GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AREAS: INTRODUCTION

What is a groundwater recharge area? A groundwater recharge area is a surface land area where water that eventually enters an aquifer (an underground reservoir) is first absorbed into the ground. The following two diagrams (Figures 3 & 4) illustrate some of the main differences between groundwater recharge systems in various areas of eorgia.

Figure 3 Typical recharge area cross-section in the Georgia Coastal Plain (south of the fall line)

Figure 4 Typical recharge area cross-section in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge (north of the fall line)

Why should we protect groundwater recharge areas? !f ha"ardous waste or to#ic substances $ollute the water that see$s into the ground in a recharge area% these $ollutants are li&ely to be carried into the aquifer and contaminate the groundwater% ma&ing it unsafe to drin&. 'nce $olluted% it is almost im$ossible for a groundwater source to be cleaned u$. (ince 4) $ercent of eorgians% $rimarily located in the coastal $lain $ortion of the state% get their drin&ing water from groundwater sources% we cannot allow groundwater recharge areas to be contaminated. Who must adopt protection measures? *very community that contains a groundwater recharge area% as identified on the recharge area ma$s $rovided by +,-% must ado$t $rotection measures. IMPLEMENTATION ISS ES Tables .T/0 and .T/1 of the +e$artment of 2uman -esources (+2-) .anual for 'n/(ite (ewage .anagement (ystems have been u$dated. The tables have been revised to a$$ly the same minimum lot si"e requirement (for on/site se$tic systems) to new mobile home $ar&s as a$$ly to new single/family homes. A co$y of the com$lete manual has been $rovided to each -+3 for local government consultation and the full te#t of the relevant sections is $rovided at the end of this section. The local groundwater $rotection ordinance must speci!ically re!erence Tables .T/0 and .T/1 of the +2- .anual. The a$$lication of the standards in the tables requires a number of ste$s and must ta&e into account the factors discussed in $aragra$hs A/F. !t is not acce$table to use the minimum lot si"es given in the tables without consideration of these other factors.
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A +e$artment of 3ommunity Affairs roundwater -echarge Area !ntroduction

5ocal ordinances must contain the following $rovision6 7,o construction may $roceed on a building or mobile home to be served by a se$tic tan& unless the county health de$artment first a$$roves the $ro$osed se$tic tan& installation as meeting the requirements of the +2.anual and (ection 89: of this ordinance.; 8(ection 9 is the local ordinance section setting forth the minimum lot si"e requirements for new homes and mobile homes served by se$tic tan&s.: An ordinance e#em$ting lots of record must clearly state from what regulation these lots of record are being e#em$ted. The +,- rule states% 7local governments may e#em$t from the requirements of (f) or (g) any lot of record on the date of their ado$tion of these lot si"e standards.; ((ections (f) and (g) refer to minimum lot si"e standards for individual homes or mobile home $ar&s served by se$tic tan&s.) .any ordinances have been submitted e#em$ting lots of record from 7this requirement; or 7these regulations.; These references are too vague and may be inter$reted too broadly. The ordinance must include the minimum liner standard for new agricultural waste im$oundment sites and $rovide the s$ecifications. The suggested language $rovided by *4+ is6 7As a minimum% the liner shall be constructed of com$acted clay having a thic&ness of one/foot and a vertical hydraulic conductivity of less than <#0) /= cm>sec or other criteria established by the ?.(. (oil 3onservation (ervice.; -equiring a liner to be constructed 7as a$$roved by the ?.(. (oil 3onservation (ervice; or 7as required by the ?.(. (oil 3onservation (ervice; is not sufficient to meet the minimum standards. The minimum liner standard for new agricultural waste im$oundment sites a$$lies to low% medium% and high susce$tibility areas. The $ositioning of this $aragra$h in the +,- rule ma&es it a$$ear to a$$ly only to low susce$tibility areas @ however% it a$$lies to all three ty$es of areas. Thresholds for the ty$es and amounts of ha"ardous materials handled by a facility under consideration must "e speci!ied in the ordinance as follows6 7,ew facilities that handle ha"ardous materials% of the ty$es listed in (ection 301 of the -esource 3onservation and -ecovery Act of 0A=B% e#cluding underground storage tan&s% and in amounts of 0)%))) $ounds or more on any one day% shall $erform their o$erations on im$ervious surfaces and in conformance with any a$$licable federal s$ill $revention requirements and any local fire code requirements.; These thresholds have been determined by +,-% as called for in the *nvironmental 4lanning 3riteria% and they must "e included in the ordinance.

