§ 26.6. Water supply watersheds (WSW).
26.6-1
Findings of fact. Water supply watersheds are defined by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as the areas of land upstream of publicly owned drinking water intakes or water supply reservoirs. The volume of water in a stream is usually determined by the amount of precipitation and the moisture absorption capacity and the speed of absorption of water in surrounding soils. Land cover, slope, soil type and the intensity and duration of rainfall all affect the rate of water absorption or infiltration. The water that is not absorbed by the soil runs off the land as overflow, or surface runoff. Water released through soil adds to the overflow to form total runoff. As runoff flows into lower elevations, it collects in drainage basins, the boundaries of which form watersheds. The runoff from a watershed accumulates in streams which serve to move water out of the watershed to lower elevations.
Land development within the water supply watersheds may affect the quantity and quality of raw water which flows into the reservoir or water intake. The potential problems in water supply watershed include point sources and non-point sources of pollution or problems caused by increases in impervious surfaces such as buildings, roads, and parking lots. Point sources of pollution include municipal sewage discharges, industrial wastewater, septic tanks, accidental spills of hazardous material and leachates from landfills or chemical waste dumps. Non-point pollution consists of contaminates which are generated over large areas such as runoff from cropland, managed forests, paved surfaces, construction activities, motor vehicles or runoff following spills of hazardous materials. Increased development increases loading of non-point pollutants into the streams. Removing vegetation from stream channels and paving over the soil also increases the volume and rate of surface water runoff which, in turn, increases the potential for erosion, flooding and sedimentation (pollution) of the stream.
Therefore is essential that the quality of drinking water be assured in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of Cherokee County citizens.
(Ord. No. 99-O-12, 4-20-90)
26.6-2
Water supply watershed districts. The protected water supply watershed district overlay are hereby designated and shall consist of the land areas that drain to the central core of the respective watersheds stated herein:
• Cleghorne-Spring (Northwest sector) — Consisting of 38 parcels
• Yellow Creek (Northeast sector) — Consisting of 78 parcels
• Big Creek (Southeast sector) — Consisting of 115 parcels
The boundaries of the three overlays are defined by the ridge lines encompassing the central core and a radius of seven miles upstream of the water supply water intakes.
Only a small amount of surface water in Cherokee County is subject to stream buffer requirements under the Part V watershed requirements. This area is found in the southeastern part of the county and is associated with a public water intake located in Fulton County. The two public water intakes in Cherokee that are directly on the Etowah River (Canton and Cherokee County Water Authority) are a part of watersheds that are over 100 square miles in size and therefore are exempt from any DNR protective criteria.
26.6-3
Exemptions. Herein are the exemptions for the WSW districts, provided that the conditions are met:
(1)
Utilities.
a.
All utilities shall be located a minimum of 150 feet from the stream bank and not impair the quality of drinking water in the stream.
b.
All utility installation and maintenance shall be carried out in a manner as to protect the vitality of the buffer area as reasonably possible.
(2)
Forestry and agricultural.
a.
Agricultural activities that involve the planting and harvesting of crops and conform to the best management practices established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
b.
Silviculture activities shall conform to the best management practices established by the Georgia Forestry Commission.
26.6-4.
Permitted uses. Herein are the permitted uses (inclusive of the underlying zoning district uses) that are allowed in the WSW districts, provided that the conditions are met:
(1)
Natural buffer requirements.
a.
A natural, undisturbed buffer of 100 feet wide shall be maintained on each side of the stream and shall be measured horizontally from stream bank.
b.
A natural, undisturbed buffer shall be maintained for a minimum distance of 150 feet from the periphery of existing or future water supply.
(2)
Impervious surface thresholds.
a.
No more than 25 percent of the land area of any new development may be covered by an impervious surface within the delineated water supply watershed overlay district.
b.
No impervious surface shall be constructed within 150 feet on each side of the stream within the seven-mile radius upstream of all public water intakes.
c.
No impervious surface shall be constructed within 75 feet on each side of the stream outside the periphery of the seven-mile radius upstream of all public water intakes.
d.
Septic tanks and septic drain fields are prohibited in the setback areas defined in subsection (1)b.
(3)
Stormwater management control requirements. All new streets constructed within the overlay shall employ alternative stormwater management elements in lieu of the standard curb and gutter. New streets crossing perennial streams within the overlay district shall be designed in such a way as to direct runoff away from pavement to each side of crossing while not impairing the stream below. Primary saturation shall occur away from the stream bank whereby the soils would filter any pollutants. Design(s) shall be reflected on site plan(s) submitted by developer.
26.6-5
Prohibited uses. Herein are the prohibited uses in the WSW districts:
(1)
All sanitary landfills with or without synthetic liners and leachate collection systems.
(2)
All facilities using hazardous materials.
(Ord. No. 99-O-12, 4-20-90)