COOS) I eui|io|f

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                                               Cover Photo: the Kakagon Sloughs is located
                                               in northern Wisconsin, on the Bad River
                                               Chippewa Indian reservation. The Tribe
                                               depends on its waters for wild rice harvesting,
                                               fishing, and hunting. The integrity of this
                                               wetland is also important to drinking water
                                               sources in Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay
                                               region. — USEPA Region 5, Great Lakes
                                               National Program Office.
i
<
                                               Office of Ground Water and
                                               Drinking Water (4606-M)
                                               EPA816-K-02-002
                                               www.epa.gov/safewater
                                               June 2002
                                       Printed on Recycled Paper
   IV.
   V.
   VI.
   VII.
   VIII.
   IX.
   X.
   XI.
 Introduction	                      ^
 Ensuring Safe Drinking Water Through the Multiples-Barrier Approach	2
 SDWA and the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program	5
 Tools, Resources, and Actions Useful In Protecting Your Drinking Water Supplies	17
 Additional Resources Available Under the Clean Water Act	20
 Financing for Source Water Assessment and Protection Programs	:	23
The Underground Injection Control (U1C) Program and SWAP	26
SWAP Milestones	28
Best Management Practices (BMPs) Available for SWPAs	29
Glossary	44
Contacts	\
   Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 - www.epa.gov/safewater

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1
Virtually every stream, lake, river and aquifer in this country is used as a drinking water source.
Protecting these source waters from contaminants is a major national priority in protecting public
health through ensuring  a clean, safe drinking water supply. Reducing the threat of waterborne
illnesses helps save hundreds of millions of dollars annually by eliminating costly health care
expenses, lost wages, work absences, decreased job productivity, and additional treatment costs
incurred by Public Water Sytems (PWSs) required to  meet federal drinking water quality stan-
dards. The Source Water Protection Program, authorized by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe
Drinking Water Act  (SDWA), outlines a comprehensive plan to achieve maximum public health
protection. According to the plan, it is essential that every community take these six steps:
• DELINEATE your drinking water source protection area
« INVENTORY known and potential sources of contamination within these areas
• DETERMINE THE SUSCEPTIBILITY of your water supply system to these contaminants
• NOTIFY AND INVOLVE THE PUBLIC.about threats identified in the contaminant source in-
  ventory and what they mean to their PWS.
° IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT MEASURES to prevent, reduce, or eliminate threats
• DEVELOP CONTINGENCY  PLANNING STRATEGIES to deal with water supply contamina-
  tion or service interruption emergencies
    Whether your tap water comes from surface or ground water, all drinking water sources are
    vulnerable to a variety of contaminants from a variety of activities. The origin of .contaminants
    might be in your neighborhood or many miles away.  When rain falls or snow melts, it picks up
    and carries away pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal and even un-
    derground sources of drinking water. Because we know these  activities have the  potential to
    Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 ° www.epa.gov/safewater

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contaminate the source of our drinking water, we have created four major barriers to protect our
   rwate from contamination. Preventing  pollution is critical to protectmg dnnkir,, water
from contamination and reducing the need for costly treatment. Community involvement and
individual action are key to providing a safe supply of drinking water.
IluB^sMTO. a » *•* *" ^W>H » «»n "w " " «>«-—«• - — —-—
The best way to protect drinking water is to keep contaminants from entering source water.
MultS Sal,  state, and local laws and programs and individual action help communfles
identify the  sources of drinking water and potential threats. This work enables community to
take appropriate steps to protect the watershed.
 The public water system is the first line of defense to reduce or eliminate con ammants_.nsource
 water.  The Safe Drinking Water Act, which regulates these ^^^^^^^^"tf"^
 Sance to help them reach the goal of providing safe and reliable drmkmg water.They must
 collect and treat water, hire trained and qualified operators and have an emergency response
 plan in case of natural disaster or terrorist attack.
  Dealing effectively with risks to drinking water requires constant evaluation of the water quality.
  Water is monitored at the source; at the treatment plant, after it has been treated and disin-
  fected- at the distribution system, which delivers water through pumps and pipes to your home;
  and in'some cases, at the consumer's tap. If systems have difficulty meeting regulations and
  providing safe, reliable drinking water, assistance can be provided to help them. If all this tails,
  enforcement action can  be taken against the system.
  Constant vigilance to protect water before it becomes your drinking water is essential and in-
  volves all of us. An informed, involved and supportive public is the foundation of drinking water
  protection  What we do in the watershed can directly impact the quality of water that arrives at
  the treatment plant  The more you know about drinking water, the better equipped you are to
  help protect it. See what you can do in the next section, titled, "What You Can Do to Protect Your
  Drinking Water."
  Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1  (800) 426-4791  • www.epa.gov/safewater

