vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (4604) EPA813-F-95-001 February 1995 THE WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROGRAM: FORERUNNER TO SOURCE WATER PROTECTION EFFORTS ACROSS THE NATION Background The Wellhead Protection Program was established in 1986 by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The SDWA required each State to develop programs to protect public water supply wells from contaminants that could be harmful to human health The law specified that certain activities, such as delineations, source inventories, and source management, be incorporated into State Wellhead Protection Programs (WHPPs) to protect underground drinking water supplies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for approving State WHPPs and for providing technical support to State and local governments as they proceed with their WHPPs. States with approved WHPPs recently reported to EEPA on their progress. Data were received from eighteen States. Purpose This fact sheet explains the status of wellhead protection efforts across the nation and how wellhead protection efforts will be expanded to address surface water as part of the Source Water Protection Program. Implementation of Wellhead Protection Programs From the data provided in the progress reports, an average rate of participation in various wellhead protection activities was determined. Implementation of four key activities is illustrated in the graph below. Wellhead protection area delineations (see WHPAs delineated): in these states nearly 40 percent of all drinking water supplies drawn from ground water have had delineations performed - in other words, the land area to be protected with a wellhead protection area was defined. Source inventories: almost 20 percent of these ground water- dependent systems reporting have had inventories conducted in which potential contaminant sources in and around the protection area were identified. ------- Contingency plans: nearly 20 percent of these ground water-dependent systems have designed response procedures to be implemented in case the drinking water supply is disrupted by a spill, leak, or other event. Active source management: approximately 10 percent of drinking water systems drawn from ground water have implemented regulatory and non-regulatory controls at the local level to manage or control potential sources of contamination. This may include many different activities, from land use ordinances to public education. As the graph "Participation in Wellhead Protection Activities" indicates, implementation of wellhead protection at the local level is just getting underway. Delineation of wellhead protection areas has the highest level of participation, while active source management has the lowest. Delineations are sometimes performed by the State, while the implementation of source management measures (e.g., zoning and land use ordinances) is almost always handled at the local level. When a State Wellhead Protection Program directs the State government to perform delineations, this activity may be conducted rapidly and systematically across the State. Alternately, when a local government is responsible for delineating its wellhead protection areas, and when it implements other wellhead protection activities, the process is dependent on public education, consensus-building, and even development of local regulations. EPA is working with organizations such as the League of Women Voters, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the National Rural Water Association, and The Groundwater Foundation to build local, grass roots support for wellhead protection across the nation. The Future for Wellhead Protection and Source Water Protection The Wellhead Protection Program contains seven elements that are implemented by communities to protect their ground water supplies. The seven elements are: determining roles and responsibilities, delineation, source inventory, source management, public participation, contingency planning, and new well protection. When a community moves beyond ground water protection and also performs these activities for surface water systems, a Source Water Protection Program (SWPP) is established. Thus, SWPPs are an expansion of the Wellhead Protection Program. Because many communities draw drinking water from both surface and ground water supplies, the SWPP is the most comprehensive program a community can establish to protect its drinking water supply and reduce operating costs in supplying safe drinking water. If communities develop SWPPs at the current rate, about 800 new programs per year, approximately 12,000 Community Water Supply Systems will be protected by Source Water Protection Programs by the year 2005. If the Safe Drinking Water Act reauthorization legislation reflects EPA's recommendations on Source Water Protection and fully funds the program, the number of Community Water Supply Systems protected by Source Water Protection Programs could reach 57,000 by 2005. Success in reaching the goal of 57,000 water supply systems will depend upon participation from business, private citizens, and all levels of government. The next progress report on State Wellhead Protection Programs will be available in early 1996, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WELLHEAD PROTECTION AND SOURCE WATER PROTECTION, CALL THE SAFE DRINKING WATER HOTLINE AT 1 (800) 426-4791. ------- |