Potable water is an essential life-sustaining element for people and many other species. The majority of Kitsap County drinking water comes from groundwater supplies in aquifers. Critical aquifer recharge areas are very important to ensure the quality and quantity of shallow and deepwater aquifers. Once groundwater is contaminated, it is difficult, costly, and sometimes impossible to clean up. Preventing contamination is necessary to avoid exorbitant costs, hardships, and potential physical harm to people and ecosystems. In addition, without replenishment, the amount of water for potable use can be diminished or even depleted. The intent of this chapter is thus to identify and classify aquifer recharge areas in accordance with RCW 36.70A.170 and address land use activities that pose a potential to directly or indirectly contaminate or otherwise threaten aquifer water quality and quantity. This chapter does 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 that have potential contaminant sources below threshold amounts as set forth in applicable statutes of the Revised Code of Washington or local regulations.
It is the policy of Kitsap County to accomplish the following:
A. 
Identify, preserve and protect aquifer recharge areas that are susceptible to contamination by preventing degradation of the quality and, if needed, the quantity of potable groundwater;
B. 
Recognize the relationship between surface and groundwater resources;
C. 
Give priority to potable water resource areas per WAC 365-190-100 in the planning and regulation of land uses that may directly or indirectly contaminate or degrade groundwater; and
D. 
Balance competing needs for water supply while preserving essential natural functions and processes, especially for maintaining critical fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring groundwater recharge to maintain natural stream flows.
(Ord. 351 (2005) § 34 (part), 2005; Ord. 545 (2017) § 5 (Appx. (part)), 2017; Ord. 633 (2024) § 5 (App.), 2024)
As defined at Section 19.150.210, “critical aquifer recharge areas” means those land areas that contain hydrogeologic conditions that facilitate aquifer recharge and/or transmit contaminants to an underlying aquifer. Critical aquifer recharge areas under this title may be established based on general criteria, specifically designated due to special circumstances, or based on scientific studies and mapping efforts. Factors considered in the identification of critical aquifer recharge areas include depth to water table, presence of highly permeable soils (specifically Group A hydrologic soils), presence of flat terrain, and the presence of more permeable surficial geology.
A. 
Category I Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas. Category I critical aquifer recharge areas are those areas where the potential for certain land use activities to adversely affect groundwater is high. Category I critical aquifer recharge areas include:
1. 
Areas inside the five-year time of travel zone for Group A water system wells, calculated in accordance with the Washington State Wellhead Protection Program.
2. 
Areas inside the ten-year time of travel zones in wellhead protection areas when the well draws its water from an aquifer that is at or above sea level and is overlain by permeable soils without any underlying protective impermeable layer.
3. 
Areas identified as significant recharge areas due to special circumstances or identified in accordance with WAC 365-190-100(4) as aquifer areas of significant potable water supply with susceptibility to groundwater contamination, including but not limited to the following:
a. 
Hansville Significant Recharge Area. The Hansville aquifer is a significant potable water supply that is highly susceptible to the introduction of pollutants. Additional information regarding this aquifer is available from the Kitsap public utility district.
b. 
Seabeck Significant Recharge Area. The Seabeck aquifer is a significant potable water supply that is being developed for use in central and north Kitsap County. Additional information regarding this aquifer is available from the Kitsap public utility district.
c. 
Island Lake Significant Recharge Area. The Island Lake aquifer is a significant potable water supply for the Silverdale area. Additional information regarding this aquifer is available from the Silverdale water district.
d. 
Gorst Significant Recharge Area. Aquifers in the Gorst basin are highly susceptible to the introduction of pollutants and provide significant potable water supplies for the city of Bremerton.
e. 
Poulsbo Significant Recharge Area. The Poulsbo aquifer is highly susceptible to the introduction of pollutants and provides a significant potable water supply for the Kitsap public utility district and city of Poulsbo.
4. 
The department may add, reclassify or remove Category I critical aquifer recharge areas based on additional information about areas of significant potable water supply with susceptibility to groundwater contamination or supply reduction, or based on changes to sole source aquifers or wellhead protection areas as identified in wellhead protection programs.
B. 
Category II Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas. Category II critical aquifer recharge areas are areas that provide recharge effects to aquifers that are current or potentially will become potable water supplies and are vulnerable to contamination based on the type of land use activity. The general location of these areas is available on the Kitsap County geographic information system. Category II critical aquifer recharge areas include:
1. 
Highly permeable soils (Group A hydrologic soils). The general location and characteristics of Group A hydrologic soils in Kitsap County are given in the Soil Survey of Kitsap County by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The soil survey information is available on the Kitsap County geographic information system (GIS).
2. 
Areas above shallow aquifers or surface areas that are separated from the underlying aquifers by an impermeable layer that provides adequate protection from contamination to the aquifer(s) below. The general location of shallow aquifers in Kitsap County is based upon the professional judgment of licensed hydrogeologists with knowledge of the area. The location of shallow aquifers is available on the Kitsap County geographic information system (GIS).
3. 
Areas above the Vashon aquifer. Surface areas above the Vashon aquifer that are not separated from the underlying aquifers by a poorly permeable layer that provides adequate protection to preclude the proposed land use from contaminating the Vashon aquifer below. Vashon aquifers in Kitsap County are typically mapped as “Qva” (Vashon advance aquifer) or “Qvr” (Vashon recessional aquifer) on geologic maps. Best available information concerning the location of Vashon aquifers is available on the Kitsap County geographic information system (GIS).
4. 
Areas with high concentration of potable water supply wells.
5. 
The department may add, reclassify or remove Category II critical aquifer recharge areas based on additional information about areas of potential potable water supply with susceptibility to groundwater contamination or supply reduction, or based on changes to sole source aquifers or wellhead protection areas as identified in wellhead protection programs.
C. 
Mapping. Kitsap County, in coordination with water purveyors and other agencies, will produce maps indicating the location of critical aquifer recharge areas and their defining characteristics.
(Ord. 351 (2005) § 34 (part), 2005; Ord. 545 (2017) § 5 (Appx. (part)), 2017; Ord. 633 (2024) § 5 (App.), 2024)
A. 
Category I Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas.
1. 
Land uses identified in Table 19.600.620 are prohibited in Category I critical aquifer recharge areas, unless a waiver is granted by the department.
2. 
Requests for waivers for activities listed in Table 19.600.620 shall include a hydrogeological report (see Chapter 19.700, Special Reports) that includes a detailed risk-benefit analysis that considers credible worst-case scenarios. The hydrogeological report shall evaluate potential impacts of a proposed land use or activity on both groundwater and surface water quality and quantity. The waiver will be evaluated and treated as a special use review (Section 19.100.145) and be reviewed by the department, Kitsap public health, affected tribes, and the affected water purveyors.
B. 
Category II Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas.
1. 
Land uses identified in Table 19.600.620 that are proposed in a Category II aquifer recharge area may be required to submit a hydrogeological report (see Chapter 19.700, Special Reports), as determined in subsection (B)(2) of this section. The scope of the report shall be based on site-specific conditions.
2. 
The need for a hydrogeological report will be determined by the department, the health district and the affected water purveyor when the proposed land use or activity may impact groundwater and surface water quality and quantity. Based on the results of the report, controls, mitigation, and/or other requirements will be established as a condition of approval.
C. 
Notification and Review.
1. 
Affected water purveyors, tribes and Kitsap public health will be notified and invited to comment during the preliminary phases of the county’s review of any development application in a critical aquifer recharge area. The purveyor may recommend appropriate mitigation to reduce potential impacts and the department will consider these recommendations to develop appropriate permit conditions.
2. 
The department will also notify Kitsap public health and affected water purveyors through the environmental review process when those development activities listed in Table 19.600.620 are proposed outside the areas designated critical aquifer recharge areas.
D. 
Stormwater. Stormwater best management practices shall be accomplished in accordance with Title 12 and shall take into account potential reductions in the annual volume of water infiltration on site due to the proposed development to protect water quality and quantity.
(Ord. 351 (2005) § 34 (part), 2005; Ord. 545 (2017) § 5 (Appx. (part)), 2017; Ord. 633 (2024) § 5 (App.), 2024)
Table 19.600.620
Activities with Potential Threat to Groundwater Quality
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 (if not on a sewer system with a treatment plant)
 
