[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 101]
This shall be known and may be cited as the "Well Ordinance."
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 102]
The intention of this Part is to ensure and protect the quality
and suitability of domestic water supply, and to secure and maintain
the minimum required isolation distances between water supplies and
sewage disposal systems or other sources of contamination.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 103]
1.
This Part shall apply to all wells which have not been completed,
or which are not in operation or in an inoperable condition at the
time of passage of this Part.
2.
This Part shall further apply to the reconstruction, major repair
and other changes to existing wells, when, in the opinion of the Inspection
Officer, such reconstruction, major repair and other changes may affect
the quality and suitability of the water supply on the property upon
which the well is constructed or on surrounding properties.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 104]
1.
The following standards shall apply for water supplies:
A.
Drilled and Driven Wells.
(1)
Location. Drilled and driven wells shall be located at a point
free from flooding and at the following minimum distances to existing
or possible future sources of pollution:
|
Source of Pollution
|
Minimum Distance
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Storm Drains
|
25 feet
| |
|
Drains carrying domestic sewage or industrial wastes
|
50 feet
| |
|
Septic or Holding Tanks
|
50 feet
| |
|
Surface/subsurface sewage disposal fields
|
100 feet
| |
|
Sewage seepage pits, cesspools
|
100 feet
| |
|
Privies
|
50 feet
| |
|
Fuel Tanks
|
As approved
| |
|
Other (ditches, streams, barnyards, rainwater pits, etc.)
|
As approved
|
(2)
Additional Location Restrictions.
|
Driveways
|
10 feet
| |
|
Principal structure
|
20 feet
| |
|
Property Lines
|
10 feet
|
B.
Construction.
(1)
Source. The source of supply shall be from a water bearing formation
drawn not less than 100 feet from the ground surface, with at least
20 feet of properly grouted well casing, and from no formation which
is subject to pollution.
(2)
Casing.
(a)
The well shall have a water-tight and durable wrought iron,
steel, or other type of approved casing with a nominal thickness of
3/16 (0.1875) inches and 6 5/8 inches outside diameter. The sections
shall be joined together by threaded couplings, joints, by welding
or any other watertight approved joint or coupling.
(b)
The casing shall be carried to a minimum depth of 20 feet from
the finished grade and in any case shall be extended 10 feet into
bedrock or other impervious strata. Driven wells shall be provided
with a drive shoe or other effective casing seal.
(c)
An annular space shall be provided between the well casing and
the earth formation of a radius at least 1 1/2 inches greater
than the casing radius, excluding coupling for internal pressure grouting,
or 1 1/2 inches greater than the casing radius, excluding coupling
for external grouting. The annular space shall be completely filled
with impervious cement grout or equivalent sealing material from bottom
of the casing to within five feet of the ground surface. External
grouting shall be accomplished utilizing a tremie pipe and grout pump
to force out any standing water on the outside of the well casing.
(d)
The casing shall be sealed effectively against entrance of water
from water bearing formations, which are subject to pollution, through
which the casing may pass. If casings of smaller diameter are used
in the lower portions of the well, effective watertight seals shall
be provided between the casings where they telescope. In such instances,
sections of casing shall telescope for a minimum distance of four
feet.
(e)
The top of the well casing shall extend a minimum of eight inches
to 12 inches above the finished grade of the lot so that contaminated
water or other substances cannot enter the well through the annular
opening at the top of the well casing, wall or pipe sleeve.
(3)
Well Covers.
(a)
Every potable water well shall be equipped with an overlapping
cover at the top of the well casing or pipe sleeve. Covers shall extend
downward at least two inches over the outside of the well casing or
wall. All well caps shall indicate well driller's name, depth
of well and depth of casing.
(b)
Where pump sections or discharge pipes enter or leave a well
through the side of the casing, the circle of contact shall be watertight.
The use of plastic/nylon adapters for this purpose is not acceptable.
A brass pitless adapter with brass connectors or equivalent are required.
(c)
Any restoration/repair of wells with casing terminating below
grade shall be raised above grade to eight inches to 12 inches minimum.
(d)
Electrical wiring for well pumps shall be encased in conduit
from the bottom of the water supply line trench to the well cap.
(4)
Drainage.
(a)
All potable water wells and springs shall be constructed so
that surface drainage will be diverted away from the well or spring.
(5)
Pumping Equipment.
(a)
All pumps installed in wells drilled to a depth greater than
300 feet, but not to exceed 450 feet shall be installed with 200 pound
per square inch plastic pipe. Well depths exceeding 450 feet shall
have pumps installed with SCHEDULE 80 PVC threaded pipe or galvanized
steel pipe to support the increased pumping pressure required for
deeper wells. The minimum acceptable pressure rating on plastic pipe
is 160 pounds per square inch, regardless of water supply depth.
(6)
Pump Enclosure.
(a)
Any pump room or any enclosure around a well pump shall be drained
and protected from freezing by heating or other approved means. Where
pumps are installed in basements, they shall be mounted on a block
or shelf not less than 18 inches above the basement floor. Well pits
shall be prohibited.
C.
Flow Requirements. This Part places no restrictions on "quantity"
of water. The acceptability of water quantity is the sole responsibility
of the property owner.
D.
Well Certification.
