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Amend County Code Chapter 7.70 (Water Wells) and Chapter 7.73 (Individual Water Systems)

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Santa Cruz County is amending County Code Chapter 7.70 regarding Water Wells and Chapter 7.73 regarding Individual Water Systems, while adopting a Resource Protection Policy to align local provisions with current state policies and recent court decisions. The project aims to strengthen permitting procedures to protect groundwater basins, public trust resources, and waterways, while mitigating the impacts of well use and ensuring water supply reliability. These updates include the implementation of discretionary reviews for Tier 4 wells, mandatory metering for new non-domestic wells, and the regulation of soil borings and stormwater infiltration devices. The amendments introduce more stringent water quality and yield testing, particularly in limited yield areas, and require the recordation of notices on deeds for wells with limited quality or yield. Additionally, the project establishes a framework for review and comment by affected water and groundwater sustainability agencies and sets penalties for code violations. Because these changes are Coastal Implementing, they require certification from the Coastal Commission following county adoption. The project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and Class 8 for regulatory actions protecting the environment, with a completion date of February 10, 2025.

General Info

Santa Cruz County strengthens well regulations to protect groundwater, mandate metering, enforce setbacks, and require testing during property transfers.

Agency

California → Santa Cruz County

NAICS

541620 - Environmental Consulting ServicesView NAICS

Place of Performance

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

(1)

Santa Cruz County Notice of Exemption for Water Wells and Individual Water Systems Code Amendments

PDF•notice-of-exemption

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Uniform Contract Format

Timeline

PostedAug 18

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Organization & Contact Information

AgencyCalifornia → Santa Cruz County

Contacts1 person available

OfficeN/A

Organization / Agency

California → Santa Cruz County

Office AddressN/A

Contacts

David CarlsonResource Planner

contact@example.gov

+1 (555) 000-0000

Full Description

Purpose and Need for the Project County Code Chapter 7.70 (Water Wells) includes various provisions regarding the siting and construction of wells to protect groundwater resources and ensure wells deliver good quality water. Chapter 7.73 (Individual Water Systems) establishes standard for yield and water quality of wells and other water sources to ensure that there is adequate and reliable quantity and quality of water for the intended use. Since 2009, when Chapter 7.70 was last updated, there have been a number of new state policies and court decisions that require that the County strengthen permitting procedures for wells and individual water systems to provide for increased consideration of: potential impacts on sustainability of groundwater basins and public trust resources, particularly waterways; potential environmental impacts of discretionary approvals; potential drought impacts on individual users; and, proper construction and destruction of soil borings to prevent contamination of underlying groundwater. The proposed amendments are intended to provide additional protection of the environment and individual well users, while mitigating impacts of well use and allowing continued reasonable beneficial use of groundwater resources. Project Description: Amend County Code Chapter 7.70 (Water Wells) and Chapter 7.73 (Individual Water Systems) and adopt Resource Protection Policy to bring County provisions into conformance with State Policy and recent court decisions. Amendments include various measures for improved protection of groundwater and other resources and improved water supply reliability, including requirements for: various measures to reduce impact of wells on groundwater resources, streams and associated public trust resources, karst areas, nearby wells, and designated groundwater extraction concern areas; different levels of review and protective measures for different types of wells, including discretionary review and potential for denial of Tier 4 wells; provisions for review and comment on well applications by affected water agencies and groundwater sustainability agencies; provisions for regulation of soil borings and stormwater infiltration devices; metering of all newly installed non domestic wells; penalties for code violations; promulgation of specific policies for implementation of code requirements; more extensive water quality testing for individual water systems and more stringent yield testing in known limited yield areas; recordation of a notice on the deed for wells with limited yield or quality; water quality testing and yield testing at the time of property transfer; and, various other wording changes and clarifications. Amendments to County Code Chapter 7.70 and 7.73 are Coastal Implementing and will require Coastal Commission certification after County Adoption.