[Adopted 3-21-1978 by Ord. No. 56]
 
No private well or private on-site sewage disposal system may be constructed or installed on any lot on which a structure which shall be supported by such system or systems is to be constructed unless the owner or applicant has obtained a zoning permit pursuant to the provisions of the Upper Makefield Township Zoning Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance is on file in the Township offices and is accessible via the Township website.
[Amended 4-17-1985 by Ord. No. 115; 8-16-1989 by Ord. No. 151; 4-18-1990 by Ord. No. 156; 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
A. 
Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Part:
ANNULUS
The annular space between the casing and the wall of the borehole.
AQUICLUDE
A part of a geologic formation, formation or group of formations with virtually no capacity to transmit water.
AQUIFER
Rock or sediment in a geologic formation, part of a formation or group of formations which has the capacity to store and transmit water to wells and springs at a reasonable cost.
AQUITARD
A saturated but poorly permeable part of a formation, formation or group of formations which does not transmit water freely to a well or spring. However, an aquitard may transmit appreciable amounts of water to or from adjacent aquifers.
BOREHOLE STORAGE
The volume of water contained in the well under nonpumping conditions. It is obtained by multiplying the area of the borehole cross-section for the height of the water column. In a domestic well (six-inch diameter), borehole storage equals approximately 1 1/2 gallons per foot of water column.
COMBINED YIELD
The combination of well yield as defined below plus contribution to well flow from borehole storage over a minimum two-hour period.
LONG-TERM PUMPING TEST
The pumping test of a well lasting 48 hours or longer.
QUALIFIED GROUNDWATER PROFESSIONAL
Professional geologist/hydrogeologist licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
WATER-BEARING ZONE
Fractures or other openings in the bedrock which yield measurable quantities of water on a continuous basis and contribute to the yield of the well.
WELL YIELD
Amount or volume of water that flows from the aquifer into the well and measured at the completion of all drilling and well development in accordance with the procedures outlined below in Subsection C of this section.
B. 
A drill record, geologic log and testing report shall be prepared for each well and shall include the name, address, phone number and signature of the professional geologist and/or licensed Pennsylvania well driller. This information shall be provided to the Township along with a map which indicates the location of this well on the land development plan at a scale not exceeding one inch equals 400 feet and will be required for the issuance of a building permit.
C. 
The information submitted to the Township pursuant to Subsection B above shall include data on well yield collected in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) 
Well yield shall be measured with an accuracy of +/-10% and reported in gallons per minute (gpm). The yield of the well, at the completion of drilling and well development, shall be determined by means of a continuous flow test of minimum two-hour duration. If the yield of the well is determined with the use of the drilling rig, by airlifting, the required two-hour period shall begin after the groundwater stored in the borehole has been evacuated. If a submersible pump is used to ascertain the yield of the well, the two-hour period shall commence when the water level in the well drops at a rate of 1/2 foot per hour or less while maintaining the pumping rate constant.
(2) 
Determination of well yield shall be accomplished in the absence of significant precipitation events, or the effect from precipitation shall be properly accounted for.
(3) 
Any factors that may artificially inflate the well yield, including, but not limited to, recirculation of water, recharge from precipitation, addition of water by driller, etc. must be included in the information submitted to the Township.
(4) 
Location and yield of water-bearing zones encountered during drilling shall be recorded as accurately as possible by the geologist present at the site and/or by the driller.
(5) 
Daily measurements of water levels in the well shall be collected at the start and end of drilling and included in the record. Measurements shall be made with appropriate tools and with an accuracy of +/- 0.1 foot.
(6) 
Yields of three gpm or more are considered sufficient for domestic wells in Upper Makefield Township, provided:
(a) 
The yield of three gpm or more is obtained from water-bearing zones located below 150 feet and some of the yield is from a depth of 200 feet or more.
(b) 
The well can sustain a pumping rate of 4 1/2 gpm for a minimum of two hours from aquifer contribution and borehole storage.
