SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT SUMMARY BROCHURE

Transcription

1 SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT SUMMARY BROCHURE CITY OF CAVE JUNCTION PWS # WHAT IS A SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT? The Source Water Assessment was recently completed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) to identify the surface areas (and/or subsurface areas) that supply water to City of Cave Junction s public water system intake and to inventory the potential contaminant sources that may impact the water supply. WHY WAS IT COMPLETED? The Source Water Assessment was completed to provide information so that the City of Cave Junction s public water system staff/operator, consumers, and community citizens can begin developing strategies to protect the source of their drinking water, and to minimize future public expenditures for drinking water treatment. The assessment was prepared under the requirements and guidelines of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). WHAT AREAS ARE INCLUDED IN CAVE JUNCTION S DRINKING WATER PROTECTION AREA? The drinking water for the City of Cave Junction is supplied by an intake on the East Fork Illinois River. This public water system serves approximately 1,380 citizens. Cave Junction also uses groundwater well(s) for drinking water supply. This Source Water Assessment addresses only the surface water component of Cave Junction s drinking water supply up to the state border. The geographic area providing water to Cave Junction s intake (the drinking water protection area) within Oregon extends upstream approximately 233 miles in a southerly direction and encompasses a total area of 232 square miles. The boundaries of the Drinking Water Protection Area are illustrated on the figure attached to this summary. The protection area includes the East Fork Illinois River/Althouse Creek/Sucker Creek Watersheds in the Illinois Subbasin of the Southern Oregon Coastal Basin. The protection area within an 8-hour travel time from the intake extends approximately 16 miles upstream of the Cave Junction intake. It is recommended that the water systems and community consider increased protection within an 8-hour travel time from the intake since eight hours should provide adequate response time to protect the integrity of the public water system intake should a spill or release occur at any crossing or discharge point to the stream. WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION TO CAVE JUNCTION S PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY? The primary intent of this inventory was to identify and locate significant potential sources of contaminants of concern. The delineated drinking water protection area is primarily dominated by agriculture and forestlands. The potential contaminant sources identified in the watershed include rural homesteads, future housing developments, a gas station, a car body shop, abandoned wells, gravel/mining operations, nonirrigated crops, irrigated crops, grazing animals, clear cuts, areas of high density septic, scrap/junk yard, and Highway 199. This provides a quick look at the existing potential sources of contamination that could, if improperly managed or released, impact the water quality in the watershed. WHAT ARE THE RISKS FOR OUR SYSTEM? A total of 14 potential contaminant sources were identified in City of Cave Junction s drinking water protection area. Of these, 13 are located in the sensitive areas and 11 are high- to moderaterisk sources within sensitive areas. The sensitive areas within the City of Cave Junction drinking water protection area include areas with high soil permeability, high soil erosion potential, high runoff potential and areas within 1000 from the river/streams. The sensitive areas are those where the potential contamination sources, if present, have a greater potential to impact the water supply. The information in this assessment provides a basis for prioritizing areas in and around our community that are most vulnerable to potential impacts and can be used by the City of Cave Junction community to develop a voluntary Drinking Water Protection Plan. NEED MORE INFORMATION? City of Cave Junction s Source Water Assessment Report provides additional details on the methodology and results of this assessment. The full report is available for review at: Contact the City of Cave Junction s staff if you would like additional information on these Source Water Assessment results.

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3 1 Transportation - Highway 199 Next to intake (bridge) Cave Field- Within Higher Vehicle use increases the risk for leaks or spills Highway 46 runs throughout DWPA Freeways/State Junction Observation sensitive area. of fuel & other haz. materials. Road building, but is not traveled as much as 199 Highways/Other for ILLINOIS maintenance & use can increase erosion/slope and is usually only passenger cars. Heavy Use Roads failure causing turbidity. Over-application or improper handling of pesticides/fertilizers may impact water. 2 Managed Forest Land Clear Cuts Throughout DWPA Cave Field- Within Higher Cutting and yarding of trees may contribute to - Clearcut Harvest (< Junction Observation sensitive area. increased erosion, resulting in turbidity and 35 yrs.) for ILLINOIS chemical changes in drinking water supply. Over-application or improper handling of pesticides or fertilizers may impact drinking water source. 3 Chemical/Petroleum Day Oil Company 101 Caves Highway Cave Database (2) Outside Moderate Spills, leaks, or improper handling of chemicals Processing/Storage Junction Field- sensitive and other materials during transportation, use, Observation areas. for storage and disposal may impact the drinking Risk reduced to Moderate because ILLINOIS water supply. company is small Above Ground Storage Tanks - Excluding Water Moderate Spills, leaks, or improper handling of stored materials may impact the drinking water supply. Risk reduced to Moderate because company is small 4 Other -future housing Future Development Off Caves Hwy Cave Field- Within Moderate The impacts of this potential contaminant source development Site Junction Observation sensitive area. will be addressed during the enhanced inventory. Interview for ILLINOIS Contact indicated area scheduled for development. Home sites will be in close proximity to E.Fork Illinois River and to the intake. 5/21/2003 Page 1 of 4

