[Adopted 5-26-1998 by Ord. No. 252]
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Well Regulations"
to the Code of the Township of Antrim.
The intention of this article is to ensure and protect the quality and
suitability of domestic water supply and to secure and maintain the minimum
required isolation distances between water supplies and sewage disposal systems
or other sources of contamination.
A.
This article shall apply to all wells which have not
been completed or which are not in operation or in an inoperable condition
at the time of passage of this article.
B.
This article shall further apply to the reconstruction,
major repair and other changes to existing wells, when, in the opinion of
the inspecting officer, such reconstruction, major repair and other changes
may affect the quality and suitability of the water supply on the property
upon which the well is constructed or on surrounding properties.
The following standards shall apply:
A.
Location. Drilled and driven wells shall be located at
a point free from flooding at the following minimum distances to existing
or possible future sources of pollution:
|
Source
|
Minimum Distance
(feet)
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Storm drains
|
25
| ||
|
Drains carrying domestic sewage or industrial wastes
|
50
| ||
|
Septic or holding tanks
|
50
| ||
|
Surface/subsurface sewage disposal fields
|
100
| ||
|
Sewage seepage pits, cesspools
|
100
| ||
|
Privies
|
50
| ||
|
Fuel tanks
|
As approved
| ||
|
Other (ditches, streams, barnyards, rainwater pits, etc.)
|
As approved
| ||
|
Additional location restrictions
| |||
|
Driveways
|
10
| ||
|
Principal structure/dwelling
|
20
| ||
|
Property lines
|
10
| ||
B.
Source of water. The source of supply shall be from a
water-bearing formation drawn not less than 100 feet from the ground surface,
with at least 20 feet of properly grouted well casing, and from no formation
which is subject to pollution.
C.
Construction.
(1)
The well shall have a watertight and durable wrought
iron, steel or other type of approved casing with a nominal thickness of 3/16
(0.1875) inches and 6 5/8 inches outside diameter. The sections shall
be joined together by threaded couplings, joints, by welding or any other
watertight approved joint or coupling.
(2)
Twenty feet from the finishing grade and in any case
shall be extended 10 feet into bedrock or other impervious strata. Driven
wells shall be provided with a drive shoe or other effective casing seal.
(3)
The casing shall be sealed effectively against entrance
of water from water-bearing formations, which are subject to pollution, through
which the casing may pass. If casings of smaller diameter are used in the
lower portions of the well, effective watertight seals shall be provided between
the casings where they telescope. In such instances, sections of casing shall
telescope for a minimum distance of four feet.
(4)
The top of the well casing shall extend a minimum of
eight to 12 inches above the finished grade of the lot so that contaminated
water or other substances cannot enter the well through the annular opening
at the top of the well casing, wall or pipe sleeve.
(5)
Every potable water well shall be equipped with an overlapping
cover of the top of the well casing or pipe sleeve. Covers shall extend downward
at least two inches over the outside of the well casing or wall. All well
caps shall indicate well driller's main, depth of well and depth of casing.
(6)
Where pump sections or discharged pipes enter or leave
a well through the side of the casing, the circle of contact shall be watertight.
The use of plastic/nylon adapters for this purpose is not acceptable. A brass
pitless adapter with brass connectors or equivalent are required.
(7)
All potable water wells and springs shall be constructed
so that surface drainage will be diverted away from the well or spring.
(8)
Any pump room or any enclosure around the well pump shall
be drained and protected from freezing by heating or other approved means.
Where pumps are installed in basements, they shall be mounted on a block or
shall not be less than 18 inches above the basement floor. Well pits shall
be prohibited.
D.
Water service. Size of water service pipe. The minimum
diameter of water service pipe shall be 3/4 inch separation of water service
and building sewer/drain water service pipe shall be installed 12 inches above
sewer drains.
A.
Drilled wells. Any restoration/repair of wells with casing
terminating below grade shall be raised above grade to eight to 12 inches
minimum.
B.
Springs. Before rehabilitation shall begin on an existing
spring, a report shall be made to determine the advisability of said reconstruction,
which shall include, as a minimum, quality and quantity of water. Springs
for new construction are not considered an adequate water supply and will
not be considered as valid for the issuance of a building permit. Reconstructed
springs shall be completely enclosed by walls and a cover of reinforced concrete
or equally durable watertight material. The cover shall have a firm foundation
so as to effectively prevent settling. The uphill wall shall be so constructed
as to prevent entrance of surface water. Where manhole covers are used, the
manholes shall be at least 24 inches in diameter. It shall extend at least
three inches above the surrounding ground surface and be covered by an impervious
durable cover of concrete, steel or equivalent material which overlaps the
manhole vertically by at least two inches. The manhole shall be kept secured
by bolting, locking or equivalent means, and shall be kept so secured.
C.
Abandoned water supplies. Wells, springs, cisterns and
water storage tanks which are no longer in use shall be removed, filled or
otherwise maintained in a condition such as to prevent access by unauthorized
persons or animals, to prevent accidental injury and to effectively prevent
pollution of groundwater. Abandoned wells shall be completely filled with
cement or equal impervious material.
A.
Permits shall be issued on a form provided by the Township
of Antrim, which shall be executed by the duly authorized inspecting officer.
All permits shall be issued to the property owners or their duly authorized
representative/well driller.
B.
All permits shall be in effect as of the date of issuance
and shall remain in effect for a period of six months. In the event that water
supply construction under the permit has not been completed at the expiration
of six months from the date of issuance, the permit shall expire.
C.
Inspection. Upon completion of construction, or at such
other time as the Township inspecting officer may deem appropriate, the inspecting
officer shall perform a final inspection of the well/water supply to determine
whether there has been compliance with the permit issued.
A.
Driller's report. A report for each well shall be prepared
by the driller and shall be submitted to the Township of Antrim for evaluation
and approval. The well report shall contain the following pertinent information:
B.
Owner's report. Subsequent to house construction, but
prior to occupancy, the owner/contractor shall initiate appropriate action
to have the on-site water supply tested by a certified laboratory and provide
to the Township of Antrim a laboratory report containing the following information:
C.
A request for an extension to a permit must be submitted
to the Township, in writing, 10 days before the expiration date of the permit.
Extensions are limited to 30 days. Subsequent requests must be accompanied
by an application for a new permit with the appropriate fee.
D.
In the event that a permit expires and construction has
not begun, an application for a new permit must be submitted with the appropriate
fee.
E.
Expiration of a permit during construction will result
in the landowner being prosecuted in accordance with the violations provision
of this article.
A.
This article shall be enforced by an action brought before
a District Justice in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary
offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Municipal
Solicitor may assume charge of the prosecution without the consent of the
District Attorney as required under Pa. R. Crim. P. No. 83(c) (relating to
trial in summary cases). Any person who violates or permits a violation of
this article, shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be punishable
by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed
90 days.
B.
This article also may be enforced by the Township of
Antrim through an action in equity brought in the Court of Common Pleas of
Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
C.
For the purpose of this article, each day or portion
thereof that such violation continues, or is permitted to continue, shall
constitute a separate offense. In addition, a violation of each section of
this article shall constitute a separate offense.
The provisions of this article shall be severable, and if any of its
provisions shall be held to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such
unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity
of any of the remaining provisions of this article.
No responsibility or liability for the construction of any well/water
supply shall be deemed to be assumed or accepted by the Township of Antrim
or its officers, agents or employees by virtue of the terms of this article
or otherwise.
