Township of Nockamixon, PA Well Utilization Permit

Each applicant applying for a permit pertaining to a regulated well shall perform a water quality analysis. The groundwater quality analyses shall be conducted on a pumped water sample collected just prior to the completion of the pump test, as described in § 228-12.B of this chapter.

The analysis shall contain the interpolated (for the site) values, range of values, and drinking water standard values as set forth in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. All laboratory analyses shall be performed by a PA DEP certified laboratory and shall be included in the study.

The analysis shall contain any available water quality data that is obtained from nearby, adjacent groundwater sources including data collected by Nockamixon Township or from other studies performed for other developments with the Township or within one mile of the perimeter of the site.

The analysis shall indicate the location and design of all on-site sewage disposal systems.

For Class III applicants only, the analysis shall include a groundwater quality analysis for the dry year nitrate impact of on-site sewage disposal systems within the proposed subdivision. In particular, the analysis must include an estimate of the increase in nitrogen (nitrate, nitrite and ammonia) concentrations in the ground water and provide a discussion of background nitrogen concentrations. The analysis shall also include an estimate of the nitrogen concentration in the ground water beneath the downgradient property boundaries during the fifty-year drought.

(1)

Nitrate Analysis Report. A nitrogen dilution model (NDM) must be provided to predict the water quality impacts of on-site wastewater disposal systems. The model shall include an analysis of the nitrogen loading, the predicted concentration of nitrate at the property line, the septic effluent leach field area and precipitation input. Specific standards for this model are provided within the NDM of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the NDM of the State of New Jersey Pinelands Commission. An example of the use of such a model is the method of Trela-Douglas.[1] An equivalent Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection model may also be used.

(a)

In order to assure the availability of reliable and safe water supply to support the intended land uses and to protect the aquifer, no development, regardless of size, shall be approved which will increase nitrates by half the distance to 10 ppm from background nitrate[2] level as measured by a water quality laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The formula for calculating the maximum target nitrate concentration allowable is to subtract the background concentration of nitrate from 10 ppm and divide that number in half and add that to the background concentration of nitrate.

Target nitrate concentration = Background conc. + (10 ppm - Background conc.)\2

[2]

Note: A nitrogen dilution model as described above is to be used.

(b)

The data prepared by the United States Geological Survey in the water study known as the Hydrogeology and Groundwater Quality of Northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Water Resources Investigations Report 94-4109 and Hydrologic Data for Northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Open-File Report 94-381, and/or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District/Final Market Feasibility Study, Tinicum Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania, Alternative Wastewater Treatment Solutions for Hamlets and Villages and Groundwater Monitoring Options, (MFS Study, October, 1996) shall be considered authoritative. The soils data provided by the United States National Resource Conservation Service, and the geologic data provided by the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, Map of Pennsylvania 1981 or more recent if available, shall be considered authoritative.

[1]

Note: Nitrate Dilution Modeling of Montgomery Township, Somerset County, NJ www.giscenter.org/resources/library/montgom.nitrate.pdf

(2)

For Developments Proposing to Use a Community Waste Disposal System with Stream Discharge. For surface water resources, the unit aerial pollutant budget analysis approach can be utilized to predict how much nitrogen is entering a given water body. An applicant proposing a community waste disposal system must first delineate the watershed boundaries of the water body of concern. The water body could be a lake, reservoir, stream or river.

(a)

Once delineated, all of the land use within the watershed is quantified in terms of surface area. Each land use category should have an ascribed surface area based on the most up-to-date map/digital data available.

(b)

Empirically derived pollutant loading coefficients can be assigned to each land use category. These coefficients provide an estimate of the amount of a given pollutant (i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, suspended sediments, and lead) that is generated on an annual basis for each particular land use category. These coefficients shall either be obtained from the scientific literature or from field data collected at the site. The coefficients are multiplied by the surface area of its respective land use category to obtain an estimate of the pollutant generated by that land use category per year.

(c)

The data can then be used to develop a pollutant budget for the receiving water body. Current pollutant budgets shall be compared to future predictions of development to predict how such activities within the watershed will impact the water quality of the receiving water body. Predictions on future development shall be based on population data and projections that are readily available from regional, State, and local planning agencies.

The quality of the water produced by the well shall be tested as set forth in subsections A and B of this section to determine compliance with the following maximum contaminant limits[3] (as amended and/or updated by the Commonwealth or Federal standards) by a water quality laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

(1)

Physical Characteristics.

Turbidity	5 NTU units
Color	15 Color units
Threshold Odor Number	3 units
pH	6.5 - 8.5

(2)

Chemical Characteristics.

Arsenic	10 micrograms/L (ppb) (As⁺³ plus As⁺⁵)
Chloride	250 mg/L (ppm)
Nitrogen (as Nitrate + Nitrite)	10 mg/L (ppm)
Iron	3 mg/L (ppm)
Sodium	20 mg/L (ppm)
Manganese	50 micrograms/L (ppb)
Copper	1 mg/L (ppm)
Hardness	250 mg/L (ppm) as CaCO₃
Detergent	0.5 mg/L (ppm) as MBAS
Total Dissolved Solids	500 mg/L (ppm)
Total of all chlorinated alkanes and alkenes	5 micrograms/L (ppb)
Lead	15 micrograms/L (ppb)
MTBE - methyl tertiary butyl ether	20 micrograms/L or (20ppb)

(3)

Bacteriological Characteristics.

Fecal Coliform	Less than 1 colony per 100 ml
Total Plate Count	Less than 500 counts per 100 ml

(4)

No building permit will be issued for any lot unless the water quality of the well meets these standards or unless the plans for the building include detailed plans for a treatment system which is certified by a professional engineer or other qualified individual to bring the water into compliance with these standards.