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cally, and has  resulted in the need for a   -    —»*^,«»™™™»^^
combined and coordinated interdisciplinary
approach in order to address the problem
in a cross-media fashion. Conse-
quently, lessons learned over the
last two decades have enabled
a   more  comprehensive
understanding of  the
concept of cumulative
risk (e.g., net  im-
pact from many
 media such as air, water, and land uses) and we have modified preventive programs to meet
 those changing needs.
 The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA 1996) established EPA's Source
 Water Assessment and Protection Programs. They are the Agency's newest programs targeted
 at providing clean safe drinking water, but they build on programs developed to carry out EPA s
 original  mission.  Congress  recognized the need for a more comprehensive and integrated ap-
 Zch to the problem of cumulative risk reduction, and SDWA 1996 mandated specific program
 elements to address the areas of risk identification (delineation  and source inventories), risk
 ranking and screening (susceptibility analyses), risk management measures (prevention Programs)
 and  preparation for  unexpected drinking water supply replacement emergencies  (contingency
 planning).
 The SDWA Amendments of 1996 outline six steps for prevention programs to protect and benefit
 public drinking water systems. Together, they form the basis of comprehensive (tanking water
 source  protection.
  Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1  (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater

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   STEP 1. - DELINEATE the Source Water Protection Area (SWPA).
   PURPOSE: Delineating the SWPA shows the area to be protected and prescribes the bound-
   aries of the area from which drinking water supplies are drawn.
   This  step also designates the area within which contaminant source inventories are con-
   ducted, identifying substances or activities that may pose potential risks to the drinking water
   supplies withing that area.  Delineations may be performed using a variety of accepted meth-
   ods (e.g., calculated fixed radius; computer modeling,  etc.), and are most protective when
   they include all sources of water and  potential contaminants and activities affecting them
   within the prescribed area.
This map shows the delineation of a Source Water Protection Area.

Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater

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• STEP 2 - INVENTORY known and potential sources of contamination.
  PURPOSE: The source  inventory lists all documented  and potential contaminant sources or
  activities of concern that may be potential threats to drinking water supplies.
  The source inventory indicates the level of concern assigned to each potential risk by ranking,
  rating, or prioritzing management measures to reduce  or eliminate them.

A contaminant source list may look like this:

 Potential
 Contaminant/Activity   Threat or Risk           Level of Concern	
 Agricultural Crop
 Spraying
Excess amounts of
material or improper
application methods
Low to moderate, depending on
proximity to source waters
  Industrial Waste
  Disposal Wells
  (e.g., Class V Wells)
Introduction of
chemicals directly into
or above USDWs
Moderate to high, depending on
surrounding hydrogeology
  Storm water runoff;
  car washes; service
  stations
Introduction of
contaminants into
ground or surface water
Low to moderate, depending on type
of surrounding facilities (e.g., parking
lots) and proximity to source waters.
 This map inventories known and potential sources of contamination.
  Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791  • www.epa.gov/safewater
                                                                                     10

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  	;	77

    STEP 3 - DETERMINE THE SUSCEPTIBILITY of the PWS to contaminant sources or activi-
   ties within the SWPA.

   PURPOSE: Determining susceptibility of the PWS to inventoried threats relates the nature and
   severity of the threat to the likelihood of source waters serving that system being contaminated.

   Mitigating factors taken into account when determining susceptibility include potency or toxicity
   of the contaminant, volume of discharge or release, distance from wells or intakes, and the
   likelihood of entry of the contaminant into the source waters.

   A susceptibility determination for an  individual PWS may look like this:
Contaminant/
Activity
Leaking Underground
:, Storage tanks .' :
Concentrated Animal
Feeding Operations
Road SaltStorage Shed
Level of
Concern
V,;High-;; ••;..,;
Moderate
Moderate
Risk Reducing
Factors
Remove or Repair Tanks
New/Upgraded Facility
and Equipment
Diked facility with berms
Susceptibility
Rating
High ,
Low
^Moderate
                                                                   Rails   .& High Level of Risk

                                                                        .&. Medium Level of Risk
                                                                   Straams  A Low Level of Risk
                                                                   Rivers  ^& Stirfaca Water Intaka
This map rates the susceptibility of a PWS to inventoried threats.
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 {800} 426-4791 * www.epa.gov/safewater
12

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  •   	;	13

  STEP 4 - NOTIFY AND INVOLVE THE PUBLIC about threats identified in the contaminant
  source inventory and what they mean to their PWSs.
  PURPOSE: To ensure that the public has information necessary to control and modify their
  own actions to prevent contamination and to participate effectively in community activities to
  protect drinking water.
  - Use plain English in reports
  .- Provide maps of the SWPA
  - List, show or indicate potential sources/threats to the PWS identified within the SWPA
  - List, rank, or otherwise prioritize importance of threats identified to the individual PWS and,
     explains what it means to your water supply
  - Reports are unique to each individual PWS
  - Public meetings are effective methods of involving the community.
   STEP 5 - IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT MEASURES to prevent, reduce, or eliminate risks to
   your drinking water supply.

