§ 704. Groundwater/Wellhead Protection.

704.1.   Purpose.

The purpose of groundwater protection standards is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the county. This is accomplished through ensuring the protection of the principal source of water for domestic, agricultural, irrigation and industrial use. The availability of adequate and dependable supplies of good water is of primary importance to the future of Manatee County. Therefore, standards are described in this section with the intent of protecting both the quantity and quality of the groundwater supply. It is further the intent of this section to control development adjacent to major wellheads to protect water supplies from potential contamination.

704.2.   Standards.

A.

All applications for development approval must specify whether major groundwater wells with permitted capacity of 100,000 GPD or greater, or a well casing of six (6) inches or larger diameter, will be required to service the development. When major wells are to be required, the project applicant shall demonstrate that:

1.

There will be no significant adverse impact on minimum groundwater levels;

2.

There will be no significant adverse impact from saltwater intrusion; and

3.

Requirements of this Code will have no adverse impact on existing land uses in the vicinity.

B.

Wherever adverse groundwater withdrawal impacts have been identified through water quality and quantity monitoring activities, all development approvals for activities that require the use of groundwater wells shall be coordinated with and approved by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Manatee County Health Department, Environmental Health Services.

C.

All site plans that accompany applications for development approval shall depict the location of all active and inactive wells. Where abandonment of wells is reasonably necessary to protect the groundwater resources, the development approvals shall be conditioned upon the submission of a management plan which provides for the proper abandonment or rehabilitation of existing unused wells, in conformance with requirements of Manatee County Health Department, Environmental Health Services and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, pursuant to F.S. ch. 373, Chapters 40D-3, 17-524, 17-531, 17-532, and 17-555, Florida Administrative Code, and all provisions in the interlocal agreement between Manatee County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

D.

In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection C, above, two (2) exclusionary areas shall be established around any major wellhead:

1.

The area within two hundred (200) feet of an existing or designated major wellhead shall be a zone of exclusion, where no new commercial or industrial development nor septic tanks, leaching fields and facilities delineated under subsection 2, below shall be permitted.

2.

Within a designated zone of secondary exclusion, extending one thousand (1,000) feet from a designated major wellhead, the following uses shall be prohibited:

a.

Landfills;

b.

Facilities for the bulk storage, handling, or processing of materials on the Florida Substance List (F.S. ch. 442); wellhead emergency generator requirements are exempted, but require the highest level of engineering standards covering petroleum product storage and delivery;

c.

Commercial or industrial uses of materials covered under F.S. ch. 442, (Florida Substance List), and Chapter 38F-41, Florida Administrative Code, unless served by approved wastewater treatment facilities;

d.

Junkyard or salvage operations;

e.

Mines;

f.

Wastewater treatment plants and similar facilities;

g.

Pesticide Storage Facilities; and

h.

Animal Feed Lots.

E.

Any proposed development within the exclusionary zones that requires an administrative or special permit, preliminary or final site plan, or preliminary or final plat approval shall include with the application a groundwater/wellhead impact report. The purpose of this report is to provide evidence of the probable impact of the proposed development on the groundwater supply and recharge potential of the area. The report shall also identify all existing land uses within the exclusionary zones for the subject major wellhead.

F.

Well Construction. All wells constructed in Manatee County shall conform to the laws and regulations set forth in Section 704.2.C above.