[Ord. #72-83, S 1]
As used in this chapter:
Shall mean a licensed health officer, professional engineer,
sanitary inspector, plumbing inspector, plumbing sub-code official,
or licensed well driller, or any other qualified and licensed person
who is delegated to act within specified limits as the agent of the
Board of Health.
Shall mean the Board of Health of the Township of Montgomery.
Shall mean a well into which tubing or piping is placed through
which tubing or piping, liquids are circulated for the purpose of
heat exchange and providing heating or cooling to a realty improvement.
No water or other fluid is derived from or returned to the ground
in a closed loop well. Closed loop wells are also known as geo-thermal
wells.
Shall mean a well having as its principal function the withdrawal
or emplacement of fluids, including but not limited to water, and/or
tubing or piping of any kind whatsoever for the purpose of providing
heat and/or cooling to a realty improvement. Heat pump wells include
heating/cooling systems by which water is derived from a production
well, circulated through the realty improvement and returned to the
ground through a return system as well as closed loop wells.
Shall mean a well from which water is derived from the ground
for use in a heating or cooling system for a realty improvement.
Shall mean any residence or other building the useful occupancy
of which shall require the installation of a heating and/or cooling
system.
Shall mean a well into which water that has previously been
withdrawn from the ground for use in a heating or cooling system is
returned to the ground.
Shall mean a bored, drilled or driven shaft or dug hole in
the ground having a depth greater than its largest surface dimension.
[Ord. #72-83, S 2]
It is found and declared that:
a.
Heat pump wells constitute an innovative and energy-efficient means
of providing heat and cooling to housing and buildings and their use
in the Township of Montgomery and other municipalities in New Jersey
is growing in popularity.
b.
The construction and use of heat pump wells may have an effect upon
the ground water supply in that deleterious materials could be injected
into the ground water supply through the emplacement of tubing, installation
of the well, drilling or chemicals contained in the heat pump well
and necessary for the operation of the heat pump well.
c.
In instances where the tubing for the heat pump well is encased in
concrete, the emplacement of concrete in the ground could affect the
water supply of nearby houses and buildings.
d.
It is determined to be in the interest of public health, safety and
welfare to regulate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:3-31a and other authority
the location, construction and use of heat pump wells and to protect
against their construction and installation in a haphazard manner
so as not to affect the ground water supply.
[Ord. #72-83, S 3]
No person shall locate, construct, or alter a heat pump well
until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of the
heat pump well shall have been issued by the Board of Health or its
duly authorized agent. Applications for permit to locate, construct
or alter heat pump wells shall be made on forms supplied by the Board
of Health and shall be reviewed by the Authorized Agent. The following
materials shall accompany the application: A sketch of the property
in the case of a single realty improvement, or a plot plan in the
case of a subdivision containing multiple realty improvements for
which heat pump wells will be used drawn to suitable scale and with
sufficient detail to permit examination and comprehension of the proposed
project. Locations of all wells, service lines, sewage disposal systems,
and other potential sources of contamination within 150 feet of any
proposed heat pump well shall be shown on the individual sketch of
the property. In the case of plot plans the locations of municipal
boundaries, roads, streams, sanitary sewers, storm water sewers and
drainage channels, test wells, well fields, all existing and proposed
water supply and sewage disposal facilities shall be shown together
with the locations of all service lines and potential sources of contamination
within 150 feet of each proposed well. Topography by elevations, contours
or other suitable methods shall be shown.
[Ord. #72-83, S 4]
No person shall place into operation a new heat pump well, nor
shall a new realty improvement which must rely on a heat pump well
be sold or occupied, until the Board of Health shall have accepted
a certificate certifying that the heat pump well is in compliance
with the terms of the permit issued as aforesaid and in compliance
with the standards adopted in this chapter. This section shall also
apply to the alteration of an existing heat pump well. The Board of
Health may accept such certificate of compliance if a licensed well
driller of the State of New Jersey submits a statement in writing,
signed by such licensee to the Board of Health certifying that the
heat pump well has been located, constructed or altered in accordance
with the terms of the aforesaid permit and standards of this chapter.
[Ord. #72-83, S 5]
In case any permit is denied or certificate of compliance not
accepted by the Board of Health, a hearing shall be held concerning
such denial or non-acceptance before the Board of Health within 15
days after request therefore has been made by the applicant or aggrieved
party and upon such hearing, the Board of Health shall affirm, alter
or rescind the determination under consideration, stating for the
record the supporting reasons for any such action.
