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Code of the Township of Abington                                    [ Back to Table of Contents ]

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PART II GENERAL LEGISLATION: Chapter 159, WATER

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Abington 4-11-1968 by Ord. No. 1221. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Drainage -- See Ch. 70.

Housing standards -- See Ch. 98.

Plumbing -- See Ch. 121.

Sewers and sewage -- See Ch. 132.

Subdivision and land development -- See Ch. 146.

159-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

AIR GAP -- The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank or plumbing fixture or other device and the flood-level rim of the receptacle.

BACKFLOW -- The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any source or sources other than an approved source.

CROSS-CONNECTION -- Any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other steam, gas, a chemical or water of unknown or questionable safety, whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other, the direction depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.

GROUNDWATER -- The accumulation of water which exists in the ground and is used as a source of water supply through openings such as wells, springs and infiltration galleries.

POLLUTION -- The introduction of noxious, pathogenic, putrescible or deleterious substance into the groundwaters, streams or other bodies of water, rendering such waters unclean to the extent of being harmful or potentially harmful to the public health, safety or welfare or to animal life or to the use of such waters for domestic water supply or industrial purposes or for recreation.

POTABLE WATER SUPPLY -- A waterworks or water system, including source or sources, treatment, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, resulting in a water supply that is safe for consumption and use by the public.

SURFACE WATER -- Water derived from the surface of the earth, such as streams, ponds, lakes or reservoirs.

WATER SOURCE -- Any well, spring, cistern, infiltration gallery, stream, reservoir, pond or lake from which by any means water is taken either intermittently or continuously for drinking or domestic use by the public.

159-2. Approval of local supplies; tests; polluted supplies.

A. Water supplies for consumption or use by the public or residents of Abington Township where the source of such water supplies is local, on-lot, such as wells or springs, or from a source not specifically licensed and controlled under authority of the Pennsylvania State Department of Health, must be approved for use by the Abington Township Health Officer.

B. All dwellings, dwelling units, commercial, retail or industrial establishments where one or more persons are normally present shall be provided with a properly installed pressurized potable water supply approved by the Abington Township Health Officer.

C. Annual chemical and bacteriological examinations shall be required at the expense of the owner or operator where the source of such water supply is other than a properly licensed public utility system. A copy of the results of such examination shall be filed with the Abington Township Health Officer.

D. No owner or occupant of any premises shall maintain any well, spring, cistern or other source of water supply to which the public has or may have access and which is polluted or which is so situated or constructed that it may become polluted in any manner.

159-3. Water for irrigation and similar purposes.

All water supplies for irrigation, cultivation, insect spraying, tree or orchard spraying operations, whether on private or public lands, must originate from a potable water supply approved by the Abington Township Health Officer.

159-4. Waste disposal systems.

All waste disposal systems for solid or liquid wastes must be constructed, operated and maintained so as not to endanger the health and welfare of the public or contaminate or potentially contaminate or pollute any groundwater supplies.

159-5. Abandoned sources of supply.

A. 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 the groundwater. Abandoned wells shall be completely filled with puddled clay or equal.

B. Such wells and springs may not be used for the disposal of liquid, gaseous or solid waste materials.

159-6. Prohibited cross-connections; air gaps.

A. Water systems where water is reused or recirculated for cooling, washing or processing shall be constructed so as to eliminate any possible connection or cross-connection to or contamination of a potable water supply.

B. An air gap to prevent any backflow must be provided for the introduction or supply of any additional water supplies to such a system where the source of such water is a potable water supply system.

159-7. Violations and penalties.

Any person failing to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable for each such offense, upon conviction before any District Justice within the Township of Abington, to a fine of not more than $300, together with the costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such fine and costs to undergo imprisonment for a period not exceeding five days, and each day's failure to comply with any such provision shall constitute a separate violation.