Rule 391-3-5-.40 - Wellhead Protection(1)Purpose. The following rule for wellhead protection serve to help protect wells and springs used as sources of water supply for community public water systems owned by and/or serving municipalities, counties, and authorities from nearby pollution sources.(2)Development of Wellhead Protection Plan. The Division shall develop a Wellhead Protection Plan for every well, well field or spring which is used as a source for a community public water supply owned by and/or serving a municipality, county, or an authority.(3)Components of Wellhead Protection Plans. Wellhead Protection Plans shall consist of five parts; namely: (a) an identification and location of a Control Zone for each well or spring;(b) an identification and location of each required Management Zone for each well or spring;(c) an inventory of potential pollution sources in the designated wellhead protection areas;(d) a management plan for potential pollution sources identified in the inventory; and(e) if available, a contingency plan submitted by the supplier to the Division describing how alternate water supplies will be provided in case the well(s) in question become polluted. The Division shall develop all individual Wellhead Protection Plans consistent with the rules.(4)Wellhead Protection Zones. Every Wellhead Protection Area shall consist of two zones, as follows: (a) The Control Zone: Within this zone, the owner shall control all activities so that there are minimal sources of potential pollution in the immediate vicinity of the well bore.(b) The Management Zone: Within this zone, certain potential pollution sources are prohibited or certain activities must be performed in accordance with the rules listed below. The size and shape of the management zone will vary according to aquifer type, aquifer hydraulic conductivity, pumpage rate, hydrologic province, and proximity to recharge.(5)Control Zone. All wells used as a source of public water supply for community public water systems owned by and/or serving municipalities, counties, or authorities shall have a control zone.(6)Delineation of Management Zone. The Division shall delineate the size and shape of the management zone of a wellhead protection area as defined below: (a) wells determined by the Division as drawing water only from confined aquifers shall have an inner management zone extending outward from the center of the borehole for a radius of 100 feet. No outer management zone is required for such wells.(b) wells drawing water from unconfined aquifers as determined by the Division and springs, except those determined by the Division to lie in areas of karst, shall have an inner management zone extending outward from the center of the borehole or spring head for a radius of 250 feet.(c) wells drawing water from unconfined aquifers as determined by the Division and springs, which the Division has identified as being in areas of karst, shall have an inner management zone extending outward from the center of the borehole or spring head for a radius of 500 feet.(d) unconfined wells which the Division has determined utilize fractured crystalline rock aquifers shall have an outer management zone determined according to the "Health Method Curve" contained in the EPA approved Georgia Wellhead Protection Plan.(e) unconfined aquifer wells determined by the Division as lying in karst regions and all springs shall have an outer management zone determined by hydrogeologic mapping or other method acceptable to the Division.(f) Other wells not meeting the above criteria shall have their outer management zones determined by time of travel calculations (a minimum of a 5-year time of travel) or by volumetric calculations as appropriate.(7)Inventory of Potential Pollution Sources. The Division shall carry out an inventory of potential pollution sources within the control zone and management zones. Inventories shall be permanently maintained by the Division in computer data base format. Minimum information shall be the name and address of the owner of the well or spring, location of the well or spring, applicable permit data, the size and shape of the control and management zones, and the types of potential pollution sources. Inventories shall be carried out by the Division every ten (10) years.(8)Inner and Outer Management Zones. Within the inner and outer management zones of existing wells and springs, the following shall apply: (a) The Division shall not issue any new permits for municipal solid waste landfills, industrial waste landfills or construction/demolition waste landfills.(b) The Division shall not issue any new permits for the land disposal of hazardous wastes.(c) The Division shall require all new facilities permitted to handle, treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste or hazardous materials to perform such operations on an impermeable pad having a spill and leak collection system.(d) The Division shall require all new agricultural waste impoundments to have an impermeable synthetic liner.(e)The Division shall not issue any new permits for land application of wastewater or sludge.(g) The Division shall not issue permits for any new quarries or underground mines unless a hydrogeological investigation carried out by the applicant clearly demonstrates that operation of the quarry or mine will not pollute the well or spring or cause a reduction of ground water flow to the well or spring. Such investigation shall be performed by a professional engineer or professional geologist.(h) The Division shall require that all new underground storage tanks installed shall meet the highest standards applicable under the Underground Storage Tank Act. All preexisting underground storage tanks shall be required to have ground water or vapor monitoring. All abandoned underground storage tanks shall meet the requirements of Section 391-3-15-.11 of the Rules for Underground Storage Tanks.(i) The Division shall require all new wastewater treatment basins to have an impermeable synthetic liner.(9)New Sources that are Wells or Springs. For new wells or springs that are to be used as a source of water supply for a community public water system owned by and/or serving a municipality, county, or authority the following shall apply: (a) The Division shall not issue any permit for the addition of a new well or spring until the Division has delineated an appropriate wellhead protection area and carried out an inventory of potential pollution sources in the wellhead protection area of the proposed well or spring. The Division shall make provision for emergency situations.(b) Once the owner and/or supplier requests the Divisions approval for the construction and/or development of a new well, well field, or spring, the Division shall require the Owner and/or supplier to provide the Division with the exact location, intended aquifer, projected depth and expected production of the planned well(s) or springs.(c) The Division shall not issue approval for the construction and/ or development of well or spring where the following potential pollution sources are known to be present within the inner management zone: 1. underground storage tanks;2. non-domestic septic tanks with drain fields;3. animal feedlots, poultry enclosures, or animal enclosures (this rule shall not be construed to apply to family pets);4. Environmental facilities permitted by the Division or other potential pollution sources identified in the inventory unless the Division has determined that there will be no releases to the ground or that such releases, if they occur, will not be a threat to public health and safety. Domestic septic systems that are identified within the inner management zone shall be excluded from the requirements of this section, provided they are located in accordance with the criteria specified in Rule 391-3-5-.07 of this Chapter.(10)Notification. The Division shall notify the owner of any regulated or unregulated chemicals which the Division believes, based on the potential pollution source inventory, may be present in the control zone or management zones of new or existing individual wells, well fields, or springs.(11)Underground Injection Wells. Within the inner management zone of existing wells and springs, the Division shall not issue any new permits for underground injection wells, with the exception of remediation wells.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-3-5-.40
O.C.G.A. Sec. 12-5-170et seq.
Original Rule entitled "Disposition of an Exemption Request" adopted. F. July 5, 1977; eff. July 26, 1977, as specified by Rule 391-3-5-.47.Repealed: F. May 12, 1989, eff. June 1, 1989.Amended: New Rule entitled "Wellhead Protection" adopted. F. June 7, 1993; eff. June 27, 1993.Amended: F. Sept. 24, 1999; eff. Oct. 14, 1999.Amended: F. Sept. 29, 2000; eff. Oct. 19, 2000.Amended: F. Dec. 10, 2002; eff. Dec. 30, 2002.Amended: F. Dec. 21, 2004; eff. Jan. 10, 2005.Amended: New title "Wellhead Protection. Amended." F. Jan. 8, 2014; eff. Jan. 28, 2014.