Santa Clara County Municipal Code Art. 1 General

In addition to the definitions in Chapter I, the following terms are defined for purposes of this chapter:

(a) Dwelling unit means a room or suite of two or more rooms, one of which is a kitchen.

(b) Horizontal well means a well drilled approximately horizontally into a water-bearing stratum as contrasted with a common vertical well, and from which water issues without the aid of a pump.

(c) Individual private water system means a system, regardless of type of ownership, for the provision of potable water to one dwelling unit. It includes any collection, treatment, storage, or distribution facilities under control of the owner(s) of that system used primarily in connection with the system.

(d) Service connection means a connection between a water main and a dwelling unit.

(e) Small private water system means a system, regardless of type of ownership, for the provision of potable water to two, three or four service connections. It includes any collection, treatment, storage, or distribution facilities under control of the owner(s) of the system, which are used primarily in connection with the system.

(f) Source means a well, spring or horizontal well. It excludes water from a water storage facility.

(g) Water main means any pipe or conduit that is part of a distribution system with the capacity to supply water to more than one service connection.

(Ord. No. NS-517.72, § 2, 4-15-03)

(a) For those public water systems supplying fewer than 200 service connections, the Director will enforce the provisions of Health and Safety Code §§ 116325—116750, and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto (22 CCR Section 64400 et seq.) relating to water and water systems.

(b) Public water system means:

(1) A system, regardless of type of ownership, for the provision of piped water to the public for domestic use, if the system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days of the year. A public water system includes:

a. Any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities that are used primarily in connection with the system and which are under control of the water supplier.

b. Any collection or pretreatment storage facilities which are used primarily in connection with the system but are not under control of the water supplier.

(2) Community water system means a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-long residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-long residents.

(3) Non-community water system means a public water system that meets one of the following criteria:

a. Serves at least 25 nonresident individuals daily at least 60 days of the year, but not more than 24 year-long residents.

b. Serves 15 or more service connections and any number of nonresident individuals at least 60 days of the year, but no year-long residents.

(c) State small water system means a water system that serves from five to 14 service connections and does not regularly serve more than an average of 25 individuals daily for more than 60 days of the year.

(Ord. No. NS-517.72, § 2, 4-15-03)

The Santa Clara Valley Water District (district) issues all permits for the construction of domestic and agricultural wells. Prior to the issuance of the permit by the district, the applicant must first obtain clearance from the Director.

(Ord. No. NS-517.72, § 2, 4-15-03)

An application for clearance to construct a domestic or agricultural water well must be filed with the Director on a form as the Director may prescribe, and be accompanied by a fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. No part of this fee will be refundable. This application must provide the information as the Director may reasonably require and must be signed by the owner(s) of the property.

Applicants for clearance to construct a domestic or agricultural water well systems must:

(a) Submit copies of the site plan showing the following information:

(1) The proposed well location.

(2) The proposed sewage disposal system or location of any existing sewage disposal system on the property or within 100 feet of the property.

(3) The location of the proposed dwelling units, if applicable. The number of copies will be determined by the Director.

(b) Submit a Santa Clara Valley Water District well construction permit application to construct a water well form that has been properly filled out and signed by both the applicant and the well driller.

(Ord. No. NS-517.72, § 2, 4-15-03)