Chapter 7.73
INDIVIDUAL WATER SYSTEMS

Sections:

7.73.010    Purpose of provisions.

7.73.020    Definitions.

7.73.030    Requirement for permit.

7.73.040    Application for permit.

7.73.050    Yield requirements.

7.73.060    Yield testing.

7.73.070    Quality requirements.

7.73.080    Amendments.

7.73.010 Purpose of provisions.

It is the purpose of this chapter to establish standards for safe and adequate water supplies for individual water systems and to ensure that such systems do not induce contamination of aquifers and therefore jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of the people of Santa Cruz County. It is also the purpose of this chapter to implement policies of the County General Plan and Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan. [Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].

7.73.020 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(A)    “Destroy” means the complete filling of the well, with impervious sealing materials to an appropriate level in accordance with procedures established by Department of Water Resources Bulletin 74-81 and Chapter 7.70 SCCC, in order to restore, as nearly as possible, those subsurface conditions which existed before the well was constructed.

(B)    “Dwelling unit” means a structure for human habitation providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation, with the restrictions that only one kitchen or set of food preparation facilities is allowed in each dwelling unit and an interior stairway shall be provided between all stories. These restrictions shall not apply where an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) is permitted pursuant to Chapter 13.10 SCCC. ADUs and JADUs shall be considered as extensions of the primary dwelling unit.

(C)    “Health officer” means the County Health Officer or authorized representative.

(D)    “Horizontal well” means a well drilled approximately horizontally into a water-bearing stratum as contrasted with a common vertical well, and from which water issues without the aid of a pump.

(E)    “Individual water system” means any combination of water sources, storage facilities and related appurtenances which provides domestic water service to either:

(1)    A single parcel under one ownership with not more than four dwelling units or other permitted land uses on the parcel;

(2)    Up to four parcels, if:

(a)    All parcels served are either contiguous with one another or are contiguous with the parcel on which the water source is located; provided, that public or private rights-of-way shall not be taken into consideration in determining contiguity; and

(b)    The water source(s) is located on one of the parcels served; and

(c)    Each parcel owner has not less than a one-quarter interest in the water system (source, facilities and appurtenances) and a sufficient legal interest in the land upon which it is located to guarantee access thereto and a right to the use thereof; and

(d)    All of the parcels taken together have a total of no more than four dwelling units or other permitted land uses existing on them.

(F)    “Permit” means the written permission of the Health Officer or authorized representative to utilize water from, or otherwise participate in, an individual water system.

(G)    “Spring” means a place where water issues from a rock or soil strata onto the land.

(H)    “Well” means any artificial excavation constructed by any method for the purpose of extracting water from underground. [Ord. 5326 § 1, 2020; Ord. 5325 § 1, 2020; Ord. 4283 § 13, 1993; Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].

7.73.030 Requirement for permit.

No parcel which is or shall be dependent in whole or in part upon an individual water system for its water supply shall be developed for human habitation until an individual water system permit is granted by the Health Officer. [Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].

7.73.040 Application for permit.

(A)    An application for an individual water system permit shall be made to the Health Officer on forms provided for that purpose and each such application shall be accompanied by a filing fee set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. No part of the fee shall be refundable.

(B)    Whenever an applicant seeks a permit for an individual water system which is to supply water to other properties in addition to the applicant’s, the applicant must submit a copy of a recorded deed showing not less than one-quarter individual interest in the water source, storage and transmission facilities, and the land upon which the system is situated. The applicant must also identify the holders of the remaining interests in the water system, and comply with the requirements of SCCC 7.73.050, 7.73.060 and 7.73.070.

(C)    Within 10 business days after receipt of a completed application, the Health Officer shall either grant, conditionally grant or deny the permit. A permit shall be granted if the applicant has complied with all the provisions of this section and if those conditions specified in SCCC 7.73.050, 7.73.060 and 7.73.070 are satisfied. [Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].

7.73.050 Yield requirements.

No permit shall be issued unless and until the following water source requirements are established as prescribed in SCCC 7.73.060:

(A)    November Through July. For each connection to a well water source, a minimum of three gallons per minute of yield must be sustained during a 24-hour period of continuous pumping, or until 4,320 gallons have been achieved during a time period of 24 hours or less of continuous pumping.

(B)    August Through October. For each connection to a well water source, a minimum of two gallons per minute of yield must be sustained during a 24-hour period of continuous pumping, or until 2,880 gallons have been achieved during a time period of 24 hours or less of continuous pumping.

