United States Office of Water EPA 813-B-92-003E Environmental Protection (WH-550) September 1992 Agency xv EPA WELLHEAD PROTECTION IMPLEMENTATION TRAINING Module 5: Financing Wellhead Protection Module 6: Contingency Planning Briefing and Instructor's Emergency Phone Numbers " 555-2600 WHP MANAGER 555-5198 POUCE 555-1250 BULLDOZER SERVICE 555-4245 LOCAL LAB 555-7776 VERTICAL PROFILE Ground ( Zone of InfluenceH Land I I I Surface Zone of Contnbutton ,wuet (/ Oiwto PrepunpinB Water Level I Coneol Depress*!" I PLAN VIEW] D-eciion o' Groundwater Flow Grotsid Waier DrwJe % m ------- United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (WH-550) EPA 813-B-92-003E September 1992 v^ERA WELLHEAD PROTECTION IMPLEMENTATION TRAINING If 'wm Module 5: Financing Wellhead Protection Briefing and Instructor's VERTICAL PROFILE Ground Zone of Contribution »-j . water Y Divide Zone of InfluenceH Land Surface l Prepumping Water Level I Cone ol Depression PLAN VIEW] Oection of Ground Water Flow Drawdown Contours Ground Water Divide ------- ¦I Slide # F-01 Local Financing Introduction Where to get the Wherewithal? $ v y Key Points to Cover: One difficult question faced by local entities is how to fund their WHP program activities Management programs typically require funds to hire staff for program development, oversight and enforcement; to conduct monitoring and research; and to provide for land acquisition The following discussion describes the issues to be considered when developing a financial program and the basic funding tools used by local/tribal government Notes ------- Local Financing for Wellhead Protection Introduction Slide # F-01 The instructor may use this slide to introduce the local financing module and to discuss the importance of establishing a local funding program. Perhaps the most difficult question faced by local entities is how to pay for--finance- their WHP program. Management programs typically require funds to hire staff for program development, oversight and enforcement; to conduct monitoring and research; and to provide for land acquisition. Even the most basic management program costs money for administrative staff time, while more aggressive actions such as ground water monitoring or land acquisition may costs millions of dollars. The ability of ground water managers to authorize expenditures varies from state to state. In many states, the raising and appropriating of funds is relegated to town meetings and city councils. In this case, municipal funding is often a competitive and uncertain process with appropriations changing with local sentiment and political leadership. For this reason, in many areas local entities have sought to establish a separate stable funding source for ground water protection and have used legislative action to supplement their financial authority. The Spokane County case study presented in the legislative tools module is an example. The following slides describe the issues to be considered when developing a financial strategy for wellhead and ground water protection. For additional information on financing techniques, the instructor may wish to refer to EPA's Technical Assistance Document, "Local Financing for Wellhead Protection". ------- \ Slide it F-02 LOCAL FINANCING CRITERIA Equity Efficiency Political Acceptability Local Financing Introduction Key Points to Cover: Factors to be considered when designing a local/tribal funding program include the following: 1) concerns for equitable cost sharing; 2) efficient collection of funds; and 3) political acceptability-will the voters approve the financing mechanism? Notes ------- j Slide # F-03 LOCAL FIN AN CINQ EQUITY WHO PA YS ? Polluters - Consumers - Everyone Local Financing Key Points to Cover: A locality must decide who should pay for a program: polluters, drinkers or everyone. This question brings in issues of equity and political acceptability Dependent on the local/tribal political climate, equity may or may not be a major factor in gaining public support for financing measures Notes ------- LOCAL FINANCING Eisnr" 4 Slide # F-04 Local Financing WILL THE REVENUE BE STABLE $ source a source b V / Key Points to Cover: The stability of a funding source is important. A stable revenue source provides a constant, efficient source of long-term funding A funding source which is tied to new development will be less stable. The source will reap funds in a growth economy but will provide little revenue during economic downturns Notes ------- Local Financing Introduction Slide # F-02 to F-04 The instructor should discuss factors to be considered when designing a local funding program. Three primary factors include: 1) concerns for equitable cost sharing, 2) efficient collection of funds; and 3) political acceptability. Slides # F-03 and F-04 are used to further discuss these factors. Slide # F-03 is used by the instructor to discuss concerns for equitable cost sharing and political acceptability. The local entity must decide who should pay for a program: polluters, consumers or everyone. Depending on political climate, equity may or may not be a major factor in gaining public support for funding measures. While it may be easier to assess an across the board fee on all residents to provide program funding, this will be less equitable in cases where a large proportion of residents will not directly benefit from ground water improvements. Slide # F-04 is used by the instructor to discuss the importance of obtaining a stable funding source. It is impossible to plan for long-term improvements in cases where a stable funding source is not provided. The stability of funding sources varies. For example, a funding source which is tied to new development will fluctuate with changes in the local economy. More