(7) 
Yields of less three gpm are considered inadequate for domestic wells in Upper Makefield Township. However, a permit can be issued by the Township, at its sole discretion, when certification signed by a professional geologist/hydrogeologist indicates the well can provide a reliable, long-term supply.
(8) 
The yield of a well shall be determined based solely on the contribution of water-bearing zones located below 150 feet. That is, water-bearing zones encountered to a depth of 150 feet and the yield thereof shall not be included in the computation of well yield, except as noted below (§ 26-304).
(9) 
The driller or professional geologist shall indicate on the well record the appropriate setting for the submersible pump.
[Amended 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
All wells shall be cased for a minimum of 40 feet, and the casing shall extend a minimum of five feet into competent bedrock. The casing shall extend a minimum of one foot above final grade, and the annulus shall be grouted with cement or equal material so as to form a tight seal.
[Amended 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
All domestic wells shall be drilled to a minimum depth of 200 feet (or more, where necessary) in order to meet Upper Makefield Township requirements pertaining to well yield. It should be noted that this is the minimum depth required, and many wells may have to be drilled deeper. Conversely, when, due to above normal yields (for domestic wells), drilling of the well is terminated at less than 200 feet, the long-term reliability of the well as a source of water supply shall be certified by a professional geologist.
[Added 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216; amended 8-1-2007 by Ord. No. 277]
The quality of the groundwater at the well shall be determined via bacteriological and chemical analysis of a sample collected after pumping the well for a minimum of two hours. This information shall be submitted to the Township together with the information set forth in § 26-302B above. The analysis shall be performed by a state-approved laboratory and shall include the following parameters:
Secondary Contaminants
SMCL
(mg/L)
pH*
6.5 to 8.5 units
Temperature*
N/A degrees
Chloride
250
Sulfate
250
Total dissolved solids
500
Color
15 color units
Odor
3 threshold odor numbers
Turbidity
0.5 to 1 NTU**
Iron
0.3
Manganese
0.05
Copper
1
NOTES:
SMCL = Secondary maximum contaminant level
*
Can be measured in the field
**
Performance standard
Microbiological Contaminants
MCLG
Total coliforms*
0
NOTES:
MCLG = Maximum contaminant level goal
*
If positive, analyze for fecal coliform
Inorganic Chemicals
MCL
(mg/L)
Arsenic
0.010
Barium
2.0
Cadmium
0.005
Chromium
0.1
Lead
0.005
Mercury
0.002
Nitratre + Nitrite (as Nitrogen)
10.0
Volatile Organic Chemicals
MCL
(mg/L)
Benzene
0.005
Carbon Tetrachloride
0.005
o-Dichlorobenzene
0.6
para-Dichlorobenzene
0.075
1,2-Dichloroethane
0.005
1,1-Dichloroethylene
0.007
cis-Dichloroethylene
0.07
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
0.1
Dichloromethane
0.005
1,2-Dichloropropane
0.005
Ethylbenzene
0.7
Monochlorobenzene
0.1
Styrene
0.1
Tetrachloroethylene
0.005
Toluene
1.0
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
0.07
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
0.2
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
0.005
Trichloroethylene
0.005
Vinyl Chloride
0.002
Xylenes (Total)
10.0
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
Alachlor
0.002
Atrazine
0.003
Chlordane
0.002
Dibromochloropropane
0.002
Ethylenedibromide
0.00005
Hexochlorocyclopentadiene
0.05
Lindane
0.0002
Methoxychlor
0.04
Simazine
0.004
Carbofuran
0.04
2,4D
0.07
Endothal
0.1
NOTES:
MCL = Maximum contaminant level
[Amended 4-17-1985 by Ord. No. 115; 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
Prior to the issuance of a building permit and/or a certificate of use and occupancy, and upon completion of the installation of any private well (whether or not any permit is required), the owner of the premises upon which the well has been installed shall produce a certificate of quality for the water within the well, a certificate setting forth the rate of flow of water from the well and information stating the depth to water and the geologic description.
[Amended 12-6-1995 by Ord. No. 186; 4-21-1999 by Ord. No. 216]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.