17.25.100 Critical Area – Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas.
1. Purpose. It is the intent of the City to promote public health and safety by acknowledging the importance of preserving critical aquifer recharge areas that are located within the City boundaries or that may annex into the City. These areas serve the vital function of replenishing groundwater resources which, in Eastern Washington, account for a major share of the water for irrigation, municipal, industrial and domestic uses. Potable water is an essential life-sustaining element. Much of Washington’s water comes from groundwater supplies. Preventing contamination is necessary to avoid exorbitant costs, hardships and potential physical harm to people.
2. Goals and Policies. The following reflect the goals and policies of the community:
A. Goal: The City seeks to protect the public health, safety and welfare of its residents by providing protection of potable water sources.
B. Policies:
1. As data becomes available, identify, map and maintain critical groundwater supply areas, aquifer recharge areas, and/or unconfined aquifers used for potable water.
2. Prohibit the placement, storage generation and/or disposal of hazardous materials, including fuel, within a Critical Aquifer Recharge Area.
3. Divisions of land within aquifer recharge areas will be evaluated for their impact on groundwater quality.
4. The City will support and encourage the Washington State Department of Ecology efforts to enforce the decommissioning requirements for unused wells.
3. Classification and Designation. The “Columbia Basin Ground Water Management Area Plan” (GWMA). Primary focus is to reduce nitrate in groundwater of the GWMA, significant scientific data has been developed that identifies, among other things, where there are groundwater areas in the City of George that may be susceptible to contaminant loading. For the purposes of this code, those areas with exposed basalt complex basalt flows are “critical aquifer recharge areas”. Any activities, particularly municipal, industrial, commercial and agricultural activities, that involve the collection and storage of substances that, in sufficient quantity during an accidental or intentional release, would result in the impairment of the aquifer water to be used as potable drinking water liquids shall be regulated by this chapter. Furthermore, the City Water Plan identifies well-head protection areas which shall be considered a part of critical aquifer recharge areas (CARA).
4. Management Recommendations and Standards. The following management recommendations and standards will apply to development proposals determined to be located within critical aquifer recharge areas, as defined and described herein:
A. The appropriate agency(ies) will develop educational information to assist with informing people with shallow wells how best to manage and protect their potable water source.
B. The City will support the GWMA and local conservation districts in their efforts to educate agricultural producers about the best management practices for protecting groundwater quality.
C. Development activities within a critical aquifer recharge area that have a high potential for contamination shall be required to do a hydrological study, using best available science, and shall develop and implement protection measures to prevent contamination.
D. Any changes in land use or type of new facilities where substances of moderate risk are used, stored, treated or handled; or which produce moderate risk waste shall be designed to prevent the release of any such materials into the groundwater.
E. Surface impoundments, defined by Chapter 173-303 WAC, shall be designed by a professional engineer and constructed with an impermeable liner and other components as appropriate to prevent discharge of any material on the ground surface and/or into the groundwater system. Surface impoundments shall be designed and constructed in accordance with applicable governing law, and have a minimum excess capacity equal to one hundred twenty percent of the projected volume of liquid to be contained including intentional and unintentional stormwater capture.
F. All minor developments, as defined and described herein, authorized within an aquifer recharge area shall comply with the following standards:
1. Connection to a public sanitary sewer system shall be required except when all three of the following conditions are met.
a. The public health officer has not designated the aquifer recharge area as an "area of special concern" in accordance with WAC 246-272-21501;
b. The type of on-site system is approved by Grant County Health upon finding that the design of the system will not be detrimental to the community water supply;
c. The property owner shall enter a no protest agreement with a sanitary sewer provider as appropriate to the property location, agreeing to not protest the formation of a local improvement district for the extension of sanitary sewer. This agreement shall be recorded with the Grant County Auditor.
2. The connection to an approved public water service shall be required.
3. The City will support and encourage the Washington State Department of Ecology efforts to enforce the well-casing requirements.
G. All major developments as defined and described herein, authorized within a critical aquifer recharge area shall comply with the following minimum standards.
1. Connection to a public sanitary sewer system or an approved community sewer system shall be required.
2. Connection to an approved public water system shall be required.
3. Stormwater detention and retention facilities shall be designed using best available science and management practices to separate chemical and biological pollutants from the water.
4. An analysis shall be conducted to assess the impact to groundwater quality from the potential of nitrate loading to the groundwater.
5. Areas highly susceptible of transporting contaminants to the groundwater (i.e., natural drainages, springs, wetlands, etc.), as determined by the review authority, shall be designated as Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas. All impervious surfaces shall maintain an appropriate setback from areas identified as being highly susceptible and no amount of stormwater runoff shall be directed towards the susceptible area(s).
H. Parks, Schools and Recreation Facilities. Fertilizer and pesticide management practices of schools, parks, other recreation facilities and similar uses shall use best management practices as prescribed by the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Services.
I. All major and minor developments, containing a wellhead protection area of critical aquifer recharge area shall have an informational note placed on the face of plat stating "this area is located within an aquifer recharge area. Best management practices shall be used for the containment of stormwater and the application of pesticides and fertilizers.”