Wellhead and Wellfield Definitions
Definitions of Geologic and Natural Forms Related to Groundwater Protection
Hazardous Materials Definitions
Other Zoning and Miscellaneous Definitions
Wellhead and Wellfield Definitions
Aquifer A permeable geologic formation, either rock or sediment, that when saturated with groundwater capable of transporting water through the formation. [Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2. 1993]
Conified Aquifer Conified aquifer means (1) An Aquifer
overlain and underlain by impermeable layers or (2) An aquifer in
which the groundwater is under pressure greater than atmospheric
pressure and which will rise in a well above the point at which
it is first encountered.
[Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District #3, Kansas,
General Ordinance, Section 5-23-1(c). 1981]
Containment Device A device that is designed to contain an
unauthorized release, retain it for cleanup and prevent released
materials from penetrating into the ground.
[City of Renton, Washington, Draft Aquifer Protection Ordinance,
Section 4.F. 1991]
Drawdown Contour, one-foot A one-foot drawdown contour is
the locus of points around a well or well field where the free
water elevation is lowered by one foot due to a specified pumping rate
of the well or well field.
[Palm Beach County, Florida, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section
3.t. 1991]
Groundwater The water contained within the earth's surface
that has penetrated from precipitation and from infiltration by
streams, ponds and lakes.
[Wetlands Protection, A Local Government Handbook, 1991]
Groundwater Contamination Presence of any substance,
designated by the U.S. EPA or the State of Maine as a primary or
secondary water quality parameter, in excess of the maximum allowable
containment level (MCL).
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2,
1993]
Groundwater, High Seasonal High seasonal groundwater shall
mean the minimum depth at any season of the year to the upper surface
of the zone of saturation, as measured from the ground surface.
[City and County of Missoula, Montana, Subsurface Sewage
Treatment and Disposal Systems Ordinance, Section XII, 1988]
Indirect Recharge Area The area contributing water to
surface water courses up gradient of the aquifer or Well field
area of contribution.
[Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, A Guide
for Drafting Local Aquifer Protection Regulations. Bureau
of Water Management, Planning and Standards Division, Section III,
1988]
Leachable Material Material, including salt and certain
components of concrete, asphalt, tar, coal, etc. which is readily
soluble in water and thus easily removed and transported in solution
by meteoric and/or groundwater.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2,
1993]
Percolation Rate The rate at which water flows or trickles
through porous soils, as determined by a percolation test.
[City of Anchorage, Alaska, Wastewater Disposal Regulations, Section
15.65.010 V, 1990]
Permitting Pumping Capacity Refers to the amount of water
authorized by the South Florida Water Management District to be
pumped from a well, expressed as gallons per day.
[Broward County, Florida, General Ordinance, Section 27-376, 1984;
1989]
Pollutant Travel Time Is the time required by pollutants to
travel from one point to another.
[Broward County, Florida, General Ordinance, Section 27-376, 1984;
1989]
Potable Water Is that water that is satisfactory for
drinking, culinary, and domestic purposes, meeting current state and
federal drinking water standards.
[Broward County, Florida. General Ordinance. Section 27-376.
1984: 1989]
Potable Water Supply Any water used or intended to be used
for drinking, bathing, culinary or other personal purposes.
[Ocean County, New Jersey. Ordinance 87-1, Section 1, 1999]
Primary Recharge Area (for stratified drift aquifers) The
area overlying the aquifer and adjacent stratified drift in which
groundwater flows directly into the aquifer. (The contact line between
the stratified drift and adjacent till or bedrock is the boundary
line).
[Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, A Guide for
Drafting Local Aquifer Protection Regulations, Bureau of Water
Management, Planning and Standards Division. Section III. 1989]
Secondary Recharge Area Till and bedrock areas which provide
direct groundwater inflow to the primary recharge area.
[Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, A Guide for
Drafting Local Aquifer Protection Regulations. Bureau of Water
Management, Planning and Standards Division. Section III. 1989]
Shallow/Surficial Aquifer An aquifer in which the permeable
media (sand and gravel) starts at the land surface or immediately below
the soil profile. The main shallow/surficial aquifer in Brookings
County is the Big Sioux Aquifer.
