Source: https://ecode360.com/32164684
Timestamp: 2019-02-20 01:20:30
Document Index: 209937529

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 117', '§ 645', '§ 117', '§ 4904']

Township of Chestnuthill, PA Water Wells
§ 117-1 Applicability.
§ 117-3 Requirement for permit.
§ 117-4 Application for and issuance or denial of permit.
§ 117-5 Fee.
§ 117-6 Location.
§ 117-7 Water well horizontal isolation distance exemption.
§ 117-8 Water well construction standards.
§ 117-9 Accessibility to public water.
§ 117-10 Violations and penalties.
§ 117-11 Disclaimer.
Chapter 117 Water Wells
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Chestnuthill 2-7-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-01. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Drainage pipes, swales and related stormwater facilities — See Ch. 44.
Individual sewage disposal systems — See Ch. 88.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 92.
This chapter shall apply to all water wells which have not been completed, or which are not in operation or in operable condition at the effective date of this chapter, and to all alterations to an existing water well, but not to normal maintenance and minor repairs to keep a water well in proper working order.
A water well, the regular use of which has been discontinued for a period of one year or more, or which is in such a state of disrepair that continued use for the purpose of obtaining groundwater is impracticable, or which has been replaced by a new water well or public water supply.
Any action which necessitates entering a water well with drilling tools; treating a water well to increase yield; altering the physical structure or depth of the water well; blasting; removal or replacement of water well casing.
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.
A geological formation that contains and transmits water.
The flowing back of used, contaminated or polluted water from a plumbing fixture or vessel or other sources into a potable water supply pipe due to negative pressure in such pipe.
An impervious durable pipe placed in a water well to prevent the walls from caving and to seal off surface drainage or undesirable water, gas or other fluids and prevent their entering the water well.
All of the aerobic and facultative anaerobic, gram negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria which are capable of fermenting lactose with gas formation within 48 hours at 35° C.
A water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.
All acts necessary to install or construct a water well. Construction of water wells includes the location and excavation or drilling of the water well, but excludes the installation of pumps and pumping equipment.
A water well that yields water by artesian pressure at the ground surface.
Water within the earth below the water table within the zone of satisfaction. Groundwater includes both water under water table conditions and confined within deep aquifers.
A permanent watertight joint or connection made by filling with concrete, neat cement, or other approved impervious material between the casing and the undisturbed formation surrounding the water well or between two strings of casing.
A system including wells, pumps, and piping equipment, which supplies potable water to a single dwelling unit.
INSTALLATION OF PUMPS AND PUMPING EQUIPMENT
The procedure employed in the placement and preparation for operation of pumps and pumping equipment, including all construction involved in making entrance to the water well and establishing seals but not including repairs to existing installations.
A public water system which is not a community water system.
Any person vested with sole or partial, legal or equitable ownership of property located in the Township.
Shall mean any individual, partnership, company, association, corporation, trust or other group or entity.
A device or assembly of parts which will permit water to pass through the wall of the water well casing or extension thereof, and which provides access to the water well and to the parts of the water system within the water well in a manner to prevent entrance of pollution into the water well and the water produced.
Water which is safe for human consumption as determined pursuant to applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
A system which provides water to the public for human consumption which has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. The term is either a community or noncommunity system and includes collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under the control of the operator of the system and used in connection with the system. The term also includes a system which provides water for bottling or bulk hauling for human consumption.
SEMI-PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
A potable water supply which services one or several facilities such as industrial or commercial establishments, parks, camps, hotels, motels, schools, institutions, eating and drinking establishments or a water supply which services two or more dwelling units and is not a public water system as defined by the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act (35 P.S. 721.1 et seq.).
Chestnuthill Township Sewage Enforcement Officer.
Any excavation that is drilled, cored, bored, washed, driven, dug, jetted, or otherwise constructed when the intended use of such excavation is for the location, diversion or acquisition of groundwater for an individual water supply or a semi-public water supply.
A person that is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to the Water Well Drillers License Act (found at 32 P.S. § 645.1 et seq.) to drill, dig, drive, bore, core, wash, jet, construct, alter or repair water wells in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
WATER WELL SEAL
An approved device or method used to protect a water well casing or water 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.
WATER WELL TAG
A metal marking device supplied by the Township for installation on the water well cap for every new or reconstructed water well.
No person shall construct, reconstruct or alter any potable water well within Chestnuthill Township unless a water well permit authorizing the work has been issued by the SEO, or any other agent or employee so designated by the Board of Supervisors, pursuant to the terms of this chapter.
