HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-30-229CHAPTER 229 – WATER WELL PROTECTION
§ 229.01 DEFINITIONS. For use in this chapter, the following terms are defined.
1.“Aquifer” means a rock formation, group of rock formations or part of a rock
formation that contains enough saturated permeable materials to yield significant
quantities of water.
2.“Deep public well” means a public well located and constructed in such a manner
that there is a continuous layer of low permeable soil or rock at least five (5) feet
thick located at least twenty-five (25) feet below the normal ground surface and
above the aquifer from which the water is drawn.
3.“Shallow public well” means a public well located and constructed in such a
manner that there is NOT a continuous layer of low permeable soil or rock at least
five (5) feet thick which is located at least twenty-five (25) feet below the normal
ground surface and above the aquifer from which the water is drawn.
4.“Well” means a pit or hole sunk into the earth to reach a resource supply such as
water.
§ 229.02 DESIGNATION OF WELLS. Each well or Aquifer owned and operated
by the City at this time shall be designated as a “deep public well” for the purposes of this chapter.
§ 229.03 WELL PROTECTION. All land uses, and the construction of all
structures or facilities, must meet the separation distances from all City wells as required in the
Iowa Administrative Code 567-Environmental Protection, Chapter 43 Water Supplies - Design
and Operation.
Table A from the current Iowa Administrative Code is included for reference.
Table A: Separation Distances
SOURCE OF
CONTAMINATION
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM WELL, IN FEET
Deep Well1 Shallow Well1
WASTEWATER STRUCTURES:
Point of Discharge to Ground Surface
Sanitary & Industrial
Discharges
400 400
Water Treatment Plant
Wastes
50 50
Well House Floor Drains 5 5
Sewers & Drains2
Sanitary & Storm Sewers,
Drains
0-25 feet: prohibited
25-75 feet if water main pipe
75-200 feet if sanitary sewer
pipe
0-25 feet: prohibited
25-75 feet if water main pipe
75-200 feet if sanitary sewer
main pipe
Sewer Force Mains 0-75 feet: prohibited
75-400 feet if water main pipe
400-1000 feet if water main or
sanitary sewer pipe
0-75 feet: prohibited
75-400 feet if water main pipe
400-1000 feet if water main or
sanitary sewer pipe
Water Plant Treatment
Process Wastes that are
Treated Onsite
0-5 feet: prohibited
5-50 feet if sanitary sewer pipe
0-5 feet: prohibited
5-50 feet if sanitary sewer
main pipe
Water Plant Wastes to
Sanitary Sewer
0-25 feet: prohibited
25-75 feet if water main pipe
75-200 feet if sanitary sewer
pipe
0-25 feet: prohibited
25-75 feet if water main pipe
75-200 feet if sanitary sewer
main pipe
Well House Floor Drains
to Sewers
0-25 feet: prohibited
25-75 feet if water main pipe
75-200 feet if sanitary sewer
pipe
0-25 feet: prohibited
25-75 feet if water main pipe
75-200 feet if sanitary sewer
pipe
Well House Floor Drains
to Surface
0-5 feet: prohibited
0-50 feet if sanitary sewer pipe
0-5 feet: prohibited
0-50 feet if sanitary sewer
main pipe
Land Disposal of Treated Wastes
Irrigation of Wastewater 200 400
Land Application of Solid
Wastes3
200 400
Other
Cesspools & Earth Pit
Privies
200 400
Concrete Vaults & Septic
Tanks
100 200
Lagoons 400 1000
Mechanical Wastewater
Treatment Plants
200 400
Soil Absorption Fields 200 400
CHEMICALS:
Chemical Application to
Ground Surface
100 200
Chemical & Mineral
Storage above Ground
100 200
Chemical & Mineral
Storage on or Under
Ground
200 400
Transmission Pipelines
(such as fertilizer, liquid
petroleum or anhydrous
ammonia)
200 400
ANIMALS:
Animal Pasturage 50 50
Animal enclosure 200 400
Earthen Silage Storage
Trench or Pit
100 200
Animal Wastes
Land Application of
Liquid or Slurry
200 400
Land Application of
Solids
200 400
Solids Stockpile 400 400
Storage Basin or Lagoon 400 1000
Storage Tank 200 400
MISCELLANEOUS:
Basements, Pits, Sumps 10 10
Cemeteries 200 200
Cisterns 50 100
Flowing Streams or Other
Surface Water Bodies
50 50
Railroads 100 200
Private Wells 200 400
Solid Waste Landfills and
Disposal Sites4
1000 1000
1 Refer to Section 229.01 for definition.
2 The separation distances are dependent upon two factors: the type of piping that is in the existing sewer or
drain, as noted in the table, and that the piping was properly installed in accordance with the standards.
3 Solid wastes are those derived from the treatment of water or wastewater. Certain types of solid wastes from
water treatment processes may be land-applied within the separation distance on an individual, case-by-case
basis.
4 Solid waste means garbage, refuse, rubbish and other similar discarded solid or semisolid materials, including
but not limited to such materials resulting from industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic activities.
September 21, 2020 – Ordinance 2971