Plans and Regulations

Water Quality Protection
Unlike some Washington County towns, Richmond does not have an aquifer overlay or protection district. These districts are useful because they achieve groundwater protection through zoning. Richmond does have site design standards that call for development to be laid out in order to avoid adversely affecting groundwater and aquifer recharge areas. (Patricia Hickey) These standards are probably not as rigorous as would be an aquifer overlay.

Richmond also has standards aimed at minimizing hazards from inland and tidal flooding and at protecting floodways from encroachmentso that they may naturally carry off floodwaters. There is also an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (required for all major land developments as well as for minor or administrative subdivisions if deemed necessary by the Planning Board) that aim to protect fragile wetland areas and surface water. (Patricia Hickey)

Richmond lays out multiple strategies in its Comprehensive Plan aimed at protecting water resources. Some of those strategies are:

• A permit system will be created to regulate large water use industries.
• A setback from rivers and streams will be required for Independent Sewage Disposal Systems (ISDS).
• There will be an increase in the minimum lot sizes available for development in environmentally sensitive areas.
• A revision of zoning regulations to require a 300 ft. buffer zone, called a "non-clear" zone, along "major" rivers.
• Certain commercial and industrial uses may be restricted or prohibited in aquifer overlays areas to ensure safe drinking water supplies. In addition, users of these areas will be required to comply with special regulations on domestic sewage management.

Water Management
Water allocation is seldom mentioned in the 1997 Comprehensive Plan. The plan does suggest that growth be limited around groundwater reservoirs and their recharge areas. It also expects that the Water Resources Board will improve water systems to "coincide" with economic development. An example of this is the extension of the water line for the Stilson Road development.

Richmond would also like to create a waste water management district as a means of promoting "proper waste water management" in Richmond. Currently, there is no sewer line in Richmond. Such a district would be modeled on systems existing in nearby towns, including Hopkinton and Hope Valley.