§ 9-601

This Chapter specifies the minimum regulations for the use of water wells.

(a)

Where Not Allowed. Private, on-site domestic water wells shall not be approved where public water systems are available.

(b)

Well Permit Required. A Well Permit is required and must be approved by the Director of the Environmental Health prior to digging, drilling, boring, driving, repairing, or destroying any well; or repairing, replacing, installing, or sealing a pump for use on any well. The permit is required whether the well is to be used for domestic, irrigation, testing, geophysical, seismic, subsurface boring, monitoring, injection, extraction, vapor probe, cathodic protection, or other purposes. A permit is not necessary to replace or repair equipment if the sanitary seal is not broken.

(1)

Requirements for Application. Applications for Well Permits must be initiated by a well driller licensed by the State of California. Applications shall be filed with the Environmental Health Department. A request for a Well Permit shall include a site plan which clearly delineates the location and characteristics of the proposed use.

(A)

Review Procedures. Well Permit applications shall be reviewed by the Director of the Environmental Health Department. A pre-application Conferences is not required, and the time limit for approval shall be one year

(2)

Filing Deadline. The application shall be filed and accepted as complete at least 48 hours prior to commencing on-site work.

(3)

Conditions for Development. A Well Permit shall be approved by the Director of the Environmental Health only if the following conditions are met:

(A)

The proposed well shall not be offensive, dangerous, or injurious to health, or create a nuisance;

(B)

The proposed well complies in all respects to the standards of the Environmental Health Department for the construction of wells; and

(C)

Upon completion of the well, the applicant or the Well Contractor shall file a copy of a Well Drillers Report with the Environmental Health Department.

(c)

Inspection of Permitted Work. The well site, location, material, and methods used may be inspected by the Director of Environmental Health at any time prior to or during construction or destruction of any well. The Director of Environmental Health shall be informed when the work is completed and, thereafter shall make a final inspection. Work done under a water well permit shall not be covered, concealed, or put into use until it has been inspected and approved by the Director of Environmental Health.

(d)

Changes May Be Ordered. The Director of Environmental Health may order changes in the location of water wells and in the methods, means, and manner of constructing water wells to eliminate a risk to the health of human beings or animals or a detriment to groundwater sources. The Director of Environmental Health shall designate the time within which such changes are to be made.

(e)

Special Permits. The Director of Environmental Health may approve Special Permits for a specific time when the requirements of this Chapter are found to be impracticable or unnecessary. In approving an Special Permit, the Director of Environmental Health shall prescribe all conditions necessary to protect the public health.

(f)

Emergency Repairs. In the event of an emergency, as evidenced by lack of water, repairs may proceed without a permit. Emergency repairs include the construction of a new well, or the repair, deepening, or replacement of a well or pump. All work done under emergency conditions shall comply with the standards adopted pursuant to this Chapter. In all such cases, the owner or contractor must file a statement that this was an emergency repair and the reason for the repair. Application for emergency repairs must be made within 48 hours after such repairs are begun, excluding weekends and holidays.

All wells are subject to the following regulations:

(a)

Sanitary Seal. All wells shall have a sanitary seal.

(b)

Concrete Platform or Slab. All wells, except cathodic protection wells, shall have a concrete platform or slab constructed to prevent the entrance of surface water from any source into the well or the underground water source.

(c)

Disinfection. After the construction or repair of all water wells and prior to the use of the well, the well and all appurtenances thereto shall be adequately disinfected.

(d)

Grout Seal. All water wells shall have a grout seal in the annular space.

(e)

Abandonment of Wells. Upon determination that any well is abandoned as provided in the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this Chapter, that well must be destroyed in the manner prescribed so that entrance of degraded or contaminated water into usable aquifers, or creation of a safety hazard, are minimized.

(f)

Destruction of Wells. The Director of Environmental Health is authorized, after reasonable efforts to eliminate pollution, contamination, or a safety hazard, to enforce the permanent abandonment by

destruction of any well that is polluted, contaminated, or is so located as to become polluted or contaminated or is a safety hazard. The Director of Environmental Health also is authorized to destroy any such well and to recover the cost of the destruction from the owner of the property on which the well is located.

(g)

Out-of-Service Wells. If the owner intends to cease use of a well for six months or more, the owner shall inform the Director of Environmental Health. Such a well shall be protected from any source of contamination while the well is temporarily out of service. The owner shall continue to maintain such a well as required by this Chapter.

(h)

Required Notice for Dewatering Wells. The Director of Environmental Health shall be notified prior to installing dewatering wells in areas of known contamination. The Director of Environmental Health shall be notified immediately of areas where contamination is encountered and cease operation until clearance from the Director of Environmental Health is obtained.

(i)

Compliance with Standards. The Board of Supervisors shall adopt uniform standards for the construction, installation, alteration, and modification of the facilities subject to this Chapter based on investigation, inspection, and tests and accepted standards. These standards may be amended as necessary by the Board of Supervisors. The standards shall not conflict with the requirements of this Title or the laws of the State of California. All well facilities shall be constructed or modified only if they comply with the adopted standards.

(j)

Areas of Poor Water Quality. In all areas of the County where poor quality water could infiltrate good quality groundwater due to well construction, special requirements will be set to protect the good quality water. These areas of water quality problems shall be identified by the Director of Environmental Health based on the best available information and adopted pursuant to Section 9-603.020.

(k)

Prohibitions. The following uses are hereby prohibited.

(1)

Well Pits. The construction, use, or installation of well pits.

(2)

Separate Wells. The provision of water to a residence from an off-site private, domestic water well located on a separate recorded parcel.

It shall be unlawful to maintain or use any residence, place of business, or other building or place where persons reside, congregate, or are employed which is not provided with a means for the water that complies with the requirements of this Chapter and the standards relating to water wells established by the Director of Environmental Health.

Chapter 9-602 - Water Systems