[Ord. #72-83, S 6]
a.
The following sections of "Standards for the Construction of Public
Non-Community and Non-Public Water Systems," N.J.A.C. 7:10-3.10 et
seq., commonly referred to as "Chapter 199", and specifically adopted
by the Board of Health in Ordinance #56-78 on October 11, 1978 shall
apply with equal force to the construction of heat pump wells, except
that any reference in the following sections to "Department" shall
be construed herein as reference to the Board of Health.
S7:10-3.36 (pruning systems)
S7:10-3.33b (duplicate wells)
S7:10-3.52a, b, c, d, e and g (general construction requirements
for wells)
S7:10-3.53 (well casings)
S7:10-3.54 (well screens)
S7:10-3.55a, b and c(2), c(3) and c(4) (grouting of annular
space)
S7:10-3.56 (well head)
S7:10-3.57a(1), a(2), a(3), a(4), b, c (pitless well installation)
S7:10-3.58 (records)
S7:10-3.70 (design of pumping equipment)
S7:10-3.71 (location of pumping equipment)
S7:10-3.72 (pump controls)
S7:10-3.73 (pump down control)
Three copies of "Standards for the Construction of Public Non-Community
and Non-Public Water Systems," with marking made therein to plainly
indicate the portions thereof herein incorporate have been placed
on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Health of the
Township upon the introduction of this chapter, and will remain on
file in that office for the use and examination by the public.
b.
Standards Applicable to All Heat Pump Wells.
1.
Because the use of closed loop wells results in no depletion of the
aquifers and a lesser likelihood of introduction of contaminants into
ground water, except where site constraints would make the construction
of closed loop wells highly impractical and reasonable proof of that
fact is submitted to the Board of Health, only closed loop wells shall
be constructed, altered or located in the Township and production/return
heat pump wells shall not be allowed. Notwithstanding possible site
constraints, where local groundwater contamination is known to exist
or reasonably suspected of existing or where local aquifers will not
supply an adequate source of water for production/return heat pump
wells, only closed loop wells shall be allowed.
2.
The minimum diameter of any heat pump well will be six inches.
3.
A minimum of 50 feet of well casing shall be required for all heat
pump wells.
4.
Heat pump wells shall be equipped with an automatic shut-off device
to protect against leaks occurring in the refrigeration system.
5.
The Board of Health or authorized agent may require monitoring wells
where there exists a reasonable possibility that the proposed heat
pump well system may (a) cause pollution to ground water or (b) lower
ground water levels or interrupt ground water flow so as to cause
a loss of water supply in other nearby water- producing wells, be
they heat pump wells or potable water wells.
c.
Distance of Heat Pump Wells From Other Wells, Sources of Contamination,
and Existing Building Foundations.
1.
The minimum distance between a production well and a return well
shall be 75 feet. The minimum distance between production and return
well and other wells, except closed loop wells and dry wells, of any
kind whatsoever shall be 75 feet. The minimum distance between closed
loop wells and other wells, except dry wells, or any kind whatsoever,
shall be 15 feet. Distances of heat pump wells from other possible
sources of contamination shall be in accordance with, but not limited
to, the following table:
|
Component
|
Building Sewer
|
Septic Tank
|
Distribution Box
|
Disposal Field
|
Seepage Pit
|
Dry Well
|
Cesspool
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Heat Pump Well
|
25
|
50
|
50
|
100
|
100
|
50
|
150
|
|
Suction Line
|
25
|
50
|
50
|
100
|
100
|
50
|
150
|
|
Water Serv. Line
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
—
|
25
|
2.
Where gravel, limestone, or fractured, creviced or fissured rock
formations are encountered, greater distance of a heat pump well from
a subsurface sewage disposal system may be required by the Board of
Health or its authorized agent.
3.
The distance of a heat pump well from a building sewer may be reduced
to 15 feet with the approval of the Board of Health or its authorized
agent if the building sewer is constructed of cast-iron with poured
and caulked lead joints.
4.
Distance of a heat pump well from disposal fields and seepage pits
may be reduced to a minimum of 50 feet when approved by the Board
of Health or its authorized agent but only when the well is provided
with a casting to a depth of 50 feet or more.
5.
Where there are existing building foundations no heat pump well shall
be constructed or located within 20 feet of such foundations.
d.
Production and Return Wells. Where production and return heat pump
wells are permitted, they shall comply with the following:
1.
Water being returned to the ground through a return well shall be
returned to the aquifer from which it came. An unused aquifer shall
be sealed off.
