[Adopted 5-24-1988 by Ord. No. 173]
[Amended 5-21-2024 by Ord. No. 422]
The Township does hereby determine and state that within the area of Doylestown Township demands upon available groundwater supplies have developed or threaten to develop to such a degree as to create a water shortage. Accordingly, no person, firm, corporation or other entity within the Township shall withdraw groundwater for any purpose by use of a well, except as permitted by the Bucks County Health Department.
The following words or phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this article, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
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 the construction of wells, such as drilling, boring, coring, washing, digging, driving or jetting.
PERSON
A corporation, partnership, municipal authority or association, as well as a natural person.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Doylestown.
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, 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 charge of drilling or otherwise constructing a well.
A. 
This article does not apply to presently existing and active wells within the Township. The article applies to all new, reactivated, redrilled or expanded wells within the Township.
B. 
There shall be two classes or categories of permits:
[Amended 5-21-2024 by Ord. No. 422]
(1) 
First, a registration issued by the Township Manager for wells proposed to withdraw less than 1,000 gallons of water per day.
(2) 
Second, a registration issued by the Board of Supervisors for wells proposed to withdraw 1,000 gallons or more per day, up to 10,000 gallons per day.
[Amended 5-21-2024 by Ord. No. 422]
Where a person proposes to locate and drill or have redrilled any well within Doylestown Township, they must first receive a permit from the Bucks County Health Department.
[Amended 5-21-2024 by Ord. No. 422]
Where no public water is accessible, water shall be furnished by the owner on an individual lot basis. A private water supply is to be reviewed, approved, and permitted by the Bucks County Health Department, then registered with Doylestown Township.
[Amended 5-21-2024 by Ord. No. 422]
Fees required pursuant to this article shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Doylestown Township, which fees shall relate to registration fees.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A180, Fees.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to locate, drill, reactivate or have redrilled any well or to install or have installed any related pumping equipment until a permit pursuant to this article shall have been issued by the Bucks County Health Department, and that permit has been registered with Doylestown Township.
[Amended 5-21-2024 by Ord. No. 422]
B. 
Any person who or which shall fail to comply with any of the provisions of this article or shall violate any of the duly approved rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this article shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction, shall be punishable as provided in § 1-13 of Chapter 1, General Provisions. It is understood and agreed that every day shall be a separate and distinct violation.
[Amended 11-4-1991 by Ord. No. 208]