the worst recorded drought.
(c) The requirement of paragraph (a) or (b) of this section may be modified or waived by the Executive Director or the Commission if an applicant adopts and implements a program for coordinated use of ground and surface water, and the applicant demonstrates that operation of the coordinated program will be consistent with the policies contained in the Comprehensive Plan and the purposes of these regulations.
§ 430.25   Other permit requirements.
(a) Except to the extent provided in these regulations, registration of existing ground and surface water withdrawals and the issuance of withdrawal permits hereunder shall not create any private or proprietary rights in the water of the basin and the Commission reserves the right to amend, alter, or repeal these regulations and to amend, alter or rescind any actions taken hereunder in order to insure the proper control, use and management of the water resources of the basin.
(b) Neither the obligation to obtain a protected area permit under this regulation, nor the receipt thereof, shall relieve the sponsor of a new or expanded ground water withdrawal project of the obligation to obtain any other applicable permits required by Federal, state or local government agencies.
(c) A new or expanded ground water withdrawal subject to the requirement of a protected area permit under this regulation shall not require any further approval by the Commission if the daily average withdrawal during any calendar month is less than 100,000 gallons. If the new or expanded withdrawal exceeds a daily average of 100,000 gallons during any calendar month, the project shall be subject to review and approval by the commission pursuant to section 3.8 of the Delaware River Basin Compact, and the requirement of a protected area permit for such a project shall be in addition to other requirements of the Commission and its Rules of Practice and Procedure.
§ 430.27   Emergencies.
In the event of an emergency requiring immediate action to protect the public health and safety or to avoid substantial and irreparable injury to any private person or property, and the circumstances do not permit full review and determination in accordance with these regulations, the Executive Director, with the concurrence of the Pennsylvania member of the Commission or his alternate, may issue an emergency permit authorizing an applicant to take such action relating to these regulations as the Executive Director may deem necessary and proper. In such cases, the applicant shall be fully responsible for protecting existing ground water users, as prescribed in § 430.19 of this part. The Executive Director shall report at the next meeting of the Commission on the nature of the emergency and any action taken under this section.
§ 430.29   Appeals.
Any person aggrieved by any action or decision of the Executive Director taken under these regulations shall be entitled upon timely filing of a request therefor, to a hearing in accordance with Article 6 of the Commission'a Rules of Practice and Procedure.
§ 430.31   Sanctions: Civil and criminal.
(a) Any person, association, corporation, public or private entity who or which violates or attempts or conspires to violate any provision of this regulation, or any order, regulation or permit issued in furtherance thereof, shall be punishable as provided in section 14.17 of the Compact.
(b) General Counsel of the Commission may, in his discretion, request the appropriate law enforcement officers of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to prosecute any or all violations of this regulation in accordance with the Compact and the laws of the Commonwealth, and for recovery of the fines fixed by section 14.17 of the Compact, in the name and on behalf of the Commission. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its law enforcement officers are hereby requested pursuant to sections 10.1 and 11.5 of the Compact, to provide such technical, professional and administrative services as may be required for such enforcement.
(c) In addition to such penal sanctions as may be imposed pursuant to this section, any violation of this regulation shall be subject to such civil remedies by injunction and otherwise as provided by law.
§ 430.33   Duration.
The delineation and declaration of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area made pursuant to this regulation, and the requirements established hereby, shall continue until terminated by specific action of the Commission.
§ 430.35   Amendments.
Upon request by any interested party, or on its own motion, the Commission may consider amendment of this regulation, and modify the geographic boundaries of the protected area, in accordance with Article 10 of the Compact.