A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect the quality of
the groundwater resources of the Spring and Spruce Creek Watersheds.
Within the Township, groundwater supplies 100% of the public and private
water use. Pennsylvania has no regulations at the time of this section's
adoption requiring the proper construction of most wells or boreholes
and their improper construction can provide short-circuit flow pathways
for surface and subsurface contaminants to impact groundwater quality.
This section sets forth standards for the construction of wells and
boreholes that are not otherwise regulated.
B.
Scope. The scope of this section applies to the construction, modification,
alteration, termination, and abandonment of all wells and boreholes
that penetrate more than 20 feet below grade (hereinafter "wells and/or
boreholes"), including but not limited to domestic water-supply wells,
geothermal heat system wells and/or boreholes, geotechnical borings,
test borings, agricultural wells, irrigation wells, commercial wells,
industrial wells, etc. The proper sealing of wells and boreholes using
approved grout is a critical element of this section. The following
are exempt from this section:
(1)
Wells and/or boreholes associated with water supply wells for public
water systems (defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection as consisting of at least 15 service connections or regularly
serving no fewer than 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of
the year). These systems are to be permitted and approved by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection.
(2)
Horizontal geothermal heat exchangers constructed in pits, trenches,
ditches, or in horizontal directional borings.
(3)
Monitoring wells whose construction and operation is overseen by
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
(4)
Borings/boreholes (such as shot holes, exploratory borings, etc.)
at a mining site associated with mining activities whose construction
and operation are overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection.
(5)
Utility trenches.
(6)
Foundations, pilings, and other soil and/or bedrock penetrations
which are an integral part of building construction.
(7)
Normal routine maintenance and minor repairs to keep a well or borehole
in good working order.
(8)
Wells that are completed and fully operational as of the effective
date of this section.
C.
Permits.
(1)
Permit required. No person, firm, or corporation shall make a penetration
of soil and/or rock that is augured, drilled, cored, bored, washed,
driven, dug, jetted, or otherwise constructed that is regulated by
this Code until a drilling permit has been issued by the Code Official.
(2)
Permit application. Applications for permits shall be made to the
Centre Region Code Administration office on forms furnished by said
office.
(3)
Fees. The drilling permit fee shall be established by resolution
of the municipality.
(4)
Payment of fees. A permit shall not be valid until the fees prescribed
by law have been paid, nor shall an amendment to a permit be released
until the additional fee, if any, has been paid.
(5)
Action on application. The Building Official shall examine or cause
to be examined applications for permits and amendments thereto within
a reasonable time after filing. If the application or the construction
documents do not conform to the requirements of this Code, the Building
Official shall reject such application, in writing, stating the reasons
therefor. If the Building Official is satisfied that the proposed
work conforms to the requirements of this Code and laws and ordinances
applicable thereto, the Building Official shall issue a permit therefor
as soon as practicable.
(6)
Time limitation of application. An application for a permit for any
proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned 180 days after
the date of filing, unless such application has been pursued in good
faith or a permit has been issued; except that the Building Official
is authorized to grant one or more extensions of time for additional
periods not exceeding 90 days each. The extension shall be requested
in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.
(7)
Validity of permit. The issuance or granting of a drilling permit
shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any
violation of any of the provisions of this Code or of any other ordinance
of the jurisdiction. Drilling permits presuming to give authority
to violate or cancel the provisions of this Code or other ordinances
of the jurisdiction shall not be valid. The issuance of a drilling
permit based on construction documents and other data shall not prevent
the Building Official from requiring the correction of errors in the
construction documents and other data. The Building Official is also
authorized to prevent occupancy or use of a structure where in violation
of this Code or of any other ordinances of this jurisdiction.
(8)
Expiration. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work
on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days
after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such
permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the
time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to
grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not
more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing
and justifiable cause demonstrated.
(9)
Suspension or revocation. The Building Official is authorized to
suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this Code
wherever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect,
inaccurate or incomplete information, or in violation of any ordinance
or regulation or any of the provisions of this Code.
(10)
Placement of permit. The building permit or copy shall be kept
on the site of the work until the completion of the project.
(11)
Time. The Building Code Official shall grant or deny a permit
application, in whole or in part, within 15 business days of the filing
date for permits associated with one- and two-family dwellings and
within 30 business days of the filing date for permits associated
with other systems. Reasons for denial shall be in writing and given
to the applicant. The Building Code Official and the permit applicant
may agree to extend the deadline by a specific number of days.
