§ 13.52.030. Permits.

A.

Permit Requirements.

1.

A well permit is required for all activities specified in the California Health and Safety Code (including its implementing regulations) and the Department of Water Resources' Well Bulletin(s) and standards. The application for a permit shall be in the form prescribed by the director. Every permit issued shall be contingent upon compliance with the requirements specified in this chapter and on the permit.

2.

A permit shall be required for the drilling of a test hole. If subsequent test holes are drilled at the same location within a period of thirty days, separate fees will not be charged for each permit unless more than one completed well is constructed. Abandoned test holes shall be destroyed in accordance with the methods prescribed in the standards.

3.

When the owner, the authorized representative, or a contractor makes an application for a permit, such applicant shall have on file a certificate of insurance which states that there is in existence a valid policy of workmen's compensation insurance in a form approved by the State Insurance Commissioner.

4.

A contractor may make an application for a permit on behalf of the owner. If the contractor makes such application on behalf of the owner, he shall put their address and contractors' license number on such application.

5.

A copy of the permit shall be posted at the work site prior to commencement of drilling operations. Any drilling contractor who fails to comply with this requirement and drills a water well for which a permit has not been secured shall be in violation of this chapter.

B.

Permit Issuance.

1.

No permit shall be issued on any parcel within a service area designated by the Public Utilities Commission or within five hundred feet of an existing public water system except:

a.

As required by the affected public water system; or

b.

When an existing well serving the parcel that is not currently connected to the affected public water system needs to be replaced or deepened and the applicable service area or public water system is under a connection ban. The parcel owner may apply for a permit from the director of environmental health to replace or deepen the existing well.

c.

When the public water system does not agree to provide service for domestic and/or fire flow purposes to the parcel within ten days of submittal of a written application for service.

2.

The following conditions shall apply to the exceptions in subsection (B)(1):

a.

The parcel must have adequate area for private well and on-site sewage disposal system and reserve area, unless connected to a community sewer system.

b.

The applicant for a well shall make an effort to ensure that the operation of the well will not have an adverse effect on adjacent (private and public) wells by making a written offer of performing a pump test and drilling a monitoring well on adjacent parcels with wells within two hundred feet of the proposed well prior to drilling the new well.

c.

The applicant shall use drought-tolerant plant species and drip-type irrigation systems where appropriate.

C.

Additional Permit Conditions.

1.

Commercial landscaping wells on existing parcels served by a public water system are subject to the following additional conditions:

a.

The property owner shall install and test a backflow prevention device prior to the well being placed in service and comply with conditions as required by the water system.

b.

The well must be adequately protected from potential sources of contamination.

2.

Wells for commercial uses on parcels that are not connected to a water system shall be subject to applicable conditions placed on the public water system from applicable local, state and federal regulatory agencies.

D.

Permit Term.

1.

Each permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire and become null and void if the work authorized thereby has not been completed within one hundred eighty days following the issuance of the permit. An extension, not to exceed sixty days, may be granted by the director if requested prior to the expiration of a permit upon a finding that such work could not be completed for causes beyond the control of the permittee.

2.

Upon expiration of any permit issued pursuant hereto, no further work may be done in connection with construction, repair, reconstruction or destruction of a well unless and until a new permit for such purpose is secured in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 492B § 3, 2007: Ord. 492A § 1, 2002; Ord. 492 (part), 1985).