Owners of existing wells on lots located within 500 feet of the subdivision boundary shall be given an opportunity to have their wells monitored during the aquifer test. Such opportunity shall be given by the applicant by notice via certified mail and shall give the time and place of the well pumping test. Furthermore, the notice shall indicate that such existing well may be monitored if agreed to by the well owner provided the well is readily accessible. Such notice shall indicate that the existing well owner must respond within seven days and the applicant's responsibility is to monitor up to three wells on properties within 500 feet of the subdivision boundaries. If the owner of the lot within 500 feet of the subdivision boundaries decides to participate by agreeing to have their existing well monitored, they shall notify the applicant by certified mail. Such response shall be provided within seven days of receipt of the certified notice from the applicant. If the applicant receives no response within the time provided, the response shall be deemed to be negative.

If the owner of a lot within 500 feet of the subdivision boundaries is to have his existing well monitored, such lot owner shall, if requested by the applicant, the applicant's hydrogeologist, and/or well driller, provide in writing a hold harmless agreement to applicant, the applicant's hydrogeologist, and/or well driller. All reasonable efforts shall be made to protect the potability of water from the monitored well.

In the case when more than three property owners within 500 feet of the subdivision boundaries decide to participate to have their existing wells monitored, only the three nearest the test well need be monitored.

Prior to conducting an aquifer test, the applicant shall submit the design of such aquifer test including the location of wells to be monitored on adjacent lots and qualifications of the persons and firm who will be performing the test for review by the Township. The applicant shall submit the application fees and escrow deposits in accord with § 30-11.5d, along with the proposed design of the aquifer test. The purpose of the escrow deposit is to cover the cost of Township review of the proposed aquifer test. Such review may include submission of such design to a qualified hydrogeologist representing the Township for review and recommendation.

The pumping test will be comprised of three phases. The first phase will involve the collection of background water levels prior to the start of the test. The second phase will involve the pumping of water from the well and the monitoring of water-level drawdown in the observation and pumping wells. The third phase will involve the recovery of water levels in the observation and pumping well after the pump has been shutdown. This third phase of the test should be the same length as the pumping phase.

If at all possible, the pumping test (all three phases) should not be conducted during precipitation events.

The background phase includes allowing the test well and observation wells to stabilize for a minimum of three days before the test. Water levels shall be collected from the test well and observation well 24 hours before the test. Barometer measurements and additional water-level measurements can be made by the applicant to evaluate the change in water levels resulting from barometric pressure changes.

On the day of the test, water levels shall be collected from all wells. For those wells showing a change of more than 0.1 foot, a second round of measurements shall be collected before starting the test. Additional rounds of measurements may be necessary to determine that the well is in equilibrium. However, if the applicant has barometric pressure and water-level data to indicate that the change in static levels is due to changes in barometric pressure, the applicant can submit these data in lieu of delaying the pumping test.

The pump and discharge pipe shall be equipped with a flow meter and the discharge shall be directed so that it leaves the site without infiltrating to the aquifer. Any and all permits required by the NJDEP for the discharge of water must be obtained prior to starting the test.

When the pump is started the flow rate shall be adjusted immediately to a uniform pumping rate as required for a constant rate test so that the flow rate varies less than 10% throughout the test. If the flow rate fluctuates more than 10%, the test may be deemed invalid and the applicant required to repeat the notification and testing process. At a minimum, the flow rate for the test should be equal to 120% of the flow rate required to satisfy the average daily demand.

Water-level measurements during the pumping phase of the test shall be collected in accordance with Table 2. This same schedule shall be followed for the recovery phase of testing upon shut down of the pump in the test well.

If the water levels in the observation wells and test well do not fully recover to static (pre-pumping) levels within a length of time since pumping stopped equal to the length of pumping, the test will be deemed to have failed unless adequate data can be provided to ensure the aquifer is of sufficient extent to prevent the mining of groundwater.

