No private well or private on-site sewage disposal system may
be constructed or installed on any lot on which a structure which
shall be supported by such system or systems is to be constructed
unless the owner or applicant has obtained a zoning permit pursuant
to the provisions of the Upper Makefield Township Zoning Ordinance.
[Amended 4-17-1985 by Ord. No. 115; 8-16-1989 by Ord. No. 151; 4-18-1990 by Ord. No. 156; 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
A. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Part:
ANNULUS
The annular space between the casing and the wall of the
borehole.
AQUICLUDE
A part of a geologic formation, formation or group of formations
with virtually no capacity to transmit water.
AQUIFER
Rock or sediment in a geologic formation, part of a formation
or group of formations which has the capacity to store and transmit
water to wells and springs at a reasonable cost.
AQUITARD
A saturated but poorly permeable part of a formation, formation
or group of formations which does not transmit water freely to a well
or spring. However, an aquitard may transmit appreciable amounts of
water to or from adjacent aquifers.
BOREHOLE STORAGE
The volume of water contained in the well under nonpumping
conditions. It is obtained by multiplying the area of the borehole
cross-section for the height of the water column. In a domestic well
(six-inch diameter), borehole storage equals approximately 1 1/2
gallons per foot of water column.
COMBINED YIELD
The combination of well yield as defined below plus contribution
to well flow from borehole storage over a minimum two-hour period.
WATER-BEARING ZONE
Fractures or other openings in the bedrock which yield measurable
quantities of water on a continuous basis and contribute to the yield
of the well.
WELL YIELD
Amount or volume of water that flows from the aquifer into the well and measured at the completion of all drilling and well development in accordance with the procedures outlined below in Subsection
C of this section.
B. A drill record, geologic log and testing report shall be prepared
for each well and shall include the name, address, phone number and
signature of the professional geologist and/or licensed Pennsylvania
well driller. This information shall be provided to the Township along
with a map which indicates the location of this well on the land development
plan at a scale not exceeding one inch equals 400 feet and will be
required for the issuance of a building permit.
C. The information submitted to the Township pursuant to Subsection
B above shall include data on well yield collected in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) Well yield shall be measured with an accuracy of +/-10% and reported
in gallons per minute (gpm). The yield of the well, at the completion
of drilling and well development, shall be determined by means of
a continuous flow test of minimum two-hour duration. If the yield
of the well is determined with the use of the drilling rig, by airlifting,
the required two-hour period shall begin after the groundwater stored
in the borehole has been evacuated. If a submersible pump is used
to ascertain the yield of the well, the two-hour period shall commence
when the water level in the well drops at a rate of 1/2 foot per hour
or less while maintaining the pumping rate constant.
(2) Determination of well yield shall be accomplished in the absence
of significant precipitation events, or the effect from precipitation
shall be properly accounted for.
(3) Any factors that may artificially inflate the well yield, including,
but not limited to, recirculation of water, recharge from precipitation,
addition of water by driller, etc. must be included in the information
submitted to the Township.
(4) Location and yield of water-bearing zones encountered during drilling
shall be recorded as accurately as possible by the geologist present
at the site and/or by the driller.
(5) Daily measurements of water levels in the well shall be collected
at the start and end of drilling and included in the record. Measurements
shall be made with appropriate tools and with an accuracy of +/- 0.1
foot.
(6) Yields of three gpm or more are considered sufficient for domestic
wells in Upper Makefield Township, provided:
(a)
The yield of three gpm or more is obtained from water-bearing
zones located below 150 feet and some of the yield is from a depth
of 200 feet or more.
(b)
The well can sustain a pumping rate of 4 1/2 gpm for a
minimum of two hours from aquifer contribution and borehole storage.
(7) Yields of less three gpm are considered inadequate for domestic wells
in Upper Makefield Township. However, a permit can be issued by the
Township, at its sole discretion, when certification signed by a professional
geologist/hydrogeologist indicates the well can provide a reliable,
long-term supply.
(8) The yield of a well shall be determined based solely on the contribution of water-bearing zones located below 150 feet. That is, water-bearing zones encountered to a depth of 150 feet and the yield thereof shall not be included in the computation of well yield, except as noted below (§
26-304).
(9) The driller or professional geologist shall indicate on the well
record the appropriate setting for the submersible pump.
