The intent of this article is to provide water quality protection associated with aquifer recharge areas through the regulation of land use activities that pose a potential contaminant threat or could increase the vulnerability of the aquifer. It is the policy of the city to accomplish the following:
(1) 
Identify, preserve and protect aquifer recharge areas and prevent degradation of the quality of potable groundwater;
(2) 
Recognize the relationship between surface and groundwater resources; and
(3) 
Balance competing needs for water while preserving essential natural functions/processes.
(Ord. 018-25, 11/18/2025)
A critical aquifer recharge area is a geographical area which provides the recharge to an aquifer(s) which is a current or potential potable water source and, due to its geological properties, is highly susceptible to the introduction of pollutants, or because of special circumstances, has been designated as a critical aquifer recharge area in accordance with WAC 365-190-080 by the city. Critical aquifer recharge areas under this chapter may be established based on general criteria or specifically designated due to special circumstances.
(1) 
Category I – Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas. The following general criterion is established to designate critical aquifer recharge areas: wellhead protection zones around Group A water system supply wells:
(a) 
Areas inside the one-year time of travel zone for Group A water system wells, calculated in accordance with the Washington State Well Head Protection Program.
(b) 
Five-year time of travel zones in wellhead protection areas are included as critical aquifer recharge areas under the following condition: The five-year time of travel zone is included when the well draws its water from an aquifer that is at or above sea level and is overlain by permeable soils listed in subsection (2)(a) of this section without an underlying protective impermeable layer (see below).
(2) 
Category II – Aquifer Recharge Areas of Concern. Areas which provide recharge to aquifers that provide current or potential potable water supplies and are vulnerable to contamination, and meet any one of the following general criteria:
(a) 
Highly Permeable Soils – Locations Where Surface Soil Layers Are Highly Permeable. Soils that have relatively high permeability and high infiltration potential may provide for groundwater recharge, but also may enhance transfer of contaminants from the surface to groundwater. For these reasons the locations where surface soils are highly permeable are considered aquifer recharge areas of concern.
The general location and characteristics of soils in Kitsap County and the city is given in the Soil Survey of Kitsap County by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (SCS). The soil survey information is available on the Kitsap County geographic information system (GIS). The following soil types are considered to have relatively high permeability and are aquifer recharge areas of concern.
The following soils have relatively high infiltration:
SCS Soil Name
SCS Soil Map Units
Grove
11, 12, 13
Indianola
18, 19, 20, 21
Neilton
34, 35, 36
Norma
37, 38
Poulsbo/Ragnar
41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47
(b) 
Areas Above Shallow Principal Aquifers. Surface areas above shallow principal aquifer(s) which are not separated from the underlying aquifers by an impermeable layer that provides adequate protections to preclude the proposed land use from contaminating the shallow aquifer(s) below are considered aquifer recharge areas of concern. This generally includes principal aquifers in subsurface hydrogeologic units Og1, Og1a, Og2 and portions of Og3 that are within 300 feet of the ground surface.
(Ord. 018-25, 11/18/2025)
Standards for development shall be in accordance with the provisions below and the requirements of the underlying zoning:
(1) 
A hydrogeological report will be required on sites that have been identified as having characteristics with high infiltration rates, or having a high aquifer recharge or infiltration potential for land uses identified in Table 20.162.086, unless determined unnecessary upon coordination with agencies with jurisdiction (Bremerton-Kitsap County health district and/or affected water purveyors). This evaluation shall apply to impacts on both groundwater and surface water, as it relates to recharge areas (see requirements in Article VIII of this chapter, Special Reports).
(2) 
Affected water purveyors will be notified and requested to comment during the preliminary phases of the city's review process on the proposed land use and potential impacts. The purveyor may recommend appropriate mitigation to reduce potential impacts. The department will consider these recommendations to develop appropriate permit conditions.
(3) 
This section shall not affect any right to use or appropriate water as allowed under state or federal law. In addition, these requirements do not apply to those activities which have potential contaminant sources below threshold amounts as set forth in applicable state RCWs or local regulations.
In addition to the general standards above, the following will apply:
(a) 
Category I – Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas. Land uses identified in Table 20.162.086 are prohibited in critical aquifer recharge areas. Requests for waivers shall include a hydrogeological report, which includes a detailed risk-benefit analysis that considers credible, worst-case scenarios. The waiver will be evaluated and treated as a special use review, similar to the review process in Article VIII of this chapter, Special Reports, by the review department, the health district, and the affected water purveyors.
(b) 
Category II – Aquifer Recharge Areas of Concern. Applicants proposing operations that pose a potential threat to groundwater as defined in Table 20.162.086 in aquifer recharge areas of concern may be required to submit a hydrogeological report. The scope of the report shall be based on site- specific conditions. The need for additional information will be determined by the department, the health district and the affected water purveyor. Based on the results of the report, controls, mitigation, and/or other requirements will be established as a prerequisite for the development proposal being approved.
(c) 
The department will also notify the health district and affected water purveyors through the environmental review process when those development activities listed in Table 20.162.086 are proposed outside the areas designated critical aquifer recharge areas and aquifer recharge areas of concern.
Table 20.162.086: Operations with Potential Threat to Groundwater
A.
Above and below ground storage tanks
1.
Hazardous and industrial waste treatment
2.
Hazardous and industrial waste storage
3.
Hazardous material storage
B.
Animal feedlots
C.
Commercial operations
*1.
Gas stations/service stations/truck terminals
2.
Petroleum distributors/storage
*3.
Auto body repair shops/rust proofers
4.
Auto chemical supply stores/retailers
*5.
Truck, automobile, and combustion engine repair shops
*6.
Dry cleaners
*7.
Photo processors
*8.
Auto washes
*9.
Laundromats
*10.
Beauty salons
11.
Research or chemical testing laboratories which handle significant quantities of hazardous materials
12.
Food processors/meat packers/slaughter houses
13.
Airport-maintenance/fueling operation areas
14.
Junk and salvage yards
15.
Storing or processing manure, feed, or other agriculture by-products by commercially permitted businesses
*16.
Large scale storage or use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, or fertilizer by commercial or agricultural operations
D.
Deep injection wells
1.
Wastewater disposal wells
2.
Oil and gas activity disposal wells
3.
Mineral extraction disposal wells
E.
De-icing salts storage piles
F.
Industrial operations
*1.
Furniture strippers/painters/finishers
2.
Concrete/asphalt/tar/coal companies
3.
Industrial manufacturers: chemicals, pesticides/herbicides, paper, leather products, textiles, rubber, plastic/fiberglass, silicone/glass, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment
4.
Metal platers/heat treaters/smelters/ annealers/descalers
5.
Wood preserves
6.
Chemical reclamation facilities
*7.
Boat refinishers
G.
Land application
1.
Wastewater application (spray irrigation)
2.
Wastewater byproduct (sludge) application
3.
Petroleum refining waste application
4.
Hazardous waste applications
H.
Landfills
1.
Industrial hazardous and nonhazardous landfill
2.
Municipal sanitary landfill
I.
Material transfer operations
1.
Hazardous and industrial waste transfers
2.
Hazardous material transfers
J.
Materials stockpiles
K.
Mining and mine drainage
L.
On-site septic systems (LOSS category) of greater than 14,500 G.P.D. capacity without pretreatment
M.
Pipelines
1.
Hazardous and industrial waste transfer
2.
Hazardous material transfer
N.
Radioactive disposal sites
O.
Sand and gravel mining operations
*P.
Marina
*If not on a sewer system with a treatment plant.
(Ord. 018-25, 11/18/2025)