The ordinance must speci!y that 7,ew above ground chemical or $etroleum storage tan&s% having a minimum volume of BB) gallons% shall have secondary containment for 00)C of the volume of such tan&s or 00)C of the volume of the largest tan& in a cluster of tan&s. (uch tan&s used for agricultural $ur$oses are e#em$t% $rovided they com$ly with all federal requirements.; These s$ecifications are included in the original criteria and must "e used in the local ordinance. The reference to *4A rules for oil $ollution $revention and 4) 3F001.0 in the +,- rule is an informational note only% and does not re$lace the s$ecific requirement. ,ote6 5ocal enforcement of the Fire 4revention 3ode will meet this requirement% but such enforcement must "e re!erenced in the environmental ordinance% in order to show that this requirement is being met.

A +e$artment of 3ommunity Affairs roundwater -echarge Area !ntroduction

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EN#I$ONMENTAL P$OTE%TION &I#ISION 'EP&( )*A +, )uestion- .rouping Soil %lassi!ications to &etermine Pollution Suscepti"ility, +o field offices of the ,atural -esources 3onservation (ervice have the authority to grou$ soil classifications for use in determining $ollution susce$tibility for $rotection of groundwater recharge areasD The 2ydrologic Atlas will be useful for determining the broad $atterns of $ollution susce$tibility% but will be im$ossible to use on individual $arcels. Answer- Ees. Field offices of the ,atural -esources 3onservation (ervice do have the authority to grou$ soil classifications for use in determining $ollution susce$tibility. /, )uestion- Applying Scale o! 0ydrologic Atlas +1 and /2 to r"an Areas, .unici$alities such as (avannah will have difficulty in overlaying the groundwater recharge area and $ollution susce$tibility ma$s on its base ma$s. 2ow can the munici$alities $recisely define the groundwater recharge areas% to the street or neighborhood level% so that the requirements can be fairly im$lementedD .a$s at the 060))%))) scale of 2ydrologic Atlas 0F and 1) may not define the level of detail that is needed in urban areas. Answer- *4+ recogni"es the difficulty and lac& of $recision involved in using the 06<))%))) scale ma$s of 2ydrologic Atlas 0F and 1). ?nfortunately% these are the most accurate ma$s available. +igital mani$ulation is now $ossible for 2ydrologic Atlas 0F% which is available as an Arc !nfo database% from the *4+ web $age (www.georgianet.org>dnr>environ). 5ocal agencies can digitally enlarge the 2ydrologic Atlas 0F ma$ to the desired scale or they could engage a eorgia -egistered 4rofessional eologist to $re$are a new ma$ of the significant recharge areas. 3, )uestion- Local In4ol4ement in Esta"lishing Minimum Lot Si5e6 #ariances, Gere any local governments involved in determining the minimum lot si"es for se$tic tan&s under the groundwater recharge area requirementsD +e$ending on soil ty$e% the minimum lot si"e increases are significant and may render some residentially "oned $ro$erties undevelo$able. (hould variances be allowed for these $ro$erties where the ordinance has created a hardshi$D For e#am$le% allowing a home to be built on a B%))) square foot lot when a 0<%))) square foot lot is normally required. Answer- Ees% a Tas& Force with local government involvement develo$ed the +2- rules for minimum lot si"es. ,o variances are allowed. 7, )uestion- Pro"a"le Areas o! Thic8 Soils on 0ydrologic Atlas +1, Ge are uncertain about the definition of Hgroundwater recharge area.H ($ecifically% a $ortion of our Iurisdiction is identified as H4robable Areas of Thic& (oils (may be significant recharge areas)H in 2ydrologic Atlas 0F6 .ost (ignificant roundwater -echarge Areas of eorgia. (hould local governments treat these areas as recharge areasD Answer- For the $ur$ose of the eorgia 4lanning Act% local governments should consider the $robable areas of thic& soils to be (ignificant round/Gater -echarge Areas. !n these areas% *4+ e#$ects the recharge area $rotection criteria to be a$$lied. !t does need to be remembered that *4+ develo$ed 2ydrologic Atlas 0F on the basis of statewide data and not on s$ecific geologic ma$$ing. !n three se$arate situations% involving landfills% the validity of *4+/designated thic& soils as a (ignificant round/Gater -echarge Area was challenged. !n