(12)
Stamp. The Building Code Official shall stamp or place a notation
on each page of the set of reviewed construction documents that the
documents were reviewed and approved for compliance with this Code
before the permit is issued. The Building Code Official shall clearly
mark any required nondesign changes on the construction documents.
The Building Code Official shall return a set of the construction
documents with this notation and any required changed to the applicant.
The permit holder shall keep a copy of the construction documents
at the work site open to inspection by the Building Code Official.
(13)
Inspection. The Code Official shall make all of the required
inspections, or shall accept reports of inspection by approved agencies
or individuals. All reports of such inspections shall be in writing
and be certified by a responsible officer of such approved agency
or by the responsible individual. The Code Official is authorized
to engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual
technical issues that arise, subject to the approval of the appointing
authority.
(14)
Right of entry. Where it is necessary to make an inspection
to enforce the provisions of this Code, or whenever the Code Official
has reasonable cause to believe that there exists upon a premises
a condition in violation of this Code, the Code Official is authorized
to enter the premises at reasonable times to inspect or perform the
duties imposed by this Code, subject to applicable laws, provided
that if such premises is occupied the Code Official shall present
credentials to the occupant and request entry. If such premises are
unoccupied, the Code Official shall first make a reasonable effort
to locate the owner or other person having charge or control of the
premises and request entry. If entry is refused, the Code Official
shall have recourse to the remedies provided by law to secure entry.
D.
Submittal documents.
(1)
General. Submittal documents consisting of construction documents,
statement of special inspections, and other data shall be submitted
in two or more sets with each drilling permit application. The construction
documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional where
construction is not associated with one- and two-family dwellings.
Where special conditions exist, the Building Official is authorized
to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered
design professional.
(3)
Information on construction documents. Construction documents shall
be dimensioned and drawn upon suitable material. Electronic media
documents are permitted to be submitted when approved by the Building
Official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to
indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and
show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this Code
and relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, as determined
by the Building Official.
(4)
Site plan. The construction documents submitted with the application
for permit shall be accompanied by a site plan showing to scale the
size and location of new well construction, proposed buildings, existing
and proposed on-lot sewage treatment systems, and existing structures
on the site, distances from lot lines, as applicable, flood hazard
areas, floodways, and design flood elevations; and it shall be drawn
in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey. In the case of
demolition or abandonment, the site plan shall show construction to
be demolished or abandoned and the location and size of existing structures
and construction that are to remain on the site or plot. The Building
Official is authorized to waive or modify the requirement for a site
plan when the application for permit is for alteration or repair or
when otherwise warranted.
(5)
Examination of documents. The Building Official shall examine or
cause to be examined the accompanying submittal documents and shall
ascertain by such examinations whether the construction indicated
and described is in accordance with the requirements of this Code
and other pertinent laws or ordinances.
(6)
Amended construction documents. Work shall be installed in accordance
with the approved construction documents, and any changes made during
construction that are not in compliance with the approved construction
documents shall be resubmitted for approval as an amended set of construction
documents.
E.
Water supply well and borehole location.
(1)
Minimum water supply well depth. The source of supply for a water
supply well shall be from a water-bearing formation drawn not less
than 20 feet from the ground surface. Wells shall be located at a
point free from flooding and may not be located within a FEMA FIRM
floodplain unless conforming to the requirements below; and shall
be at a higher elevation and at the minimum setback distances to existing
or potential sources of pollution set forth in this section.
(a)
Water supply well construction in a floodplain. If a well is
proposed to be located within a floodplain, then the well application
must include a letter from a registered professional engineer in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania documenting why the necessity of placement
of the well within the floodplain, the documented height of the 100-year
flood level, and what mitigation measures, including but not limited
to the extension of the casing above the elevation of the 100-year
flood elevation, are to be used to mitigate the contamination hazard.
(2)
Minimum setback distance. Wells and boreholes regulated by this section
shall be located using the minimum setback distances to existing or
potential sources of pollution listed in Table 1. For closed-loop
geothermal wells and boreholes which due to infeasibility cannot conform
to the requirements of Table 1, an appeal to the Township official
can be made detailing the infeasibility and the proposed location.
Upon review, the Township may reduce the required setback distances.