Groundwater samples should be collected during the pumping test from the pumping well. The samples should be collected in accordance with the NJDEP Field Procedures Manual. At a minimum, the samples should be analyzed by a NJDEP certified laboratory for pH (field determined), hardness, iron, manganese, nitrate, chloride, and coliform bacteria. If site conditions indicate potential historic uses of pollutants such as, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds, and/or semivolatile organic compounds, these analyses should be conducted. The results of the water sample analyses will be used to assess background water quality.

The Township may choose to have a person of its choosing monitor the aquifer test.

The well shall remain undisturbed for three days following drilling to allow aquifer conditions to stabilize.

Water level measurements shall be collected from the well and accessible adjacent wells (within 500 feet) before starting the pumping test.

When the pump is turned on, the discharge rate shall be monitored and maintained at a minimum of five gpm. Although a water meter is preferable for measuring discharge, a five gallon bucket and a stopwatch may be employed.

Water levels in the pumping well and adjacent observation wells shall be collected according to the schedule in Table 2.[1]

Near the conclusion of the pumping portion of the test, groundwater samples should be collected from the discharge in accordance with the NJDEP Field Procedures Manual. At a minimum, the samples should be analyzed by a NJDEP certified laboratory for pH (field determined), hardness, iron, manganese, nitrate, chloride, and coliform bacteria. If site conditions indicate potential historic uses of pollutants such as, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds, and/or semivolatile organic compounds, these analyses should be conducted. The results of the water sample analyses will be used to assess background water quality.

Immediately after the pump is shut off, water-level recovery shall be measured in accordance with Table 2.[2] The recovery rate shall be determined from these water-level recovery measurements for the first 30 minutes after the pump is shut down. The measurements should indicate a flow into the well of at least one gpm over this interval.

In the event that the well shows little drawdown (less than two feet) during the two hours pumping portion of the test, pumping may continue in lieu of the recovery rate portion of the test. The minimum requirement for pumping after two hours is that a minimum rate of one gpm be maintained for an additional hour with no increase in drawdown. The recovery of the water level shall still be monitored after the shut-off of the pump.

A report summarizing the well construction and aquifer testing shall be submitted to the Planning Board. The report should include the water-level measurements and recovery rate calculations.

The report should include the well driller's and pump installer's name and license numbers. In addition, the names of the person and firm that measured the water level drawdown and recovery data, and calculated the recovery rate shall be provided. The report should include a copy of the completed NJDEP Well Record for all wells within the subdivision.

Based on the results of the testing and report, the Township may request additional analyses of the pumping test data to evaluate aquifer characteristics, the potential cone of influence, and potential impacts to other nearby groundwater users.

If after two hours of recovery, the water-levels in the observation wells and pumping well have not returned to the static (prepumping) levels, then the well or wells will have failed the test.

If the test well fails any part of the above test either by failing to maintain a pumping rate of five gpm for two hours, failing to recover at a rate of one gpm, or failing to recover to the static level within two hours after pumping stopped, the well shall be considered marginal and shall be deepened to intercept additional fractures and to add additional well storage. After well deepening, the entire test procedure shall be repeated. If the well fails again, the well will be classified as marginal.

If a well is classified as marginal the Township shall be notified to evaluate the conditions of nearby wells. If a well is deemed marginal, then as a condition of approval, the Township may choose to deed restrict the lot to prevent heavy water uses such as swimming pools or landscape irrigation systems.

Owners of existing wells on lots located within 500 feet of the nonresidential development boundary shall be given an opportunity to have their wells monitored during the aquifer test. Such opportunity shall be given by the applicant by notice via certified mail and shall give the time and place of the well pumping test. Furthermore, the notice shall indicate that such existing well may be monitored if agreed to by the well owner provided the well is readily accessible. Such notice shall indicate that the existing well owner must respond within seven days and the applicant's responsibility is to monitor up to three wells on properties within 500 feet of the subdivision boundaries. If the owner of the lot within 500 feet of the subdivision boundaries decides to participate by agreeing to have their existing well monitored, they shall notify the applicant by certified mail. Such response shall be provided within seven days of receipt of the certified notice from the applicant. If the applicant receives no response within the time provided, the response shall be deemed to be negative.

