This chapter shall apply to all water wells which have not been
completed, or which are not in operation or in operable condition
at the effective date of this chapter, and to all alterations to an
existing water well, but not to normal maintenance and minor repairs
to keep a water well in proper working order.
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this chapter,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the following
meanings ascribed to them:
ABANDONED WATER WELL
A water well, the regular use of which has been discontinued
for a period of one year or more, or which is in such a state of disrepair
that continued use for the purpose of obtaining groundwater is impracticable,
or which has been replaced by a new water well or public water supply.
ALTERATION
Any action which necessitates entering a water well with
drilling tools; treating a water well to increase yield; altering
the physical structure or depth of the water well; blasting; removal
or replacement of water well casing.
ANNULAR SPACE
The 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.
API
American Petroleum Institute.
AQUIFER
A geological formation that contains and transmits water.
ASTM
American Society for Testing Materials.
AWWA
American Water Works Association.
BACKFLOW
The 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.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The Board of Supervisors of Chestnuthill Township, Monroe
County, Pennsylvania.
CASING
An impervious durable pipe placed in a water well to prevent
the walls from caving and to seal off surface drainage or undesirable
water, gas or other fluids and prevent their entering the water well.
COLIFORM
All of the aerobic and facultative anaerobic, gram negative,
non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria which are capable of fermenting
lactose with gas formation within 48 hours at 35° C.
COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM
A water system which serves at least 15 service connections
used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round
residents.
CONSTRUCTION
All acts necessary to install or construct a water well.
Construction of water wells includes the location and excavation or
drilling of the water well, but excludes the installation of pumps
and pumping equipment.
DEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
FLOWING WELL
A water well that yields water by artesian pressure at the
ground surface.
GROUNDWATER
Water within the earth below the water table within the zone
of satisfaction. Groundwater includes both water under water table
conditions and confined within deep aquifers.
GROUT
A 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 water
well or between two strings of casing.
INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLY
A system including wells, pumps, and piping equipment, which
supplies potable water to a single dwelling unit.
INSTALLATION OF PUMPS AND PUMPING EQUIPMENT
The procedure employed in the placement and preparation for
operation of pumps and pumping equipment, including all construction
involved in making entrance to the water well and establishing seals
but not including repairs to existing installations.
OWNER
Any person vested with sole or partial, legal or equitable
ownership of property located in the Township.
PERSON
Shall mean any individual, partnership, company, association,
corporation, trust or other group or entity.
PITLESS ADAPTOR
A device or assembly of parts which will permit water to
pass through the wall of the water well casing or extension thereof,
and which provides access to the water well and to the parts of the
water system within the water well in a manner to prevent entrance
of pollution into the water well and the water produced.
POTABLE
Water which is safe for human consumption as determined pursuant
to applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
A 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 is either a community or noncommunity system and includes
collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under the
control of the operator of the system and used in connection with
the system. The term also includes a system which provides water for
bottling or bulk hauling for human consumption.
SEMI-PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
A potable water supply which services one or several facilities
such as industrial or commercial establishments, parks, camps, hotels,
motels, schools, institutions, eating and drinking establishments
or a 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.).
SEO
Chestnuthill Township Sewage Enforcement Officer.
TOWNSHIP
Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, a political
subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting by and through
its Board of Supervisors, and including any authorized person acting
on its behalf.
WATER WELL
Any excavation that is drilled, cored, bored, washed, driven,
dug, jetted, or otherwise constructed when the intended use of such
excavation is for the location, diversion or acquisition of groundwater
for an individual water supply or a semi-public water supply.
WATER WELL DRILLER
A person that is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
pursuant to the Water Well Drillers License Act (found at 32 P.S.
§ 645.1 et seq.) to drill, dig, drive, bore, core, wash,
jet, construct, alter or repair water wells in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
WATER WELL SEAL
An approved device or method used to protect a water 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.
WATER WELL TAG
A metal marking device supplied by the Township for installation
on the water well cap for every new or reconstructed water well.
No person shall construct, reconstruct or alter any potable
water well within Chestnuthill Township unless a water well permit
authorizing the work has been issued by the SEO, or any other agent
or employee so designated by the Board of Supervisors, pursuant to
the terms of this chapter.
The fee for a water well permit shall be established from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
Water wells shall be located at the following minimum horizontal
isolation distances to existing or potential sources of pollution.
Water Well Horizontal Distances
|
---|
Source of Pollution
|
Minimum Horizontal Isolation Distance
(feet)
|
---|
Lakes, ponds, streams or other surface waters
|
25
|
Preparation area or storage area of hazardous spray material,
fertilizers or chemicals, salt piles
|
100
|
Gravity sewer lines and drains carrying domestic sewage or industrial
waste
|
10
|
Septic tanks, aerobic tanks or holding tanks
|
50
|
Subsurface sewage disposal systems, elevated sand mounds, other
sewage disposal fields
|
100
|
Sewage seepage pits, cesspools
|
100
|
Farm silos, privies and underground fuel tanks
|
100
|
Spray irrigation sites, sewage sludge and septage disposal sites
|
100
|
Property lines, driveways, easements and private roads or rights-of-way
|
10
|
Public road or right-of-way
|
25
|
Building foundations (except for buildings enclosing)
|
10
|
This chapter shall be enforced by action brought before a Magisterial
District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of
summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity who or which
violates or permits a violation of the provisions of this chapter
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not
less than $100 nor more than $1,000 per violation, plus all court
costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by Chestnuthill
Township in the enforcement proceedings, and/or be imprisoned to the
extent allowed by law for the punishment of summary offenses. Each
day or portion thereof that a violation exists or continues shall
constitute a separate violation, and each section of this chapter
that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. Further,
the appropriate officers or agents of Chestnuthill Township are hereby
authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce
compliance with this chapter. All fines, penalties, costs and reasonable
attorneys' fees collected for the violation of this chapter shall
be paid to Chestnuthill Township for its general use.
Approval of an application and issuance of a permit for a water
well on a property does not constitute any guarantee or warranty by
Chestnuthill Township regarding quantity or quality of water that
may be obtained as a result of any water well constructed, reconstructed
or repaired. Issuance of a permit merely provides Township approval
to perform the specified water well work at the location shown on
the application, but does not provide any other guarantees, approval,
warranties, etc.