Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Environmental Quality
Title R309 - Drinking Water
Rule R309-600 - Source Protection: Drinking Water Source Protection for Ground-Water Sources
Section R309-600-12 - Management Program to Control or Prohibit Future Potential Contamination Sources for Existing Drinking Water Sources
Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024
(1) PWSs shall plan land management strategies to control or prohibit future potential contamination sources within each of its DWSP zones or management areas consistent with the provisions of R309-600 and to an extent allowed under its authority and jurisdiction. Land management strategies must be designed to control potential contamination and may be regulatory or non-regulatory. Additionally land management strategies must be implemented according to the schedule required in R309-600-7(1)(e).
(2) Protection areas may extend into neighboring cities, towns, and counties. Since it may not be possible for some PWSs to enact regulatory land management strategies outside of their jurisdiction, except as described below, it is recommended that these PWSs contact their neighboring cities, towns, and counties to see if they are willing to implement protective ordinances to prevent ground-water contamination under joint management agreements.
(3) Cities and towns have extraterritorial jurisdiction in accordance with Section 10-8-15 of the Utah Code Annotated to enact ordinances to protect a stream or "source" from which their water is taken... "for 15 miles above the point from which it is taken and for a distance of 300 feet on each side of such stream..." Section 10-8-15 includes ground-water sources.
(4) Zoning ordinances are an effective means to control potential contamination sources that may want to move into protection areas. They allow PWSs to prohibit facilities that would discharge contaminants directly to ground water. They also allow PWSs to review plans from potential contamination sources to ensure there will be adequate spill protection and waste disposal procedures, etc. If zoning ordinances are not used, PWSs must establish a plan to contact potential contamination sources individually as they move into protection areas, identify and assess their controls, and plan land management strategies if they are not adequately controlled.
