A
portion of Pinellas County’s potable water
supply comes from groundwater sources. The use,
handling, production and storage of regulated
substances (hazardous and toxic materials)
present a risk of contamination to the groundwater
supply.
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In
1985, the Growth Management Legislation
required that counties and municipalities
throughout the state protect their wellfields.
Florida Statute 163.3177 (6)(D) requires
that land use maps in local plans delineate
existing and planned water wells and, among
other things, must include, as a minimum,
regulation to the protection of potable
water wells. Land use and zoning regulations
restrict industrial and commercial activities
in the Wellhead Zone of
Protection Overlay.
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Following
a public hearing which was held on January 30,
1990, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
adopted the Wellhead Protection
Ordinance. This ordinance was implemented
to protect and safeguard the health, safety, and
welfare of the residents and visitors of Pinellas
County by providing criteria for regulating certain
substances that may impair present and future
public potable water supply wells and wellfields.
It prohibits or restricts all non-residential
activities that use, handle, produce, dispose,
and/or store regulated substances within the Zone
of Protection, except as provided under the General
Exemption and Special Exemption provisions
of the Ordinance. If a pre-existing owner or tenant
did not obtain the required permit, he or she
had to submit a Closure Permit. Residential
activities and stormwater
ponds are also regulated by this ordinance.
Certain activities in non-compliance with this
ordinance may be required to cease operation.
Non-residential properties
which handle regulated substances in amounts greater
than ten (10) gallons liquid or twenty-five (25)
pounds solid are subject to the regulations of
the Wellhead Protection
Ordinance. Certain facilities and activities
may be prohibited or restricted. Please refer
to the document titled Prohibitions
and Restrictions for information.
Non-residential
properties not subject to Wellhead
Protection Permit or General
Exemption requirements must complete an Affidavit
of Notification attesting to this circumstance.
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