"Adequacy"means a sufficient amount of potable water for the intended use taking into consideration both average and peak demand, and source capacity. For public water systems adequacy includes delivery of a safe, reliable supply of water as demonstrated by compliance with monitoring, source protection, management, and operation requirements of these regulations.
"Adjacent property"means neighboring property that is within the sanitary setback of a well or spring.
"Alternative water source"means any source of water for an individual single-family use other than a legally constructed well that produces more than 200 gallons per day per residence or an approved community water system that has the capacity to serve the intended use of the structure. These include but are not limited to: rainwater catchment, hauled water, seawater treatment, wells producing less than or equal to 200 gallons per day per residence, and well water requiring treatment or monitoring.
"Applicant"means the developer, purveyor, property owner or their representative applying for a permit.
"Capacity"means the ability of a water system to provide a safe and reliable source of potable drinking water to its current service connections and any future service connections approved in its water system design. The evaluation of capacity includes, but is not limited to: water supply source, water quality, water system infrastructure, and system management and operation.
"Certified operator"means a water system operator meeting the requirements of the Washington State Department of Health for the operation of a public water system.
"Community (or public) water system"means any water system serving water for human consumption, excluding a system serving one or two residences (on separate properties) or a system serving four or fewer residential structures all of which are located on the same farm.
"Compliance plan"means a plan developed by a public water system purveyor that details the methods to be used to correct a water system's operating violation or public health hazard and contains a time frame for completion.
"Comprehensive system evaluation (CSE)"means a review, inspection, and assessment of a public water system by a qualified professional for the purpose of ensuring that safe, adequate drinking water is being provided. A CSE may be required in response to water quality, operations, or capacity deficiencies in order to develop a compliance plan.
"Connection"(Group B water system purposes only) means a residence, commercial facility, campsite, or similar use, unless specifically stated otherwise in a water system's ownership agreement. Detached accessory dwelling unit is considered one equivalent residential unit unless the approved water system design supports a different amount.
"Conservation"means a reduction in the amount of water necessary to carry out a beneficial water use. Maximum efficiency of water use that results in a reduction of water that is wasted.
"Consolidated formation"means any geologic formation in which the earth materials have become firm and coherent through natural rock forming processes. An uncased well drill hole will normally remain open in these formations.
"Contaminant"means anything that impairs the quality of groundwater to a degree that creates a potential hazard to the environment, public health, or interferes with a beneficial use.
"County hydrogeologist"means a Washington State licensed hydrogeologist that either works for or has a contract with San Juan County.
"Critical water resource area"means selected watersheds and critical aquifers where resources potentially are threatened by seawater intrusion or primary contaminants, or limited due to poor recharge. These areas may be designated by resolution by the San Juan County board of health in response to recommendations by the department of health and community services based on studies conducted by the County or state, or by petition from community groups and community water systems.
"Cross-connection"means a physical arrangement connecting a potable water supply, directly or indirectly, with an unsafe water supply or other contaminating material, and capable of contaminating the potable water system.
"gpm"means gallons per minute.
"Group A public water system"means a public water system serving 15 or more connections or an average of 25 or more people per day for 60 or more days within a calendar year.
"Group B public water system"means a public water system with (A) more than two and less than 15 connections; or (B) serving an average nonresidential population of less than 25 people per day for 60 or more days within a calendar year; or (C) any number of people for less than 60 days within a calendar year. (Note: Systems with 10 or more connections typically will become Group A water systems based on population.)
"GWI"means groundwater under the influence of surface water. Any water beneath the surface of the ground where natural conditions cannot prevent the introduction of surface water pathogens into the source at the point of withdrawal.
"Health officer"means the duly appointed San Juan County health officer, or a representative authorized and under the direct supervision of the health officer.
"Inactivation"means an existing water system that ceases operation as a public water system.
"Inadequate"means a water supply that does not meet the definition of adequacy, as defined in this section.
"Individual water system"means a water system serving no more than two single-family residences, or four or fewer residences meeting the definition under "Same farm." (Note: A water system consisting of two main residences with ADUs is not defined as a Group B water system under this provision.)
"Owner"means owner of the proposed or existing well or water system.
"Peak demand"means the amount of water needed to supply maximum demand or meet extreme conditions, in compliance with Chapter
246-290 WAC.
means water safe for human consumption.
"ppm"means parts per million. Equal to milligrams per liter (mgl).
"Project actions"means an application for a land division, a new and/or expanding water system, and/or a certificate of water availability. Project actions do not include simple land divisions or building permit applications for structures that do not require certificates of water availability.
"Purveyor"means an agency, subdivision of the state, municipal corporation, firm, company, mutual or cooperative association, institution, partnership, or person or other entity owning or operating a public water system, or applying to create a public water system. Purveyor also means the authorized agent of these entities.
"Residence"means the primary residence and accessory dwelling unit.
"Same farm"means a parcel of land or series of parcels that are connected by covenants and devoted to the production of livestock or agricultural commodities for commercial purposes and does not qualify as a public water system.
"Sanitary easement"means a restrictive covenant recorded on the title of the property for a 50- to 200-foot radius (sanitary setback) around a well or spring.
"Sanitary setback or control area (SCA)"means a 50- to 200-foot radius around a well or spring where it is prohibited to construct or maintain sources of contamination. These include, but are not limited to: septic tanks and drainfields, sewerlines, underground storage tanks, vehicles, structures that include the use or storage of toxic materials, enclosures for maintaining livestock, or garbage of any kind or description.
"Service area"means an area identified by a public water system that includes existing and future areas that will be served by that water system.
"Shallow well"means a well completed in unconsolidated material with less than six feet of impervious material between the water table and the surface.
"Source capacity"means the capacity of the water source that is proposed to serve a subdivision. For purposes of this chapter the minimum source capacity is 1,000 gallons per day per connection.
"Spring"means a shallow source of water that emerges from the ground naturally. Generally this water flows just under the surface over clay or bedrock and may be seasonal.
"Stabilize"means less than 0.1 foot of drawdown fluctuation/hour in the last four hours of a pump test after normalizing for tidal and barometric influences.
"Standard design"means a design meeting San Juan County department of health and community services requirements for treatment, filtration, or storage.
"Unconsolidated formation"means any naturally occurring, loosely cemented or poorly indurated earth material such as uncompacted gravel, sand, silt, and clay.
"Vulnerability assessment"means evaluation of potential contamination for a specific area that could affect water quality in a well. This involves an inventory of activities such as: underground storage tanks, animal feedlots, landfills, septic tanks and drainfields, and urban runoff.
"Well"means any excavation that is drilled, bored, driven, dug, or otherwise constructed when the intended use is the withdrawal of groundwater.
(Formerly 13.06.070; Ord. 14-1996; Ord. 4-1998; Ord. 14-2000 § 4; Ord. 10-2001 § 2; Ord. 21-2002 § 8; Ord. 7-2006 § 9; Ord. 20-2007 § 1; Ord. 4-2010 § 2; Ord. 22-2013 § 2)