SOURCE WATER PROTECTION: Developing a Plan that Works for YOU. Lyn O Hare Spotts, Stevens & McCoy

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1 SOURCE WATER PROTECTION: Developing a Plan that Works for YOU Lyn O Hare Spotts, Stevens & McCoy

2 SWP What Is Source Water Protection? Taking proactive measures to prevent the pollution of lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater that serve as sources of drinking water. Wellhead Protection is another frequently used term for groundwater sources.

3 SWP Why have Source Water Protection? The most cost-effective method to ensure safe drinking water is to protect the source from contamination. Treatment alone cannot always be successful in removing all contaminants. Improve public perception of the safety of drinking water. Because safe drinking water is essential to the public health and economic well-being of communities.

4 SWP Who Ultimately Protects the Source? THE COMMUNITY

5 SWP Why Have a SWP Plan? SWPTAP = Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program, funded by the Dept of Environmental Protection Our goal is to assist you in developing a plan that: Delineates the protection zones Points out possible contamination issues Provides some help with education and information for your customers Improves water quality through local management practices Understandable and practical Basically.what works for your water system!

6 SWP Developing a Source Water Protection Plan 5 Step Process 1. Form a steering committee Delineate protection areas Identify & prioritize potential contaminant sources. 4. Choose management & protection strategies Plan for the future. Implement the Plan!

7 SWP STEP 1: Steering Committee Advisory group for water system makes suggestions for protection plan and offers different perspectives for improvements. Provides local knowledge and conveys source water protection information back to community/constituents. Long-term goal: keep committee together to assist with implementing the plan.

8 SWP Steering Committee Select a diverse group of people with different perspectives who have an interest in maintaining a healthy water supply: Planning Commission Conservation District Environmental Advisory Council Local Industry Watershed Associations Educators Farmers Municipal Officials

9 SWP Steering Committee BTWS Steering Committee Members Water Department Environmental Advisory Council County & Municipal Planning Commission Municipal Building Department Municipal Zoning/Watershed Officer Water & Sewer Commission Conservation District Farmer Consultant

10 SWP STOP and THINK. Who would be some key groups or stakeholders in your community that could be on the Steering Committee?

11 SWP STEP 2: Delineation of Protection Areas Scientific/technical portion of plan Where does the water come from? Use computer model, field data, GIS Protection zone delineations for groundwater or surface water sources

12 SWP Water Sources Buckingham Township Cold Springs Lahaska Buckingham Village Fieldstone Furlong

13 SWP A 3-D Look at the Water Sources Buckingham Twp.

14 SWP A Slice of Geology

15 SWP A 3-D Look at the Water Sources CITY OF ALLENTOWN

16 SWP Groundwater Flow

17 SWP Groundwater Flow

18 SWP Groundwater Flow

19 SWP Source Water Protection Areas - groundwater Zone I Zone II Zone III

20 SWP Source Water Protection Areas surface water Zone B Zone A Zone C

21 SWP STEP 3: Potential Sources of Contamination

22 SWP Point Sources Specific PSOCs are identified for the water system: Agricultural Operations Treatment Plants Auto Repair Shops Medical Facilities RCRA Locations Construction Companies NPDES Locations Golf Courses Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)

23 SWP Potential Sources of Contamination Identification and prioritization DEP susceptibility analysis PSOCs are ranked by risk to the water supply A = highest risk F = lowest risk Focus on PSOCs ranked A and B Assists Steering Committee in setting priorities for source water protection efforts

24 SWP Point-source PSOCs Point sources of possible pollution are identified in a preliminary database search, and mapped in Zones I, II, and III (or A, B, C) for the water system.

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28 SWP Non-Point Sources Agricultural areas Major roads, pipelines, rail systems Residential/Commercial possible stormwater runoff issues

29 SWP Finalized PSOCs Focus on a targeted list of point- and nonpoint sources in Zones I and II, or in Zone A and B. This makes the list more manageable for strategic planning.

