MODULE-4 Land Use Planning

• Introduction
• Land Use Plans
• Conventional Regulatory Techniques
• Non-Regulatory Techniques
• Regional Coordination

Conventional Regulatory Techniques

• Introduction
• Zoning for Resource Protection
• Health Regulations
• Subdivision Rules and Regulations
• Wetland Ordinances/Regulations

Health Regulations

The development of health regulations is an extremely effective method of rounding out a community's regulatory protection program. The following are examples of well-accepted techniques using health regulations to protect drinking water resources.

• Underground Storage Tanks
• Small Sewage Treatment Plants
• Septic System Maintenance

Underground Storage Tanks

Leaking underground storage tanks may be the single largest source of groundwater contamination in the nation. The larger underground gasoline storage tanks associated with automotive service stations have caused numerous contamination incidents.

Potential components of tank regulations are: leak testing and construction standards for new, large tanks such as those at automotive service stations; prohibition of new residential underground storage tanks if they cannot be adequately monitored; removal of existing residential underground storage tanks; and prohibition of new underground tank installation (except for replacements) within groundwater recharge areas.

Privately-Owned Small Sewage Treatment Plants

Privately-owned small sewage treatment plants (SSTPs) have been utilized as a technological solution to prevent overloading of the natural capabilities of land and associated water resources to assimilate wastewater discharges. The use of these small treatment plants has, in some cases, allowed development of land beyond what would be possible using conventional, individual septic systems.

The effectiveness of SSTPs is dependent upon the proper design and functioning of more components than that associated with a standard septic system. SSTPs also require supervised operation and maintenance.

Septic System Maintenance

The maintenance of on-site septic systems is frequently overlooked. The result is typically an overloading of solids moving to the leaching facility and subsequent clogging. When this occurs, the system needs to be rehabilitated. This is commonly done with the use of strong acids or organic solvents. However, these chemicals are contaminants and can degrade ground and surface water quality. To minimize this danger and to ensure proper maintenance of septic systems, many communities have developed a voluntary septic system maintenance program. The key component of such a program is pumping every two to three years for residential septic systems.

next page - Subdivision Rules and Regulations