§ 6.28.020 — Definitions

6.28.020 - Definitions.

Whenever in this chapter the following terms are used, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section: Abandoned well shall mean a well whose original or functional purpose and use has been discontinued for a period of one year and which has not been declared for reuse by its legal owner with the Department, or a well in such a state of disrepair that it cannot be functional for its original purpose or any other purpose regulated under this chapter. An exploration hole shall be considered to be an abandoned well 24 hours after its construction and testing work have been completed. Agriculture well shall mean any water well used to supply water for irrigation or other agricultural purposes including so-called "Stock Wells". Annular seal or sanitary seal shall mean the approved material placed in the space between the well casing and the wall of the drilled hole (the annular space). Cathodic protection well shall mean any artificial excavation in excess of 50 feet constructed by any method for the purpose of installing equipment or facilities for the protection electrically of metallic equipment in contact with the ground, commonly referred to as cathodic protection. Community water supply well shall mean any well which provides water for public water supply systems. Contamination shall mean an impairment of the quality of the waters of the State by waste substances to a degree which creates a hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease. Cross-connection shall mean any unprotected connection between any part of a water system used or intended to supply water for domestic purposes and any source or system containing water or other substances that are not or cannot be approved as safe, pure, wholesome, and potable for human consumption. Department shall mean the Riverside County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health Services. Director shall mean the Director of the Department or his duly authorized representative. Distribution system shall mean and include the facilities, conduits, and all other means used for the delivery of water from the source facilities to the customer's system. Exploration hole shall mean an uncased excavation for the purpose of immediately determining the existing geological and/or hydrological conditions at the site either by direct observation or other means. Individual domestic well shall mean any well used to supply water for domestic needs other than a public water system. Industrial well shall mean any well used primarily to supply water for industrial processes and which may supply water intentionally or incidentally for domestic purposes. Lateral (horizontal) well shall mean a well drilled or constructed horizontally or at an angle with the horizon as contrasted with the common vertical well, but does not include horizontal drains or "wells" constructed to remove subsurface water from hillsides, cuts or fills. Monitoring well shall mean an artificial excavation by any method for the purpose of observing, monitoring or supplying a water bearing aquifer, such as fluctuations in groundwater levels, quality of groundwaters or the concentration of contaminants in underground waters. Person shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, association, profit or non-profit organization, trust, partnership, special district or governmental agency to the extent authorized by law. Pollution shall mean an alteration of water by waste substances to a degree which unreasonably impairs such water for beneficial uses, or the facilities which serve such beneficial uses. "Pollution" includes "contamination". Public water system shall mean: 1. A system, regardless of type of ownership, for the provision of piped water to the public for domestic use, if such system has at least five service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days of the year. A public water system includes: a. Any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities which are used primarily in connection with such system and which are under control of the water supplier. b. Any collection or pretreatment storage facilities which are used primarily in connection with such system but are not under control of the water supplier. Reconstruction means certain work done to an existing well in order to restore its production, replace defective casing, seal off certain strata or surface water, or similar work, not to include the cleaning out of sediments, surging, or maintenance to the pump or appurtenances where the integrity of the annular seal or water bearing strata are not violated. Source facilities shall include wells, stream diversion works, infiltration galleries, springs, reservoirs, tanks, and all other facilities used in the production, treatment, disinfection, storage, or delivery of water to the distribution system. Water well shall mean any artificial excavation constructed by any method for the purpose of extracting water from, or injecting water into the ground. This definition shall not include: 1. Oil and gas wells, or geothermal wells constructed under the jurisdiction of the California State Department of Conservation, except those wells converted to use as water wells; or 2. Wells used for the purpose of: a. Dewatering excavation during construction, or b. Stabilizing hillsides or earth embankments.

(Ord. 5815 § 1, 1990)