The following words shall have the meaning provided in this section. These definitions are to be broadly interpreted and construed to promote maximum conservation and prudent management of the groundwater resources within San Diego County.
Director: The Director of Planning and Development Services.
Groundwater Investigation: A study that evaluates the geologic and hydrologic conditions and is prepared in accordance with standards approved by the Director. The study shall be prepared by a California State Registered Geologist or Registered Civil Engineer and be approved by the Director. The Director may require the study to demonstrate the adequacy of the groundwater basin to serve both the project and the entire basin if developed to the maximum density and intensity permitted by the General Plan. For residential uses, the study shall assume an annual consumptive use of 0.5 acre-feet (163,000 gallons) of water per dwelling unit. ("Consumptive use" is the amount of groundwater lost due to human use, including evaporation and transpiration (plant use).
Residual Drawdown: The difference between the initial (static) water level before a well test is conducted and the water level after recovery. Projected residual drawdown indicates an aquifer of limited extent and the long-term well yield may be lower than what is indicated in a well test.
Specific Capacity: An expression of the productivity of a well, obtained by dividing the rate of discharge of water (in gallons per minute) from the well by the drawdown (in feet) of the water level in the well.
Water Intensive Use: Any land use that requires a permit listed in Section 67.711 and is not exempt from this ordinance, and that will require more water than 20 acre-feet per year or more than 20,000 gallons per day.
Water Service Agency: Any city, mutual or municipal water district, or any other private or public agency which provides water at retail from either: (1) groundwater resources, to two or more users; or (2) imported water resources. Such water service agency must be in existence prior to the date of submittal of any project relying on service from that agency.
Well Test: The production procedure, reviewed and approved by the Director, by which water is produced from a water well and resulting water levels are monitored. If the results of the testing are inconclusive or improperly conducted, additional testing will be required. (All wells must have a valid San Diego County Health Department well permit prior to construction.)
1. Residential Well Test: A test of a well on property with zoning which permits residential use, or which is for a residential project, shall be conducted by or under the direct supervision of a California State Professional (or Registered) Geologist, who shall conduct all analysis. The Residential Well Test shall meet or exceed all of the following minimum requirements unless the Director has first approved an alternate procedure:
a. Well production during the Residential Well Test must be maintained at a rate of no less than three gallons per minute.
b. The Residential Well Test must be conducted over a period of at least 24 hours, unless after eight hours of pumping, the measured specific capacity is equal to or greater than 0.5 gallons per minute per foot of drawdown, at which time pumping can be terminated. In addition, all Residential Well Tests must produce at least two full well bore volumes of water (a bore volume is that quantity of water which is stored within the saturated portion of the drilled annulus of the well).
c. The analysis of the Residential Well Test must indicate that no residual drawdown is projected (taking into account minor inaccuracies inherent in collecting and analyzing well test data).
d. The analysis of the Residential Well Test must also indicate that the amount of drawdown predicted to occur in the well after five years of continual pumping at the rate of projected water demand, will not interfere with the continued production of sufficient water to meet the needs of the anticipated residential use(s).
2. Nonresidential Well Test: A test of a well for a nonresidential project (such as a golf course) shall be in accordance with procedures approved by the Director and may be more extensive than those applicable to a Residential Well Test.
(Added by Ord. No. 7994 (N.S.), effective 11-15-91; amended by Ord. No. 9826 (N.S.), effective 3-2-07; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12; amended by Ord. No. 10249 (N.S.), effective 3-1-13)
Cross reference(s)--Definitions, § 12.101 et seq.