Wells drilled as a replacement of an existing well are exempt from this article as long as the withdrawal rate is not increased by more than 20 percent of the existing well. If baseline withdrawal rate information is not available, this must be established by a licensed well driller prior to well replacement.
(Ord. 2009-063 Exh. A; Ord. 2017-077 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2024-047 § 2 (Exh. F))
In addition to the minimum well spacing, the following measures are required for public water system wells, non-Group B two-party wells, and nondomestic wells. (Includes "public water system" wells and non-Group B two-party wells as defined under Whatcom County drinking water regulations and nondomestic use wells pumping greater than 250 gpd. "Public water system" is defined under Chapter 24.11 WCC as any water system providing piped water for consumption, excluding a system serving only one single-family residence and any system with four or fewer connections serving only residences on the same farm. A "non-Group B two-party well" is defined in Chapter 24.11 WCC as a water system using one well to serve two single-family residences for which the director of health has waived all public water system requirements.)
A. 
Chloride Monitoring and Testing.
1. 
Monitoring. Well owners shall collect and have water samples analyzed for chloride concentration twice annually, in April and August, and submitted to the Whatcom County health department.
2. 
Chloride Determinations for New Wells or Increased Pumping of Existing Wells. Applications for new wells, applications to convert an existing private well into a two-party well, any application to expand the number of connections of a public water system, and nondomestic use wells proposing a greater than 20 percent increase in groundwater withdrawals in an existing well re-quire a minimum 24-hour-duration pumping test at 100 percent of the proposed average daily demand, at the end of which a water sample will be collected for analysis of chloride concentration. Subdivisions using individual wells are required to test wells simultaneously or, alternatively, have a licensed hydrogeologist evaluate well interference and water quality changes. Subdivision wells shall remain accessible for future testing in the event of subdivision expansion.
3. 
Restrictions on New Wells or Increased Pumping of Existing Wells. New wells cannot be permitted, existing private wells cannot be converted to two-party wells, existing public water systems cannot expand beyond their existing number of approved connections, and nondomestic wells cannot increase pumping rates greater than 20 percent if chloride concentrations measured at the end of the test specified in subsection (A)(2) of this section are greater than 100 mg/L. For systems expanding 20 percent or less within one year, the highest chloride determination within the past year in subsection (A)(1) of this section cannot be greater than 100 mg/L.
4. 
Limit on Water Use by Existing Wells. Any increase (zero to 20 percent) in water use will not be permitted if either semiannual analysis in the previous 12-month period indicates greater than 100 mg/L chloride concentration. If the semi-annual chloride determinations have not been submitted as required, then the pump testing requirement of subsection (A)(2) of this section shall apply.
5. 
Prior to 10 days before the pumping test, all property owners within 1,000 feet of the well lo-cation shall be notified by first class mail informing them of the test and providing contact information of the person responsible for the testing.
B. 
Arsenic Monitoring and Testing in the Unconsolidated Aquifer.
1. 
The following monitoring and testing is required unless the well is determined not to be located in the unconsolidated sandstone aquifer. A Washington State licensed hydrogeologist must make the determination in a submitted report.
2. 
Arsenic Determinations for New Wells or Increased Pumping of Existing Wells. Applications for new wells, applications to convert an existing private well into a two-party well, any application to expand the number of connections of a public water system, and nondomestic use wells proposing a greater than 20 percent increase in groundwater withdrawals in an existing well require a minimum 24-hour-duration pumping test at 100 percent of the proposed average daily demand, at the end of which a water sample will be collected for analysis of arsenic concentration.
3. 
Restrictions on New Wells or Increased Pumping of Existing Wells. New wells cannot be permitted, existing private wells cannot be converted to two-party wells, existing public water systems cannot expand beyond their existing number of approved connections, and nondomestic wells cannot increase pumping rates greater than 20 percent if arsenic concentrations measured at the end of the test specified in subsection (B)(2) of this section are greater than 10 μg/L.
4. 
Limit on Water Use by Existing Wells. Any increase (zero to 20 percent) in water use will not be permitted if the most recent arsenic determination indicated greater than 10 μg/L arsenic concentration. If no arsenic concentration has been determined in the past three years, the pumping test requirement in subsection (B)(2) of this section shall apply.
5. 
Prior to 10 days before the pumping test, all property owners within 1,000 feet of the well lo-cation shall be notified by first class mail informing them of the test and providing contact information of the person responsible for the testing.
(Ord. 2009-063 Exh. A; Ord. 2017-077 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2024-047 § 2 (Exh. F))
Administrative waivers may be granted to any section of these requirements by petition to the administering agency. Waiver request must demonstrate that the project is consistent with the intent of these requirements; no health hazard would result from this action; and must be stamped by a licensed Washington State hydrogeologist.
(Ord. 2009-063 Exh. A; Ord. 2017-077 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2024-047 § 2 (Exh. F))