SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLANNING MOVING FROM ASSESSMENT TO ACTION Amy Williams Source Water Program Coordinator Department of Environmental Quality Jerry Mason Attorney Mason & Stricklin, LLP
Who is DEQ? The Department of Environmental Quality s mission is to ensure clean air, water, and land in Idaho and protect citizens from pollution State Office 6 Regional Offices
Source Water Defined as any aquifer, surface water body, or watercourse from which water is taken either periodically or continuously by a public water system for drinking or food processing purposes Idaho Source Water Assessment Plan
Contaminated drinking water can sicken or kill people and can force a Public Water System to shut down.
Source Water Protection All communities depend on clean drinking water supplies to protect and enhance: Public health Environmental quality Economic development Quality of life
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION Source water protection is a voluntary effort a community can implement to help prevent contamination of the source water that supplies its public water system.
Benefits of Source Water Protection Reduce/avoid water treatment costs Avoid costly expense to develop new water sources or system replacement if contamination occurs Required for Grant and Loan Programs Reduce health risks related to contaminated water
Ground Water Ground Water Quality Rule/Plan Landfills Source Water SDWA Drinking Water Contaminants Mining Surface Water CWA Waste Water UIC Agriculture UST/LUST Septic Who Is Responsible for SWP?
Local Governments Role Land use planning and zoning Comprehensive planning Local ordinances Wellhead protection Wastewater treatment Waste disposal Hazardous materials management Spills and emergency response Recycling and hazardous waste disposal
Proclamation to Jamestown There shall be no man or women dare to wash any unclean linen, wash clothes, nor rinse or make clean any kettle, pot or pan, or any suchlike vessel within twenty feet of the old well or new pump. Nor shall anyone aforesaid within less than a quarter mile of the fort, dare to do the necessities of nature, since by these unmanly, slothful, and loathsome immodesties, the whole fort may be chocked and poisoned Lord Delaware 1610
Local Government Authorities to Protect Ground Water Ground Water Quality Protection Act and the Environmental Protection and Health Act mandate: All state agencies, cities, counties and other political subdivisions of the state shall incorporate the adopted ground water protection plan in the administration of their programs. State agencies, cities, and counties or other political subdivisions must take into account the effect of permitted activities on ground water and may attach conditions to mitigate those effects. 12
DEQ Programs to Protect Drinking Water Drinking Water Program: Protection of drinking water at the tap Source Water Program: Protection of drinking water at the source
DEQ s Role 1. Primary Agency to Complete SWAs Safe Drinking Water Act: requires all states to complete assessments for public drinking water supplies Idaho Source Water Assessment Plan: Identifies DEQ as the responsible agency to complete assessments 2. Lead Agency to Coordinate SWP Efforts Idaho Ground Water Quality Plan: Directs DEQ to develop a statewide wellhead protection program Idaho Code 39-105.3b: Assigns duties to DEQ Director for enhancement and protection of source water for PWSs
DEQ Tools and Resources Source Water Assessments Source Water Protection and Contingency Planning Templates Source Water Protection Ordinance Template
What is a Source Water Assessment (SWA)? Source Water Assessments Provide: information on drinking water sources and potential threats to the source data for informed land use decisions tools to develop protection plans and prepare for emergencies
What does an Assessment Include? Delineation Potential Contaminant Inventory Susceptibility Analysis Distribute to the Public
Source Water Delineation Ground Water Sources Ground water flow model to determine flow direction and time of travel zones Fixed radius Surface Water Sources watershed boundaries 25 miles upstream using a 4 hour stream flow and a 500 foot buffer on each side of the river/stream. 500 foot buffer around lake
Source Water Delineation 3-Year TOT 6-Year TOT 10-Year TOT Refined Analytical Method
Potential Contaminant Inventory (PCI) UST Site
Susceptibility Analysis Evaluates the conditions in the delineated area to determine the potential for contaminants to impact water quality at the source. Hydrologic Sensitivity Potential Contaminant Source/Land Use System Construction
Susceptibility Score Ranking of high, medium, or low.
Distribute to the Public The Source Water Assessment Online application provides access to source water assessment information for public water systems. www2.deq.idaho.gov/water/swaonline/
SWA Website Demonstration http://www2.deq.idaho.gov/water/swaonline/search
How are assessments being used? City and County Ordinances Oil and Gas Rules Underground Storage Tanks CREP program Emergency Response PWS SWP Plan
SWP Plans Components of a SWP Plan Planning team Vision statement and goals Characterization of the water source Identification of potential contaminants Development of implementation strategies Contingency plan Evaluation and revision
Certification State Certification Voluntary state certification process. Submit Plan to DEQ for review. State certification is granted if all basic elements are included in the Plan. Community receives recognition from the State of Idaho. Recertification every Five Years AWWA G300 Standard Certification
Source Water Protection Planning Web Application Existing Data User Input Template Text Protection Plan Contingency Plan
Contingency Plan Template
Goal of SWP Program the primary goal of Idaho s SWAP is to develop information which enables PWS owners, consumers, and others to initiate and/or promote actions to protect their drinking water source (Idaho SWAP)
DEQ Staff Resources Technical assistance Assistance developing source water protection plans Assistance with implementation activities Educational materials and resources
Questions?