16.18D.010 Critical aquifer recharge areas designation.
Critical aquifer recharge areas (CARAs) are those areas with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water as defined by WAC 365-190-030(2). CARAs have prevailing geologic conditions associated with infiltration rates that create a high potential for contamination of ground water resources or contribute significantly to the replenishment of ground water. These areas include the following:
A. Wellhead Protection Areas. Wellhead protection areas may be defined by the boundaries of the ten-year time of ground water travel or boundaries established using alternate criteria approved by the Washington State Department of Health in those settings where ground water time of travel is not a reasonable delineation criterion, in accordance with WAC 246-290-135.
B. Sole Source Aquifers. Sole source aquifers are areas that have been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
C. Susceptible Ground Water Management Areas. Susceptible ground water management areas are areas that have been designated as moderately or highly vulnerable or susceptible in an adopted ground water management program developed pursuant to Chapter 173-100 WAC.
D. Special Protection Areas. Special protection areas are those areas defined below, pursuant to WAC 173-200-090:
1. Ground waters that support a beneficial use or an ecological system requiring more stringent criteria than drinking water standards;
2. Ground waters, including, but not limited to, recharge areas and wellhead protection areas, that are vulnerable to pollution because of hydrogeologic characteristics; and
3. Sole source aquifer status by federal designation.
E. Moderately or Highly Vulnerable Aquifer Recharge Areas. Aquifer recharge areas that are moderately or highly vulnerable to degradation or depletion because of hydrogeologic characteristics are those areas delineated by a hydrogeologic study prepared in accordance with the State Department of Ecology guidelines.
F. Moderately or Highly Susceptible Aquifer Recharge Areas. Aquifer recharge areas moderately or highly susceptible to degradation or depletion because of hydrogeologic characteristics are those areas meeting the criteria established by the State Department of Ecology. (Ord. 1104-15 § 1 (Att. A)).