   PURPOSE: Using the information gathered from the assessments allows specific manage-
   ment measures to be formulated and put in place. By examining the results of the contami-
   nant source inventory and the susceptibility determination for each PWS, these measures can
   be tailored to address each threat or array of.
   risks specific to each PWS.
   A successful drinking water contamination
   prevention plan is  tailored to the unique
   concerns and circumstances of the  local
   community. Effective involvement is a critical
   component to a successful public health plan.
   - Every PWS's source water is unique.
   - Management measures need to tailor local
    actions to address threats to your  water
    supplies.
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 B www.epa.gOT/safewater
14

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                                 	15

   - Early involvement in the source water protection process and consensus on need for action
     is essential — you can help!
   - Many players make for broad application and coverage of management strategies that
     bring the best individual programs into play.  .
   - Some key players and tools are:
     - local business communities
     - media
     - parent-teacher associations                               ,
     - citizen activists
     - state, county, and local governments
     - sanitary surveys
     - zoning regulations
     - voluntary best management practices (BMPs)
   STEP 6 -.DEVELOP CONTINGENCY PLANNING STRATEGIES to  deal with water supply
   contamination or service interruption emergencies.

   PURPOSE: In the event of short- or long-term water drinking water supply disruption as a
   result of natural causes (e.g., biological contamination or floods) or intentional destruction
   (e.g., vandalism or terrorism), water supply replacement strategies that coordinate all avail-
   able efforts to restore  service to single or multiple PWSs are an indispensible part of any
   drinking water protection program.
   - Outline emergency plans for short or long-term drinking water supply replacement
   - Direct plan towards water supply interruption due to contamination or physical damage to'
     supply system
   - Coordinate the efforts of water supply managers with those of civil defense, iocai emer-
     gency response, hazmat/spill cleanup, and local area disaster response networks
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 •  www.epa.gov/safewater             •   •   16

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                                                                                    11
 The Safe Drinking Water Act provides for a number of resources to help local communities protect
 their drinking water:

 • Source Water Assessments —States are required to complete source water assessments
   for every public water supply in the U.S. Congress provided for funds under Section 1453
   through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for support.
 • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set Asides — States may set aside funds under
   1452(g) from the DWSRF up to 10 percent of a state's allotment for the DWSRF to administer
   or provide technical assistance. States must match, dollar-for-dollar, the 10 percent set aside
   (see Section VIII).

 a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set Asides — States may set aside funds under
   1452(k) from the DWSRF up to 15 percent of the state's capitalization grant for more than one
   of several source water protection activities (i.e., land acquisition/easements, voluntary
   protection and petition activities, source water assessments  and well head protection).
° Wellhead Protection — Each state must establish a program under Section 1428 to protect
  the land areas around water supply wells from contaminants that may enter the ground water
  and adversely affect human health.
0 Source Water Petition Program — A state may establish a source water protection partner-
  ship petition program under 1454 of the Act designed to assist in the local development of a
  voluntary, incentive-based partnership between water supplies and community members.
  States can use DWSRF funds for loans to water supplies to implement local programs.
9 Water Conservation Planning Guidelines — EPA issued guidelines under Section 1455 for
  Water conservation plans for public water systems. States may require systems to. submit
  water conservation plans as a condition of receiving a DWSRF loan.
° SoSe Source Aquifer Protection — Entities may petition EPA for protection of an aquifer that
  is the sole or principal source of drinking water for 50 percent or greater of the local population
  served (see "Petition's Guidance for Sole Source Aquifers", EPA 44016-87-003 Feb. 1987).
s State Underground Injection ControS Programs—EPA must review applications under Section
  1422 of the Act for state or tribal primacy (primary enforcement responsibility). Approved
  programs will  be adopted by the state or tribe, which will promulgate rules to ensure non-
  endangerment of drinking water sources.

Safe Drinking Water Hotline 11  (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater                   18

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  	                                                       	19

   Oil and Gas Programs — Section 1425 of the Act allows EPA approval of existing state oil
   and gas programs if the state can show that the program is effective in preventing endanger-
   ment of drinking water supplies.

   More Information — "State Source Water Assessment and Protection Program Guidance"
   (EPA 816-R-97-009 Aug. 1997) on www.epa.gov/safewater/Pubs/index.html discusses these
   and other statues  and provisions pertaining to Source Water  Assessment and Protection.
 The Clean Water Act was established by Congress in 1972 and is the primary federal law that
 protects our nation's waters, including lakes, rivers, aquifers and coastal areas. The Clean Water
 Act's primary objective is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters. This objec-
 tive translates into two fundamental national goals: eliminate the discharge of pollutants into the
 nation's waters, and achieve water quality levels that are fishable and swimmable.
 a  Federal Assistance to States — Under Section 106 of the Act, EPA may provide money to
   states (including territories, the District of Columbia, tribes) and interstate agencies to establish
   and implement ongoing water pollution control programs, including ground water programs.

