A. Purpose. The residents of the Village of Reedsville depend exclusively on groundwater for a safe drinking water supply. Certain land use practices and activities can seriously threaten or degrade groundwater quality. The purpose of this Ordinance is to establish a groundwater protection overlay district to institute land use regulations and restrictions within a defined area which contributes water directly to the municipal water supply providing protection for the aquifer and municipal water supply of the Village of Reedsville and promoting the public health, safety and general welfare of Village residents.
B. Authority. Statutory authority of the Village to enact these regulations was established by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1983, Wisconsin Act 410 (effective May 11, 1984), which specifically added groundwater protection, in § 59.97(1) {which has since been renumbered as § 59.69(1)} and § 62.23(7)(c), Wis. Stats., to the statutory authorization for county and municipal planning and zoning to protect the public health, safety and welfare. In addition, § 61.35, Wis. Stats., the Village has the authority to enact this ordinance, effective in the incorporated areas of the Village, to encourage the protection of groundwater resources.
C. Application. The regulations specified in this Wellhead Protection Ordinance shall apply within the area surrounding each municipal water supply well that has been designated as a "wellhead protection area" by the Village in the most recent and up to date wellhead protection plan, and are in addition to the requirements in the underlying zoning district, if any. If there is a conflict between this chapter and the zoning ordinance, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
D. Groundwater protection overlay district. The location and boundaries of the zoning districts established by this chapter are set forth in the Village of Reedsville's most recent and up to date wellhead protection plan on the map titled "Wellhead Protection Area" [on file in the Village of Reedsville office] incorporated herein and hereby made a part of this ordinance. Said figures, together with everything shown thereon and all amendments thereto, shall be as much a part of this chapter as though fully set forth and described herein. This chapter and thus promotes public health, safety, and welfare. The groundwater protection overlay district is intended to protect the groundwater recharge area for the water supply from contamination.
Note: Wellhead protection areas are derived from hydrologic studies and are based on the area surrounding a well where groundwater takes five (5)-years or less to travel from the land surface to the pumping well. (Ord. 2021-1, 6-17-2021)