No reduction from any type of sewage-related facility shall be made.
|
Table 1, Minimum Well and Borehole Setback Distances
| |
|---|---|
|
Setback From
|
Potable Water Supply Well, Borehole, Geothermal Supply and Geothermal
Return Well
(feet)
|
|
Lakes, ponds, streams or other surface waters
|
25
|
|
Storm drains, retention basins, stabilization ponds or stormwater
management facilities
|
10
|
|
Preparation area or storage area of hazardous spray materials,
fertilizers of chemicals, salt piles
|
100
|
|
Gravity sewer lines and drains carrying domestic sewage or industrial
waste
|
50
|
|
Existing water and forced sewer buried utilities and/or utility
trenches
|
Outside existing easement or, if no easement exists, no less
than 15 feet from the utility or trench center line
|
|
Septic tanks, aerobic tanks or holding tanks
|
50
|
|
Subsurface sewage disposal systems, elevated sand mounds, other
sewage disposal fields
|
100
|
|
Sewage seepage pits, cesspools, privies
|
100
|
|
Farm silos, barnyards, and fuel tanks
|
100
|
|
Rainwater pits, ditches
|
25
|
|
Spray irrigation sites, sewage sludge and septage disposal sites
|
100
|
|
Dedicated public right-of-way
|
20
|
|
Building foundations (except for buildings enclosing water wells
and/or water well pumps and any other source of pollution as approved)
|
30
|
F.
Water supply well construction requirements.
(1)
Casing.
(b)
All wells supplying open-loop geothermal heating and/or cooling
systems and all wells for the return and recharge of geothermal heating
and cooling system discharge shall use wrought iron or steel as designated
above, or PVC with watertight and durable casing constructed of listed
material and minimum wall thickness for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic
of 0.175 inch.
[1]
Joining. The sections of casing shall be joined together by
threaded couplings, or full circumferential welding for ferrous materials,
and threaded couplings or solvent welding in accordance with ANSI/NSF
Standard 14 for PVC. Other nonferrous casing joining must meet AWWA
Standard A100.
[2]
Minimum depth. The casing shall be carried to a minimum depth
of 50 feet and grouted in place.
[3]
Grouting. Casing and grouting must be compatible. Pressure grouting
is required for all wells by running tremie pipe to bottom of the
annular space outside the casing.
[4]
Minimum borehole diameter. The borehole should be three inches
larger in diameter than the outside diameter of casing to allow for
a minimum of 1 1/2 inches of annular space for grout placement.
[5]
Minimum extension above grade. Casing shall extend at least
12 inches above ground surface. The casing may be terminated below
grade if located within a box-type enclosure with an access lid such
as a small meter vault. In such cases the casing shall be at least
12 inches above the vault floor.
[a]
Exception. Airtight and watertight sealed closed-loop
return wells can be direct buried.
[6]
Ferrous casing. Ferrous casing shall be new pipe meeting ASTM
or API specifications for water supply well construction. It shall
be equipped with a drive shoe or other effective casing seal and have
full circumference welds or threaded pipe joints.
[7]
Nonferrous casing. Nonferrous casing shall meet appropriate
ANSI, ASTM or NSF standards for water well casing applications. It
shall not be driven.
(2)
Grouting. An annular space shall be provided between the well casing
and the earth formation. The annular space shall be completely filled
with approved grout materials in one continuous operation under pressure
from a minimum depth of 50 feet below grade to the natural ground
surface within 24 hours of completion of drilling. No activity in
and around the well shall occur within 24 hours after grouting of
the casing with neat cement or cement with bentonite and using a curing
accelerant, or within 1/2 hour if using bentonite. In the event that
grouting is done following completion of all drilling operations,
all obstructions must be completely cleared prior to placement of
grout material.
(a)
Pitless adaptor. During the installation of a pitless adaptor,
grout material may be removed from the exterior of the casing in order
to provide a watertight seal between the casing and this adaptor.
For the installation of a pitless adaptor, a ditch at least three
feet deep is required along with conduits, stone, dust or sand. A
sanitary well cap shall be incorporated for protection from leakage
and identification of the well respectively.
(b)
Geothermal. Geothermal heating and/or cooling system vertical
heat exchange boreholes containing loop pipes may be filled with approved
grout or bridging or fill materials from their total depth up to a
minimum depth of 50 feet below grade. These vertical heat exchange
boreholes must be filled with only approved grout from a minimum depth
of 50 feet below grade up to the ground surface. If the annular space
around the loop pipes from a minimum depth of 50 feet below grade
up to the ground surface is free from standing water, the approved
grout may be emplaced without pressure pumping through a tremie pipe.
(3)
Packer. Packers, when used, shall be of material that will not impart
adverse taste, odor, toxic substances or bacterial contamination to
the well water.