The applicant for a water well permit shall submit to the SEO, on a form to be provided by the SEO, such information as is deemed necessary by the SEO to determine that a water well may be constructed, reconstructed or repaired in conformity with this chapter. At a minimum, the applicant shall supply a drawing to scale of the subject property showing the location of all buildings and structures (existing or proposed), all easements and setback lines, the location of the proposed water well or wells, the location of any existing well or wells, any existing or proposed water supply lines, the location of all sewage systems, existing or proposed, specifically designating the absorption areas and treatment tanks on the property for which the permit is sought and any other septic systems, to include the absorption areas and treatment tanks, within the isolation distances set forth elsewhere in this chapter. In lieu of the drawing to scale, the applicant may submit an existing sewage system plot plan, providing that all necessary information is contained thereon. The applicant shall also provide the name, address and telephone number of the water well driller who or which will perform the well construction, reconstruction or repair.
No water well permit shall be issued, and no well shall be constructed, reconstructed or repaired unless the water well driller selected by the applicant to perform the water well construction, reconstruction or repair has first registered with the Township, and certified on a form provided by the Township that, in addition to any other requirements of law, all well construction, reconstruction or repair performed by that water well driller in the Township will be in accordance with the standards and requirements of the Chestnuthill Township Water Well Ordinance.
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of a properly completed water well permit application, the Township SEO shall inspect the site to which said permit application pertains to ascertain compliance with this chapter, and either:
Issue a permit to the applicant indicating the approved location for the water well, the nature of the work authorized and any special instructions for the construction, reconstruction or repair of the same; or
Deny said permit, in which event, the Township SEO shall promptly inform the applicant in writing of the reason or reasons for denial.
The application shall be made by, and the permit issued in the name of, the owner or lessee of the property or the person or entity who or which will have beneficial use of the water well.
Whenever a water well permit is issued, the SEO shall retain the original permit in the files of the Township, which permit shall be available for public inspection during regular business hours of the Township. Two duplicate originals shall be issued to the applicant, one of which shall be posted conspicuously on the property where the water well is or is to be located, and the other shall be delivered to the water well driller constructing, reconstructing or repairing the well.
A water well permit shall be valid for a period of three years from the issue date. If the work authorized by the permit is not completed within three years, the permit shall expire and be without effect.
The fee for a water well permit shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
Water wells shall be located at the following minimum horizontal isolation distances to existing or potential sources of pollution.
Water Well Horizontal Distances
Minimum Horizontal Isolation Distance
Preparation area or storage area of hazardous spray material, fertilizers or chemicals, salt piles
Farm silos, privies and underground fuel tanks
Property lines, driveways, easements and private roads or rights-of-way
Public road or right-of-way
Building foundations (except for buildings enclosing)
Any minimum horizontal isolation distance requirement for the placement of water wells as set forth in § 117-6 is not applicable if the Board of Supervisors finds that the installation of the water well in the location proposed does not appear to pose a threat of pollution to that water well.
The applicant shall submit a formal written request for a water well minimum horizontal isolation distance exemption to the Board of Supervisors, which request shall include:
Appropriate groundwater studies.
Payment of fees or costs incurred by the local agency to review the groundwater study.
A release of liability on a form provided by the Township.
Upon receipt of the items required in Subsection B, the Board of Supervisors shall act upon an application for an exemption under this section within 45 days after receipt of a properly submitted, complete request for an exemption.
The Board of Supervisors, Township and SEO will incur no liability as a result of the Board of Supervisors granting an exemption under this section.
All water wells shall be equipped with watertight and durable wrought iron, steel or other approved type casing with a minimum wall thickness of 0.1875 for iron.
The sections of casing shall be joined together by threaded couplings or joints, welding or other watertight approved method. The casing shall be carried to a minimum depth of 40 feet and then extended an additional 10 feet into firm bedrock or other impervious strata and grouted in place. Casing and grouting must be compatible. Pressure grouting is required for all wells by running tremie pipe to the bottom along casing. Cement concrete or bentonite are encouraged for use in grouting. Casing shall extend at least 8 inches above the ground surface. The borehole should be tree inches larger than the outside diameter of casing to allow for grout.
In areas known to be contaminated, the criteria established in AWWA Standards A100-84 must be followed.
Water well depth. The minimum drilled depth for any water well is 50 feet from the surface of the ground.
Ferrous casing. Ferrous casing shall be new pipe meeting ASTM or API specifications for water well construction. It shall be equipped with a drive shoe or other effective casing seal and have full circumference welds or threaded pipe joints.