30 SWP Examples of PSOCs - BTWS Examples of PSOCs in Zones I and II: Treatment Plants Construction Co. Farm Manufacturer School Commercial Facilities

31 SWP STOP and THINK. What are potential risks to your water sources?

32 SWP STEP 4- Choose Management/Protection Strategies What management options are going to work best in YOUR community?

33 SWP Management & Protection Strategies Develop a management measure for each identified risk Regulatory Management Options Non-Regulatory Management Options Risk Assessment, Water Quality Monitoring, Land Acquisition or Easements, Household Hazardous Waste Collection, Public Education Source Water Protection Plan

34 SWP Management & Protection Strategy Examples Regulatory Tools Overlay zoning Stormwater ordinance Septic system management ordinance Special use permitted within protection zones Drainage requirements Well construction standards Well abandonment procedures Non-Regulatory Tools Public education Contingency planning Hazardous waste collection events Consider purchase of land/easement in protection zones Update PSOCs and provide specific outreach/education Stormwater or Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)

35 SWP Non-Regulatory: Notification of Protection Zones Don t assume that neighbors know they are close to the water source! Knowledge is Prevention! Notify these groups as soon as possible: Residents in Zones I and II of any groundwater well, or Zone A of a surface water source PSOC sites in Zones I and II, or Zone A Planning Commission Conservation District Municipal governments County Emergency Management Agency

36 SWP Non-Regulatory: Land Purchase and Development Rights Limiting new development in watersheds and recharge areas Land purchases Conservation easements Land trusts

37 SWP Non-Regulatory: Stormwater Management Constructed wetlands Wissahickon Valley Grass swale, Tredyffrin Twp Grassed swale Riparian Buffers, Alexandria Twp. Reduces the speed of runoff Promotes filtering or infiltration of storm water Pervious Pavement, Penn State Berks Photo: Texas Chapter, APWA Contour strip farming Rain Garden, Westmoreland County

38 SWP Non-Regulatory: Education and Outreach Partnerships are Important Colleges and universities offer an opportunity to work with science and education departments and students. Local environmental groups like EACs or Watershed Associations can help with outreach. Government agencies like the Conservation District have technical assistance staff and programs available. Public Education and Involvement Tours to students, municipal officials Mailings Community Activities Fairs, carnivals Earth Day Cleanup Events

39 SWP Non-Regulatory: Watershed Awareness Signs Maiden Creek Watershed, Berks County Local signs funded by WREN grant; PennDOT signs funded by the Reading Area Water Authority

40 SWP Non-Regulatory: Calendars or Brochures Best Management Practices calendar, funded by WREN

41 SWP Non-Regulatory: Homeowner Awareness Use newsletters or other mailings to educate homeowners on their impact to source water protection: Vehicle maintenance Lawn and garden chemical use Car washing Household hazardous waste Pet waste Litter or soil in stormdrains Pharmaceutical disposal

42 SWP Non-Regulatory: Municipality Partnerships Removing litter from stormdrains, Borough of Shillington Stenciled stormdrains in the City of Reading

43 SWP Regulatory: Overlay Zoning Superimposes additional standards onto existing zoning provisions These are mapped sections that place specific restrictions or development criteria without changing the current zoning.

44 SWP Regulatory: Land Use Prohibitions Effective way to remove threats from sensitive areas New development must meet established standards Example: Borough of Kutztown New activities must be reviewed against list of Regulated Land Uses Uses such has heavy industry, service stations, and large livestock operations are prohibited in Zone II; other uses must obtain Special Permit

45 SWP Regulatory: Ordinances Wellhead Protection Borough of Lyons Regulated Land Use SALDO/Stormwater management Township of Radnor Stormwater Management Septic system management Township of Maxatawny Management of On-lot Subsurface Sewage Disposal Facilities Geothermal heating systems Shrewsbury Borough Installation and Use of Geothermal Heating Systems Riparian buffer areas College Township Riparian Buffer Overlay Zoning Oil & gas drilling some legality issues

46 SWP STOP and THINK. Which Regulatory and Non-Regulatory management strategies could be implemented in your community?

47 SWP STEP 5: Plan for the Future Emergency Plan Review Review of Land Uses New Sources of Water

48 SWP Contingency Planning What if. Has the water system developed response scenarios to potential threats to intakes or wells? Have short- and long-term water supply options been identified in case of contamination?

49 SWP Review of Land Uses Does current Land Use make sense for future source water protection?

50 SWP New Sources The Steering Committee must discuss possible new sources of water in case of long-term issues with the current wells or surface sources.

51 SWP Implementation of Your SWP Plan

52 SWP Implementation of Your SWP Plan After draft plan comments by the Steering Committee and DEP, the final version will be compiled and printed. The DEP will then provide formal approval of final Source Water Protection Plan. Water supplier and partners will implement the management strategies selected by the Committee, and provide annual activity updates to the DEP. Source water protection is an ongoing commitment that requires cooperation among all the partners!

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