HomeMy WebLinkAbout85-027s* ~ ;~~' 'C~UhdTY `UF 'F~~TTE, STATE'~O~ CAL' 1F4R1~!_IA
I~.esolution No. a5-27
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF BUTTE APPROVING NITRATE ACTION PLAN
WHEREAS, serious and occasionally fatal. poisoning in
infants has occurred following ingestion of untreated well water
shown to contain nitrate concentrations greater than 45 mg/1; and
WHEREAS, the 1962 United States Drinking Water Standards
and the State of California domestic quality water regulations,
contain a limit of 45 mg/l; and
WHEREAS, nitrate levels exceeding 45 mg/1 standards have
been found in shallow domestic well water in certain areas around
the City of Chico; and
WHEREAS, this shallow zone water may xeach and mix with
the deep zone water which is the main public water supply for the
greater Chico urban area; and
WHEREAS, this problem, and the danger from this problem,
is concentrated in the greater Chico urban area; and
WHEREAS, on February 9, 1982, the Board of Supervisors of
the County of Butte authorized a contract with the Department of
Water Resources for a nitrate study, which, when the final report
of the nitrate study was presented to the Board of Supervisors an
March 20, 1984, included a recommendation for amelioration of the
nitrate problem; and
WHEREAS, on April 10, 1984, the Board of Supervisors of
the County of Butte held a public hearing on the Department of Water
Resources nitrate report, on May 10, 1984, there was a public
workshop on the report, on May 15, 1984, the Chico City Council held
a public hearing an the report, on September 25, 1984, the Board of
Nitrate Action flan, on November 1, 14, and 29, 1984, there were
public workshops on the action plan, and on January 31, 1985, and
February 21, 1985, there were joint public hearings before the Board
of Supervisors of the County of Butte and the Chaco City Council;
NOW, THEREI'ORE, BE iT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors
of the County of Butte that the Nitrate Action Plan attached hereto
marked as Exhibit "A" and by this reference incorporated herein, be,
and is, hereby approved.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the
Gounty of Butte, State of California, this 5th day of
March ~
1985, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Dolan, McTnturf and Vice Chairman McLaughlin
NOES : None
ABSENT: Supervisor Wheele~yand Chairman Fulton
NOT VOTING: None
~N r~uL~ruN, ~nairman or me
utte County Board of Supervisors
ATTEST:
MARTIN J. NICHOLS, Chief Administrative
Officer and Clerk of the Board
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.NITRATE ACTION PLAN
GREATER CHICO URBAN AREA
Butte County City of Chico
March 5, 1985
I. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Nitrate levels exceeding the 45 mg/1 drinking water standard
have been found in shallow domestic well water .in certain areas around
the city. Such high nitrate levels can cause Methemoglobinemia in l
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infants less than six months of age. The excessive nitrate cancentra- i
tion indicates that existing or potential widespread water quality
problems exist in the Chico area groundwater. Presently, only
the shallow zone aquifer is affected. Septic tank disposal of
domestic wastes and urban storm water run-off have been listed
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as the most contributory and the most controllable sources of nitrates.
Other sources also contribute to the total nitrate levels; but j
they are less controllable.
5hauld additional information become available as a result
of monitoring or other sources which would indicate a change in
this Action Plan, such change wi11 be requested of the Central
Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
TI. ACTION PLAN GOAL
To prevent the further degradation and to minimize the existing -
nitrate problem in the groundwater of the Greater Chico Urban Area
as shown on the attached map (Exhibit 'A'}' and adjacent areas.
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III. OBJECTIVES - .
A. City and county will review existing land use designations
and development densities within the Greater Chico Urban Area .
and agree upon a Unified Land Use Designation-and Aevelopment
Density Plan (1)by Julq 1,__1985(2).
S. City and county will develop a Sanitary Sewerage Plan (3)
(hereinafter referred to as Sewerage Plan) and a Storm Drainage
(hereinafter referred to as Drainage Plan) for the Greater Chico
Urban Area by July 1, 19$5.
The Sewerage Plan will include:
(1) The area to be. served and the standards and requirements
for the sanitary sewerage facilities.
(2) The area to be served by septic tanks. Said plan shall
designate the land use and the maximum densities far said
non-severed area,
(3) A time schedule far requiring the elimination of septic tanks
and connection to said sanitary sewerage system.
(1) Currently, there are minor differences between the General Plans which
have been adopted by the city and county for the Greater Chico Urban
Area. Further, the development density set by zoning, in some instance:
is not consistent with the General Plan land use designation. -
(2) Since IIIA will not be completed prior to the preparation of the
Sewerage and Drainage Plans, these plans will provide for alternative
designs which recognize bath the existing land use designations
by the city and county. -
(3) On March 3, 1984, the Butte County Board of Supervisors authorized
a sewer feasibility study for a portion of the northwestern Chica
• area with a new trunk sewer line from the Treatment Plant. Much
of the area generally south of Lassen Avenue and east of SHIt 32 can be
served by the existing sewer lines of the city. The county study will
be used to assist the city/county effort in the development of the
Sewerage Plan for the Greater Chico Urban Area.
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The Drainage Plan will include:
(1) The standards for the el~.minataon of all existing drainage
wells.
(2} The standards for the installation of temporary drainage
facilities such as leachfields.
C. Citp and county wall develop a fanax~cing plan by Januar 1 1986
for the construction and extension of:
(1) The sewerage and drainage facilitis as set forth in the
Sewerage and Drainage Plans. -
{2} Water mains to high nitrate areas which do not have~a public ~
water system which meets the nitrate levels prescribed by the i
State Safe Drinking Water Act. .~
D. City and county wall determine the availability of grants or low
interest loans for sewerage, drainage and/or water facilities.
IV. Il~PLII~IENTATION
A. City and county will agree to use the Unified Land Use Designation
and Development Densities Plan{5) far the design of the Sewerage
- and Drainage Plans. .
B. City and county have, or will establish, standards for n,ew water
wells.
{l) $utte County has adopted an ordinance to require adequate
sealing of all new water we11s and special. strata sealing to
prevent interconnection of contaminated and uncontaminated
acquifers. The ordinance prohibits the construction of
drainage we11s and, further, provides for the destruction of
abandoned wells and existing drainage wells as other drainage
systems become available.,.
See 1YT A. above
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The ordinance became efective on August 2, 1984 and is being
- enforced by the Coun'~ Division of .Environmental Health.
(2) City will adopt a similar ordinance and/or resolution by
Ma 1 1985 and assign enforcement to the County Division of
Environmental Health.
C. City and county will establish by January ]., 1986 a timetable for:
(1} The construction and installation of sewerage-and drainage
facilities for all properties to be served by said facilities
within the Greater Chico Urban Area.
(2) The connection of properties to ,said facilities.
(3) The elimination and destruction of exista.ng drainage wells
and septic tank systems,
D. City and county will establish by Mai 1, 1985 standards and
conditions for issuances of a permit for temporary leachfield
,- type storm drainage systems(b} with criteria which will set forth
when such a system may be used.
(1) As a condition of granting said permit, the property owners
wi11 be required to install all drainage facilities to the
boundary of the project area() so as to make connection to
the drainage facilities when said facilities have been
installed in accordance with the adopted Drainage Plan.
(6)Temporary leachfield type storm drainage systems are those which
dispose of storm water by any means other than into a natural drainage
channel ar public storm drainage system.
{7) Boundaries of the project area means the limits of all property
involved in the development including parcel limits and all adjacent
streets.
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II E. -Cite and county will require connection to the sanitary sewer
facilities when said facilities axe available(8),
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II - F. City and county' will allow new development in accordance with the
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Unified Land Use and Development Density Plan when .septic tanks
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are~to be utilized until sanitary sewer service is available. Said
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septic tanks shall be allowed when they meet the criteria as set
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forth in Exhibit 'B' and subject to the following conditions:
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(1) Property owner shall execute a written covenant to be
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recorded against all property within the development, agreeing
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not to protest any sanitary sewerage and/or drainage assess-
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• meet levied pursuant to an assessment district or service
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area and also agreeing to connect such development to the
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sewer and drainage facilities constructed and installed as
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part of said district or service area, all .at such owner's
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- sole cast and expense().
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(2) Property owner shall install all sewerage facilities to the
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boundary of the project area (see footnote T) so as to make
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connection to the sewerage facilities when said facilities
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have been installed in accordance with the adopted Sewerage
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Plan.
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(8} Sewer service shall be considered available except when:
2l (a} The expected project sewage flow is -less than ].,000 gallons
per day and the project does not meet the connection requirements of
22 Butte County Code Section 1.9-~4.
(b) The expected project sewage flow is over 1,000 gallons per dap
23 and a review of a complete engineering report indicates that it is
not practical and feasible to sewer the project. Such determa.nation
~'~ shall be made-with the concurrence of the Central Valley Regional
Water Quality Control Board.
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(9) The above is subject to the appropriate public entity fznding by
28 resolution that said sanitary sewerage and/or drainage assessment
district or service area is necessary in order to protect •the public
health.
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; (3)
~Pzoperty owner may submit a~plan for development to permit
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smaller parcels in accordance with the Uniform Land Use
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and Development Density Plan which Plan shall limit develop-
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~ I ment to the sewage disposal requirements set forth above
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i until sanitary sewer facilities are available.
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(4) Property owner sha11 be required to hook-up to a water source
which is acceptable to and approved by the Butte County
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Division of Environmental Health.
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,~ G. County wall continue.to implement the following monitoring and
$ education program:
9 (1} Beginning November 1, 1984, the Environmental Health
Division of the county initiated a monitoring program for the
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1I shallow zone waters of the area. Twenty-two wells will be
12 ~ monitored every six months. Tn addition, the Department of
13 Water Resources wa11 monitor six we11s as part of its ongoing
14 program. The monitoring program, over a period of tame, wi11
help evaluate the effectiveness of the Action Plan.
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(2) The County Health Officer has sent notafacatiozx to physicians
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. in the county informing them of the high nitrate problem in
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the shallow zone water in the Chico area and asking them
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to be an the lookout for Methemoglobineamia symptoms..
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20 The Health Department wi11 continue an educational program
2Z advising residents that-thee may have their we11s tested and
22 to obtain. an alternative source of drinking water for
23 infants if their we11s show a nitrate level in excess of
24 45 mg. .per liter.
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H, City and county wi11 also examine adja~t areas outs~.de the
Greater Chico Urban Area, inGluding:-
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{l) DevelopmenC of a timetable for extension of sewer and
drainage facilities for those high nitrate areas outside
the Greater Chita Urban Area boundaries. However, extension
of the facilities to these areas will be re-evaluated based
upon need as determined by nitrate levels at that time.
{2) Establishment of densities wha.Gh shall not exceed present
General Plan andfor zoning requirements without the approval
of the Central Valley Regional Water duality Control Board.
T. County will enforce development standards where septic tank
systems are to be utilized within the high nitrate areas outside
the Greater Chico Urban Area as determined by the County
Env~.ronmental Health Division. -
Page 7 of 8
E3~BIT "B"
STANDARDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SEPTIC TANKS i1NTIL SANITARY SEWER SERVICE
IS AVAILABLE
(1} Development will be allowed if it meets the sewage disposal require-
ments for single family residential development of Appendix VII of
the Butte County Improvement Standards for Subdivisions, Parcel-Maps,
and Site Improvements pursuant to Chapter 2O of the Butte County
Code dealing with minimum useable lot areas.
(2} For other than single family development, the sewage generation
shall be limited to the sewage flow expected from a single family
resa~dence, not to exceed an application rate of 1,000 gallons per
acre per day. Sewage generation rates shall be as determined by
County Environmental Health.
(3) Upon completion of the Sanitary Sewerage Plan and the establishment
of a timetable for the extension of sewers into areas, the above
requirements may be revised, depending upon the time lag before
sewers could be made available, to permit a greater density of
development.
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EXHIBIT er$rr
STANDARDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SEPTIC TANKS UNTIL SANITARY SEWER SERVICE
IS AVAILABLE
(1) Development will be allowed if it meets the sewage disposal require-
meats for single family residential development of Appendix VII of
the Butte County Improvement Standards for Subdivisions, Parcel~Maps,
and Site Improvements pursuant to Chapter 2O of the Butte County
Code dealing with minimum useable lot areas and does not exceed a
dwelling unit density of more than one duelling unit per acre.
(2) For other than single family development, the sewage generation
shall be limited to the sewage flow expected from a s~.ngle fama.ly
residence, not to exceed an application rate of 375 gallons per acre
per day. Sewage generation rates shall be as determined by County
Environmental Health.
(3) Upon completion of the Sanitary Sewerage Plan and the establishment
of a timetable for tixe extension of sewers into areas, the above
requirements may he revised, depending upon the time lag before
sewers could be made available, to permit a greater density of
development.
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Page 8 of 8
F.~CHZBIT "Bn
STANDARDS FOR T!#E INSTALLATION OF SEPTIC TANKS UNTIL SANITARY SEWER SERVICE
IS AVAILABLE
(1} Development will be allowed if it meets the sewage disposal require-
menu for single family residential development of Appendix VII of
the }3utte County Improvement Standards for Subdiv~.sions, Parcel~Maps,
and Site Improvements pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Butte County
Code dealing with minimum useable lot areas and does not exceed a
dwelling unit density of more than one dwelling unit per acre. .
(2) For other than single family development, the sewage generation
shall be limited to the sewage flow expected from a single family
residence, not to exceed an application rate of 37S gallons per acre
per day. Sewage generation rates shall be as determined by County
Environmental health.
(3} Upon completion of the Sanitary Sewerage Plan and the establishment
of a timetable for the extension of sewers into areas, the above
requirements may be revised, depend~.ng upon the time lag before
sewers could be made available, to permit a greater denszty of
development.
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EXHIBIT rr~rr
STANDARDS FOR T~~E INSTALLATION OF SEPTIC TANKS UNTIL SANITARY SE4+TER SERVICE
IS AVAILABLE
{1) Development will be allowed if it meets the sewage disposal require-
ments for single family residential development o£ Appendix VII of
the Butte County Improvement Standards for Subdivisions, Parcel~Maps,
and Site Improvements pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Butte County
Code dealing with minimum useable lot areas and does not exceed a
dwelling unit density of more than one dwelling unit per acre.
{2) For other than single family development, the sewage generation
shall he limited to the sewage flow expected from a single family
residence, not to exceed an application rate of 37S gallons per acre
per day. Sewage generation rates shall be as determined by County
Environmental Health.
(3} Upon completion of the Sanitary Sewerage Plan and the establishment
of a timetable for the extension of sewers into areas, the above
requirements may be revised, depending upon the time lag before
sewers could be made available, to permit a greater density of
development.
f
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C,~ U XT ,~$~, .
STA] C TANKS 1`1NTIL SANITARY S1;WER SERVXC);
~r CLAIiLE
(1) ~ meets the sewage disposal require-
al development of Appendix VII of
.lards for Subdivisions, Parcel~Maps,
and Site Improvements pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Butte County
Code dealing with minimum useable lot areas and does not exceed a
dwelling unit density of more than one dwelling unit per acre.
(2} 1:or other than single family development, the sewage generation
shall be limited to the sewage flow expected from a single fam~.ly
residence, not to exceed an applicaL-ion rate of 375 gallons per acre
per day. Sewage generation rates shalt be as determined by County
Environmental Health,
(3} I~pon completion of the Sanitary Sewerage flan and the establishment
of a timetable for the extension of sewers into areas, the above
requirements may be revised, depending upon the time lag before
sewers could be made available, to permit a greater density of
development.
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EXHIBIT "B"
STANDARDS FQit THE INSTALLATIQN Q~' SEPTIC TANKS UNTIL SANITARY SEWER SERVICE
IS AVAILABLE
{1) Development will be allowed if it meets the sewage disposal require--
menu fox single family rESidential development of Appendix VII of
the Butte County Improvement Standards for Subdivisions, Parcel~Maps,
and Site Improvements pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Butte County
Code dealing with minimum useable lot areas and does not exceed a
dwelling unit density of more than one dwelling unit per acre.
{2) For other than single family development, the sewage generation
shall be limited to the sewage flow expected from a single family
residence, not to exceed an application rate of 375 gallons per acre
per day. Sewage generation rates shall be as determined by County
Environmental Health.
(3) Upon completion of the Sanitary Sewerage Plan and the establishment
of a timetable for the extension of sewers into areas, the above
requirements may be revised, depending upon the time lag before
sewexs could be made available, to permit a greater density of
development.
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