stable funding sources tend to be tied to consumers. A local entity providing a necessary service, such as water or sewer service, is assured of a relatively stable funding source over the long-term. ------- j Slide # F-05 TYPES OF FUNDING SOURCES $ DISCHARGE PERMIT taxes fines / penalties fees Local Financing Key Points to Cover: Note: The slide serves as an introduction to a discussion of sources of revenue Three major sources of funding for local/tribal governments include taxes, fines/penalties, and fees Notes ------- Local Financing Slide # F-05 The instructor should use this slide as an introduction to a discussion of revenue sources. In this module, we discuss three primary sources of local funding: taxes, fines or penalties, and fees. Further detail about these funding sources is provided in the following slides. ------- LOCAL FINANCING TAXES: -I Slide # F-06 Local Financing Taxes Excise or Commodity Real Estate Transfer Sales Property V J Key Points to Cover: Governments rely on taxes to provide the majority of their revenue Use of taxes is most suited to funding activities which provide broad-based benefits to taxpayers A disadvantage of local taxation is that allocation of tax revenues is often a competi- tive process, and although tax revenues may be stable, their allocation for WHP may vary with political or public sentiment Local (non-tribal) governments rely primarily on property taxes for revenues. Few local or tribal governments are capable of adopting excise or sales taxes for the purpose of promoting WHP without legislative approval No tes ------- Local Financing Taxes Slide # F-06 Governments typically rely on taxes to provide the majority of their revenue. Use of taxation is a somewhat "accepted" form of funding however use of taxes has its drawbacks. The instructor should emphasize the fact that allocation of tax revenues is often a competitive process and although tax revenues may be stable, their allocation for WHP may vary with public sentiment. For this reason, use of taxation is best suited to funding activities which provide broad-based benefits to tax payers. Taxation is less equitable and politically acceptable in cases where the tax base includes only a small percentage of benefactors. The slide presents four types of taxation which may be used by local entities. The instructor should explain how these forms of taxation may be used to promote wellhead protection. In some cases legislative approval may be necessary for their use, depending on current state laws. Excise or Commodity Taxes State governments typically exact a compulsory tax on a range of products or commodities. For example, the State of Washington finances water pollution control facilities and clean up activities through imposing a sales tax on all tobacco products and water pollution control equipment. Likewise, a local government may impose a tax on products such as plumbing fixtures, lawn fertilizers or pesticides, and water or sewer consumption. Use of commodity taxes represents an equitable form of funding for ground water protection programs in cases where there is a direct link between the product being taxed and polluters or program beneficiaries. Real Estate Transfer Tax A real estate transfer tax may be imposed to provide funding for ground water protection. One example of its use is the formation of the Nantucket Land Bank. In 1984, the Massachusetts Legislature approved "An Act Relative to the Nantucket Island's Land Bank," which placed a tax on real property being transferred from one party to another. Revenue generated by the transfer tax is used, among other specific reasons, to fund land acquisition for the purpose of ground water protection. Sales Tax A sales tax may be imposed on the sale of products and services to fund ground water protection, among other purposes. Spokane County, Washington, dedicates a portion of its sales tax receipts for ground water protection measures such as sewers and treatment facilities, and monitoring programs. Use of a dedicated sales tax presents a reasonably stable revenue source, although some fluctuation will occur with changes in the local economy. ------- Property Tax Local governments rely primarily on property taxes for revenues. Property taxes are collected once or twice per year and are deposited in the municipality's general fund. This fund is the principal pool of money with which local government conducts its daily business. The school and police budget comes out of the general fund, as does the park and open space budget, etc. The general fund provides the revenues for most local government activities, therefore, getting a portion of the fund is a highly competitive and often politically divisive process. For this reason, reliance on property taxes does not generally provide a stable source of revenue for ground water protection. ------- NON-TEXT PAGE ------- | Slide # F-07 Local Financing Fines or Penalties Key Points to Cover: Fines or penalties are used to correct actions which violate a local/tribal protection or planning program Once collected, fines or penalties should be deposited into "special accounts" to avoid combining with general revenues FINES / PENALTIES $ Fines / Penalties collected due to violation of ground water discharge permit Notes ------- Local Financing Fines or Penalties Slide # F-07 Fines or penalties may be used as a means to correct actions which violate a local protection program. For instance, an industry might be fined for releasing effluent exceeding contaminant levels specified in its discharge permit. At the local level, this source of revenue is most effective in modifying actions, versus raising revenues. While ideally the use of fines or penalties would raise significant revenue, the overall