[Added by Ord. No. 04-05]
It is the purpose of this article to promote the public health, safety and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to fire by providing for, in areas where municipal water is not available, in-ground water storage tanks for major subdivision site plans.
The number of in-ground water storage tanks required will be determined by the following criteria:
A. 
There shall be a minimum of one tank provided for any subdivision or site plan where municipal water is not currently available and for which a storage tank has not already been provided under a previous approval.
B. 
For residential developments, the number of tanks shall be determined by the requirements of § 109-138, Location of tanks, below and a review for adequacy by the Fire Chief and/or his/her designee(s).
C. 
For nonresidential developments, the number of tanks will be calculated using NFPA 1231, Chapter 5, to determine the number of gallons of stored water required, dividing that number by 10,000, and rounding to the nearest whole number.
D. 
The number of tanks required can be reduced if, in the opinion of the Fire Chief and/or his/her designee(s), an adequate, dependable on-site natural or man-made source of water exists, such as a pond, a creek, or a pool or an adjacent municipal water system with hydrants or if an acceptable alternative fire suppression system is proposed for the structure(s).
E. 
On any application for development, the Planning Board may require the applicant to grant an easement to the municipality to provide for the future installation of an in-ground water tank to be used for fire suppression whenever such installation becomes necessary to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare.
[Amended 12-27-2023 by Ord. No. 13-2023]
Location of in-ground water storage tanks shall be as directed by the Fire Chief, and/or his/her designees(s), with the following basic guidelines:
A. 
Each tank shall be located outside of the municipal right-of-way and within an easement providing for access to and maintenance of the tank and it appurtenances. The area between the tank and the travelled way shall be stabilized to allow for vehicle access to the tank.
B. 
In the case of subdivisions:
(1) 
Tanks shall, at a minimum, be located at all street intersections with the project except as otherwise specified.
(2) 
The tanks shall be located so as to be no greater than 2,000 feet apart nor closer than 1,000 feet, as measured along connecting streets.
(3) 
All tanks shall be within 1,000 feet of a dwelling unit, as measured along the street frontage.
(4) 
In the event only one tank is required, it shall be in an area central to the structures being protected.
C. 
In the case of site plans, the location of tanks shall be as directed by the Fire Chief, and/or his/her designee(s).
The design and installation of in-ground water storage tanks shall be in accordance with the following guidelines:
A. 
Each tank shall be no less than 30,000 gallons' capacity and shall be constructed of fiberglass or other acceptable noncorroding material which is chemically inert with respect to usual soil, backfill, and groundwater contact conditions, and installed in such a way that they will not "float" when empty. The tank is to be capable of withstanding a three-foot-deep overburden, as well as supporting a highway HS-20 loading. The tank should be designed with a safety factor against buckling from all expected loads, including external hydrostatic pressure.
B. 
A hold-down system shall be provided in accordance with the tank manufacturer's requirements. The hold-down system shall include hold-down straps provided by the tank manufacturer, a reinforced hold-down slab located below the tank, and connecting hardware. A minimum of one foot vertical separation shall be maintained between the slab and the bottom of the tank. The tank shall be bedded in commercially available pea gravel or maximum one-half-inch crushed stone and backfilled to the top of the tank with stone.
C. 
Each tank shall be equipped with a six-inch-diameter ductile iron fill/draft pipe extending from the bottom of the tank, through the top of the tank, to a terminus point two feet behind the face of curb and two feet above the top of curb. This pipe shall terminate in a male fitting with National Standard Thread and removable cover. All bends are to be sweep type bends and no elbows are permitted.
D. 
Three-inch-diameter, concrete-filled bollards are to be installed one foot behind the face of curb and three feet apart, centered about the fill/draft pipe.
E. 
Each tank shall be equipped with a four-inch-diameter ductile iron vent pipe extending from the top of the tank to a point three feet above finished grade directly above the tank. The vent shall be equipped with an inverted elbow vent fitted with an insect/animal screen.
F. 
The manway shall be brought to grade and closed with a bolted, gasketed cover.
G. 
A six-inch-thick reinforced concrete slab shall be constructed four feet square enclosing the fill/draft pipe and extending to the back of the curb. A similar slab shall be constructed to enclose the vent pipe and manway cover and extend two feet outside the pipe and cover.
H. 
Installation shall be done in accordance with manufacturers directions with respect to anti-float devices, product handling, backfill materials, and methods.
I. 
The tank installation shall be air-pressure tested for leaks prior to backfill. Attachments and fittings shall be provided and the tank designed to support these elements. Inspection of the tank installation shall be provided by the Fire Department or its authorized representative. No backfilling can take place until the testing is complete and satisfactory to the Fire Department.
J. 
It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to fill the tank with clean water upon installation.