[Amended 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
All wells shall be cased for a minimum of 40 feet, and the casing
shall extend a minimum of five feet into competent bedrock. The casing
shall extend a minimum of one foot above final grade, and the annulus
shall be grouted with cement or equal material so as to form a tight
seal.
[Amended 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
All domestic wells shall be drilled to a minimum depth of 200
feet (or more, where necessary) in order to meet Upper Makefield Township
requirements pertaining to well yield. It should be noted that this
is the minimum depth required, and many wells may have to be drilled
deeper. Conversely, when, due to above normal yields (for domestic
wells), drilling of the well is terminated at less than 200 feet,
the long-term reliability of the well as a source of water supply
shall be certified by a professional geologist.
[Added 4-21-1999 by Ord.
No. 216; amended 8-1-2007 by Ord. No. 277]
The quality of the groundwater at the well shall be determined via bacteriological and chemical analysis of a sample collected after pumping the well for a minimum of two hours. This information shall be submitted to the Township together with the information set forth in §
26-302B above. The analysis shall be performed by a state-approved laboratory and shall include the following parameters:
Secondary Contaminants
|
---|
|
SMCL
(mg/L)
|
---|
pH*
|
6.5 to 8.5 units
|
Temperature*
|
N/A degrees
|
Chloride
|
250
|
Sulfate
|
250
|
Total dissolved solids
|
500
|
Color
|
15 color units
|
Odor
|
3 threshold odor numbers
|
Turbidity
|
0.5 to 1 NTU**
|
Iron
|
0.3
|
Manganese
|
0.05
|
Copper
|
1
|
NOTES:
|
---|
SMCL = Secondary maximum contaminant level
|
*
|
Can be measured in the field
|
**
|
Performance standard
|
Microbiological Contaminants
|
---|
|
MCLG
|
---|
Total coliforms*
|
0
|
NOTES:
|
---|
MCLG = Maximum contaminant level goal
|
*
|
If positive, analyze for fecal coliform
|
Inorganic Chemicals
|
---|
|
MCL
(mg/L)
|
---|
Arsenic
|
0.010
|
Barium
|
2.0
|
Cadmium
|
0.005
|
Chromium
|
0.1
|
Lead
|
0.005
|
Mercury
|
0.002
|
Nitratre + Nitrite (as Nitrogen)
|
10.0
|
Volatile Organic Chemicals
|
---|
|
MCL
(mg/L)
|
---|
Benzene
|
0.005
|
Carbon Tetrachloride
|
0.005
|
o-Dichlorobenzene
|
0.6
|
para-Dichlorobenzene
|
0.075
|
1,2-Dichloroethane
|
0.005
|
1,1-Dichloroethylene
|
0.007
|
cis-Dichloroethylene
|
0.07
|
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
|
0.1
|
Dichloromethane
|
0.005
|
1,2-Dichloropropane
|
0.005
|
Ethylbenzene
|
0.7
|
Monochlorobenzene
|
0.1
|
Styrene
|
0.1
|
Tetrachloroethylene
|
0.005
|
Toluene
|
1.0
|
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
|
0.07
|
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
|
0.2
|
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
|
0.005
|
Trichloroethylene
|
0.005
|
Vinyl Chloride
|
0.002
|
Xylenes (Total)
|
10.0
|
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
|
---|
Alachlor
|
0.002
|
Atrazine
|
0.003
|
Chlordane
|
0.002
|
Dibromochloropropane
|
0.002
|
Ethylenedibromide
|
0.00005
|
Hexochlorocyclopentadiene
|
0.05
|
Lindane
|
0.0002
|
Methoxychlor
|
0.04
|
Simazine
|
0.004
|
Carbofuran
|
0.04
|
2,4D
|
0.07
|
Endothal
|
0.1
|
NOTES:
|
---|
MCL = Maximum contaminant level
|
[Amended 4-17-1985 by Ord. No. 115; 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
Prior to the issuance of a building permit and/or a certificate
of use and occupancy, and upon completion of the installation of any
private well (whether or not any permit is required), the owner of
the premises upon which the well has been installed shall produce
a certificate of quality for the water within the well, a certificate
setting forth the rate of flow of water from the well and information
stating the depth to water and the geologic description.
[Amended 12-6-1995 by Ord. No. 186; 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a
fine of not more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment of
said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days.
Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute
a separate offense.