financial benefit is often low due to the high cost of enforcement and litigation. Nonetheless, use of fines/penalties is an essential aspect of any ground water protection program since it encourages compliance with adopted ground water protection regulations. The instructor should point out the importance of local government establishing special accounts for collected fines and penalties to avoid having funds co-mingled with general revenues. ------- 4 Slide # F-08 FEES Access Service Local Financing Fees Key Points to Cover: Fees involve charging a user for the consumption of a product or service An advantage of imposing fees is that there is a direct link between the users demanding a product (drinking water) and the cost for providing the product Common fees imposed by local government include access and service fees Access fees are generally a one-time charge to new customers (e.g., water hookup fee) Service fees are generally charged over time with the charge being dependent on the amount of a service which is consumed (i.e. a water bill charging for monthly water consumption) Notes ------- Local Financing Fees Slide # F-08 Fees involve charging a user for the consumption of a product or service. An advantage of imposing fees is that there is a direct link between the users demanding a product (drinking water) and the cost for providing the product. Likewise, fees may be imposed on polluters for the cost of cleanup associated with an activity. The link between the consumer and services makes this technique an equitable funding source. Use of fees is a common means to recover the cost of environmental programs. Through fees, the users of a particular product or service are charged an amount necessary to finance current operations. Two types of user fees are generally used: access fees and service fees. The instructor should explain the difference between these two types of fees. Access fees are generally a one-time charge to new customers. Examples of access fees include water and sewer hook up fees. This fee is beneficial since it helps a community recoup the cost of providing public facilities for future, as well as existing users. However, the amount accrued through access fees will vary with development trends. Service fees are generally charged over time with the charge being dependent on the amount of a service or product which is consumed. A common example of service fees are water and sewer bills. Customers are typically charged some rate for each gallon of water consumed or sewage generated. ------- J Slide # F-09 IMPACT FEES Local Financing Impact Fees Key Points to Cover: Impact fees are a relatively new means of accruing revenue Impact fees are charged by local/tribal governments to offset the cost of new development Developers are charged directly for the costs of services and infrastructure needed to support new development (for example: public water, public sewer, roads, schools, etc.) Impact fees can only apply to new developments--they cannot be applied to pre- existing development Notes ------- | Slide #F-10 LOCAL FWAHClNfl IMPACT FEES How They Work: Local Staff Estimate Cost to Provide Services and Infrastruc- ture for New Uses / Development Developer / Owner Makes a Lump- sum Payment Local Financing Impact Fees Key Points to Cover: To set up an impact fee program, local/tribal staff must estimate the average cost of providing a service to new developments To ensure equity, the local/tribal government must be careful to impose a fee which corresponds to the amount of a service/infrastructure consumed. For example, a developer would be charged "x" dollars per gallon of water to be consumed or per foot of water line to be constructed The fee usually consists of a one-time lump sum payment Notes ------- -| Slide # F-11 LOCAL RNANONO IMPACT FEES Advantages : The User Pays May Accrue Significant Revenue in Growth Economy Local Financing Impact Fees Key Points to Cover: One advantage of using impact fees is that they are equitable since the user pays the fee for a specific service or product Impact fees are a useful tool for areas which are otherwise unable to afford the costs or impacts of additional growth Revenue accrued will vary with changes in growth and development. Impact fees will bring in little revenue during periods of slow growth Notes ------- \ Slide# F-12 ( > IL0CA1RHANC1N0 IMPACT FEES Disadvantages: May Dissuade Development System is Expensive to Implement Initially Revenue Source is Unstable \ Key Points to Cover: Use of impact fees may dissuade developers from locating in an area, especially in cases where less expensive development options exist nearby It is relatively expensive to implement an impact fee program since considerable staff time and study is necessary to determine an appropriate charge for new development The revenue source is unstable since it is tied to new development Local Financing Impact Fees Notes ------- Local Fees Impact Fees Slide # F-09 to F-12 Slides # F-09 to F-12 are used by the instructor to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of use of impact fees. The ability to impose impact fees varies from state to state, and the instructor should encourage the workshop participants to investigate its legality in their own state. Legislative action is required to gain approval for impact fees in states where impact fees are not currently allowed. Impact fees are a technique used to accrue revenue to pay for the cost of providing infrastructure and services to new development. Through impact fees, developers are charged directly for the costs of necessary infrastructure and services such as water treatment, sewage treatment, roads, schools, etc. Slide # F-10 is used to describe how impact fees work. To set up an impact