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2915 S. 13th Street Duncan, OK 73533 580-252-0629 FAX 580-255-4476 Contact: Kris R. Cash, nrwakc@nrwa.org
Source Water Protection Planning
Source Water Protection (SWP) is a new concept to many communities in the United States. The goal is to protect water systems from the recharge area to the consumer, so safe, potable water can be provided for each member of the community. Source Water Protection addresses the need to identify and provide safeguards to prevent current and future threats to a water system. By identifying the recharge areas for a communities’ ground water and/or surface water sources and recognizing potential threats which are currently not impacting the water sources but could in the future, the opportunity to remove the threat exists. SWP allows regulation at the community level where local concerns can be addressed.
There have been successes in Source Water Protection an example of which is from Susan Breau-Kelley, the Source Water Specialists with the Maine Rural Water Association:
The City of Ellsworth is located in the rapidly growing central coast region of Maine. Working with Maine Rural Water Association, the City and Water Department have implemented a number of source water protection measures to help protect drinking water quality as the region continues to grow. The measures include adopting a surface use ordinance to limit potentially harmful activity on the lake, providing the City road crews with erosion and sedimentation control training and technical assistance and hiring a full-time staff person dedicated to source water protection
How can Source Water Protection help my water system? A Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) will provide information on the Public Water System’s (PWS) recharge area. By delineating the recharge area, the PWS can begin identifying existing contaminant sources (i.e. abandoned storage tanks, dry cleaning facilities, detergents and chemicals used, and fueling stations) and how past and present land use activities could impact the water system. The SWPP will also assist communities in the protection of water rights and future planning for the level of growth the community can support including issues associated with zoning in recharge areas and regulating transportation corridors. A vital part of the SWPP is the Emergency Response Plan, which assists communities in developing an emergency back up plan in case contamination or loss of the water supply occurs. This can include cooperative agreements between neighboring communities to supply water in case of emergency. It also can include agreements between communities that may share a recharge area to regulate land use activities within the recharge area.
A case study from Marc Cohen, the Source Water Specialist with the Atlantic States Rural Water and Wastewater Association describes communities using Source Water Planning is presented on the next page:
Atlantic States Rural Water & Wastewater
Association
12 New London Turnpike ▪ PMB #275
Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: 860-889-6373 ▪ Fax: 207-725-1497
The Little River Watershed lies mostly within the Town of Woodstock. Despite its rural character, the team found that both surface and groundwater in the watershed have been adversely impacted. Four segments of the Little River system are listed by the CT DEP as “impaired” because they do not support aquatic life or contact recreation. Also, low levels of nitrates have been detected in ten of the watershed’s 24 public water supply wells. One of the most pressing problems in the watershed is that no comprehensive study has been done to identify the source of the pollution. However, some potential contaminant sources are non-point sources such as erosion; run-off from fertilization of lawns, golf courses and agricultural land; residential septic systems; and geese.
A Management Plan was developed by the team to address the lack of hard data and mitigate known potential contaminant sources. Some important elements of the plan are: S A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Watershed: This effort includes sampling and testing throughout the watershed by the Northeast District Department of Health, an evaluation of impaired watercourses by the Eastern CT Conservation District and bio-assessment by the Audubon Society. S Agricultural Best Practices: The team supports the work already being done by the farming community, with assistance from government and non-profit agencies, to manage wastes. To expand on this effort, the team applied for, and received, an EPA “319” Grant to study the effectiveness of liquid manure incorporation to reduce nutrient run-off. S Protect Watershed Land: The team encourages the Towns of Putnam and Woodstock to consider protection of sourcewater when making land use decisions and developing land use regulations. The Team has assisted the Wyndham and Opacum Land Trust’s with purchases of watershed land and in getting Greenway designation for land along the Little River. S Education and Outreach: Public education and awareness is a key for implementing a successful protection plan. Outreach includes distributing information to homeowners about protecting sourcewater through septic system maintenance, proper disposal of household hazardous waste and proper lawn care; placing articles in the media on these issue; and presentations to the public and in schools. S Roseland Lake: Roseland Park is an historically significant part of the culture of the area and an important buffer zone along the lake. The team encourages the trustees to maintain and improve the park. The team will also work to remove the lake from the DEP Impaired Waterbodies List and work with the DPH to allow swimming again. S Muddy Pond: Located at the head of the watershed, the public swimming area at Muddy Pond presents a unique opportunity for education. The team requests Woodstock provide an interpretive sign there to promote the importance of the watershed as a public water supply.
In conclusion, now is the time to protect our drinking water. Like any sound investment, the benefits of SWP will continue to grow with time and will continue to protect a communities’ greatest asset-its’ drinking water.
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