 «  Water Quality Standards — Under Section 303{C)(1) define water quality goals for a water
   body by designating the  use of the water,  setting criteria to protect those uses, and setting
   anti-degradation provisions for the water body. States must update their water quality standards
   every three years.

   New and revised water quality standards "shall be submitted" to EPA for review. Under Section
   303(c)(2) of the Act, water quality standards "shall consist of" designated uses and water


Safe Drinidng  Water Hotline  1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater                    20

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       ,	-	           21

   quality criteria. In setting water quality standards, states shall consider the use and value of
   public water supplies.
   Point Source Effluent Limits, or Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)  — Under Section
   303(d), States "shall identify those waters for which" the point source effluent limits [see
   §§301 (fa)(l)(A)-(B)] are not stringent enough to implement a water quality standard, and
   establish a ranking of such waters taking into account the severity of pollution and the uses
   made of such waters.
   Section 303(d)(1) provides for the establishment of TMDLs for pollutants that EPA has listed
   under §304(a)(Z) as "suitable for such calculation." States shall set the TMDLs "at a level
   necessary to implement the applicable water quality standards with seasonal variation and a
   margin of safety taken into account."
   Section 303(d)(2) requires States to submit to EPA for approval "from time to time" their list of
   impaired and threatened waters and the TMDLs they have established for those waters.
   The National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress — Under 305(b)  States must
   report to EPA on the quality of their waters.
   Publishing of TMDLs — 304(a)(2) of the Act requires EPA to publish information on, "and the
   identification of, pollutants suitable for maximum daily load measurement correlated with the
   achievement of water quality objectives."

   WPS Program—States must 1) conduct statewide assessments of their waters under Section
   319 to identify those that were either impaired or threatened because of NPSs; 2) develop
   NPS management programs to address the impaired or threatened waters.
   Under 212, 319, and 320, funding is provided through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
   (CWSRF) — funding is provided for non point source, point source and estuary source water
   protection projects, depending on priorities determined by each State.
   Dredge and Fill — Section 404 regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters
   of the U.S.

   NPDES Program—The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program—regulates
   point source discharges to surface waters under Section '402 of the Act.
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gou/safewater                    22

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There are two major avenues of funding for the drinking water source water assessment and
protection programs. They are the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and the Clean
Water Act State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).

 Section           Description

 SDWA 1452      The 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act authorized.the DWSRF
                   to assist public water suppliers to finance the cost of infrastructure needed
                   to achieve or maintain compliance with SDWA requirements and to protect
                   public health. In addition,  states may use a portion of their capitalization
                   grants to fund various state and local water systems management pro-
                   grams and projects including SWP activities. States may elect to use up to
                   31 percent of the funds available to them under  Section 1452 for eligible
                   "set-aside" activities. The DWSRF program has made available billions of
                   dollars in assistance since 1997 to finance infrastructure improvements for
                   drinking water utilities. States have  also reserved $575 million from the



                   $3.6 billion in federal grants they have received to fund other programs and
                   activities that support their  drinking  water programs through these "set-
                   asides;"
 CWA 106; 319    Subchapter VI of the CWASRF provides a powerful partnership between EP
                   A and the states, providing states with the flexibility to fund projects that
                   will address the highest priority water quality needs (see Sections 601-
                   607). CW A funds may be used to fund certain  source water protection
                   activities, and cost savings  can be realized through combining SWP and
                   CWA efforts. CWASRF loans can be  used for watershed protection; funds
                   allocated under Section 106 of the Act may be set aside for state ground
                   water programs, and Section 319 funds, which are aimed at non-point source
                   pollution prevention, may also be used for source water protection. Nation-
                   ally, the CWSRF program has more than $37 billion in assets and has pro-
                   vided $34 billion in assistance since  1988. The CWSRF program currently
                   funds nearly $4 billion annually in water-quality related projects, including
                   more than $1 billion to fund projects addressing non-point sources of pollu-
                   tion that can often negatively impact sources of drinking water.
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewatss-'

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 	:		:	_	_	_25

 In addition to federal resources, these tools bolster protection at the local level.

