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.

Horizontal geothermal heat exchangers constructed in pits, trenches, ditches, or in horizontal directional borings.

Monitoring wells whose construction and operation is overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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.

Utility trenches.

Foundations, pilings, and other soil and/or bedrock penetrations which are an integral part of building construction.

Normal routine maintenance and minor repairs to keep a well or borehole in good working order.

Wells that are completed and fully operational as of the effective date of this section.

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.

Permit application. Applications for permits shall be made to the Centre Region Code Administration office on forms furnished by said office.

Fees. The drilling permit fee shall be established by resolution of the municipality.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Placement of permit. The building permit or copy shall be kept on the site of the work until the completion of the project.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Construction documents. Construction documents shall be in accordance with Subsection D(3) and (4).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Casing.

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.

Packer. Packers, when used, shall be of material that will not impart adverse taste, odor, toxic substances or bacterial contamination to the well water.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abandoned water supplies. Existing wells that are to be abandoned shall be mitigated in accordance with the specifications below.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Noncased boreholes. If no casing is utilized, then the boring shall be grouted using approved grout for not less than 50 feet below grade.

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.

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.

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.

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.

General. Cross-connections between an individual or semipublic water supply and a public water system shall be prohibited.

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.