(4)
Pitless installations. Pitless installations are those where the
casing terminates above the ground surface or below grade, as specified
above. Where used, they shall be effectively sealed. All buried suction
lines shall be encased. The access casing shall be protected against
corrosion and shall extend at least 12 inches above the natural ground
surface and to a depth of at least 50 feet below the ground surface.
Pitless adaptors cannot be installed through a ferrous casing by cutting
the hole with a torch or flame, but must be installed by using a hole
saw or drill to make the hole through the ferrous casing.
(5)
Well screens. Well screens shall provide maximum amount of open area
while still maintaining structural strength. They shall have the size
of openings based on a sieve analysis to preclude entry by sand, silt,
and other undesirable elements.
(6)
Well cap. All installations shall install a secure, screened, varmint-free
sanitary well cap on all wells to prevent any surface pollutants from
entering the well or any vandalism to the well or aquifer. In the
event of a flowing well, the well cap must stop overflow from the
well. Casing terminated below grade shall have a sanitary well cap
installed.
(7)
Venting. Where venting is required, an overlapping cover or pipe
with an opening facing downward shall be required. In no case shall
openings be less than 12 inches above the ground.
(8)
Monitoring wells. Monitoring wells shall be designed and installed
such as to minimize potential contamination of the aquifer and to
maximize the information obtained from each such well.
(9)
Heat pumps. Heat pump (geothermal) installations shall be designed
and constructed to provide an effective watertight seal with the well
casing or water storage reservoir and to prevent contamination from
reaching the water chamber or interior pump surfaces. In closed-loop
systems, boreholes must be grouted from a minimum depth of 50 feet
below grade to the ground surface with an approved grout. Open-loop
systems must conform to same requirements as water wells.
(10)
Power pump installations. The pump base installed directly over
a well casing or pipe sleeve shall be designed to provide a watertight
seal. It shall be located in a flood-free area. The pump and related
equipment shall permit convenient access, removal, maintenance and
repair. The suction opening shall be placed at least two feet below
the maximum drawdown of the water in the well. The suction opening
shall also be located at a sufficient distance from the bottom of
the well so as to prevent agitation of accumulated sediment.
(11)
Abandoned water supplies. Existing wells that are to be abandoned
shall be mitigated in accordance with the specifications below.
(a)
Drilled wells. Drilled wells shall be filled and sealed by approved
grout.
(b)
Hand-dug wells. Hand-dug wells shall be filled with stone to
within four feet of the top of the well, then filled with compacted
earth to ground level.
(c)
Dry wells. Dry wells being abandoned must be filled with stone
and the top 50 feet filled with approved grout; however, the top two
feet (609.6 mm) may be covered with topsoil.
(12)
Disinfection. Following completion of construction, the well
shall be pumped continuously until the water discharge is clear. It
shall be filled with water containing concentration of not less than
100 parts per million of free chlorine. A portion of this solution
shall be recirculated directly to the well in order to insure proper
agitation. The water shall not be used for a period of 24 hours. Other
combinations of water and chlorine concentration and time interval
may be used if demonstrated equally effective to the municipal official.
Disposal of the purged water shall be at a point so as to minimize
adverse effects to aquatic life and in no way directed into any subsurface
sewage disposal system.
(a)
One ounce of dry calcium hypochlorite dissolved in 52.5 gallons
of water makes the proper strength disinfectant solution. Household
bleach may be used for disinfection as given in Table 2.
(13)
Cross-connections. All check valves and backflow protection
shall be properly installed. Backflow protectors must be incorporated
into the system and be used as needed for each outside water hose
connectors. At a minimum, two check valves shall be incorporated into
each water system that derives water from a well.
(a)
Exception. Where not practical, a cross-connection prevention
assembly shall be provided. For semipublic water supplies, the cross-connection
prevention assembly device shall be installed at any fixed potable
water outlet to which a hose may be connected.
(14)
Testing. The assembled loop system shall be pressure-tested
with water at 100 psi for 30 minutes with no observed leaks before
connection (header) trenches are backfilled. Flow rates and pressure
drops shall be compared to calculated values. If actual flow rate
or pressure drop figures differ from calculated values by more than
10%, the problem shall be identified and corrected.
(15)
Completion report. Upon completion of the well or borehole,
submit two copies of DCNR's water well completion report Form 8700-FM-TG-5001S,
as may be amended, to the Township and one copy of this form to the
owner. If a geothermal well is constructed, a report shall be filed
with the municipality by the driller indicating the well was constructed
in accordance with this section.