If the owner of a lot within 500 feet of the development boundaries decides to have their existing well monitored, such lot owner shall, if requested by the applicant, the applicant's hydrogeologist, and/or well driller, provide in writing a hold harmless agreement to applicant, the applicant's hydrogeologist, and/or well driller. All reasonable efforts shall be made to protect the potability of water from the monitored well.

In the case when more than three property owners within 500 feet of the nonresidential development boundaries decide to participate to have their existing wells monitored, only the three nearest the test well need be monitored.

Prior to conducting an aquifer test, the applicant shall submit the design of such aquifer test including the location of wells to be monitored on adjacent lots and qualifications of the persons and firm who will be performing the test for review by the Township. The applicant shall submit the application fees and escrow deposits in accord with § 30-11.5d, along with the proposed design of the aquifer test. The purpose of the escrow deposit is to cover the cost of Township review of the proposed aquifer test. Such review may include submission of such design to a qualified hydrogeologist representing the Township for review and recommendations.

The pumping test will be comprised of three phases. The first phase will involve the collection of background water levels prior to the start of the test. The second phase will involve the pumping of water from the well and the monitoring of water-level drawdown in the observation and pumping wells. The third phase will involve the recovery of water levels in the observation and pumping well after the pump has been shut down. This third phase of the test should be the same length of the pumping phase.

If at all possible, the pumping test (all three phases) should not be conducted during precipitation events. In addition, if adjacent property wells are used instead of new observation wells, then the pumping test should not be started until the water levels in the adjacent property wells stabilize and an accurate static water level can be measured.

The background phase includes allowing the test well and observation wells to stabilize for a minimum of three days before the test. Water levels shall be collected from the test well and observation well 24 hours before the test. Barometer measurements and additional water-level measurements can be made by the applicant to evaluate the change in water levels resulting from barometric pressure changes.

On the day of the test, water levels shall be collected from all wells. For those wells showing a change of more than 0.1 foot, a second round of measurements shall be collected before starting the test. However, if the applicant has barometric pressure and water-level data to indicate that the change in static levels is due to changes in barometric pressure, the applicant can submit these data in lieu of delaying the pumping test.

The pump and discharge pipe shall be equipped with a flow meter and the discharge shall be directed so that it leaves the site without infiltrating to the aquifer. Any and all permits required by the NJDEP for the discharge of water must be obtained prior to starting the test.

The flow rate shall be adjusted immediately upon starting the test to a uniform pumping rate as required for a constant rate test so that the flow rate varies less than 10% throughout the test. If the flow rate fluctuates more than 10%, the test may be deemed invalid and the applicant required to repeat the testing process. At a minimum, the flow rate for the test should be equal to 120% of the flow rate required to satisfy the average daily demand.

Water-level measurements during the pumping phase of the test shall be collected in accordance with Table 4. This same schedule shall be followed for the recovery phase of testing upon shut down of the pump in the test well.

If the water levels in the observation wells and test well do not fully recover to static (pre-pumping) levels within a length of time since pumping stopped equal to the length of pumping, the test will be deemed to have failed unless adequate data can be provided to ensure that the aquifer is of sufficient extent to prevent the mining of groundwater.

Groundwater samples should be collected during the pumping test from the pumping well. The samples should be collected in accordance with the NJDEP Field Procedures Manual. At a minimum, the samples should be analyzed by a NJDEP certified laboratory for pH (field determined), hardness, iron, manganese, nitrate, chloride, and coliform bacteria. If site conditions indicate potential historic uses of pollutants such as, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds, and/or semivolatile organic compounds, these analyses should be conducted. The results of the water sample analyses will be used to assess background water quality.

The Township may choose to have a person of its choosing monitor the aquifer test.