[Amended 3-22-2021 by Ord. No. 22-2021]
A. As part of all subdivision and land development plan applications, the applicant shall develop a plan for water supply considering the following criteria:
(1) The plan for water supply shall be consistent with the most recent plans and ordinances adopted by the City of Reading.
(2) The plan for water supply shall consider the recommendations pertaining to land use, sewage disposal and water supply, as contained within the Comprehensive Plan and/or studies completed by the agencies with jurisdiction.
(3) The plan for water supply shall be consistent with all pertinent design requirements specified by the City of Reading, the municipal water authority with jurisdiction, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
(4) The plan for water supply shall be prepared to consider all pertinent local, regional, state and federal permitting requirements.
(5) If water is to be provided by means other than by private wells owned and maintained by the individual owners of lots within the subdivision or land development, the developer shall present evidence to the City of Reading that the subdivision or development is to be supplied by a certified public utility, a bona fide cooperative association of lot owners, or by a municipal corporation, authority or utility. A copy of a Certificate of Public Convenience from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or an application for such certificate, a cooperative agreement or a commitment or agreement to serve the area in question, whichever is appropriate, shall be submitted to the City of Reading.
(6) If required, the applicant shall submit evidence to the City of Reading that the proposed water supply source and service is capable of providing sufficient fire protection for the proposed use and/or development. Such evidence may include current pressure and flow data for existing fire hydrant(s) in the water main(s) that will service the project together with calculated pressures and flows within the development at the proposed fire hydrant(s) location(s). The required flow and pressures will be determined by the City of Reading and local fire departments.
(7) The applicant shall refer to the International Fire Code § 101.2.1, 2015 edition, Appendix C, or as adopted or amended in the future by the City of Reading, and comply with its requirements on fire hydrant locations and distribution. Applicant shall consult with the City of Reading, municipal water authority ivith jurisdiction and/or the local fire department to determine if any existing fire hydrants or water supply sources should be evaluated in order to determine if the sufficient water supply and pressure are available.
B. All proposed land uses that are located within a designated water supply service district or planned growth area shall be required to connect to the municipal water supply system subject to the following provisions:
(1) The City of Reading shall review all such subdivision or land development plan applications to determine the adequacy of the proposed water supply improvements. The City of Reading shall not approve a proposed subdivision or land development plan until the engineer appointed by the City of Reading or water authority with jurisdiction have issued a favorable recommendation for the water supply improvements.
(2) All proposed water supply facilities shall be located, designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the standards and specifications of the City of Reading and/or the municipal water authority with jurisdiction. Where certain standards and specifications do not exist, the City of Reading and/or municipal water authority with jurisdiction shall provide a designated requirement or alternative for the proposed water supply improvements.
(3) The applicant shall be responsible for any required off-site municipal water supply improvements that may be necessary to provide a reliable supply of water to the development. All such off-site improvements shall be coordinated with the City of Reading and the water authority with jurisdiction.
C. All proposed land uses that are located outside of a designated water supply service district or planned growth area shall be required to utilize on-lot water supply facilities through individual well(s). All such water supply wells shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1) All proposed individual on-lot wells shall be located, designed, drilled, constructed and installed in accordance with the standards and specifications of the City of Reading and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
(2) Each lot to be served by individual on-lot water supply shall be of a size and shape to permit the safe location for each well. All proposed wells shall be located, designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the provisions established by the City of Reading.
(3) A hydrogeological study shall be required for subdivision plans involving twenty (20) or more lots or for land development plans in which the estimated water usage shall exceed 5,000 gallons per day. The hydrogeological study shall be prepared by a professional hydrogeologist who shall provide documentation to conclude that the proposed individual well(s) will be capable of supplying each lot or use(s) with a dependable supply of safe potable water and that the proposed well(s) will not adversely affect the groundwater table or existing wells near the project site.
D. All proposed land uses that are located outside of a designated water supply service district or planned growth area may utilize a community water supply system through individual well(s). All such community water supply systems shall be subject to the provisions established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Reading.
E. All proposed subdivisions and land developments that are to be served by a public or community water supply system shall provide fire hydrants within the development. The proposed fire hydrants shall comply with the following provisions:
(1) Fire hydrants shall be located no more than eight hundred (800) feet apart, as measured along the centerline of each road. All residential dwelling units and non-residential principal buildings shall be located no more than four hundred (400) feet from an active fire hydrant.
(2) Fire hydrants shall be located in a manner to provide complete accessibility and so that possibility of damage from vehicles or injury to pedestrians will be minimized. Unless otherwise directed by the City of Reading, the barrel of the fire hydrant shall be set so that no portion of the pumper or hose nozzle cap will be less than eighteen (18) inches from the curb line.
(3) If required by the City of Reading, the existing service area of the fire hydrants shall be extended to consider public safety.
(4) The provisions relating to fire protection and suppression that are specified within the City of Reading Code does not relieve the applicant from the requirements for providing fire hydrants within the development.
(5) The type and location of all required fire hydrants shall be subject to the review and approval of the City of Reading and the local fire departments.