[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Hamilton 4-3-2000 by Ord. No. 88. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The intention of this chapter 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.
A.
This chapter 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 chapter.
B.
This chapter 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.
C.
International Plumbing Code provisions shall apply
and any inconsistency with this chapter shall follow the International
Plumbing Code.
[Added 9-13-2004 by Ord.
No. 108]
The following standards shall apply for water
supplies:
A.
Drilled and driven wells; location. Drilled and driven
wells shall be located at a point free from flooding and at the minimum
distances per the International Plumbing Code, with these additional
location restrictions:
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 108]
|
Source of Contamination
|
Minimum Distance
(feet)
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Driveways
|
10
| |
|
Principal structure/dwelling
|
20
| |
|
Property lines
|
10
|
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 watertight 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 is 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. 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. All pumps installed in wells drilled
to a depth greater than 300 feet, but not to exceed 450 feet, shall
be installed with 200 pounds 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. 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: as per the International Plumbing
Code, with a minimum residential yield of 1.5 GPM.
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 108]
D.
Well certification.
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 108]
(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:
(a)
Owner of property.
(b)
Date of completion.
(c)
Depth of well.
(d)
Well driller and certification number.
(e)
Type and size of casing.
(f)
Type of test pump used.
(g)
Depth to bedrock.
(h)
Address and lot number.
(i)
Depth of casing.
(j)
Static water level.
(k)
Yield in gals/min.
(l)
Grouting type.
(m)
Pump output (gals/mm).
(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 bacteria;
iron (total); hardness: equivalent calcium carbonates; pH; fecal coliform
bacteria; nitrates as N; chlorine residual. Sample shall be collected
by a certified laboratory. For disinfection procedures of potable
water, requirements in the International Plumbing Code must be followed.
E.
Dug wells. No new dug wells will be permitted in the
Township of Hamilton due to the great danger of pollution and unreliability
of water supply.
F.
Springs. This section of the chapter 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 at 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.
A.
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 Hamilton.
B.
Application for a well permit shall be made upon a
form supplied by the Township of Hamilton and shall be submitted to
the Township-designated Inspection Officer for review and approval.
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 108]
A.
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 chapter and the provisions of the Township
Code of Ordinances.
B.
Upon completion of the inspection, the Inspection
Officer shall either:
All permits shall be issued on a form provided
by the Township of Hamilton, 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.
A.
Construction shall be in compliance with International
Plumbing Code standards.
[Added 9-13-2004 by Ord.
No. 108]
B.
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:
C.
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 chapter.
All applications for a well permit shall be
accompanied by a fee payable to the Township of Hamilton in accordance
with a schedule of fees established/revised from time to time by resolution
of the Township Board of Supervisors.
A.
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.
B.
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.
C.
In the event a permit expires and construction has
not begun, an application for a new permit must be submitted with
appropriate fee.
D.
Expiration of a permit during construction will result
in the landowner being prosecuted in accordance with the violations
provision of this chapter.
A.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of
this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought
before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal
Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable
by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default
of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that
such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute
a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated
shall also constitute a separate offense. Hamilton Township police
officers, or other appropriate officer(s) of Hamilton Township, shall
have the power to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B.
Upon discovery of any violation of this chapter, the
Township of Hamilton 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 chapter. Upon failure of the owner to
effect such compliance, the Township may initiate prosecution as hereinabove
set forth.
No responsibility or liability for the construction
of any well/water supply shall be deemed to be placed upon the Township
of Hamilton or its officers, agents, or employees by virtue of the
terms of this chapter or otherwise.