 - Education: Consumer awareness and citizen advocacy highlight the problem
 • Voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs): Once individuals  understand they may be
   part of the problem, they also understand they can be part of the solution
 • Sanitary Setbacks are prescribed by local health codes for the placement of individual private
   waste disposal systems (septic tanks) and community waste-treatment systems,
 6 Zoning has proven to be  a very powerful tool in  preventing siting  of potential contaminant
   threats or activities adjacent to public drinking water supply source'waters
The UIC program is a crucial component of the source water assessment and protection program,
because it identifies, permits, and regulates the design, siting, operation, and maintenance of
injection wells that are designed to dispose of waste underground. It is the major federal and
state program to control some 800,000 wells with the potential to contaminate drinking water
sources if not properly managed. The program identifies, as such, these wells are considered
potential contaminant sources in any  source  water assessment and  protection program
contaminant source inventory. For example, ail new  motor vehicle waste disposal wells (e.g.,
service station  bay floor drains) and all new  large-capacity cesspools (e.g., serving multiple
dwellings or single units serving more than 20 persons per day) were banned as of April 2000.
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to provide safeguards so that injection wells or other
similar conveyance systems do not endanger current and future underground sources of drinking
water (USDWs).                                          .
Through the DIG program, EPA has developed minimum federal standards to regulate wells that
range from deep, technically-sophisticated and highly-monitored wells, to shallow on-site drain-
age systems such as septic systems, cesspools, and storm water drainage wells. These require-
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater
25

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   merits also cover wells that discharge a variety of hazardous and nonhazardous fluids above
   into, or below aquifers. A comprehensive description of the five different classes of UIC wells
   may be found in "Protecting Drinking Water Through Underground Injection Control," EPA 816-K-


   EPA's main concern relative to the source water assessment and protection program is the large
 •inventory of Class V UIC wells - typically shallow on-site drainage systems such as septic
  systems, cesspools, and storm water drainage wells. They are a concern because their simple
  construction provides little or no treatment of the injected fluids. There are more than 500 000
  Class V wells in operation. Some examples are agricultural drainage wells, aquifer recharge and
  aquifer storage  and recovery wells, industrial waste disposal wells, large capacity cesspools
  large capacity septic systems, motor vehicle waste disposal wells, and storm water drainage
  wells. There are many other subcategories of Class V wells.

Amendments
toSDWA
Create SWAP
EPA Final
Guidance
for State
SWAPS
to i —
en en
co co

States submit
SWAPs for
EPA Review
and Approval
• SDWA
1429GW
Report to
Congress
CO CO

EPA's National DW
Contamination
Prevention
Strategy Released
States Begin
Implementing
SWAP Programs

§ 5
CD CD

State SWAs
Due for
Completion
05/03
Transition to
State SWAPS


ill
CX,









™
The focus of many of EPA's efforts in the 1990s shifted from a cleanup and remediation-oriented
approach to one of prevention. In the next few years, citizens, local,  state, tribal,  and federal
officials will work together to collect information and take action to protect our precious drinking
water sources. Because of the changing nature of potential threats and local needs, communi-
ties will need to periodically revise their strategies.
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater

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                                                                                     25
 In addition to federal resources, these tools bolster protection at the local level.
 •  Education: Consumer awareness and citizen advocacy highlight the problem
 0  Voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs): Once individuals understand they may be
   part of the problem, they also understand they can be part of the solution
 8  Sanitary Setbacks are prescribed by local health, codes for the placement of individual private
   waste disposal systems (septic tanks) and community waste-treatment  systems
 8  Zoning has proven to be a very powerful tool  in preventing siting of potential contaminant
   threats or activities adjacent to public drinking water supply source waters
The U1C program is a crucial component of the source water assessment and protection program,
because it identifies, permits, and regulates the design, siting, operation, and maintenance of
injection wells that are designed to dispose of waste underground. It is the major federal and
state program to control some 800,000 wells with the potential to contaminate drinking water
sources if not properly managed. The program  identifies, as such, these wells are considered
potential contaminant sources  in any source water assessment and  protection program
contaminant source inventory. For example, all new motor vehicle waste disposal wells (e.g.,
service station bay floor drains) and all new large-capacity cesspools (e.g.,  serving multiple
dwellings or single units serving more than 20 persons per day) were banned as of April 2000.
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to provide safeguards so that injection wells or other
similar conveyance systems do not endanger current and future underground sources of drinking
water (USDWs).
Through the U!C program, EPA has developed minimum federal standards to regulate wells that
range from deep, technically-sophisticated and highly-monitored wells, to shallow on-site drain-
age systems such as septic systems, cesspools, and storm water drainage wells. These require-


Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater                   26

-------
  	:		   ...__	;	  27

  ments also cover wells that discharge a variety of hazardous and nonhazardous fluids above,
  .into, or below aquifers. A comprehensive description of the five different classes of UIC wells
  may be found in "Protecting Drinking Water Through Underground Injection Control," EPA 816-K-
  02-001.                                          '

  EPA's main concern relative to the source water assessment and protection program is the large
  inventory of Class V UIC wells — typically shallow on-site drainage systems such as septic
  systems, cesspools, and storm water drainage wells.  They are a concern because their simple
  construction provides little or no treatment of the injected fluids. There are more than 500,000
  Class V wells in operation. Some examples are agricultural drainage wells, aquifer recharge and
  aquifer storage and recovery wells, industrial waste disposal wells,  large capacity cesspools,
  large capacity septic systems, motor vehicle waste disposal wells, and storm water drainage
  wells. There are many other subcategories of Class V wells.