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all three cases *4+ field ins$ections affirmed that the designation was reasonable and a$$ro$riate. ,onetheless% any utili"ation of statewide data may not be accurate at the local level. !f a local government did not wish to use the *4+/designated areas% they could% at their own e#$ense% $erform geologic ma$$ing to inde$endently define the recharge areas. (uch ma$$ing might result in significantly more or less of the county being a (ignificant round/Gater -echarge Area. The local government would need to $rovide the results of the geologic ma$$ing to *4+ to obtain their concurrence. eologic ma$$ing ty$ically costs about one thousand dollars $er day with about one square mile being ma$$ed each day. 9, )uestion- &e!inition o! Storm Water In!iltration :asins that are Prohi"ited in $echarge Areas, 3an +3A $rovide a definition of storm water infiltration basins that are e#cluded from groundwater recharge areasD eorgia *4+ defines storm water infiltration basins as im$oundments in which incoming urban runoff is tem$orarily stored until it gradually infiltrates into the soil surrounding the basin (drainage should occur within =1 hours). !s this the definition that local governments should follow and should storm water retention and detention $onds% or other storm water facilities with outflows% be e#cludedD Answer- The cited *4+ definition of a (torm Gater !nfiltration Jasin is correct. Ees% local governments should follow this definition. The minimum criteria of the -ules only a$$ly to $ermanent storm water infiltration basins. !t does not include other basin ty$es such as storm water retention and detention $onds. 2owever% local government may establish more stringent requirements and $rohibit these other ty$es of structures if they wish to do so. ;, )uestionPu"licly Owned Permanent Storm<water In!iltration :asins6 :asins %urrently in se, Ge are concerned about the requirement $rohibiting construction of $ermanent storm/water infiltration basins in areas of high $ollution susce$tibility. A large $ortion of our city is located within a groundwater recharge area rated as having such susce$tibility. +oes this $rovision a$$ly to a storm/water infiltration basin built by a local government or $ublic authority for the $ur$ose of storm/water managementD Ghat is the status of basins already in useD 3an they be maintained and re$aired as neededD 3an e#isting basins be e#$andedD Ghat $ractical alternatives are available to local governments if these basins are not allowedD Answer- The $rovision a$$lies to all storm water infiltration basins% including those built by local governments for storm water management. (torm water infiltration basins that are already in use can continue to be usedK however% *4+ might revisit this issue sometime in the future. *#isting basins can be maintained and re$airedK they should not be enlarged. !f a local government believes that storm water infiltration basins are the only reasonable method for dis$osing of storm water runoff% they may request a waiver from *4+. The local government must demonstrate that the basins do not $rovide a significant mechanism for non/$oint source $ollutants to readily reach the aquifer. enerally the demonstration would be in the form of a re$ort $re$ared under the direction of a 4* or 4 and would document $ollution sources and ground/water $rotection safeguards. =, )uestion- &e!inition o! A"o4e .round %hemical or Petroleum Storage Tan8s, Ghat is the definition of above ground chemical or $etroleum storage tan&s as used in the secondary containment $rovisions of the groundwater recharge area $rotection standardsD (ome of our local industries use materials that may or may not be 7chemicalsH or 7$etroleumH.
A +e$artment of 3ommunity Affairs roundwater -echarge Area !ntroduction (e$tember 01% 1))) 4age 4

Answer- Jecause there are no rules s$ecifically for above/ground storage tan&s (A(T3)% *4+ utili"es the rules for underground storage tan&s (?(T) with the -ules for Gater Luality 3ontrol being the regulatory authority. The 3riteria for 4rotection of roundwater -echarge Areas does not s$ecifically define the terms HchemicalH or 7$etroleum.H Ge suggest a 7common senseH inter$retation of these terms. The 3riteria were not intended to a$$ly to storage tan&s for commodities such as beer% wine% &aolin/water slurries% etc. !f Augusta/ -ichmond 3ounty has questions about tan&s of s$ecific ty$es of $roducts% the eologic (urvey is available for advice in ma&ing a determination. 1, )uestion- Types and Amounts o! 0a5ardous Materials 0andled, The criteria include a $rovision requiring that H,ew facilities which handle ha"ardous materials% of ty$es and in amounts determined by the +e$artment of ,atural -esources% shall $erform their o$erations on im$ermeable surfaces having s$ill and lea& collection systems% as $rescribed by the +e$artment of ,atural -esources.H +oes +,- have a listing of the Hty$es and amountsH of ha"ardous materials for which this $rovision a$$liesD Answer- The ?.(. *nvironmental 4rotection Agency (*4A) has established a re$orting threshold for facilities that have ha"ardous substances ((ection 301 of -3-A). This threshold is described in 4) 3F- 3=) and% in general% is any facility having 0)%))) $ounds of a ha"ardous substance (defined in the regulations) on any one day. This is a well/established threshold and industries are very accustomed to this re$orting threshold. +,- *nvironmental 4rotection +ivision (*4+) recommends that local governments use this threshold as the definition of Hty$es and amounts of ha"ardous materials.H (*4+ adds that materials stored in regulated underground tan&s should be e#cluded from the definition.) *4+ recommends that local governments ado$t and enforce ordinances requiring that the storage of ha"ardous materials e#ceeding this threshold be done (0) on im$ervious surfaces and (1) in conformance with any a$$licable *4A s$ill $revention requirements and any local fire code requirements. >, )uestion- Amount or Intensity o! Materials 0andling, +oes this $rovision a$$ly for any handler of qualifying ty$es and amounts of ha"ardous materials% regardless of the HintensityH at which they handle these materials (e.g.% amount of material handled $er year)D Answer- The $rovision a$$lies to any facility having 0)%))) $ounds of a ha"ardous substance (defined in the regulations) on any one day. ((ubstances stored in regulated underground tan&s are e#cluded.) +2, )uestion- .uidelines !or Spill and Lea8 %ollection systems, +oes +,- have guidelines for the design of s$ill and lea& collection systems that will meet +,- requirementsD Answer- +,- does not have its own set of guidelines. *4+ recommends local governments sim$ly ado$t and enforce ordinances requiring that the storage of ha"ardous materials e#ceeding the threshold (see above) be done (0) on im$ervious surfaces (1) in conformance with any a$$licable *4A s$ill $revention requirements and any local fire code requirements. This a$$roach avoids im$osing new burdens on facilities.