[Brookings County, South Dakota, Zoning Ordinance. Section 1106.
1989]
Stormwater Drainage A sewer or other system for conveying
surface runoff due to storm events and unpolluted groundwater or surface
water, including that collected by cellar drains, but excluding sanitary
sewage and industrial waste.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Stormwater Impoundment Any structure designed and constructed
to contain stormwater runoff.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Subsurface Disposal System A collection of treatment tank(s),
disposal area(s), holding tank(s) and pond(s), surface spray system(s),
cesspool(s), well(s), surface ditch(es), alternative toilet(s), or other
devices and associated piping designed to function as a unit for the
purpose of disposing of wastes or wastewater on or beneath the surface
of the earth.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Surface Runoff That part of the precipitation that passes
over the surface of the soil to the nearest surface stream without first passing beneath the surface.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Ten-Year Time of Travel Distance The distance that
groundwater will travel in ten years. This distance is a function of
the permeability and slope of the aquifer.
[Brookings County, South Dakota, Zoning Ordinance, Section 1106,
1989]
Time of Travel Boundary A boundary beyond which groundwater
will take more than a set period of time (i.e., 200 days) to travel to
a given point (i.e. a pumping well).
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2,
1993]
Transfer Station; Recycling Facility Facility designed for
temporary storage of discarded material intended for transfer to
another location for disposal or re-use: facility which processes
discarded material for reuse.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Travel Time Contour Locus of points from which water takes
an equal amount of time to reach a given destination such as a well or
wellfield.
[Broward County, Florida, General Ordinance. Section 27-376. 1984:
1989]
Travel Time Zones The areas bounded by travel time
contours.
[Broward County, Florida, General Ordinance. Section 27-376. 1984:
1989]
Wastewater Any combination of water-carried wastes from
institutional, commercial, and industrial establishments, and
residences together with any storm, surface water, or groundwater, as
may be present.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Wastewater Treatment Plant Any arrangement of devices and
structures used for treating wastewater.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Water Supply System, Individual An individual water supply
system means a single system of piping, pumps, tanks, or other
facilities utilizing a source of groundwater to supply water to a
single lot.
[Montgomery County, Maryland, Individual Water Supply and Sewage
Disposal Ordinance. Section 3.2. 1988]
Watershed Land lying adjacent to water courses and surface
water bodies which creates the catchment or drainage area of such water
courses and bodies; the watershed boundary is determined by connecting
topographic high points surrounding such catchment or drainage
areas.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Well, Active An active well is a well that has been utilized at least once in the preceding 12 months for the extraction of groundwater.
Well, Inactive An inactive well or standby well means a well that has not been used for a period of one year or more for the production of groundwater, but is maintained in such a condition that it could be so used, or a monitoring well maintained for such use, or a cathodic protection well maintained for such use.
Well, Abandoned An abandoned or unused well may be defined under one or more of the following:
b. A monitoring well from which no measurement or sample has been taken for a period of three years.
c. A well which is in such a state of disrepair that it cannot be made operational for its intended purpose.
d. A test hole or exploratory boring 24 hours after construction and testing work has been completed.
e. A cathodic protection well that is no longer functional for its original purpose.
f. Any boring that cannot be satisfactorily completed as a well.
Wellfield A tract of land which contains a number of existing or proposed wells for supplying water as specified in the wellfield protection maps. [Broward County, Florida, General Ordinance, Section 27-376, 1984; 1989]
Wellfield Area of Contribution Area of the aquifer where
groundwater flow is diverted to a pumping well due to a lowering of
the water table.
[Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, A Guide for
Drafting Local Aquifer Protection Regulations. Bureau of Water
Management Planning and Standards Division. Section III. 1989]
Wellfield Recharge Area The area from which groundwater flows directly to the wellfield area of contribution.
[Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, A Guide for
Drafting Local Aquifer Protection Regulations. Bureau of Water
Management, Planning and Standards Division. Section III. 1989]
Wellhead The specific location of a well (a hole or shaft
dug or drilled to obtain water) and/or any structure built over or
extending over a well.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Wellhead Protection Area The surface and subsurface area
surrounding a water well or wellfield supplying a public water system,
through which contaminants are reasonable likely to move toward and
reach such well or wellfield.