Amendments
to SDWA
Create SWAP
EPA Final
Guidance
for State
SWAPs

to r~
en en
en en
States submit
SWAPs for
EPA Review
and Approval
SDWA
1429GW
Report to
Congress

co en
en en
EPA's National DW
Contamination
Prevention
Strategy Released
States Begin
Implementing
SWAP Programs

CM CM CN
State SWAs
Due for
Completion
. 05/03
• Transition to
State SWAPs
k

m » u/
So o
o o
CM C"«l CN)
The focus of many of EPA's efforts in the 1990s shifted from a cleanup and remediation-oriented
approach to one of prevention. In the next few years, citizens, local,  state, tribal,  and federal
officials will work together to collect information and take action to protect our precious drinking
water sources. Because of the changing nature of potential threats and local needs, communi-
ties will need to periodically revise their strategies.
Safe Orinkiisg Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-47S1 ° www.epa.gov/safewater

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Category, Activity,
or Threat
impacts, implications,
or Risk
Possible BWIPs Available
 Septic Systems
Improper siting, maintenance and
use may contaminate both
surface and ground water by
percolation or runoff.

Bacteria, protozoa, and viruses
present in sanitary wastewater
can cause gastrointestinal illness,
cholera, hepatitis A and typhoid if
consumed.
8 Establish proper siting criteria

° Specify-appropriate design and
  construction criteria

a Establish operation and
  maintenance protocols
  ("Septic System Ground Water
  Protection" EPA, July 1986
  GPO  1991-517-003-28046)

• Analyze  assimilative capacity
  of soils and receiving water to
Category, Activity,
or Threat
Impacts, Implications,
or Risk
Possible BWIPs Available
                                                          determine appropriate density
                                                          of septic system units.

                                                        • Consider connecting to a
                                                          public water system
 Lawn and Garden
 Fertilizer
Field leaching or runoff into
surfaee'and ground water.

Nitrogen leaching into drinking
water supplies at levels above
MCLs may cause "blue baby
syndrome" in infants under 6
months:— life-threatening
without immediate medical
 1 Eliminate excess uses

 • Ensure proper application

 > Select appropriate fertilizer

 • Avoid application near wells
  used for drinking water,
  agricultural drainage wells;
  surface waters
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791  • www.epa.gov/safewater
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 Category, Activity,
 or Threat
 Impacts, implications,
 or Risk
 Possible BMPs Available
                       attention, Symptoms are
                       shortness of breath and blue skin
                       color.

                       Phosphorus may affect taste and
                       odor of drinking water and may
                       require treatment.
                                   1 Plant native plants and
                                    grasses requiring less
                                    fertilizer and water
  Pet Waste
Watershed runoff or direct
contact can introduce wastes
into drinking water supplies.
Cryptosporidium; Giardla lamblia,
Salmonella, and £ coli pose the
greatest threats
  Pick up after pets
Category, Activity,
or Threat
impacts. Implications,
or Risk
Possible BMPs Available
 Pesticide, V  -      Runoff to surface waters.due to
 Application   '       rainfall or irrigation return flow.
 (Large Scale} '      Soil injection threatens ground
                      water sources.   :

                      Possible health from exposure to
                    •  large  amounts of pesticides in
                      drinking water over a long period
                      of time include: effects include
                      cancer, liver and kidney damage,
                      reproductive difficulties, and
                      nervous system  effects.

                                                  tabei
                                   directions
                                   Reduce techniques such as
                                   soil incorporation, pre- and
                                   post-plant emergence
                                   applications, spot treatments;
                                   split applications

                                   Proper storage and disposal
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791  • www.epa.gov/safewater
                                                              32

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  Category, Activity,
  or Threat
  Impacts, implications,
  or Risk
                                                          Possible BWiPs Available
                                                          • Avoid application around
                                                           wells used for drinking water,
                                                           agricultural drainage wells,
                                                           and surface water
   Turfgrass/
   Agricultural!
   Fertilizer
   Application
 Field leaching or runoff into
 surface and ground water.

 Nitrogen leaching into drinking
 water supplies at levels above
 MCLs may cause "blue baby  .
 syndrome" in infants under 6
 months — life-threatening
 without immediate medical
 • Utilize application rates and •
   fertilizer types consistent with
   actual plant needs.

 ' Time applications with periods
   of maximum crop uptake

 •  Impede runoff by using tillage
   buffer strips, or filter strips
 Category, Activity,
 or Threat
Impacts, Implications,
or Risk
Possible BSVIPs Available
                       attention. Symptoms are
                       shortness ofbreath and blue skin
                       color.

