Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-7-15-.02

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 335-7-15-.02 - Definitions

The following words and phrases, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meaning:

(a) Analytical methods--the delineation of a Source Water Assessment Area based on the use of uniform flow equations to define the zone of contribution to a pumping well.

(b) Aquifer-- a geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that is capable of yielding a significant amount of groundwater to wells and springs.

(c) Conduit flow--the flow of groundwater in karst (carbonate) aquifers through integrated systems of openings ranging from solutionally widened joints and bedding plane partings to pipe-like passages. Conduit flow is groundwater flow through a system of irregular conduits and open cave stream channels.

(d) Confined Aquifer--An aquifer overlain by low or impermeable stratigraphy, which puts the aquifer under artesian head conditions.

(e) Contaminant--matter which renders water unfit to use due to its physical, chemical, biological, or radiological properties.

(f) Contaminant source--origin of a known or potential contaminant.

(g) Contaminant source inventory--the synthetic identification, location, and recording of contaminant sources existing within a watershed.

(h) Contamination--matter present which renders water unfit for use by causing a change in its physical, chemical, biological or radiological properties.

(i) Fixed Radius-- A circle of specified radius around a well.

(j) Flow boundaries--zones of higher or lower transmissivity, recharge zones, impermeable boundaries, groundwater divides and saddles, and discharge zones that influence flow direction and velocity in an aquifer.

(k) Fracture flow--the groundwater flow along openings produced by the breaking or shattering of rock.

(l) Geologic mapping--the delineation of Source Water Assessment Areas by mapping time-of-travel and flow boundary criteria using geological observations, geophysical data, and dye-tracing methods.

(m) Geologist-- a geologist licensed by the State of Alabama.

(n) Geographic Information System (GIS)-- a computer based method of depicting various types of geographic information on a map.

(o) GPS method--determination of latitude and longitude at a point using Global Positioning System (GPS) collected, differentially corrected data to an EPA accepted accuracy of 25 meters at a specified datum (i.e. NAD 83).

(p) Groundwater source--well or spring permitted as a public water supply source by the Department.

(q) Intake--the structure where raw water is removed from source water for the purpose of transferring it to a water treatment plant.

(r) Known contaminant source--contaminant source which has lead to the detection of a regulated or unregulated chemical contaminant, bacteriological contaminant or physical contaminant in the ground or surface source's raw water quality.

(s) Licensed well driller-- a driller licensed by the Department, who has direct responsibility and supervision over water supply wells drilled by them and their company.

(t) Numerical modeling method--the delineation of a Source Water Assessment Area using computer models that approximate groundwater flow and/or transport using numerical equations.

(u) Physiographic province-- a region of which all parts are similar in geologic structures and climate and which has consequently had a unified geomorphic history; a region whose pattern of relief features or landforms differ significantly from that of adjacent regions.

(v) Porous flow--the flow of groundwater through the connected interstices of unconsolidated sediments.

(w) Potential contaminant source--contaminant source which houses regulated or unregulated chemical contaminants, bacteriological contaminants or physical contaminants which may lead to the detection of these substances in the ground or surface source's raw water.

(x) Public Awareness--the requirement of a water system to notify the public of the susceptibility to contaminant source located in its watershed.

(y) Raw water--water within a watershed used to supply an intake structure.

(z) Significant tributary-- a tributary, or subtributary, within a watershed that, due to its location, has the potential to transport contaminant sources and potential contaminant sources into the main raw water source for a surface water treatment plant. Their "significance" can be determined only after a preliminary study of their relative location to known or potential contaminant sources.

(aa) Sinkhole-- a funnel shaped depression caused by subterranean drainage.

(bb) Source Water Assessment Area (SWAA)--the surface and subsurface area surrounding a spring, water well or wellfield, supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach such water well or wellfield or the systematic identification of contaminant sources within a watershed area and the relative susceptibility to these contamination sources.

(cc) Source Water Protection Area (SWPA)--the critical, or special, area in the immediate vicinity of a surface water plant intake that is closely scrutinized for contaminant sources.

(dd) State boundary--the boundary between two or more States which share a common watershed. It is the upper limit for a watershed that exists in more than one State.

(ee) Stratigraphic pinch-out--the termination or end of a stratum, vein, or other body of rock that narrows or thins progressively in a given horizontal direction until it disappears and the rocks it once separated are in contact.

(ff) Susceptibility analysis--the determination of the relative impact a contaminant source in a watershed has on the quality of a raw water source used for a public water supply system.

(gg) Susceptibility determination--the evaluation of a known or potential source of contamination to degrade the quality of a drinking water source. Contaminant sources shall be listed as low, moderate, or highly likely to impact a drinking water source.

(hh) Time-of-Travel (TOT)--the analytical time-of-travel is based on the maximum time for a contaminant to reach a well according to regional groundwater patterns and velocities. Time periods of 180 days and 10 years are used for determining the time-related capture zones or source water assessment areas.

(ii) Tributary-- a side stream that discharges flow to the main stream of a watershed.

(jj) Unconfined aquifer--an aquifer in which there are no confining beds between the zone of saturation and the surface. An aquifer in which there is a saturated and unsaturated zone.

(kk) Watershed--the entire land area drained by a stream or system of streams such that all streams originating in the area are discharged through a single outlet at an intake. It is usually identified by the hydrologic boundary or surface topography.

(ll) Watershed delineation--the identification of a watershed's topographic boundary.

(mm) Watershed map-- a map which depicts the location of the intake of a water system, the boundary of the watershed serving the intake, the location of the Source Water Protection Area, and locations of contaminant sources within the watershed.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-7-15-.02

New Rule: Filed November 7, 2005; effective December 12, 2005. Amended: Filed December 18, 2007; effective January 22, 2008.

Authors: Edgar K. Hughes, Dennis D. Harrison

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-23-33, 22-23-49, 22-22A-5, 22-22A-6.