HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 2921 CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 2921
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
ESTABLISHING THE FACTUAL BASIS FOR ADOPTION OF AN AQUIFER
PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
WHEREAS, the City of Renton currently draws a substantial
portion of its water from a shallow aquifer; and
WHEREAS, that aquifer has been named a sole source aquifer
under federal law; and
WHEREAS, a sole source aquifer is particularly sensitive to
pollution and degradation; and
WHEREAS, the wells for production of drinking water within the
City of Renton are located within areas of reasonably intense
development; and
WHEREAS, regulation of the use of various chemicals,
substances, and processes adjacent to these wells is necessary to
protect the drinking water of the City of Renton; and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound area in general suffers from a demand
for water equal to or greater than the available supply; and
WHEREAS, the city' s sole source aquifer cannot be replaced if
it is destroyed or degraded; and
WHEREAS, remediation of a destroyed or degraded aquifer is
extremely expensive and time-consuming, and in a number of
instances may not be accomplished at all; and
WHEREAS, the City of Renton is experiencing periodic problems
with pollution of its sole source aquifer; and
WHEREAS, without regulation these periodic incidents will
become more frequent and potentially threaten the use of the sole
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RESOLUTION NO. 2921
source aquifer as the drinking water source for the City of Renton;
and
WHEREAS, industrial uses and retail uses in close proximity to
the wells are the primary sources of pollution to the aquifer; and
WHEREAS, an aquifer protection ordinance would give
substantial protection to the aquifer from pollution; and
WHEREAS, requiring the elimination of certain threatening uses
and replacement with other non-threatening uses will maintain the
value of land within the city limits of the City of Renton; and
WHEREAS, there are a substantial number of non-polluting uses
that can locate in close proximity to the wells; and
WHEREAS, an orderly transition from polluting to non-polluting
uses will be advantageous to the City of Renton and the business
community; and
WHEREAS, adoption of an aquifer protection ordinance will
provide predictability to the business community as to acceptable
uses that will be located in the aquifer protection areas; and
WHEREAS, adoption of an aquifer protection ordinance will
provide certainty to the business community as to the length of
time by which potentially polluting businesses will be required to
relocate, giving those businesses a time for advance planning; and
WHEREAS, adoption of an aquifer protection ordinance could
provide a regulatory framework which would require businesses to
guard against future pollution and to take steps to prevent on-site
pollution from entering the aquifer, which would have a direct
benefit to protecting the quality of the aquifer.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2921
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON,
WASHINGTON, DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I . The above recitals are found to be true and
correct in all respects .
SECTION II . Based upon the factual findings the City
Council hereby establishes the basis and need for adoption of an
aquifer protection ordinance.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 14th day of September Al
1992 .
Marily Petersen, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 14th day of September ,
1992 .
hafl Clymer, ayor
Approved s to form:
Lawrence J. Warr-ern, City Attorney
RES . 181 : 1/20/92
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