                       Phosphorus may affect taste and
                       odor of drinking water and may
                       require treatment.
                                  • Store and dispose fertilizers
                                    properly

                                  0 Avoid application near wells
                                    used for drinking water
 Livestock and
 Poultry Waste
High Nitrogen and pathogens
(Cryptosporidium; Giardia
lamblia, Salmonella, and E. coli
can enter both ground and
surface water sources used for
drinking water via runoff or
percolation.
• Prevent animal waste contact
 with water

1 Ensure proper land application
 of manure
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4191 •« www.epa.gov/safewater
                                                              34

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                                                                                   35
 Category, Activity,    impacts, Implications,
 or Threat             or Risk
                                 Possible BMPs Available
                                                       • Avoid application near
                                                        drinking water wells and
                                                        surface waters

                                                       • Use pasture, management
                                                        techniques such as fencing
                                                        and planting legumes

                                                       • Avoid siting animal waste
                                                        lagoons near drinking water
                                                        wells or flood plains

                                                       • Use low-permeability lagoon
                                                       .liners:           ;

                                                       • Aerobically compost horse.
                                                        manure            .
Category, Activity,
or Threat
Impacts, implications,
or Risk
Possible BMPs Available
                                                       • Piyert wildlife.from serisitye
                                                        areas by fencing, mowing,
                                                       landscaping, tree pruning, and
                                                        drainage devices
 Sanitary and
 Combined Sewer
 Overflows
 (SSOs/CSOs)
SStis .discharge untreated
sewage through brokea pipes,
equipment failures and overloads

CSOs discharge untreated   .
sewage and storm water when
system capacity is exceeded

Contaminants are bacteria,
molds, ,fungi, protozoa and
helminths
 • Non-structural prevention
  methods such as visual
  inspections, monitoring and
  maintenence programs,
  employee training and public
  education
 > Consider structural preven-
  tion methods such as
  upgrading of collection
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 ° www.epa.gov/safewater
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                                                                                     37
 Category, Activity,
 or Threat
impacts. Implications,
or Risk
 Possible BWlPs Available
                       Chief threats are gastroenteritis,
                       cholera, dysentery and infectious
                       hepatitis
                                   systems, wet-weather storage
                                   facilities, and new sewer
                                   collection systems
  Injection Wells
  (UlC Program),
  Ciasses I-!V
Misuse or discharge of
hazardous chemicals into Class
V Wells
 See companion Pocket Guide for
 descriptions of well classes arid
 regulations that apply to each
  Injection Wells
  (UIC Program),
  Class V
Injection of nonhazardous fluids
into or above USDWs
 (Available BMPs for selected •.
 representative examples below)

 See vehicle washing, small
. quantity chemical use, and
 underground storage tanks
Category, Activity,
or Threat
 impacts, implications,
 or Risk
 Possible BMPs Available
 Storm Water Runoff

 - Rain or snow runoff
   carrying sediments
   and contaminants
   into surface or
   ground waters

 - Pathways include
   excess volume
   runoff from settling
   ponds, municipal
   storm drains,
   parking lots, truck
   stops, gas stations,
   airports (fuel and
 Possible contaminants include
 gasoline, oil, automotive fluids,
 sediment, pesticides, nutrients,
 animal wastes, and hazardous
 wastes. Nationally, 77 of 127
 priority pollutants have been
 detected in urban runoff.

 Potential health effects from
 these contaminants include
 gastrointestinal illness, reproduc-
 tive and developmental effects
 and increased cancer risk.
 Basic pollution prevention
 practices such as erosion
 control  and sedimentation
 control  measures; land use
 controls; grassed swales; buffer
 strips; filter strips; storm water
 capture and retainment ponds,
 and constructed wetlands.
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater
                                                              38

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                                                                                     3S
Category, Activity,
or Threat
impacts, Implications,
or Risk
Possible BMPs Available
   deicing fluids) and
   rqad chemical  .
   storage

  - Sediment and
   contaminants
   carried to surface
   and Aground
   waters via   ,
   infiltration, through
   soil of drainage to.
  ..subsurface dwells
  ; or .septic systems.;
Category, Activity,
or Threat
impacts, implications,
or Risk
Possible BMPs Available
 Vehicle Washing

 - Nationally, States
   estimate that there
   are in excess of
   7,200 facilities of
   this type currently
   in operation.
Contaminants include used oil,
degreasers,-antifreeze and  :
synthetic oils.   ...          :.

Patrons may use solvents or
degreasers at unmanned washing
facilities, thereby contributing to
contamination of rinse waters
entering Class V wells.

Potential health effects from
.these contaminants include
kidney damage; circulatory
problems, increased  cancer risk;
delays in physical or mental
development.
 1 Use alternative cleansing
  agents such as phosphate- .
  free, biodegradable
  detergents.