[U.S.C. Safe Drinking Water Act. 1986 Amendments]
Wastewater Wastewater or sewage means the combination of
the liquid and water carried wastes from residences, commercial
buildings, industrial plants and institutions.
[City of Denver, Colorado, Industrial and Prohibited Wastewater
Discharges Ordinance. Section 11-3-3 (43). 1991]
Water Table The upper surface of a zone of saturation except
where that surface is formed by an impermeable body.
[City of West Whiteland Township Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Zone of Contribution The entire area around a well or
wellfield that is recharging or contributing water to the well or
wellfield.
[Brookings County, South Dakota, Zoning Ordinance. Section 1106.
1989]
Zone of Contribution The area from which groundwater flows
to a pumping well.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Zones of Influence Refers to zones delineated by isotravel time contours around existing or proposed wellfields as specified in the wellfield protection maps, as amended, approved by the Broward County Board of Commissioners, within which hazardous materials are regulated to protect the quality of the groundwater.
Zone 2: The land area situated between the ten-day and the thirty-day travel time contours.
Zone 3: The land area situated between the thirty-day and the 210-day travel time contours, or the thirty-day and the one-foot drawdown contours, whichever is greater.
Definitions of Geologic and Natural Forms Related to Groundwater Protection
Depression A low place of any size on a plane surface with
drainage underground or by evaporation hollow completely surrounded
by higher ground and hazing no natural outlet for surface
drainage.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Drainage The movement of water from an area by stream or
sheet flow and removal of excess water from soil by downward
flow.
[City of West Whiteland Township. Pennsylvania. Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Fault A surface or zone of rock fracture along which there
has been noticeable movement.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Fissure An extensive crack, break, or fracture in the
rock.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Ghost Lakes Transient surface water bodies formed in sinks
after heavy precipitation, due to poor internal drainage, residual
clay remaining after solution of limestone minerals, or other
causes.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Outcrop The exposure of bedrock or strata projecting through
the overlying cover of detritus and soil.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Overland Flow Storm water runoff that is not confined by
any natural or man-made channel such as a creek, drainage ditch,
storm sewer, or the like.
[City of Austin, Texas, Zoning Ordinance. Article 1, Section
101.4(b). 1981]
Sinkhole A funnel-shaped depression in the land surface
generally in a limestone region associated with a subterranean
passage developed by solution.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. Zoning Ordinance.
Section 917.3. 1986]
Soil Mottling A soil irregularly marked with spots or
patches of different colors, usually indicating poor aeration or lack
of good drainage.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance,
Section 917.3. 1986]
Spring A place where, without the agency of man, water flows
from rock or soil upon the land or into a body of surface water.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. Zoning Ordinance,
Section 917.3, 1986]
Stratified Drift Predominantly sorted sediment deposited by
glacial meltwater consisting of gravel, sand silt or clay in layers of
similar grain size.
[Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, A Guide for
Drafting Local Aquifer Protection Regulations. Bureau of Water
Management, Planning and Standards Division, Section III. 1989]
Hazardous Materials and Related Definitions
Containment Facility, Secondary A second tank, catchment pit,
pipe, or vessel that limits and contains liquid or chemical leaking or
leaching from a primary containment area; monitoring and recovery are
required.
[Brookings County, South Dakota, Zoning Ordinance. Section 1106.
1989]
Chemical Bulk Storage Storage of a chemical or chemical in
a container or containers larger than those intended for normal
homeowner or retailer purposes. Proper, non-commercial, homeowner use
of chemicals is not included.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Chemigation The process of applying agricultural chemicals
(fertilizer or pesticides) using an irrigation system by injecting the
chemicals into the water.
[Brookings County, South Dakota, Zoning Ordinance. Section 1106.
1989]
Contaminate To have unwanted chemicals or bacteria mixed
into a water system formerly void of such substances.