9.
Laundromats (if not on a sewer system with a treatment plant)
 
10.
Beauty salons (if not on a sewer system with a treatment plant)
 
11.
Research or chemical testing laboratories, which handle significant quantities of hazardous materials
 
12.
Food processors/meat packers/slaughterhouses
 
13.
Airport maintenance/fueling operation areas
 
14.
Junk and salvage yards
 
15.
Storing or processing manure, feed, or other agricultural byproducts by commercially permitted businesses
 
16.
Large-scale storage or use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, or fertilizer by commercial or agricultural operations
 
17.
Golf courses
 
18.
Cemeteries
D.
Deep Injection Wells
 
1.
Wastewater disposal wells (wells that, after treatment, inject water back into the aquifer)
 
2.
Oil and gas activity disposal wells
 
3.
Mineral extraction disposal wells
E.
Deicing 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
 
8.
Hydrocarbon extraction
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 (Large On-Site Septic System or LOSS Category)
M.
Pipelines
 
1.
Hazardous and industrial waste transfer
 
2.
Hazardous material transfer
N.
Radioactive Disposal Sites and Processing of Radioactive Wastes
O.
Sand and Gravel Mining Operations
(Ord. 351 (2005) § 35, 2005; Ord. 545 (2017) § 5 (Appx. (part)), 2017; Ord. 633 (2024) § 5 (App.), 2024)