Definitions
A. Aquifer. A saturated, permeable, geological formation that can yield significant quantifies of water to wells, springs or surface water bodies.
B. Primary protection zone. Those areas designated as the primary protection zone on the map entitled, "Groundwater Protection Plan, Town of Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island."
C. Glacial deposits. The boulders, rocks, gravel, sand, silt and clay that overlie and generally conceal the bedrock.
D. Groundwater. Water found underground which completely fills the open spaces between particles of sand, gravel, clay, silt and consolidated rock fractures.
E. Groundwater Protection Act. G.L. 1956, § 46-13.1, passed in 1985 and heretofore amended. This law establishes a policy of maintaining and restoring groundwater quality in Rhode Island for potable water.
F. Groundwater classification. A program developed under the 1985 Groundwater Protection Act that authorizes the RIDEM to classify groundwater sources into four categories (GAA, GA, GB and GC):
1. Class GAA: Suitable for public drinking water supply without treatment, and delineated as the critical portion of the recharge area to the groundwater reservoirs, and the 2,000-foot radius circle around community water supply wells.
2. Class GA: Suitable for public or private drinking water supply without treatment, but does not meet GAA delineation criteria.
3. Class GB: Unsuitable for public or private drinking water supply without treatment, due to known or presumed degradation.
G. Groundwater recharge. A process through which precipitation on surface water infiltrates and drains to the zone of saturation.
H. Groundwater reservoir. Those stratified drift deposits having a saturated thickness greater than or equal to 40 feet and a transmissivity greater than or equal to 4,000 square feet per day and can yield significant amounts of groundwater.
I. Impervious. That area of a lot that is impenetrable by surface water because it is covered by pavement, principal and accessory buildings, etc.
J. Stratified drift. A glacial deposit consisting of interceded lenses of stratified and sorted gravel, sand and silt.
K. Till. A glacial deposit consisting of a poorly sorted mixture of boulders, gravel, sand, silt and some clay.
L. Water table. The upper surface [water] or groundwater in the zone of saturation.
M. Zone of saturation. That subsurface area below the water table where gravel, sand, silt or clay pore spaces are completely filled with water.
N. Transmissivity. A measure of the ability of an aquifer to transmit a fluid.
O. Hazardous materials. A product or waste, or combination of substances, that because of quantity, concentration or physical or chemical or infectious characteristics, poses, in the zoning board's judgement a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety or welfare, or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, used or disposed of or otherwise managed. Any substance deemed a hazardous waste or material under applicable federal or state law shall also be deemed a hazardous material for this section. Toxic or hazardous materials include organic chemicals, petroleum products, heavy metals, radioactive or infectious wastes, acids and alkalies, and include products such as pesticides, herbicides, solvents, fuels and thinners.
P. Best management practices (BMP). Means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices designed to prevent or reduce the degradation of the town's groundwater to the maximum extent possible.
Q. Underground storage tank. Means any one or combination of tanks (including underground pipes connected thereto) which is used to contain an accumulation of petroleum product or hazardous material, and the volume of which (including the volume of the underground pipes connected thereto) is ten percent or more beneath the surface of the ground.