[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Edgmont Township as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-17-2006 by Ord. No. 197]
The following words and terms, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
ABANDONED WELL
Any well where the drilling process has been completed in excess of 90 days and the well has not been placed in service as the primary water supply (for new construction the ninety-day period begins on the final approval date of the sewage system); 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groundwater is impracticable (such impracticability shall be determined by the Township); or any well which has been replaced by a new well or a public or community water supply. Test wells and monitoring wells shall be considered abandoned wells when their use on a regular or prescribed basis has been discontinued.
ABANDONMENT
The process of properly filling and sealing a well in accordance with this article.
DECOMMISSIONED WELL
Any 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.
GROUT
A permanent watertight joint or connection made by filling with concrete, neat cement, or other approved impervious material.
TOWNSHIP
Edgmont Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
A. 
Except as set forth in this section to the contrary, whenever a public or community water supply or another well replaces an existing well, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to have the existing well properly abandoned by a licensed well contractor in accordance with this article. No well shall exist in a decommissioned state.
B. 
All wells that are to be abandoned, or wells that are removed from use or a usable status, such as decommissioned wells, or any well that meets the definition of an abandoned well under this article shall be abandoned in accordance with this article.
C. 
A well that has been replaced by another well or public or community water supply shall not be required to be abandoned if the property owner has made written request to the Township to maintain the well for purpose which will not endanger groundwater, the environment or public health and the property owner has received written approval to maintain the well from the Township; provided, however, that said well may in no event continue to be connected to or serve as a potable water supply to the property.
D. 
Wells that have been replaced by public or community water supplies shall not be used or maintained when any federal, state or local agency has determined that the continued use or maintenance of the well could interfere with the cleanup of contaminated groundwater or a contaminated site, or otherwise pose a health or safety risk.
E. 
Public or community water suppliers shall inform the Township, in writing, of all locations where new connection will be made and a well is the existing water source. The written notice shall include the name, address, parcel identification number and verification that the property owner has been informed of their responsibility to comply with all applicable requirements of this article.
A. 
Notification. The Township must be notified, in writing, within 30 days by the well contractor and/or property owner when a well meets the criteria of an abandoned well under this article. All wells considered to be abandoned shall be filled and sealed by a licensed well contractor in accordance with the procedures of this article. Written notification and proper documentation (report) of abandonment shall be submitted to the Township within 30 days from the point that the well has met the criteria of or has otherwise been determined to be an abandoned well under this article.
B. 
Sealing of wells. One of the following methods of abandonment shall be used according to the geological formations penetrated, and in such a manner as to prevent the borehole being sealed from acting as a channel or conduit for pollution, the escape of subterranean gases, or the entry by any person, animal or object into the well.
(1) 
A well in unconsolidated deposits shall be filled with neat cement grout or concrete grout.
(2) 
The section of a well in a cavernous or creviced rock (such as cavernous limestone or basalt lava rock, creviced granite, etc.) shall be filled with concrete or neat cement grout or alternate layers of concrete or neat cement grout, gravel or stone aggregate. The filling shall be completed at the top by a layer of neat cement grout, concrete grout or bentonite extending at least 20 feet above the top of the cavernous rock or to the ground surface.
(3) 
The section of well in sandstone strata shall be filled with neat cement grout, concrete grout or sand. The filling shall be completed at the top of the formation by a layer of neat cement grout, concrete grout or bentonite extending at least 20 feet above the top of the sandstone or to the ground surface.
(4) 
The flow in a flowing well shall be confined and the well filled in accordance with the preceding subsections, or the well shall be sealed by pressure grouting.
(5) 
Abandonment of wells containing subterranean gases requires special precautions, and such a well shall be sealed with neat cement grout, concrete grout or bentonite.
(6) 
Debris or obstructions that may interfere with sealing operations shall be removed from the well prior to sealing.
C. 
Report. A report, as required in Subsection A above, shall be filed with the Township detailing the method used to seal the well.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.