[Home] | [Search by Keyword] | [Search by Topic Area] | [LGEAN City]
Local governments that provide or maintain within their boundaries underground drinking water supplies may be responsible for developing wellhead protection programs. Wellhead protection programs focus on preventing groundwater drinking water supplies from being contaminated. While some of these activities may be conducted by the local government, many of them will be implemented by private landowners following ordinances established by the local government. Similar to surface water protection programs, wellhead protection programs generally involve implementation of management practices on government and private land. In contrast to surface water protection programs, wellhead protection programs often focus more on management practices and oversight by the local government, rather than building of new structures. In wellhead protection programs, local governments often have the responsibility of directing the actions of private entities and assuring that ordinances are followed. Wellhead protection tools include:
· Zoning and subdivision ordinances
· Site plan reviews
· Specifying design standards for new construction
· Operating standards for ongoing land use activities
· Source prohibitions within protected areas
· Property or easement purchases
· Public education
· Groundwater monitoring
· Household hazardous waste collection.
Wellhead Protection Activities
Local governments are responsible for many oversight and control activities designed to prevent contaminants from entering the underground water supply.
Zoning and subdivision ordinances
Zoning and subdivision ordinance are designed to direct or limit development in a wellhead protection area. Zoning ordinances may also restrict or regulated land uses within the protected area. Subdivision ordinances are designed to limit the division of land for sale or development. By limiting the creation of new subdivisions, local governments can limit the number of potential sources of contamination.
Site plan reviews
Site plan reviews require developers to submit for approval plans for development occurring within a given area. Site plan reviews help minimize the impact on a protected area by requiring compliance with protection ordinances, and giving the local government an opportunity to review and approve development activities prior to their implementation.
Design and Operating Standards
Local governments can establish design standards for new construction and operating standards for ongoing land use activities. Design standards can ensure that new buildings or structures placed within a wellhead protection area are designed so as not to pose a threat to the water supply. Operating standards minimize threats from ongoing activities, such as application of fertilizers and pesticides, or storage and use of hazardous materials. These standards may also include prohibition of potential pollutant sources within protected areas.
Property or Easement Purchases
Local governments can purchase property or property easements on land within the protected areas. These purchases can prevent future develop and give the local government land on which to maintain vegetative buffers to help prevent contaminants from reaching the protected area.
Public Education
Public education for wellhead protection programs are similar to those programs that a local government may implement as part of a storm water pollution prevention plan or the combined sewer system nine minimum controls. Public education includes activities such as distribution of press releases, newsletters, or brochures regarding wellhead protection activities; posting signs around protected areas; or establishing wellhead protection committees.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
As part of their wellhead protection programs, local governments may establish household hazardous waste (HHW) collection programs. HHW collection programs provide an opportunity for safe disposal of oils, fertilizers, gasoline, or other household chemicals that residents might otherwise dispose on the ground, or in a landfill designed to accept only nonhazardous solid waste. By collecting and safely disposing these material, local governments prevent them from potentially reaching underground drinking water supplies. See Chapter XXX for more information on operating HHW collection centers.
Groundwater monitoring
As part of wellhead protection programs, local governments may monitor the groundwater within, and leading to the drinking water aquifer. While local governments may conduct monitoring at the drinking water well, owners of businesses that have the potential to contaminate groundwater may be required to conduct monitoring of groundwater as it leaves their property. While some monitoring may be required by EPA regulations (e.g., underground storage tank monitoring), the local government may request that property owners with certain activities (e.g., agricultural fertilizer application) periodically monitor groundwater to determine whether it is becoming contaminated.
Activities associated with groundwater monitoring that have the potential to impact the environment include collecting samples, preserving samples, and analyzing samples. Collecting samples generally has a minimal impact on the environment. However, collecting samples has the potential to contaminate the aquifer if sample preservation chemicals are spilled on the ground. In addition, if wells are improperly drilled and a contaminated aquifer is located above an uncontaminated aquifer, groundwater from the contaminated aquifer can seep into the uncontaminated aquifer.
Preserving most samples used to test drinking water quality requires the use of ice, having a minimal environmental impact. However, samples to be analyzed for chemical contaminates or metals may require the use of chemical preservants. These chemicals have the potential to impact the environment if improperly stored or poured during preservation. For more information on laboratory operations related to sample analysis, see the laboratory operations section of Wastewater Treatment operations.
[Home] | [Search by Keyword] | [Search by Topic Area] | [LGEAN City]