Lots which would be served by individual wells or community
water systems when prior to the subdivision of land into lots or land
development an aquifer study may be required in areas or in proximity
to areas of known groundwater contamination or problems, in areas
of known inadequate yields of potable supplies, or a hydrogeologic
report was completed on site, an aquifer study shall be performed.
A. Areas of known groundwater problems. Areas of known groundwater problems
shall include:
(1) Areas underlain by serpentinic or schistostic geologic formations
or formations otherwise known to have low yields.
(2) Areas in proximity 200 feet of sinkholes, ghost lakes, or drainage
entering the ground.
(3) Areas with environmental covenants related to known groundwater contamination
including sites that have been voluntarily cleaned up under the Pennsylvania
Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act (Act 2). For approved cleanup sites, this test will verify the
site meets the approved standard.
(4) Other areas with documented water quantity or quality problems, including
pollutants in excess of federal safe drinking water standards.
B. Aquifer study standards and procedures. No person shall conduct a
land development within an area of known groundwater quantity problems
without administering and passing on said land the aquifer test required
by this section:
(1) Water quantity report.
(a)
Water quantity test standard.
[1]
The proposed individual well shall produce not less than 400
gallons of water in a two-hour period, at least once each day.
[a] If the sustained yield of the individual well or
individual well system is not capable of meeting the standard, sufficient
storage shall be required through borehole capacity and/or a storage
tank. Borehole storage shall be measured from the pump level to the
top of the static water column.
[2]
The individual well shall yield a minimum of one gallon per
minute.
[a] For wells with yields of four gallons per minute
or less, a minimum of 400 gallons of storage capacity shall be provided.
Borehole storage shall be measured from the pump level to the top
of the static water column.
[b] Multiple wells may be dug on the lot and the combined
yield of the well system shall meet the minimum of one gallon per
minute.
(b)
Test supervision and evaluation. The test shall be conducted
under the supervision of a qualified geologist licensed by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or professional engineer, using testing procedures
hereinafter set forth. The geologist or engineer shall be responsible
for notifying the Planning Commission five working days prior to the
start of the test. He or she will also summarize the test, and its
significance and make recommendations as to the suitability of the
well or wells for the intended uses. The final report shall include
an opinion as to whether the proposed use of the well will have an
impact upon other existing wells in the immediate surrounding area.
The supervising person shall provide the Planning Commission with
a copy of all field notes and test results.
(c)
Test method. An test shall be conducted for a minimum of 12
hours at a constant rate of pumping. The pumped well shall be the
one proposed for the specific subdivision or land development for
which the test is conducted. Two observation wells that have hydraulic
continuity with the pumped well are required. The preferred method
of analysis of the aquifer test data is the non-equilibrium formula,
although other methods are available and may be used. These include
various methods of analysis of either the drawdown or recovery data.
(d)
Collection of data. Data shall be collected in conjunction with
the aquifer test as follows:
[1]
Prior to the test:
[a] Collection of geologic data of the area to be tested
including well logs, if available.
[b] History of water level fluctuations in the area
when available.
[c] The location, relative elevations and static water
levels in the pumped well and the observation well or wells.
[d] The expected discharge of the pumped well.
[2]
During the test. A standard aquifer test field data sheet will
be required for a pumped well and each observation well. The data
sheet shall include columns for listing:
[c] Elapsed time since pumping started/stopped (in
minutes and seconds).
[d] Depth to water below land surface.
[e] Drawdown or recovery (in feet and tenths).
[f] Observed discharge at specified intervals.
[3]
Following the test. In accordance with recognized principles
of well hydraulics, graphs shall be prepared to show time drawdown
and time recovery for the pumped well and the observation wells. A
distance drawdown graph will be required for anticipated rates of
pumping. Computation of the coefficients of transmissibility and storage
as well as the rate of pumping, time and drawdown are required as
well as other data that may be considered necessary to satisfy the
test objectives.
(2) Water quality report. The water quality test shall be conducted concurrently
with any water quantity test. Such tests shall be conducted by a certified
laboratory per the following standards:
(a)
All water samples to be tested must be drawn by a trained PADEP-certified
laboratory employee, a well driller contractor, or pump installation
contractor.
(b)
For single-use on-lot wells, the quality of the water tested
shall meet the local and/or state regulations as it presently exists
or may hereafter be amended, or be capable of treatment to attain
said standard of quality for the following potential contaminants:
total coliform, fecal coliform, E.coli, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen,
total nitrogen, lead, and chlorine.
(c)
For community on-lot wells, the quality of the water tested
shall meet the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations as set
forth in the National Safe Drinking Water Regulations (NSDW) of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, or be capable of treatment to attain said standard
of quality.