(C)    Spring or Horizontal Well.

(1)    For each connection to a spring or horizontal well, a continuous yield of at least one gallon per minute during the dry season (August through October). The yield requirements of this subsection may not be satisfied by tests conducted during the months of November through July.

(2)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (C)(1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors may, upon finding of drought or other unusual weather conditions of limited duration, extend or redefine by resolution the period of time defined in subsection (C)(1) of this section as the “dry season” for purposes of undertaking the required testing to establish compliance with the yield requirements of this subsection. Any resolution adopted pursuant to this subsection shall be resubmitted to the Board of Supervisors for consideration of whether or not it should continue to be in effect on or before the first meeting of the calendar year which follows the calendar year in which the resolution was first adopted.

(D)    Streams. A stream source must have an adequate year-round flow during drought periods and must have a minimum flow of at least five gallons per minute for each connection, measured during the months of August through October. The users must have a legal right to use water from the stream source on each property where the water will be used.

(E)    Existing Permit—Yield Retesting. The applicant for a building permit for a dwelling unit proposed for connection to a previously permitted individual water system shall submit a new certified yield test for any water source which is a component of that system in the event that two years or more have elapsed since the last certified test of that water source or sources. The yield test must demonstrate that the source or combination of sources meet the present yield requirements for the existing and proposed connection to the individual water system. A bacteriological analysis shall be performed in accordance with the requirements of SCCC 7.73.070(A). A chemical analysis may be required by the Health Officer under the requirements of SCCC 7.73.070(B). [Ord. 4283 § 14, 1993; Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].

7.73.060 Yield testing.

Compliance with the standards set forth in SCCC 7.73.050 shall be established by well pumping tests to be performed by a California-licensed well driller, pumping contractor maintaining a C-61 license with a D-21 classification, registered engineer, registered geologist or registered environmental health specialist, according to the standards and procedures established by the Health Officer. Water yield reports shall be reported and certified on forms provided by the Environmental Health Service. [Ord. 4283 § 15, 1993; Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].

7.73.070 Quality requirements.

No permit shall be issued until required reports of bacteriological analysis and chemical analysis performed by a laboratory certified by the State Department of Health Services are submitted to the Health Officer, and the Health Officer determines that water produced by the system is fit for human consumption, according to standards established by the California Department of Health Services. The Health Officer shall require that the water sample(s) be obtained by the certified laboratory or an independent third party acceptable to the Health Officer.

(A)    Bacteriological Analysis. Bacteriological analysis shall be performed by a laboratory certified by the California Department of Health Services. The analysis shall be for total coliform organisms by the methods as prescribed by the latest edition of the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, American Public Health Association.

(B)    Chemical Analysis. Chemical analysis for chlorides, nitrates, total dissolved solids, iron and manganese shall be performed by a laboratory certified by the California Department of Health Services. Such analysis shall be as prescribed by the latest edition of the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, American Public Health Association. More extensive analysis may be required on a case-by-case basis if the Health Officer determines that the quality of the water may not be safe for domestic use because of evidence of contamination of groundwater in the area or because of past or present land use related or potentially related to the use or disposal of hazardous materials.

(C)    Sealing or Destruction of Substandard Wells. All new wells found to be of unsuitable quality according to standards established by the California Department of Health Services shall be sealed or destroyed as prescribed in the Department of Water Resources Bulletin No. 74-81, or as subsequently revised or supplemented, unless mitigating measures can be found to make the water potable and to assure that the groundwater supply is protected, as determined by the County Health Officer.

(D)    Treatment of Stream Sources. An automatic chlorination device, or other approved treatment system to assure that established bacteriologic standards for drinking water will be met at all times shall be required for all stream sources. The Health Officer may also require installation of water filtration equipment for streams subject to turbidity levels that could interfere with the treatment process or otherwise make the water unsuitable for consumption. [Ord. 4283 § 16, 1993; Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].

7.73.080 Amendments.

Any revision of this chapter which applies to the Coastal Zone shall be reviewed by the Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission to determine whether it constitutes an amendment to the Local Coastal Program. When a revision constitutes an amendment to the Local Coastal Program such revision shall be processed pursuant to the hearing and notification provisions of Chapter 13.03 SCCC and shall be subject to approval by the California Coastal Commission. [Ord. 4023 § 2, 1989].