Grouting. An annular space shall be provided between the water well casing and the earth formation. It shall be completely filled with approved grout materials in one continuous operation under pressure from the bottom of the casing to the natural ground surface within 24 hours of completion of drilling. No activity in and around the water well should occur within 48 hours after grouting of the casing, or within two hours if using bentonite.
Pitless installations:
Pitless installations are those where the casing terminates above the ground surface. Where used, they shall be effectively sealed. All buried suction lines shall be encased. The access casing shall be protected against corrosion and shall extend at least eight inches above the natural ground surface and to a point below the frost line. This area shall be designed for blockage of water, insects, and rodents.
Pitless adaptors cannot be installed with torch or flame, but must be installed using hole saw or drill.
Water well screens. Water well screens shall provide the maximum amount of open area while still maintaining structural strength. They shall have the size of openings based on a sieve analysis to preclude entry by sand, silt, and other undesirable elements.
Water well cap. A secure, screened, varmint-free well cap shall be installed on all water wells to prevent any surface pollutants from entering the water well or any vandalism to the water well or aquifer. In the event of a flowing well, the well cap must stop overflow from the flowing well.
Water well tag. An identification tag must be permanently attached to each new or reconstructed water well. These tags will be issued by Chestnuthill Township in conjunction with the issuance of the water well permit.
Venting. Where venting is required, an overlapping cover or pipe with an opening facing downward shall be required. In no case shall openings be less than 12 inches from the ground or the floor in case of pit installations.
Abandoned water wells.
Any abandoned water well shall be properly abandoned at the owner's expense in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
Any abandoned water wells that are in existence as of the effective date of this chapter shall be so abandoned within 30 days after the effective date of this chapter.
Disinfection. Following completion of construction, the water well shall be continuously pumped until the water discharge is clear. It shall be filled with water containing a concentration of not less than 100 parts per million of free chlorine. A portion of this solution shall be recirculated directly to the well in order to insure proper agitation. The water shall not be used for a period of 24 hours thereafter. Other combinations of water/chlorine concentration and time interval may be used if demonstrated to be equally effective. Disposal of the purged water shall be at a point so as to minimize adverse effects to aquatic life and in no way directed into any subsurface sewage disposal system. One ounce of dry calcium hypochlorite dissolved in 52.5 gallons of water makes the proper strength disinfectant solution.
Cross-connections. If pump and piping is not installed by the water well driller, the owner is responsible for proper installation of check valves and backflow protection. Backflow protectors must be incorporated into the system and be used as needed for each outside water hose connector. At least two check valves must be incorporated into each water system that derives water from a water well. Except where not practical, a cross-connection prevention assembly should be provided. For semi-public water supplies, this device is required to be installed at any fixed potable water outlet to which a hose may be connected.
Well analysis. After water well disinfection, water samples must be collected and analyzed for pH, total solids, iron, nitrate-nitrogen, and coliform bacteria. The water well driller or the owner or his representative shall utilize the appropriate means and methods for sampling and stabilization, and obtain sample analysis from a laboratory certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for that purpose. One copy of the analysis results shall be provided to the owner of the water well and one copy provided to the Township.
Completion report. Within 30 calendar days after completion of the water well, the water well driller constructing the well shall:
Submit a copy of the required DEP completion report to the SEO, and
Certify, pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities, that the constructed water well conforms to the standards and requirements of this chapter.
No water well shall be constructed or altered where a public water system connection is within 150 feet of the existing or proposed principal structure on the property, and public water service is available to that site.
Wells for agriculture or other purposes, excluding human consumption, shall be permitted regardless of public water availability.
Cross-connections between an individual or semi-public water supply and the public water system shall be prohibited.
This chapter shall be enforced by action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity who or which violates or permits a violation of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 per violation, plus all court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by Chestnuthill Township in the enforcement proceedings, and/or be imprisoned to the extent allowed by law for the punishment of summary offenses. Each day or portion thereof that a violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate violation, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of Chestnuthill Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance with this chapter. All fines, penalties, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees collected for the violation of this chapter shall be paid to Chestnuthill Township for its general use.
Approval of an application and issuance of a permit for a water well on a property does not constitute any guarantee or warranty by Chestnuthill Township regarding quantity or quality of water that may be obtained as a result of any water well constructed, reconstructed or repaired. Issuance of a permit merely provides Township approval to perform the specified water well work at the location shown on the application, but does not provide any other guarantees, approval, warranties, etc.