In furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, it shall be the policy of the city that all geothermal heating systems existing on the effective date of this chapter, and those constructed or altered thereafter, be used in such a manner as to:
(A) Conserve and protect the geothermal fluids and ground water within and adjacent to the city in order to: enhance reservoir productivity and benefit, prevent wasteful extraction and disposal of geothermal fluids and thermal ground water, prevent geothermal fluid and thermal ground water temperature degradation, prevent thermal pollution of surface environments and water, and prevent harmful intermixing of geothermal fluids and other ground water;
(B) Allow individual utilization of geothermal fluids and thermal ground water for residential, commercial, industrial and other lawful purposes; and
(C) Protect the public health, safety and welfare from improperly constructed, operated, maintained or abandoned geothermal heating systems.
(Ord. 09-02, passed 4-13-2009)