[City and County of Missoula, Montana, Subsurface Sewage Treatment
and Disposal Systems Ordinance. Section XII. 1988]
Contingency Plans Detailed plans for control, recontainment,
recovery, and clean up of hazardous materials released during fires,
equipment failures, leaks, and spills.
[Brookings County, South Dakota, Zoning Ordinance. Section 1106.
1989]
Critical Material Any liquid, semi-liquid, flowable, or water
soluble solid that is listed on the most current Superfund amendments
and Reauthorization Act, Title III (SARA III List of Lists published by
the Office of Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington, D.C., or is required by the U.S. Occupational Safety and
Health Administration to have a material safety data sheet
(MSDS).
[Panhandle District #1, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Environmental Health
Code. Section 41.1.400.02(a). 1990]
Discharge To release by any means to the surface waters,
groundwaters, surface of the ground, below ground, the air and living
resources. Discharge also includes, but is not limited to, any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying or dumping
except those activities duly permitted by any state or federal
agency.
[Town of Owego, New York, General Ordinance, Protection of Wells.
Section (b). 1985]
Fuel Oil Distributor; Fuel Oil Storage The storage of fuel
for distribution or sale. Storage of fuel oil not for domestic use
(i.e., not in tanks directly connected to burners).
[Town of Norway, Main, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Grey Water All domestic wastewater except toilet discharge
water.
[Brookings County, South Dakota, Zoning Ordinance. Section 1106.
1989]
Hazardous Materials A material which is defined in one or more of the following categories:
(b) Carcinogenic: A gas, liquid, or solid which is normally considered to be cancer causing or mutagenic. Examples: PCB's in some waste oils.
(c) Explosive: A reactive gas, liquid, or solid which will vigorously and energetically react uncontrollably if exposed to heal, shock, pressure, or combinations thereof. Examples: dynamite, organic peroxides, and ammonium nitrate.
(d) Highly Toxic: A gas, liquid, or solid so dangerous to man as to afford an unusual hazard to life. Examples: parathion and chlorine gas.
(e) Moderately Toxic: A gas, liquid, or solid which, through repeated exposure or in a single large dose, can be hazardous to [humans]. Example: atrazine.
(f) Corrosive: Any material, whether acid or alkaline, which will cause severe damage to human tissue, or in case of leakage might damage or destroy other containers of hazardous materials and cause the release of their contents. Examples: battery acid and phosphoric acid.
Hazardous Material Any gaseous, liquid, or solid materials,
or substances designated as hazardous by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and/or the Maine Department of Environmental
Protection.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Hazardous Waste Any substance identified under Chapter 850,
Identification of Hazardous Wastes, of the rules of the State of Maine,
Department of Environmental Protection, effective date July 1, 1980,
including revisions or amendments thereto, and any radioactive waste
material, which means any solid, liquid, or gas residue, including, but
not limited to, spent fuel assemblies prior to processing, remaining
after the primary usefulness of the radioactive material has been
exhausted, and containing nuclides that spontaneously disintegrate or
exhibit ionizing radiations.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2.
1993]
Heating Oil Storage (Consumptive Use) Storage for heating of
heating oil in excess of 660 gallons. Tanks with capacity between 50
gallons and 660 gallons are regulated by the Oil and Solid Fuel
Board.)
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2.
1993]
Industrial Waste Wastes resulting from the processes employed
in industrial manufacturing, trade, or business establishments.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Inert Fill Material placed on or into the ground as fill:
the material will not react chemically with soil, geologic material, or
groundwater that may be present at the site.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Intensive Open Space Uses Uses of open space, such as gold
courses and power lines, which have the potential, because of their
duration, frequency, or nature to significantly alter the environment,
particularly the groundwater quality and quantity, associated with the
open space.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Junk, Salvage Yard A yard, field, or other area used as a place of storage for:
Landfill An area used for the placement of solid waste, liquid
waste or other discarded material on or in the ground.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2.
1993]
Leaks and Spills Any unplanned or improper discharge of a
potential contaminant, including any discharge of a hazardous
material.
[Brookings County, South Dakota. Zoning Ordinance. Section 1106.
