[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
The following words and terms when used in this Part
3 shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
ABANDONED WELLAny well where the drilling process has been completed in excess of 180 days and the well has not been approved for use as a supply by the Department; or wells that have not been used as a supply on a continuous basis for a period of one year; or wells which are in such a state of disrepair that continued use for the purpose of obtaining groundwater is impracticable (such impracticability shall be determined by the Department); or any well which has been replaced by a new well or a public water supply. Test wells and monitoring wells shall be considered abandoned wells when their use on a regular or prescribed basis has been discontinued.
ABANDONMENTThe process of properly filling and sealing a well in accordance with these regulations.
AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLYAny water supply used specifically for irrigation of crops, irrigation of recreational or institutional grasslands, the watering of farm animals or other livestock, where the use of such water supply shall not be intended for human consumption.
ALTERATIONAny action which necessitates entering a well with drilling tools; treating a well to increase yield; altering the physical structure or depth of the well; blasting; removal or replacement of well casing or modifications concerning grouting or curbing.
ANNULAR SPACEThe 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.
ANSIAmerican National Standards Institute.
APIAmerican Petroleum Institute.
APPROVAL TO USEWritten approval to use the well obtained from the Department in accordance with §
26-310, Permit procedure, within 90 days of the completion of the well drilling process or, if new construction, within 90 days of the completion of the well drilling process.
[Amended by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
AQUIFERA geological formation that contains and transmits water.
ASTMAmerican Society for Testing Materials.
AWWAAmerican Water Works Association.
BACKFILLINGThe process of sealing a borehole for the purpose of abandoning a well or enclosing the close-loop of a ground source heat pump system.
BACK SIPHONAGEThe 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.
CASINGAn impervious durable pipe placed in a well to prevent the walls from caving in and to seal off surface drainage or undesirable water, gas or other fluids and prevent them from entering the well.
CLOSED-LOOP GEOTHERMAL BOREHOLEA boring drilled to facilitate the installation of a pipe loop or tubing for a ground source heat pump system, whether circulating water, heat transfer fluid or refrigerant using direct exchange.
COLIFORMAny of several bacilli, especially Escherichia coli (E. coli) and members of the genus Aerobacter, commonly found in the large intestine of humans and certain other animals.
COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMA water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.
CONSTRUCTION OF WELLSAll acts necessary to obtain groundwater, artificially recharge groundwater or acts necessary to install geothermal appurtenances. Provided, however, such term does not include an exaction made for the purpose of obtaining or for prospecting for oil, natural gas, minerals or products of mining or quarrying, or for inserting media to repressure oil, or natural gas formations or for storing petroleum, natural gas or other products and services. Construction of wells includes the location and excavation or drilling of the well, installation of geothermal appurtenances, but excludes the installation of pumps and pumping equipment.
COUNTYCounty of Bucks, Pennsylvania, or the Bucks County Board of Health.
CROSS-CONNECTIONAn arrangement allowing either a direct or indirect connection through which backflow, including back siphonage, can occur between the drinking water in an individual water supply well or a public water system and a system containing a source or potential source of contamination, or allowing treated water to be removed from any public water system, and returned to the public water system. The term does not include connections to devices totally within the control of one or more public water systems and connections between water mains.
DECOMMISSIONED WELLAny well that is no longer equipped in such a manner as to be able to draw groundwater. This shall include wells where the pump, piping and/or electrical components have been disconnected or removed.
FLOWING WELLSA well that yields water by artesian pressure at the ground surface.
GEOTHERMAL WELLA well installed for the purpose of heating or cooling a facility. These shall include wells drilled as supply and/or return wells for open-loop systems or closed-loop geothermal boreholes.
GEOTHERMAL WELL INSTALLATION CONTRACTORAny individual in immediate supervision of and/or responsible for the drilling of boreholes used for the purpose of geothermal heating or cooling of a facility and is licensed as a well contractor and geothermal well installation contractor by the Department. This individual is responsible for boring, pipe loop installation and backfilling of boreholes used for the installation of closed-loop ground source heat pump systems.
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP EQUIPMENTAny components of a heating or cooling and pipe loops for use in closed-loop applications using a heat transfer fluid or direct exchange systems.
GROUNDWATERWater within the earth below the water table within the zone of saturation. Groundwater includes both water under water table condition and confined within deep aquifers.
GROUTA 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 well or between two strings of casing.
INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLYA system, including wells, pumps and piping equipment, which supplies water to a private structure and does not meet the criteria of "semipublic water supply" or "public water supply."
INSTALLATION OF PUMPS AND PUMPING EQUIPMENTThe procedure employed in the placement and preparation for operation of pumps and pumping equipment, including all construction involved in making entrance to the well and establishing seals, but not including repairs to existing installations.
μG/LMicrograms per liter, equivalent to parts per billion
MG/LMilligrams per liter, equivalent to parts per million
MONITORING WELLA well used to observe water levels and/or obtain samples of groundwater for the purpose of water quality analysis. Test wells shall be considered monitoring wells under this definition.
NEW CONSTRUCTIONAny new building or structure whether residential, commercial or industrial on a property. New construction also includes any change in use of an existing structure.
NSFNational Sanitation Foundation.
NTUNephelometric turbidity units.
PITLESS ADAPTERA device or assembly of parts which will permit water to pass through the wall of the well casing or extension thereof, and which provides access to the well and to the parts of the water system within the well in a manner to prevent entrance of pollution into the well and the water produced.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMA 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 includes collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under control of the operator of the system and used in connection with the system. The term includes collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used in connection with the system. The term also includes a system which provides water for bottling or bulk hauling for human consumption. Water for human consumption includes water that is used for drinking, bathing and showering, cooking, dishwashing or maintaining oral hygiene.
PUMP INSTALLATION CONTRACTORAny individual engaged in the business of installing or repairing pumps, pumping equipment, drop pipes, pitless adapters and the other equipment used for the extraction and conveyance of water from the aquifer to the distribution, heating or cooling system of the structure to be served.
PUMPS and PUMPING EQUIPMENTAny equipment or materials utilized or intended for use in withdrawing or obtaining groundwater, including, but not limited to, piping, seals and tanks, together with fitting and controls.
RELOCATIONAny change in location of a proposed well which deviates from the permitted location.
SECOND WELLAny well drilled on the same property where an existing well, permitted as or intended to serve as a water supply, already exists.
SEMIPUBLIC WATER SUPPLYA water supply system, including wells, pumps and piping equipment, which supplies water to one or several facilities such as industrial or commercial establishments, parks, camps, hotels, motels, schools, institutions, eating and drinking establishments or 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.)
TEST WELLSWells drilled for the sole purpose of measuring groundwater availability. Test wells shall be considered as monitoring wells under these regulations.
WELL CONTRACTORAny individual in immediate supervision of and/or responsible for the construction, test pumping or equipping or development of any well. Such individual shall have a minimum of three years hands on experience in the actual drilling, casing and grouting of water wells and be licensed by Warminster Township.
WELLSAny excavation that is drilled, cored, bored, washed, driven, dug, jetted or otherwise constructed when the intended use of such excavation is for the location, acquisition or artificial recharge of groundwater or for the installation of ground source heat pump equipment. This includes, but is not limited to, test wells, test borings, geothermal and monitoring wells, in addition to wells to be utilized as individual or semipublic or public water supplies.
WELL SEALAn approved device or method used to protect a 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.
WELL SYSTEMWhen there are two or more wells being utilized in an individual, semipublic or public water supply system.