fee program, local staff estimate the average cost of providing a service to new developments. To ensure equity, the local government must be careful to impose a fee which directly corresponds to the amount of a service or infrastructure consumed. For example, the developer would be charged a fee of X dollars per gallon of projected water demand or sewage effluent, or per square foot of road. Developers in turn typically distribute these costs to future home buyers and commercial and industrial business owners. The fee generally consists of a one-time lump sum payment to a local government. Slides # F-11 and F-12 are used by the instructor to describe the advantages and disadvantages of using impact fees. The primary advantage of imposing impact fees is that the user pays. In areas where residents find it difficult to maintain existing facilities, impact fees are a desirable tool to allow for increased growth. Disadvantages include its potential to dissuade development, relatively high cost of implementation, and lack of revenue stability. Use of impact fees may dissuade developers from locating in an area, especially in cases where less expensive development options exist nearby. Impact fees are also relatively expensive to implement. To withstand public criticism and court challenges local governments must be careful to impose a fee which corresponds to the services received. Therefore, considerable administrative time and expense is expended to develop a fee structure which accurately reflects development costs for services. Impact fees are an unstable revenue source since they are tied to new development, they cannot be applied to existing land uses or development. -The revenue accrued varies with development trends, the variations reflecting periods of growth and downturn in the local economy. ------- NON-TEXT PAGE ------- j Slide #F-13 A THURSTON CO, WA m 8 SPOKANB, WA SANTA CLAM VAiL£t, CALIFORNIA LITTLETON, "A Local Financing Case Studies V » DADE COUNTY, * FLORIDA Key Points to Cover: The slide indicates the location of areas with innovative financing programs Later slides review the details of five (5) of these six programs Further information about financing mechanisms and case examples is available in EPA's technical assistance document entitled, "Local Financing for Wellhead Protection" Notes ------- Local Financing Case Studies Slide # F-13 Examples of areas with innovative financing programs for wellhead protection are provided in EPA's technical assistance document entitled, "Local Financing for Wellhead Protection." This slide indicates the location of areas discussed in this document, as well as other areas with innovative financing programs. The following slides may be used to discuss five of these programs. Information on the State of Iowa's financial program is available by contacting EPA's Water Management Division (Region VII) in Kansas City, Kansas (913) 236-2970. The instructor may choose to include one or all of the following case studies in his or her talk as examples of successful financing programs. ------- j Slide #F-14 CASE STUDIES Town Government County Government State-Chartered Public Authority Special Financing Agency-County State Agency Local Financing Case Studies Key Points to Cover: The case studies illustrate the range of institutions/political entities that may oversee management and funding of a WHP program Town, tribal, and county governments may delegate responsibilities to various departments, including the municipal water department A public authority may be created by state charter to operate a water supply Special financing agencies or powers may be established through legislation State legislation may be used to designate a state agency responsible for WHP Notes ------- Local Financing Case Studies Slide # F-14 The case studies illustrate the range of institutions or political entities which may oversee management and funding of a WHP program. In each case, care was taken to find a fair and politically acceptable means for distributing the cost burden among benefiting water users, potential polluters and general taxpayers. The five political entities used to administer funding programs include: town government, county government, a state-chartered public authority, a special financing agency, and state government. Brief examples of each follow. Town and county governments may delegate responsibilities to various departments. For Littleton, Massachusetts, three departments of town government are responsible for administering the wellhead protection program. In Metropolitan Dade County, Florida, the county uses permit fees to finance its wellhead protection program. A public authority may be created by state charter to operate a water supply. The Santa Clara Valley Water District is a public authority which manages surface and ground water. The district collects revenues by selling water to retail water utilities and by imposing service fees for ground water withdrawals. Special financing agencies or powers may be established through legislation. The Spokane County, Washington case study presented under the legislative options module is an example. Spokane County supports its aquifer protection program through imposing a combination of service fees, access fees, a dedicated sales tax and a real estate transfer excise tax. Additional examples include Thurston County, Washington and Nantucket, Massachusetts. In Thurston County, a public authority was chartered by intergovernmental agreement to manage wastewater collection and treatment. Funding for these services is provided through a combination of service fees, access fees, and user charges. In Nantucket, funding for land acquisition is provided through imposing a real estate transfer