1989]
Pesticide, Herbicide Bulk Storage Storage of herbicides or
pesticides intended for sale or intended for application on commercial
premisses or intended for application on cash crops. Homeowner storage
or storage related to non-commercial gardeners is not included.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Salt or Sand/Salt Piles (covered) Storage of salt or sand/salt
mix intended for municipal, commercial, or other use except for homeowner
sidewalks, steps, or driveways beneath a roof or other structure capable
of preventing precipitation from reaching the salt or sand/salt.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Salt or Sand/Sale Piles (uncovered) Storage of any amount of
salt or sand/salt for any purpose, without a roof or other structure
capable of preventing precipitation from reaching the salt or sand
salt.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Sludge Residual material produced by water or sewer treatment
processes, industrial processes, or domestic septic tools.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Sludge Utilization The spreading of sludge on the ground or
other use of sludge which might expose surface or groundwater to the
sludge.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Snow Dump A location to which snow is transported and dumped
by commercial, municipal, or State snow-plowing operations.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Solid Waste Discarded solid material with insufficient liquid
content to be free flowing. This includes but is not limited to rubbish,
garbage, scrap materials, junk, refuse, inert fill materials, and
landscape refuse. For the purposes of this Ordinance, solid waste
includes recyclable materials.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2.
1993]
Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan Spill
Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan as described in 40CFR, Part
112 of Federal Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Underground Storage Tank Any one or a combination of
nonportable containers, excluding all pipes connected thereto, which is
used to store an accumulation of toxic or hazardous substances, and the
volume of which is ten percent or more beneath the surface of the
ground.
[Elkhart County, Groundwater Protection Ordinance, Section 3.P.
1988]
Other Zoning Definitions Appropriate to Wellhead Protection Ordinances
Best Management Practices Operational Procedures for
handling, storage, and disposal of regulated substances and procedures
which are designed to minimize the impact of certain activities or land
uses on groundwater quality and quantity.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Conforming A building, structure, activity, or land use which
complies with the provisions of this Ordinance.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2.
1993]
Construction Includes building, erecting, moving, or any
physical operations on the premises which are required for construction.
Excavation, fill, paving, and the like shall be considered part of
construction.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Construction and Commercial Equipment and Vehicle Storage
Storage of construction equipment or other commercial vehicles in
excess of 30 consecutive days in which the equipment is not
used.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Continuous Transit Continuous Transit is the nonstop movement
of a mobile vehicle.
[Broward county, Florida, General Ordinance, Section 27-376, 1984;
1989]
Existing Activity Existing activity [or use for which] a
building permit or occupational license has been issued by the
appropriate jurisdiction prior to the effective date of this ordinance,
or for which a completed building permit or occupational license
application had been filed and accepted with the appropriate
jurisdiction prior to the effective date of this ordinance. All other
activities or uses shall be deemed "new."
[City of Jacksonville, Florida, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Part
VI, Section 366.603, 1991]
Gas Station, Service Station Any place of business at which
gasoline, other motor fuels, or motor oil are sold to the public for
use in a motor vehicle, regardless of any other business on the
premises.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead protection Ordinance. Section J.2.
1993]
Lineament Any line on an aerial photograph that is
structurally controlled, including any alignment of separate
photographic images, such as stream beds, trees, or bushes, that are
so controlled. The term is widely applied to lines representing beds,
mineral bandings, veins, faults, joints, disconformities, and rock
boundaries.
[City of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance,
Section 917.3. 1986]
Nonconforming Use A building, structure, use of land, or
portion thereof, existing at the effective date of adoption or
amendment of this Ordinance which does not conform to all applicable
provisions of this Ordinance.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2.,
1993]
Utility Corridor Right-of-way easement, or other corridor
for transmission wires, pipes, or other facilities for conveying
energy, communication signals, fuel, water, wastewater, etc. Municipal
water supply distribution mains, operational, or maintenance facilities,
are excluded from restrictions in the Wellhead Protection Table.
[Town of Norway, Maine, Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Section J.2.
1993]
Sections
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2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8
Appendices
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R
Wellhead Protection Program Guidance Document Contents
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality