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Commissioners delay second readings of wellhead protection and high‑capacity water ordinances for wording and technical review
Summary
Entera staff presented revisions to a wellhead protection ordinance and a high‑capacity water supply ordinance that would expand county review of large groundwater and surface‑water withdrawals; commissioners asked for clarified language on agricultural exemptions and test‑pump procedures and tabled both measures for further review.
Liberty Flora of Entera returned to the board to present revisions to two draft ordinances: a Wellhead Protection Districts ordinance intended to set regulated activities in protection zones around public water supplies, and a High‑Capacity Water Supply Development ordinance to require county review of large groundwater and surface‑water withdrawals.
On the wellhead ordinance, Flora recommended removing an agricultural exemption so the county can review certain new agricultural activities — including confined feeding operations and large chemical or petroleum storage — that function more like commercial or industrial uses. "We recommend that language be removed," Flora said, arguing the change would let the county review proposed developments in protection zones rather than automatically exempting them.
On the high‑capacity water ordinance, Flora described thresholds and data requirements: projects withdrawing more than 2,000,000 gallons per day in high‑potential zones and more than 250,000 gpd in medium zones would need to submit geologic well logs, results of pumping tests (including an eight‑hour step test and a 72‑hour aquifer pump test) and, for surface‑water withdrawals, a surface‑water availability analysis that evaluates impacts during the drought‑of‑record (e.g., 7Q10 flows). Flora said withdrawals above 1,000,000 gpd would also require a water balance and an assessment of downstream effects.
Commissioners asked technical questions, including where test‑pump discharge should be routed to ensure accurate aquifer measurements. Flora said discharge is typically returned to the receiving water (for example, the White River) and that discharge must adhere to the county stormwater manual and other discharge requirements; staff noted the county’s stormwater group could provide additional guidance.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to table the second reading of the wellhead ordinance and the high‑capacity ordinance to allow members time to read the revised language and obtain technical clarifications; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor.
Next steps: Entera will provide proposed text changes in writing to county staff; staff will coordinate with the planning commission and stormwater group to clarify test‑pump and discharge procedures before the next reading.