tax. State legislation may be used to designate a state agency responsible for WHP. An example is the passage of an act authorizing a wellhead protection program for the State of Iowa. The following slides may be used to give more detailed explanation of five of the case studies. ------- 4 Slide # F-15 STATE OF IOWA Statewide Program - Legislated Financing Pesticide Sales Fee Pesticide Licensing Fee Nitrogen Fertilizer Fee Farmers Underground Storage Tank Fee Solid Waste Service Fee Activities Ground Water Protection Activities Local Financing Case Study State of Iowa Option A Key Points to Cover: Legislation was passed in the State of Iowa to establish a range of ground water protection activities The program is overseen by a state agency WHP activities are financed through several sources of funding: pesticide sales fee, pesticide licensing fee, nitrogen fertilizer fee, underground storage tank fee, and solid waste service fee Notes ------- Local Financing Slide # F-15 Case Study State of Iowa Option A The instructor may use the State of Iowa case study as an example of a state financed ground water protection program. In this case study, the polluter pays for the cost of ground water protection through the establishment of user fees. The majority of persons in Iowa depend on ground water as their drinking water source. Agriculture, commercial and industrial uses also depend heavily on ground water. The state has experienced problems of ground water contamination due to the following activities: a) manufacture, storage, handling, and application to land of pesticides and fertilizers; b) disposal of solid and hazardous wastes; c) storage and handling of hazardous substances; and d) improper construction and abandonment of wells and septic systems. The Iowa Groundwater Protection Act establishes policies aimed at protecting or restoring the quality of the state's ground waters, and directs the Department of Natural Resources to implement and oversee the state's program. The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for several activities, including: 1) developing a ground water monitoring network; 2) preparing an annual report of the number and concentration of contaminants in ground water and other relevant data; 3) mapping ground water hazards; 4) collecting, evaluating and disseminating water quality information; 5) developing and maintaining a geographic information system (GIS) and comprehensive water resource data system; 6) developing and adopting rules for evaluating ground water protection programs; 7) conducting site investigations and enforcement; and 8) developing an educational protection for the state's 7th and 8th graders on water quality issues. The state's ground water protection program is financed through the ground water protection fund. Several accounts are created within the fund: solid waste account; agricultural management account; household hazardous waste account; storage tank management account; and oil overcharge account. The various accounts are funded through user fees, including a solid waste service fee, pesticide sales fee, pesticide licensing fee, nitrogen fertilizer fee and underground storage tank fee. ------- 4 Slide # F-16 ff»Til !¦ TOWN OF LITTLETON , MA Sole Source Aquifer Town Bylaw Financing Property Taxes Unit Charges State Grant Activities Monitoring, Performance Controls Install, Monitor Wells Land Acquisition Local Financing Case Study Littleton, Massachusetts Option B Key Points to Cover: Littleton, Massachusetts adopted a WHP bylaw in 1981 to protect its sole source aquifer (i.e., its only source of drinking water; not an EPA-designated sole source aquifer) The program is administered by three town departments: the Planning Board, the Light and Water Department, and the Health Department WHP activities include monitoring, adoption of engineering and site performance controls, and land acquisition Activities are funded through property taxes, unit charges on water use, and impact fees Notes ------- Local Financing Slide # F-16 Case Study Littleton, Massachusetts Option B The Town of Littleton, Massachusetts is a suburb (population 7,000) in the Boston Metropolitan Area which experienced rapid industrial and commercial growth in the 1980's. Industrial development in and around Littleton threatens the quality of the town's ground water supplies-which is the town's sole source of drinking water. To protect its sole source aquifer, the town adopted a wellhead protection bylaw in 1981. The bylaw establishes protection districts and requires site plan controls and the installation of monitoring wells and water sampling from those wells. Land acquisition is also sought in the protection areas. The program is administered by three town departments: the Planning Board, the Light and Water Department, and the Health Department. The Planning Board is responsible for implementing the zoning bylaw which prohibits certain uses and establishes performance controls for other uses requiring a special permit. The Light and Water Department supervises the design and installation of monitoring wells. The Light and Water Department collects and tests wells semi-annually and submits test results to the Health Department. The Health Department is responsible for enforcement of monitoring requirements. The wellhead protection program is financed through three mechanisms: property taxes, user fees, and private corporation reimbursement. The site plan performance control program is funded by property taxes. The monitoring well installation and sampling program is funded by residents through their water bills and by developers who are responsible for installing monitoring wells and reimbursing the town for monitoring expenses. The instructor may obtain