[Adopted 7-8-1968 by Ord. No. 197
(Ch. 1, Part 3D, of the 1994 Code)]
The following words or phrases, when used in this article, shall have
the meaning ascribed to them in this article except where the context clearly
indicates a different meaning:
BOARD
The Hatfield Township Water Resources Control Board, as described
herein.
CAPACITY
Except in the case of the free-flowing wells, “capacity”
is construed to mean the daily capacity of the pumps installed, and not the
contemplated draft.
DRILLING
All acts necessary to construction of wells such as drilling, boring,
coring, washing, digging, driving or jetting. This shall not apply to drilling
of blast holes in quarries or to cored holes 3 1/2 inches or less in
diameter drilled for exploration or investigation (except where any damage
might result to any available well or any underground or other water resource).
PERSON
A corporation, partnership, municipal authority or association, as
well as a natural person.
UNDERGROUND WATERS
Waters of underground streams, channels, artesian basins and other
bodies of water in and under the ground, whether percolating or otherwise.
WELL
Any excavation that is drilled, cored, bored, washed, driven, dug,
or otherwise constructed for the location, diversion or acquisition of underground
waters, or charging of water into underground strata.
WELL DRILLER
Any water well contractor, his employee or representative in responsible
charge of drilling or otherwise construction of a well.
The supervision and regulation of the drilling of wells and the use
of underground waters is to be vested in a Board to be known and designated
as the “Hatfield Township Water Resources Control Board” heretofore
created.
The said Water Resources Control Board shall consist of three members
and shall be appointed by the Commissioners of the Township of Hatfield, and
the members of the Board shall serve for a term of three years, or until their
successors are appointed, except that members of such Board first appointed
shall be appointed for such term so that the term of one member shall expire
annually thereafter.
The Water Resources Control Board shall have the following powers:
A. Obtain information on wells drilled for the purpose of
compiling data on groundwater resources.
B. To determine or require the determination of the effect
on groundwater resources of proposed withdrawals in the interest of all residents
of Hatfield Township to assure an equitable distribution thereof.
C. To adopt such rules and regulations, subject to the approval
of the Hatfield Township Commissioners, as may be necessary from time to time
to carry out the purposes of this article.
D. To act on applications for permits to drill wells and
to divert underground water.
E. To inspect new and existing installations and to take
or require the taking of samples as may be deemed necessary for proper supervision
of construction and repair of wells in the Township. Such samples shall not
materially increase drilling costs.
It shall be unlawful for any person to locate, drill or have drilled
any well, to install or have installed any related pumping equipment, to alter
an existing well or its pumping equipment, until a permit for such location,
drilling, installation or alteration shall have been issued by the Water Resources
Control Board; provided, however, that said provisions shall not apply to
alterations to existing wells or equipment in emergency situations, but subsequent
approval of the Board shall be sought in all such cases.
No new well and its related powered pumping system shall be placed in
operation and no new dwelling, building or addition thereto which must rely
on such system for water supply shall be sold or occupied until the Board
shall have issued a certificate indicating that such well and pumping system
have been located and constructed in accordance with the terms of the permit
issued.
Where the capacity of any new wells, or the total capacity of old and
new wells, on or for use on the property is in excess of 20,000 gallons per
day, or where close spacing of wells in an area so dictates, in taking action
on applications, the Board of Commissioners of Hatfield Township have the
authority to impose such conditions, and make such requirements and limitations,
as may be necessary to protect the people of the Township and the applicant,
and may issue limited permits for such wells.
No well shall be drilled, nor any existing well used for the purpose
of disposal of domestic or industrial wastes.
All well drillers shall upon completion of the drilling of any well
file a report in the form to be supplied by the Water Resources Control Board.
The owner of any well shall, upon abandonment of any existing well or
test hole, effectively seal and fill such wells and test holes in accordance
with the rules prescribed by the Water Resources Control Board. A well not
in operation for three or more years, or improperly maintained to prevent
contamination, may be deemed to have been abandoned.
[Amended 9-28-1994 by Ord. No. 420]
The following fees and charges shall be established from time to time
by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
[Amended 9-28-1994 by Ord. No. 420]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon
conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $600 and costs
and, in default of payment thereof, shall be subject to imprisonment for a
term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues
shall constitute a separate offense.
[Adopted 12-29-1997 by Ord. No. 438
(Ch. 26, Part 1, of the 1994 Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
IMPACTED AREA
That area of Hatfield Township affected by a plume of contamination
which has adversely impacted the drinking wells of residents and businesses
in the area and which area is more particularly defined and delineated in
an agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental
Protection, and Hatfield Township, Pennsylvania, made as of August 1, 1997,
and any amendments thereto.
IMPROVED PROPERTY
Any property within the impacted area upon which there is erected
a structure intended for continuous or periodic habitation, occupancy or use
by human beings or animals.
MAIN
Any pipe or conduit constituting a part of the water system or usable
for water distribution of any service line.
OWNER
Any person vested with ownership, company, association, society,
trust, corporation, municipality, municipal authority or other group or entity.
SERVICE CONNECTION
A.
Part of the water system extending from a main to the curbline or, if
there shall be no curbline, extending to the property line.
B.
If no such service connection shall be provided, “service connection”
shall mean that portion of or place in a main which is provided for connection
of any service line.
SERVICE LINE
The water line extension from any structure to the service connection
of a main.
WATER SYSTEM
All facilities for the transmission and distribution of water in
the impacted area.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this
article shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to pay a fine of not more
than $1,000 and/or to imprisonment of a term not to exceed 60 days. Each day
that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.