The purpose of the Aquifer Protection District is to preserve
and maintain the quality and quantity of the existing and potential
groundwater supply within the known aquifers of the Town by protecting
the groundwater and groundwater recharge areas from adverse land use
practices.
The following definitions apply to specialized words and terms
associated with this district:
AQUIFER
A geologic formation composed of rock, sand, and/or gravel
that contains significant amounts of potentially recoverable water.
AQUIFER PROTECTION DISTRICT
A district shown on the Zoning Map superimposed on all other
zoning districts in the Town, consisting of groundwater protection
areas, including Well Protection Districts, Primary Aquifer Zone and
Secondary Aquifer Zone.
A.
The Primary Aquifer Zone's delineation is shown on the Primary
Aquifer Overlay Map dated July 10, 1987, by Amory Engineers, P.C.
The Primary Aquifer Zone's delineation is derived from the following
sources:
(1)
United States Geologic Survey Atlas HA-554, Hydrology and Water
Resources of the Charles River Basin;
(2)
USGS Atlas HA-484 Hydrology and Water Resources of the Neponset
Weymouth River Basins; and
(3)
Water Supply Protection Atlas, prepared by the Massachusetts
DEP.
B.
The Secondary Aquifer Zone area is shown on the Secondary Aquifer
Overlay Map dated January 30, 2003, by Environmental Partners Group
Inc. and has been derived from the DEP approved Zone 2 of the following
well recharge areas:
(1)
Wells WPS-1 and WPS-2 (Geosphere Environmental Management Inc.)
approved 8/01;
(2)
Wells WPS-3, WPS-4, WPS-6 (S.E.A. Consultants Inc.) approved
02/90;
(3)
Well WPS-5 (Amory Engineers) approved 12/90; and
(4)
Hospital WPS Well (Talkington Edson Environmental Management,
LLC) approved 9/01.
AREA OF INFLUENCE
The ground surface area which experiences drawdown by a pumping
well.
DISPOSAL
The deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, incineration
or placing of any substance into or on any land or water so that such
substance or any constituent thereof presents a hazard to the groundwater.
GROUNDWATER
The subsurface water present in aquifers and recharge areas.
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
A substance or combination of substances, including any liquid
petroleum product, that, because of quantity, concentration or physical,
chemical or infectious characteristics, poses a significant present
or potential hazard to water supplies or to human health if disposed
of into or on any land or water in the Town of Medfield. Any substance
deemed a "hazardous waste" in MGL c. 21C, as amended, shall also be
deemed a hazardous material for purposes of this Bylaw.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
Material that does not allow significant amounts of surface
water to penetrate into the sod.
INJECTION
The placement of fluids into the ground by gravity or greater
through a well or wells, including all of those described in the following
regulations as amended: 310 CMR 27.03, Classes I through V, and further
described in 310 CMR 27.08.
LEACHABLE WASTE
Waste material, including solid waste, sewage, sludge and
agricultural waste, that is capable of releasing waterborne contaminants
to the surrounding environment.
PRIMARY AQUIFER ZONE
An area of generally stratified glacial deposits, predominantly
sand and gravel, exhibiting moderate to high permeability favorable
for location of wells capable of yielding 300 gallons per minute or
more, as shown on the Zoning Map.
PROCESS WASTE
Nondomestic, nontoxic, nonhazardous, liquid or solid waste
by-products associated with the manufacture or preparation of a product,
including but not limited to hardware, dry goods, foodstuffs and printed
material.
RECHARGE AREA
An area of porous, permeable geologic deposits, especially,
but not exclusively, deposits of stratified sand and gravel ("stratified
drift") through which water from any source drains into an aquifer,
including any wetland or body of surface water surrounded by or adjacent
to such area, together with the watershed of any such wetland or body
of surface water.
SANITARY WASTE
Wastewater arising from ordinary water use from toilets,
sinks and bathing facilities, and containing such concentrations and
types of pollutants as are considered normal domestic wastes.
SECONDARY AQUIFER ZONE
An area that was derived from the Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) Zone 2, in accordance with the Massachusetts
Drinking Water Regulations (310 CMR 22.00). The area is defined under
310 CMR 22.02, as that area of an aquifer which contributes water
to a well under the most severe pumping and recharge conditions that
can be realistically anticipated (180 days of pumping at approved
yield, with no recharge from precipitation). It is bounded by the
groundwater divides, which result from pumping the well and by the
contact of the aquifer with less permeable materials such as till
or bedrock. In some cases, streams or lakes may act as recharge boundaries.
In all cases, the area shall extend upgradient to its point of intersection
with prevailing hydrogeologic boundaries (a groundwater flow divide,
a contact with till or bedrock, or a recharge boundary).
SOLID WASTE
Useless, unwanted or discarded solid material with insufficient
liquid content to be free flowing. This includes but is not limited
to rubbish, garbage, scrap materials, junk, refuse, inert fill material
and landscape refuse.
WELL PROTECTION DISTRICT
Land within 2,000 feet of a public well or wellpoint, as shown on the Zoning Map, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Appeals. (See §
300-16.3A.)
For the purposes of this Bylaw, there is hereby established
within the Town of Medfield an Aquifer Protection District consisting
of Well Protection Districts (Zone 1), Primary Aquifer Zone and Secondary
Aquifer Zone (Zone 2) as delineated on the Zoning Map.
A. Determination of location in Well Protection District. Any owner
of, or other party interested in, land within 2,000 feet of a public
well may apply to the Board of Appeals for a determination that the
land is not located within the area of influence of the well. If such
a determination is made, the land is deemed not to be in the Well
Protection District. At the request of the owner, the Town may engage
a qualified professional geologist, hydrogeologist or engineer trained
and experienced in hydrogeology to assist in determination of the
location of the applicant's property in relation to the area of influence.
The Town may charge the applicant for all or part of the cost of the
investigation.
B. Determination of location in Primary and/or Secondary Aquifer Zones.
Where the boundaries of the Primary and/or Secondary Aquifer Zones
as delineated are in doubt or in dispute, the burden of proof shall
be upon the owner of, or other party interested in, the land in question
to show where they should properly be located. At the request of the
owner, the Town may engage a qualified professional geologist, hydrogeologist
or engineer trained and experienced in hydrogeology to assist in determination
of the location of the applicant's property in relation to the Primary
and/or Secondary Aquifer Zones. The Town may charge the applicant
for all or part of the cost of the investigation.
The Aquifer Protection District is superimposed over all other
districts established by this Bylaw. Only those uses specifically
allowed by these use regulations and also allowed in the underlying
district by other provisions of this Bylaw are permitted in the Aquifer
Protection District.