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needs, however, wellhead protection involves some specific
<br />concerns with which local planners should be familiar ifa site
<br />plan involves development in a protected area. The ordinance
<br />establishing an overlay or other zoning district for this purpose
<br />needs to detail the additional information that will be required
<br />as part ora site plan to facilitate an adequate review.
<br /> Specifically, key elements of site plan requirements for
<br />wellhead protection purposes include:
<br />
<br />[] listing all hazardous, toxic, and other regulated materials;
<br />
<br />· designating the location of existing wells and other public
<br /> water supply systems;
<br />
<br />[] locating significant geologic and natural features;
<br />
<br />· a description of fees, funding, and disbursement criteria.
<br />
<br /> There is a spatial relationship between the first three items on
<br />the above list. The location of the natural and geologic features
<br />and the location of wells help to determine the threat posed by
<br />any potential contaminants entailed in a proposed land use. As a
<br />result, information about hazardous materials typically must
<br />describe the types of wastes a use will generate as well as the
<br />methods that will be used to dispose of such wastes. For maps
<br />and plans, the location of all existing wells within a certain
<br />distance of the property line may be required for reference,
<br />Additional requirements may include mapping of sensitive
<br />geologic or natural resources and a separate plan for stormwater
<br />runoff control and management.
<br /> A good example of this comprehensive approach is contained
<br />in the model ordinance language provided in A Guide for
<br />Drafting Local Aquifer Protection Regulations, produced by the
<br />Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. The
<br />town of Cheshire, Connecticut, adds the following information
<br />to its requirements in its aquifer protection overlay zone:
<br /> (4) Whether public sanitary sewers are available or proposed at
<br /> the location.
<br /> (5) Septic tank location, size, and capacity, and/or sewage lift
<br /> stations, force mains, and grease traps.
<br /> (6) Expected types and amount of discharge to sewers, to the
<br /> ground and to surface water.
<br /> (7) Emergency plan to detect and control hazardous materials
<br /> leaks and spills, including but not limited to inspections,
<br /> notification of official emergency containment and clean-up
<br /> procedures.
<br />
<br /> Funding requirements may include a description of how any
<br />costs associated with emergency response and remediation
<br />measures necessary in the event of contamlnation will be
<br />
<br />Zoning News is a monthly newsletter published by the American Planning Association,
<br />Subscriptions are available for .$45 (U.5,) and $54 (foreign}. Michael 13. Barker, Executive
<br />Director; Frank S. So, Deputy Executive Director; William R. Klein, Director of Research,
<br />Zoning News is produced at APA. Jim Schwab, Editor; Michael Barrette, Fay DolnJck, Scott
<br />Dvorak, Miche}le Gregory, San jay Jeer, Beth McGuire, Marya Mort}s, Chris Smith,
<br />Reporters; Cynthia Cheskk Auistant Editor; Lisa Barrow. Design and Production.
<br />Copyright ©1995 by American Planning Association, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite
<br />1600, Chicago, IL 60603. The American P~annJng Association has headquarters
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<br />or by any information storage and retrleva} system, without permission in writing
<br />from tile American Planning Association.
<br />Printed on recycled paper, including 50-70% recycled fiber
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<br />
<br />recovered. The following ordinance language illustrates how
<br />Dayton established its Well Field Protection Fund:
<br />
<br /> (1) Thc Well Field Protection Fund [Fund] is hereby
<br /> established to remediate pollution that could affect the
<br /> public water supply and/or to pay the costs of acquiring
<br /> interests in property necessary to reduce the risk of
<br /> pollution of the public water supply. The Fund can be used
<br /> only for Well Field Protection Activities within the Well
<br /> Field Protection Overlay District and within the one (1)
<br /> year capture zones of the well fields.
<br /> (2) The City of Dayton Water Rates shall be amended to
<br /> include a Well Field Protection Charge applicable to the
<br /> entire rate base. This Charge is to generate revenue for the
<br /> Fund.
<br /> (3) All interest and payments resulting from Fund activities will
<br /> be paid to the Fund. All directly related administrative costs
<br /> of the Fund are reimbursable from the Fund.
<br /> (4) Costs for Well Field Protection activities advanced from the
<br /> water Fund or any other City source of funds are
<br /> reimbursable from the Fund.
<br />
<br />Local Needs
<br />Historically, state governments have maintained primacy over
<br />federal and local authority for water supplies and management.
<br />This includes allocation of water resources, pollution prevention
<br />and regulation. However, local governments entrusted with the
<br />responsibility of getting water, storing, cleaning, distributing,
<br />and charging for it are required to comply with chemical and
<br />biological standards set by EPA. Local government
<br />responsibilities also include financing necessary improvements
<br />to water quality in case of contamination.
<br /> The most important single fact about wellfield protection is
<br />that, in the end, it is a very local issue. State and federal agencies
<br />rely heavily on local vigilance and regulatory effort for effective
<br />protection ofwellfields and aquifers. Those efforts must be
<br />based on sound hydrogeologic studies and on a localized
<br />knowledge of the land uses and activities that could threaten
<br />local drinking water supplies. Each community must still
<br />investigate its own problems and draft an ordinance specifically
<br />crafted to meet them.
<br /> Finally, a wellhead protection ordinance by itself is useful
<br />only for controlling initial development and use of land. It
<br />cannot assure the kind of continued protection necessary for
<br />managing groundwater pollutants. A comprehensive strategy
<br />will include follow-up activities like routine inspections,
<br />periodic permit renewals, emergency response, and
<br />contingency plans.
<br />
<br />Call for
<br />Information
<br />
<br />An upcoming issue of Zoning News will examine the use of
<br />formal impact analysis procedures by local planning agencies.
<br />If your organization has instituted this as part of its
<br />development review process, let us know. We are interested
<br />in ordinances, procedural and technical manuals, and
<br />examples of staff impact analysis reports. We want reports
<br />and studies that examine fiscal, traffic, community facilities,
<br />economic, and social impacts of proposed development. Send
<br />material to Stuart Meck, ^lop, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite
<br />1600, Chicago, IL 60603.
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