(5)

In addition, the applicant for a building permit must agree that in the event the water is not in compliance with the aforementioned standards, that he will give the purchasers of the property (if different than the applicant) a copy of the water certification specifying each contaminant which does not comply with the standards and a written description (including plans) of the system which will be installed to bring the water quality into compliance together with instructions as to how the system must be maintained.

[3]

Note: The maximum contamination levels (MCL) are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html#listmcl) or the Pennsylvania DEP drinking water standards (http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watersupply/lib/watersupply/PA_MCLs_06.pdf) whichever is more restrictive.

If the land to be developed was subject to any of the prior land uses listed below, the Township may require testing for the below listed corresponding potential groundwater contaminants.

Abbreviations for Potential Contaminants
MP	Microbiological Pathogens: Total/Fecal Coliform, Viruses, Protozoa
NN	Nitrate/Nitrite
VOC	Volatile Organic Compounds
HM	Heavy Metals
M	Metals
SOC	Synthetic Organic Compounds
T	Turbidity
D	Disinfection by product precursors
TO	Taste and Odor precursors
R	Radionuclides (anthropogenic)
PH	Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Agricultural	Potential Contaminant
Animal feedlots	MP, NN, SOC, M
Dairy farms	MP, SOC, NN
Fertilizer storage or use	SOC, NN
Manure-spreading or storage	MP, NN
Pesticide storage or use	SOC
Silviculture	T, SOC
Slaughterhouses	MP, NN
Commercial	Potential Contaminant
Airports	VOC, M, HM, PH
Auto repair shops	VOC, HM, PH, M
Bus and truck terminals	VOC, HM, SOC, PH
Car washes	T, M
Construction areas	VOC, HM, M
Dry cleaners	VOC
Funeral homes	VOC, SOC, MP
Furniture refinishing	HM, VOC
Gas/service stations	VOC, PH, M
Golf courses	SOC, NN, T, HM, M
Junkyards	VOC, HM, M, PH
Laundromats	T
Lumber yards	VOC, HM
Medical facilities	VOC, HM, M, SOC, R
On-lot wastewater disposal	MP, NN
Paint shops	VOC, HM
Photo processors	VOC, SOC, HM
Printer and blueprint shops	VOC, SOC, HM,
Railroad tracks and yards	VOC, SOC, HM, PH
Repair shops (engine, appliances, etc.)	VOC, HM, PH
Research laboratories	VOC, SOC, HM, M
Rust proofers	HM, VOC
Sand and gravel mining/washing	T, M, VOC, HM
Industrial	Potential Contaminant
Asphalt, coal tar, and concrete plants	VOC, PH
Chemical manufacture	VOC, SOC, HM, M
Deep coal mining	HM, M, T
Deep non-coal mining	M, HM, T
Electronics manufacture	VOC, SOC, HM, M
Electroplaters	VOC, SOC, HM, M
Food processors	HM, VOC, M
Foundries or metal fabricators	HM, VOC, PH
Fuel oil distributors	PH, VOC
Hazardous materials storage, treatment and recycling	VOC, SOC
Industrial lagoons and pits	VOC, HM, M
Industrial parks	VOC, SOC, HM, M, PH, O
Jewelry or metalplating	VOC, HM, M, SOC
Machine/metalworking shops	VOC, HM, M, SOC
Metal and drum reconditioning	VOC, HM, M, SOC
Oil and gas wells/production	M, PH, VOC
Oil refineries	VOC, PH, HM, M
Plastics manufacturing	PH, VOC, SOC, HM
Power plants	HM, M
Quarries	T, M, VOC, HM
RCRA facilities	VOC, SOC
Storage facilities (petroleum and chemical)	VOC, SOC, PH
Surface coal mining	T, M, HM
Surface non-coal mining	T, M, HM
Tanneries	HM, M, VOC
Wood preserving facilities	SOC, HM
Residential	Potential Contaminant
Fuel oil storage	VOC, PH
Household hazardous materials	VOC, SOC
Lawn care	SOC, NN, M
On-lot waste disposal	MP, NN
Swimming pools	VOC
Miscellaneous	Potential Contaminant
Abandoned wells	SOC, VOC
Aboveground storage tanks	VOC, PH
Air pollution/local sources	N, VOC, M
Aquatic wildlife	MP, NN
Boating yards and marinas	PH, VOC, SOC
Combined sewer outfalls	VOC, SOC, MP, NN, HM, TO
Composting facilities	TO
Dredge disposal	T, VOC, SOC, M, HM
Fire training facilities	VOC, PH, M, HM
Land application of sewage sludge	MP, NN, M, HM
Landfills and dumps	VOC, HM, SOC, NN, MP, M
Large quantity hazardous waste generators	VOC, SOC, HM
Military facilities (past and present)	VOC, SOC, HM, R, PH
NPDES locations	MP, NN, HM
Pipelines - petroleum	VOC, PH
Pipelines - sewer	MP, NN, T
Recycling or reduction facilities	VOC
River barges/shipping	VOC, SOC, PH
Road and maintenance depots	VOC, SOC, M
Road deicing	M
Road salt storage	M
Small quantity hazardous waste generators	VOC, SOC, HM
Snow dumps	M, T
Stormwater facilities	T, VOC, SOC, NN, M
Transportation corridors	SOC, M, T
Underground petroleum storage tank	VOC
Utility substation	SOC, VOC, HM
Waste incinerators	HM, VOC, SOC
Wastewater treatment plants	D, MP, NN, VOC, SOC, M
Wells/Borehole drilling	SOC, VOC, M, T