A +e$artment of 3ommunity Affairs roundwater -echarge Area !ntroduction

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$ules o! the &epartment o! 0uman $esources Pu"lic 0ealth %hapter />2<9</; Manual !or On<Site Sewage Management Systems Section M- Lot Si5ing
To $rovide for the orderly and safe develo$ment of $ro$erty utili"ing on/site sewage management systems% minimum lot si"es have been established. 5arger lot si"es may be required to meet the requirements of this manual de$ending on the $ro$osed develo$ment of the $ro$erty. 3ounty Joards of 2ealth and>or 3ounty Moning Authorities may require larger minimum lot si"esK the larger minimum lots si"es will ta&e $recedence. 0. 5ot si"e requirements are as follows for single family dwellings including but not limited to6 manufactured or mobile homes% stic& built homes% modular homes% etc. and individual lots in subdivisions or mobile home lots located in areas other than commercial mobile home $ar&s. Area requirements for multi$le dwellings on a single recorded lot% where not $rohibited by local "oning% must be $rovided in multi$les of the following minimum lot si"es for each dwelling to be constructed on the recorded lot. (ee Table .T/0 and sub$aragra$hs 0A through 0F as follows. Table .T/0 .inimum (.in) 5ot (i"es% .inimum 5ot Gidths and .a#imum (.a#) Allowable (ewage Flow for the Ty$e of Gater (u$$ly (ystem.
Table of Gater (u$$ly (ystem ,on/$ublicN 4ublic (individual) 43%<B) square 10%=F) (quare feet feet 0<) ft. 0)) ft. B)) g$adNN 01)) g$ad

J. The 3ounty Joard of 2ealth may also require larger lot si"es when $hysical factors indicate the need to do so. These factors include% but are not limited to% the availability of sufficient unobstructed land areas for an a$$roved on/site sewage management system and a$$roved re$lacement system% slo$e greater than <C% $ercolation rates higher than 4< minutes $er inch% need for subsurface drainage or adverse to$ogra$hic features. 3. 5ots shall be a minimum width of one hundred feet (0))P) or one hundred fifty feet (0<)P) measured within the area where an a$$roved on/site sewage management system and re$lacement system are to be located when served by a $ublic water su$$ly system or non/$ublic water su$$ly system% res$ectively. +. The following land areas are not considered as a $art of a lot when calculating the required minimum lot si"e6 right of ways of roads% easements (such as $ower line or $i$e line) that e#clude installation of an on/site sewage management system% bodies of water% land within <) feet of a la&e% river% stream% wetland or other bodies of water and similar limiting factors. *. There must be an unobstructed area on each lot for installation of an a$$roved on/site sewage management system and an area equal in si"e for a conventional system or larger area% as a$$ro$riate% for an a$$roved re$lacement systemK this will include sufficient area for necessary site modifications for installation of both the initial system and a re$lacement system. All $ertinent 3ounty "oning set/bac&s and other s$ace requirements must also be met. The ma#imum daily sewage flow for each lot or $arcel of land shall not e#ceed B)) g$ad when served by non/ $ublic or individual water su$$ly system or 01)) g$ad when served by $ublic water system. Ghen sewage flows e#ceed these quantities (B)) or 01)) g$ad as indicated) for a given dwelling structure% the minimum lot si"e or $arcel of land shall be increased $ro$ortionally. *#am$le6 Assume a $ublic water su$$ly e#ists (so 01)) g$ad ma#imum sewage flow allowed $er minimum required land area of 10%=F) square feet)% and there is a $ro$osed sewage flow of <%))) g$d. To determine 9Othe square footage of the lot needed% use the following formula6