 1 Discourage use of solvent
  and emulsifier-based agents

 • Install water-recycling
  systems

 1 Train employees on spill
  control and response to
  problems

 > Control and manage spills
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1  (800) 426-4791  ° www.epa.gov/safewater
                                                              40

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                                                                                     41
 Category, Activity,
 or Threat
Impacts, Implications,
or Bisk
 Possible BMFs Available
  Small Quantity
  Chemical Use

  Chemicals of
  concern may reach
  ground and surface
  waters through
  improper disposal
  practices via
  discharge to
  sewers, septic
  systems, dry wells,
  or through  improper
  handling, hauling
  and disposal.
Includes chemicals used in
cleaning, degreasing, polishing,
paint preparation, rust removal,
photo processing, medical
practices.
 • Avoid excess use of
  chemicals

 • Follow label directions on
  proper use, storage and
  disposal

 9 Train employees on spill
  control and response
  protocols

 > Refer to manufacturer's
  Material Safety Data Sheets
  for specific hazard
  descriptions
Category, Activity,
or Threat
impacts, implications,
or Risk
Possible BiVlPs Available
 Underground
 Storage Tanks
 (USTs}

 National inventory
 shows approximately
 714,000 USTs on
 269,000 sites.
Releases of petroleum fuel
substances'through corrosion of
parts, improper installation,
failure of piping systems, sloppy
fuel deliveries, and improper •
operation and maintenance
 »Ensure compliance with
  federal UST requirements
  (see: www.epa.oov/oilspill)

 • Consider local registration
  programs for exempt tanks

 • Consider local land-use
  controls such as zoning, use
  restrictions, permits and
  setbacks
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1  (800) 426-4791  ° www.epa.gov/safewater

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 Category, Activity,
 or Threat
Impacts, Implications,
or Risk
Possible BMPs Available
  Above Ground        Release of petroleum fuel
  Storage tanks        substances mainly through leaks
  (ASTs)               or spills may enter drinking water
                       supplies via soil accumulation or
                       runoff in storm waters to surface
                                 • Follow federal AST
                                   requirements
                                   (see: www.epa.gov/oilspiji)

                                 • Periodic cleanup of
                                   containment areas

                                 1 Consider local registration
                                   programs for exempt tanks

                                 • Consider local land-use
                                  controls such as zoning, use
                                   restrictions, permits and
                                  setbacks    .
Aquifer - A natural underground layer, often of sand or gravel, that contains water.

Assessment - An analysis of the susceptibility of drinking water sources  to contamination,
communicated effectively to the public.
Ground Water - The water that systems pump and treat from aquifers^
Potential Contaminant Source - Specific point or nonp'oint sources from which contamination
of drinking water may originate; activities that may result in drinking water contamination.
Public Water System (PWS) - Any water system which  provides water to at  least 25 people for
at least 60 days annually. There are more than 170,000 PWSs providing water from wells, rivers
and other sources to about 250 million Americans. The  others drink water from  private wells.
There are differing standards for PWSs of different sizes and types.
Risk Ranking - Rating or prioritizing levels of concern of potential contaminant sources based on
susceptibility of public water systems.
Sole Source Aquifer - A drinking water supply in an area with few or no alternative sources to
the ground  water resource, and where if contamination  occurred, using an  alternative source
Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1 (800) 426-4791 • www.epa.gov/safewater
                                                             44

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would be extremely expensive. If such an aquifer supplies a public water system on which at
least 50 percent of the population depends, it may be designated as a sole source aquifer.
Source Water Protection Area - The area delineated by the state for a public water system, or1
including numerous PWSs, whether the source is ground water, surface water, or both. Delineat-
ing the source water protection area is part of the state source water assessment plan approved
by EPA under section 1453 of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Surface Water - The water that systems pump and treat from sources open to trie atmosphere,
such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Susceptibility - The level of risk of drinking water contamination, based  on the nature and
severity of  contaminants, and the likelihood of the contaminants getting  into a drinking water
source.
Underground Injection Control Program - A program to prevent injection activities from
endangering underground sources of drinking water.
Wellhead Protection Area - The surface and subsurface area surrounding a well or well field,
supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move
toward and reach  such water well or field.
The following list includes regional office contacts for Source Water Assessment and Protection
and Underground Injection Control. For state contacts, regional and local contacts at other fed-
eral agencies, and other partners, see www.epa.aov/safewater/prdtect/contacts.html. The Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (bottom of page) also maintains the list of these contacts.

EPA Region 1 - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut	  (617) 918-1578

EPA Region 2 - New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands	  (212) 637-3822
EPA Region 3 - Pennsylvania Delaware,  Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC	  (215) 814-5779

EPA Region 4 - Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina,
South Carolina,  Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida	  (404) 562-9459

EPA Region 5 - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois,
Michigan, Indiana,  and Ohio	  (312) 886-9262

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           	47

EPA Region 6 - New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, and Louisiana	  (214) 665-7129
EPA Region 7 - Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri	  (913) 551-7423
EPA Region 8 - Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming,
South Dakota, Utah and Colorado	  (303) 312-6753
EPA Region 9 - California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii,
Guam, and American Samoa	;..	  (415) 744-1829
EPA Region 10-Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska	  (206) 553-1563
Headquarters - Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water	  (202) 564-3867

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