The Sands Point Board of Trustees approved two local laws to protect the village's groundwater supply.
These laws amend the Village Code, expanding local oversight over private wells and geothermal systems.
Private wells are defined as any man-made structure used to extract groundwater for nonpublic purposes, such as irrigation or landscaping.
Geothermal systems are defined as open or closed loop systems designed to transfer heat between the ground and a building's heating and cooling systems.
The second law prohibits the construction, installation, or operation of geothermal systems without approval from the village board.
Author's summary: New laws regulate private wells and geothermal systems.