.in 5ot (i"e .in 5ot Gidth .a# (ewage Flow

N!n this conte#t 7,on/$ublic; means an individual water su$$ly system or any other water su$$ly system which is not a 7$ublic; water su$$ly system. NNg$adOgallons $er acre $er dayOgal>acre>day.

F.

A. The above minimum lot si"es are for the ty$ical si"e home (3 or 4 Jedroom) with basic a$$urtenances such as6 driveway% minimum number of trees% and water su$$ly line. !f larger homes% swimming $ools% tennis courts or outbuildings% etc. are $ro$osed to be constructed or if trees would interfere with installation of an on/site sewage management system% the 3ounty Joard of 2ealth will require larger lots to assure useable soil area.

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<)))gal>dayQQQ 01)) gal>acre>day

%riteria !or Protection o! .roundwater $echarge Areas

-ules of the +e$artment of ,atural -esources% *nvironmental 4rotection +ivision% 3ha$ter 3A0/3/ 0B/.)1 require the following minimum lot si"es in the (tate of eorgia roundwater -echarge areas as defined by the above. A) (ubdivisions and !ndividual 5ots ,ew homes served by se$tic tan& and absor$tion field systems shall be on lots having the following minimum si"e limitations as identified in Table .T/0. 0. 1. 3. 0<)C of the subdivision minimum lot si"e of Table .T/0 if lot is within a high $ollution susce$tibility areaK 01<C of the subdivision minimum lot si"e of Table .T/0 if lot is within a medium $ollution susce$tibility areaK 00)C of the subdivision minimum lot si"e of Table .T/0 if lot is within a low $ollution susce$tibility area.

9O 4.0= acres 9O 4.0= acres # 43<B) ft1>acre 9O 0F0%<)) ft1 area of land needed. 5i&ewise% for a non/$ublic (individual) water su$$ly% to determine EO the square footage of the lot needed for a $ro$osed sewage flow of <%))) g$d% use the following formula6 EO <)))gal>dayQQQ B)) gal>acre>day

EO F.33 acres EO F.33 acres # 43<B) ft1>acre EO 3B3%))) ft1 area of land needed. 1. 5ot si"ing requirements are as follows for multi/ family residential dwellings% all other non/single family dwellings and commercial structures% and this also includes mobile homes located in commercial mobile home $ar&s. 4aragra$hs 0A through 0F above also a$$ly to Table .T/1. Table .T/1 .inimum (.in) 5ot (i"es% .inimum 5ot Gidths and .a#imum (.a#) Allowable (ewage Flow for the Ty$e of Gater (u$$ly (ystem.
Table of Gater (u$$ly (ystem ,on/$ublicN 4ublic (individual) 43%<B) square 10%=F) (quare feet feet 0<) ft. 0)) ft. B)) g$adNN 01)) g$ad

J) .obile 2ome 4ar&s ,ew mobile home $ar&s served by se$tic tan&s and absor$tion field systems shall be on lots having the following minimum si"e limitations as identified in Table .T/1. 0. 1. 3. 0<)C of the subdivision minimum lot si"e of Table .T/1 if lot is within a high $ollution susce$tibility areaK 01<C of the subdivision minimum lot si"e of Table .T/1 if lot is within a medium $ollution susce$tibility areaK 00)C of the subdivision minimum lot si"e of Table .T/1 if lot is within a low $ollution susce$tibility area.

.in 5ot (i"e .in 5ot Gidth .a# (ewage Flow

3) !f a local government requires a larger lot si"e than that required by (1A) above for homes or (1J) above for mobile homes% the larger lot si"e shall be used. +) 5ocal governments at their o$tion may e#em$t from the requirements any lot of record $rior to the date of ado$tion of the -ules of the eorgia +e$artment of ,atural -esources% *nvironmental 4rotection +ivision% 3ha$ter 3A0/3/0B/.)1 3riteria for 4rotection of roundwater -echarge Areas.

N!n this conte#t 7,on/$ublic; means an individual water su$$ly system or any other water su$$ly system which is not a 7$ublic; water su$$ly system. NNg$adOgallons $er acre $er dayOgal>acre>day.

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