(1)
Drillers Report. A report for each well shall be prepared by
the driller and shall be submitted to the Township for evaluation
and approval. The well report shall contain the following pertinent
information:
|
Owner of Property
|
Address and Lot Number
| |
|
Date of Completion
|
Depth of Casing
| |
|
Depth of Well
|
Static Water Level
| |
|
Well Driller
|
Yield in Gals/Min.
| |
|
Type & Size of Casing
|
Grouting Certificate
| |
|
Type of Test Pump Used
|
Pump Output-Gals/min.
|
(2)
Water Quality. Subsequent to house construction, but prior to
or concurrent with the "request for occupancy" the owner/contractor
shall initiate appropriate action to have the on-site water supply
tested by a certified laboratory, then provide to the Township a laboratory
report containing the following information:
|
Total Coliform
|
Fecal Caliform
| |
|
Iron
|
Nitrates
| |
|
Hardness: equivalent calcium carbonates
|
E.
Dug Wells. No new dug wells will be permitted in the Township of
Cumberland due to the great danger of pollution and unreliability
of water supply.
F.
Springs. This subsection is to be used for the reconstruction of
existing springs only. Before rehabilitation shall begin on an existing
spring, a report shall be made to determine the advisability of said
reconstruction, which shall include as a minimum, quality and quantity
of water. Springs for new construction are not considered an adequate
water supply and will not be considered as valid for the issuance
of a building permit. Reconstructed springs shall be completely enclosed
by walls and a cover of reinforced concrete or equally durable watertight
material. The cover shall have a firm foundation so as to effectively
prevent settling. The uphill wall shall be so constructed as to prevent
entrance of surface water. Where manhole covers are used, the manhole
shall be a least 24 inches in diameter. It shall extend at least three
inches above the surrounding ground surface and be covered by an impervious
durable cover of concrete, steel or equivalent material which overlaps
the manhole vertically by at least two inches. The manhole cover shall
be effectively secured to the manhole by bolting, locking or equivalent
means, and shall be kept so secured.
G.
Abandoned Water Supplies.
(1)
Wells, springs, cisterns and water storage tanks, which are
no longer in use shall be removed, filled or otherwise maintained
in a condition such as to prevent access by unauthorized persons or
animals to prevent accidental injury, and to effectively prevent pollution
of groundwater. Abandoned wells shall be completely filled with cement
or equal impervious material.
(2)
Wells and springs shall not be used for the disposal of liquid,
gaseous and/or solid wastes.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 105]
1.
No construction, drilling, digging, reconstruction, major repair
or other change of or for any well/water supply for the production
of water for domestic purposes shall commence unless the property
owner, or his/her duly authorized agent, shall apply for and receive
a permit for such construction activity from the Township of Cumberland.
2.
Application for a well permit shall be made upon a form supplied
by the Township of Cumberland and shall be submitted to the Township
Secretary or designated inspection officer for review and approval.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 106]
1.
Upon receipt of an application for a well permit, the Township, through
its duly authorized inspection officer, shall within seven days perform
an inspection of the premises on which the well is to be constructed.
The inspection shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions
of this Part and the provisions of the ordinances of the Township.
2.
Upon completion of the inspection, the inspection officer shall either:
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 107]
All permits shall be issued on a form provided by the Township
of Cumberland, which shall be executed by the duly authorized Inspection
Officer. All permits shall be issued to the property owners or their
duly authorized representative/well driller.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 108]
1.
Upon completion of construction, or at such other time as the Township
inspection officer may deem appropriate, the inspection officer shall
perform a final inspection of the well/water supply to determine whether
there has been compliance with the permit issued. Upon completion
of the inspection, the inspection officer shall:
2.
An application for a building permit will not be accepted and/or
approved in the absence of an "approval of operation" issued under
the terms and conditions of this Part.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 109]
All applications for a well permit shall be accompanied by a
fee payable to the Township of Cumberland in accordance with a schedule
of fees established/revised from time to time by the Township Board
of Supervisors.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 110]
1.
All permits shall be in effect as of the date of issuance, and shall
remain in effect for a period of six months. In the event that water
supply construction under the permit has not been completed at the
expiration of six months from the date of issuance, the permit shall
expire and the validity of the permit shall cease and terminate.
2.
A request for an extension to a permit must be submitted to the Township
in writing, 10 days before the expiration date of the permit. Extensions
are limited to 30 days. Subsequent requests must be accompanied by
an application for a new permit with appropriate fee.
3.
In the event a permit expires and construction has not begun, an
application for a new permit must be submitted with appropriate fee.
4.
Expiration of a permit during construction will result in the landowner
being prosecuted in accordance with the violations provision of this
Part.
[Ord. 95, 2/23/1999, § 111; as amended by Ord.
05-112, 7/26/2005]
1.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of
this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a district
justice in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses
under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of
payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed
90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each
section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall
constitute a separate offense.
2.
Upon discovery of any violation of this Part, the Township of Cumberland
may, at its option, forgo any prosecution hereunder, and may grant
to the owner a period of 30 calendar days to comply with the provisions
of this Part. Upon failure of the owner to effect such compliance,
the Township may initiate prosecution as herein above set forth.
3.
For the purpose of this Part, each day of a continuing violation
shall be considered a new and additional violation of this Part.
