For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADVERSE EFFECT. Reductions in ground water levels or changes in ground water quality that limit the ground water use associated with any ground water user lawfully withdrawing or authorized to withdraw ground water at the time of application approval.
APPLICANT. An individual, partnership, association, or corporation proposing to use ground water as a source of potable water supply.
AQUIFER. A stratum or zone below the ground surface that will yield water in a usable quantity to a well.
AREA OF IMPACT. The areal extent of each aquifer where more than one foot of drawdown is predicted to occur due to a proposed ground water withdrawal.
CENTRAL SYSTEM. A water or wastewater system that serves 33 or more properties.
CLOSED-LOOP GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP WELL. A well consisting of a sealed loop of plastic pipe buried beneath the earth's surface to allow heat transfer between the fluid and the pipe in the earth.
CLUSTER SYSTEM. A water or wastewater system that serves fewer than 33 properties.
DEEP AQUIFER. A confined or semi-confined aquifer, typically referred to as the Yorktown-Eastover aquifer and typically occurs greater than 50 feet below the surface.
DEVELOPMENT, NEW. The new construction, or substantial alteration, of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreation, transportation, or utility facilities or structures which involves an increase in impervious surface.
EQUIVALENT RESIDENTIAL CON-NECTION. A volume of water used equal to a residential connection which is 400 gallons per day unless supportive data indicates otherwise.
GROUND WATER. Any water, except capillary moisture, found under the ground surface in the zone of saturation or beneath the bed of any stream, lake, reservoir or other body of surface wholly or partially within the boundaries of this Commonwealth, whatever the subsurface geologic structure in which such water stands, flows, percolates or otherwise occurs (As defined in VA Code § 62.1-255).
HYDROGEOLOGIC INVESTIGATION. An evaluation to define the hydrogeologic characteristics of an aquifer or confining unit including, but not limited to, pumping tests.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACES. Areas that do not allow significant quantities of water to penetrate.
MASS OR COMMUNITY SUBSURFACE DRAINFIELD. A sewage disposal system or systems which will discharge effluent to a single absorption area or multiple absorption areas with or without combined flows, such that the loading rate applied to any acre, in accordance with Virginia Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations, exceeds 1,200 gallons per day.
MITIGATION. Actions necessary to assure that all ground water users within the proposed development and other existing ground water users, who experience adverse impacts as a result of the new withdrawals, continue to have access to the quantity and quality of water needed for their uses.
OBSERVATION WELL. A well for obtaining information on hydraulic characteristics and water quality of an aquifer.
PRODUCTION WELL. A well designed to supply adequate yield and water quality for its intended use and meeting County and Health Department requirements.
SALT WATER INTRUSION. Encroachment of saline or brackish water into an aquifer that results in adverse effects.
STABILIZED YIELD. Measured drawdown in the well at the end of a minimum eight-hour constant rate pumping test.
TWO-WELL SYSTEM. An individual or centralized well system that consists of separate wells for potable and non-potables uses. In such a system, the well(s) for non-potable uses are screened in the water table aquifer.
WATER TABLE AQUIFER. The uppermost, unconfined water-bearing unit, typically occurring within 40-90 feet of the land surface.
WELLHEAD PROTECTION. The assessment of potential threats to ground water, and planning and managing land uses to prevent contamination and overuse of groundwater supplies.
(Ord. passed 6-23-03)