(a) It shall be unlawful for anyone to drill, maintain, or otherwise construct or have constructed, any new water well, or any other artificial excavation to explore for or produce groundwater, or injection wells for the purpose of a earth-coupled heat exchange system, within the city or the Public Works Department service area. This section shall not apply to:
(1) Monitoring wells and test wells with a depth of less than 50 feet;
(2) Blast holes in quarries and mines; and
(3) Wells or excavations for the exploration or production of oil, gas, or minerals, unless, without regard to the original purpose, the well is used as a source of water.
(B) To preserve the water quality of the aquifer, the construction of any bore hole, injection well for the purpose of an earth-coupled heat exchange system, or water well for the purpose of an earth-coupled heat exchange system located over the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer Recharge Zone and Transition Zone shall be prohibited.
(C) An open system, geothermal well that draws water from an aquifer and is circulated through the heat exchange system or geothermal wells which inject water into an aquifer will not be permitted within the limits of the city.
(Ord. 18-1207, passed 4-5-2018) Penalty, see § 52.99