2.
The chemical and bacteriological quality of water being returned
to the ground through a return well shall be equivalent to the quality
of the water prior to its use in the heat pump well system.
3.
The temperature of water being returned to the ground through a return
well shall not be more than 10° F. above the temperature of the
water prior to its uses in the heat pump well system.
4.
If a single well is used for both production and return of water
a minimum of 100 feet of vertical separation between intake and discharge
shall be required for every 12,000 BTU's produced per hour.
5.
Both production and return wells shall utilize approved pitless adapters
or water tight threaded or enclosed connections below grade.
6.
No corrosion inhibitors, water softening additives, or other deleterious
substances may be added to the water that will be eventually returned
to the ground through the return well.
7.
There shall be unthreaded sampling taps on both the water production
and the return lines.
8.
In-line thermometers shall be installed in both the production and
the return lines and at all times maintained in operating condition.
9.
The drilling contractor shall conduct a pumping test for each return
well. The rate of water injected into the return well during the test
shall be at least equal to the design flow rate of the heating or
cooling system with the results recorded and submitted to the Board
of Health.
10.
For the purpose of this chapter, oxygen shall not be considered a
contaminant to return water, even though it may adversely affect the
operation and maintenance of the return flow systems. The drop pipe
in the return well shall be extended below the static water level
and shall be equipped within an adjustable check valve that shall
be set to maintain a minimum release pressure of 10 PSI. To protect
against causing reverse suction in the return line which could result
in the introduction of oxygen into the return water, the release pressures
as shown on the following table shall be required.
|
Depth to Static Water Level
(feet)
|
Spring Release Pressure
(feet)
|
|---|---|
|
0
|
10
|
|
10
|
14
|
|
20
|
18
|
|
30
|
23
|
|
40
|
27
|
|
50
|
31
|
|
60
|
36
|
|
70
|
40
|
|
80
|
45
|
|
90
|
49
|
|
100
|
53
|
11.
There shall be a check-valve installed on the line from the production
well.
12.
For installations where the production well also serves as the potable
water supply, a back-flow prevention device shall be installed at
the point in the system where the potable water line separates from
the heat and cooling line.
13.
Where a municipal water system is used for potable supply, an approved
back-flow preventor shall be installed on the municipal water line,
after the meter.
14.
Well casing for production and return wells shall terminate a minimum
of 12 inches above grade and shall be permanently marked with the
applicable heat pump well permit number.
e.
Closed Loop Wells.
1.
If local groundwater contamination is known to exist or reasonably
suspected of existing at or near the proposed site of the well, the
open shaft of a closed loop well shall be filled from the bottom up
with impermeable neat cement or bentonite.
2.
Where no local groundwater contamination exists or is not reasonably
suspected of existing, the open shaft of the well shall be filled
from the bottom up to 50 feet from ground surface with sterilized
sand 3/8 inches stone, or pea gravel; and the upper 50 feet of the
shaft shall be filled from the bottom up with impermeable neat cement
or bentonite and capped with a sanitary seal or cement cap.
3.
All tubing or piping to be used in a closed loop well shall be polybutylene
conforming to all requirements of the latest revision of ASTMD-2662
specifications for polybutylene plastic pipe, and approved by the
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for potable water use.
4.
Except for the bottom loop, the tubing or piping placed in the shaft
of a closed loop well shall be without joints or seams.
5.
No substance, chemical, liquid or other matter, except propylene
glycol, shall be mixed with the water that circulates through the
heat pump well.
[Ord. #72-83, S 7]
The Board of Health and its authorized agent reserve the right
to inspect and observe the construction of any heat pump well and
may order any work in progress in or about any heat pump well which
is in use or being installed contrary to the standards of this chapter
to be stopped forthwith, except such work as may be necessary to remedy
the violation, and thereafter the work continued without any violation
of any of the provisions of this chapter. After issuance of any such
stop work order and service of a copy thereof upon any person connected
with or working in or about the installation of such heat pump well,
or any part thereof, no further work shall be done thereon except
as aforesaid.
[Ord. #72-83, S 8; Ord. #98-01, S 6; Ord. #2002-03, S 6]
The following fees and charges are hereby established:
[Ord. #72-83, S 9]
The Board of Health may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations
in furtherance of the intent of this chapter.
[Ord. #72-83, S 10]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter or
any order promulgated under this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof,
pay a penalty of not less than $5 nor more than $500 for each violation.
Each day a particular violation continues shall constitute a separate
offense.