(16)
Yield test. The application for a zoning permit shall also contain
a statement from the well driller or developer that the well yield
has been evaluated by a qualified individual and the yield of the
well has been found to be suitable for the proposed use. The well
yield will be reported in gallons/minute and one copy will be provided
to the owner and one copy to the Township. If special measures (such
as system storage, flow restrictors, etc.) are required in order to
accommodate a low-yielding well, the application for zoning permit
shall describe in detail how the deficient well yield is to be addressed.
(17)
Water quality testing. A water supply test will be provided
for each lot prior to occupancy. The developer shall include the results
of water quality analyses by a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection certified laboratory for total coliform bacteria, E. Coli,
nitrate nitrogen, total dissolved solids, sulfate, pH and iron in
accordance with the recommendations of PSU Cooperative Extension Water
Testing Factsheet F104 (Addendum I), or its equivalent. If the water
quality analytical result does not meet the Safe Drinking Water Act[1] maximum contaminant level for any parameter, the application
for zoning permit shall indicate how the defect in water quality is
to be addressed. One copy of the water quality analysis will be provided
to the owner and one copy to the Township.
|
Table 2, Volume of Chlorine Bleach for Shock Chlorination of
Wells and Springs
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water Depth
(feet)
|
Well Diameter
(cups*)
| |||||
|
6 inches
|
8 inches
|
10 inches
|
24 inches
|
32 inches
|
36 inches
| |
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
12
|
16
|
24
|
|
20
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
20
|
32
|
40
|
|
30
|
2
|
4
|
6
| |||
|
40
|
2
|
4
|
8
| |||
|
60
|
4
|
6
|
12
| |||
|
80
|
4
|
8
|
14
| |||
|
100
|
6
|
10
|
16
| |||
|
150
|
10
|
16
| ||||
|
NOTES:
| |
|
*
|
Cup (c) is defined as eight liquid ounces.
|
[1]
Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq.
G.
Borehole construction requirements.
(1)
Cased boreholes. If casing is to be left in place permanently, then the boring shall conform to the requirements for water supply wells stated in Subsection F.
(2)
Noncased boreholes. If no casing is utilized, then the boring shall
be grouted using approved grout for not less than 50 feet below grade.
(3)
Temporary casing. If a temporary casing is removed or retracted,
this shall be accomplished immediately after grout has been placed
or else before the grout has hardened or cured.
(4)
Construction standard. All materials and construction practices shall
conform to the requirements stated in closed-loop/geothermal heat
pump systems design and installation standards, such as, but not limited
to, standards for pressure testing, heat transfer fluids, etc. All
materials and construction practices shall effectively prevent contamination
of groundwater.
(5)
The assembled loop system shall be pressure tested with water at
100 psi for 30 minutes with no observed leaks before connection (header)
trenches are backfilled. Flow rates and pressure drops shall be compared
to calculated values. If actual flow rate or pressure drop figures
differ from calculated values by more than 10%, the problem shall
be identified and corrected.
H.
Major alterations.
(1)
General. When major alterations are made to wells and boreholes regulated by this Code, these alterations shall conform to Subsections F and G with the following modifications.
(a)
Existing nongrouted wells and boreholes. If major alterations are made to an existing well or boring which is not grouted with an approved grout, then the following measures may be taken in lieu of the grouting requirements of Subsections F and G:
[1]
Remove soil from the uppermost two feet of the casing to a diameter
of no less than one foot (304.8 mm) outside the existing casing.
[2]
Fill the exposed annular space with an approved grout to grade.
[3]
Place a compacted earth mound around the well casing. The compacted
earth mound shall be no less than six inches high and shall extend
no less than one foot away from the casing in all directions. The
purpose of the compacted earth mound is to divert surface water away
from the well, so the compacted earth mound shall be nonerodible.
[4]
This exception applies only to wells and/or borings that were
in existence prior to the effective date of this section.
I.
Cross-connections.
(1)
General. Cross-connections between an individual or semipublic water
supply and a public water system shall be prohibited.
J.
Disclaimer.
(1)
General. Approval of this application and issuance of a permit for
a well and/or boring on the above-described property does not constitute
any guarantee or warranty by the municipality regarding quantity or
quality of water that may be obtained as a result of any well drilled
under this permit. The approved permit solely provides the approval
to drill a well and/or boring at the site shown on the application,
and does not provide any other guarantees, approval, or warranties.
