RANDOLPH, Utah. May 2, 2018. The Water Protection Plan was outlined by Ben Willoughby, County Attorney. Periodically additional wells are needed and unless the county has a Water Protection Plan each site has to go through a complicated and lengthy process to drill. State law governs this issue through the Department of Environmental Protection and its Division of Water Quality which ensures water quality and mandates water system protections.
There are very strict laws governing the protection zones around springs and wells. The first 100 feet or Zone 1 is highly protected. Zone 2 requires 250 days ground percolation. Zone 3 is a three-year protection and Zone 4 a five-year percolation protection.
The ordinance will protect watersheds and keep the four zones protected. This ordinance is for all future wells in the county and does not impact existing wells. Without the ordinance, Terry Allen, Bear Lake Water Company, said that they cannot be approved for new wells. At least one new well will be drilled in the Sweetwater Subdivision immediately if the ordinance is approved.
The Division requires this legal protection of every county and municipality. Rich County assumes that Zone 2 is the most important to protect from such things as hazardous waste, septic tanks, sewers etc. This ordinance will prevent building on this zone unless there is approved design by the state. This ordinance would apply within the whole county.
Enforcement will be by the county and water companies. The county will enforce all regular issues however if it is an emergency discharge, the water company can go directly to court to get an injunction.
The Division of Drinking Water will allow the new well on Sweetwater to be drilled as soon as the ordinance is passed. Cities can have their own ordinances but they must be more stringent than county rules. The ordinance was approved. Terry Allen said it will benefit the entire county.
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