4 5 Homesteads - Rural - Rural Homesteads Throughout DWPA Cave Field- Within Lower If not properly sited, designed, installed, and Septic Systems (< Junction Observation sensitive area. maintained, septic systems can impact drinking 1/acre) for ILLINOIS water. Use of drain cleaners and dumping Located in areas identified as household hazardous wastes can result in sensitive. groundwater contamination. 6 Automobiles - Body Lamb-Baaa-Dy Off Rocky Dell Road Cave Field- Within Moderate Improper management of vehicle paints, Shops Shop Junction Observation sensitive area. thinners, and primer products may impact the Interview for ILLINOIS drinking water supply. 7 Wells/Abandoned Abandoned Wells Off Rocky Dell Road Cave Field- Within Moderate Improperly installed or maintained wells and Wells Junction Observation sensitive area. abandoned wells may provide a direct conduit for Interview for ILLINOIS contamination to groundwater and drinking water source. 8 Mines/Gravel Pits Barlow Rock Off Rocky Dell Road Cave Interview Within Higher Spills, leaks, or improper handling of chemicals Junction sensitive area. and wastes generated in mining operations or for ILLINOIS from heavy equipment may impact the drinking No visual observation of site - site water supply. location is based on interview. 9 Grazing Animals (> 5 Grazing Animals Throughout DWPA Cave Field- Within Higher Improper storage and management of animal large animals or Junction Observation sensitive area. wastes may impact drinking water supply. equivalent/acre) for ILLINOIS Concentrated livestock may contribute to erosion and sedimentation of surface water bodies. 5/21/2003 Page 2 of 4

5 10 Crops - Nonirrigated Non-irrigated crops Throughout DWPA Cave Field- Within Lower Over-application or improper handling of (inc. Christmas trees, Junction Observation sensitive area. pesticides/fertilizers may impact drinking water. grains, grass seed, for ILLINOIS Some agricultural practices may result in pasture) excess sediments discharging to surface waters, but non-irrigated crops are generally considered to be a low risk. 11 Crops - Irrigated (inc. Bridgeview Winery Off Bridgeview Road Cave Field- Within Higher Over-application or improper handling of orchards, vineyards, Junction Observation sensitive area. pesticides/fertilizers may impact drinking water. nurseries, for ILLINOIS Excessive irrigation may transport contaminants There was also a small nursery greenhouses) or sediments to groundwater/surface water near the intake. through runoff. Drip-irrigated crops are considered to be a low risk. 12 Junk/Scrap/Salvage Junk/Scrap Yard Off Martin Road Cave Field- Within Higher Spills, leaks, or improper handling of automotive Yards Junction Observation sensitive area. chemicals, batteries, and other waste materials Interview for ILLINOIS during storage and disposal may impact the Located at a residence. drinking water supply. 13 Homesteads - Rural - Takilma South of intake Cave Field- Within Lower If not properly sited, designed, installed, and Septic Systems (< Junction Observation sensitive area. maintained, septic systems can impact drinking 1/acre) Interview for ILLINOIS water. Use of drain cleaners and dumping Potential concern regarding septic household hazardous wastes can result in systems in this unincorporated town groundwater contamination. along the E. Fork Illinois. Septic Systems - High Moderate If not properly sited, designed, installed, and Density ( > 1 maintained, septic systems can impact drinking system/acre) water. Cumulative effects of multiple systems in Potential concern regarding septic systems in this unincorporated town an area may impact drinking water supply. along the E. Fork Illinois. 5/21/2003 Page 3 of 4

6 14 Mines/Gravel Pits Mining Claims Throughout DWPA Cave Field- Within Higher Spills, leaks, or improper handling of chemicals Junction Observation sensitive area. and wastes generated in mining operations or Interview for ILLINOIS from heavy equipment may impact the drinking Queen of Bronze Mine present in water supply. DWPA. Also small mining claims located in DWPA - some may be in sensitive areas. 5/21/2003 Page 4 of 4