further detail about this case study by reviewing the EPA technical assistance document entitled "Local Financing for Wellhead Protection". ------- I Slide # F-17 Local Financing Case Study Santa Clara Valley Water District, California Option C SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, CA Ground and Surface Waters Special District - State Legislation Financing Pumping Service Fees Property Taxes Surface Water Sales Activities WHP Ground Water Monitoring and Ground Water Recharge Key Points to Cover: The Santa Clara Valley Water District is a special state-chartered authority created by the State of California to manage groundwater and surface water supplies The three principle sources of funding include property taxes, groundwater charges, and wholesale surface water sales Groundwater users pay for the District's activities through a groundwater pumping service fee. The fee varies among different regions of the District depending on the relative costs of surface and groundwater development The District conducts groundwater monitoring and promotes groundwater recharge Notes ------- Local Financing Slide # F-17 Case Study Santa Clara Valley Water District, California Option C The Santa Clara Valley Water District was created by state legislation as a special district for the purpose of managing ground water and surface water supplies in the County of Santa Clara. Approximately 1.4 million people live in the county. Water users in the district rely on a variety of water sources including both surface and ground water supplies. The district's primary activities include surface water storage, ground water recharge, ground water monitoring, and water treatment and wholesale delivery. The Santa Clara Valley Water District has two primary functions: to manage water supply and distribution; and to provide flood control services. Funding for these functions are provided through two separate accounts, with water management and distribution services being funded through a water supply account called the Water Utility Enterprise. Funds are collected for water management using three primary techniques: wholesale surface water sales, property taxes, and ground water charges. Funds are co-mingled in the Water Utility Enterprise. Surface water is sold through delivery contracts which contain a basic user charge and, where applicable, a charge to recover electrical or fuel power costs of pumping, a capital recovery charge, and a water treatment surcharge. Property taxes are assessed based on district location. A ground water charge is imposed on all ground water withdrawals, and is a form of service fee. The State of California first authorized the district to impose a ground water charge in the 1950s, and the District established these charges in 1964. The purpose of the charge is to cover the costs of ground water protection. The ground water table underlying the County is in a confined aquifer which fluctuates greatly depending on the amount of pumping and recharge which occurs from year to year. The District began to impose the ground water charge to fund its ground water recharge program. The advantages of this program include its revenue yield and the fact that beneficiaries pay for the product. In addition, the charge aids in managing ground water demand through varying pricing with the amount withdrawn. The primary disadvantage of this technique in the difficulty in measuring use and enforcing payment of unmetered uses, such as household or agricultural uses. In this case, the District estimates water use. The instructor may obtain further detail about this case study by reviewing the EPA technical assistance document entitled "Local Financing for Wellhead Protection". ------- \ Slide # F-18 SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON Special Financing Area Financing Dedicated Sales Tax Real Estate Transfer Tax Access and Service Fees Activities Regulations, Monitoring, Public Education, Sewer System Construction Local Financing Case Study Spokane County, Washington Option D Key Points to Cover: Spokane County has developed and implemented a coordinated, comprehensive wellhead protection program to manage the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the region's only source of drinking water The county regulates contamination threats through well monitoring, public education, and regulatory controls Sewer facilities are being built to eliminate a major source of pollution-failing septic tanks The regulatory component is financed through general revenues Planning and construction activities are financed from groundwater withdrawal fees, on-site sewage disposal fees, connection fees, a dedicated sales tax and a real estate transfer tax No tes ------- Local Financing Slide # F-18 Case Study Spokane County, Washington Option D Spokane City and County are located in eastern Washington. Approximately 285,000 people live in this area. The Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer is a sole source aquifer for the region including parts of eastern Washington and Idaho. The geology of the aquifer leaves this resource especially susceptible to contamination due to its high permeability. Past study has indicated that major sources of contamination include use of septic systems, and percolation of contaminants from industrial and agricultural activities in the region. In 1983, the Board of County Commissioners adopted an Aquifer Sensitive Overlay Zone. New developments in the sensitive area are subject to restrictions and may be required to connect to existing sewers. Spokane County has developed and implemented a wellhead protection program to manage the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. The County's wellhead protection program consists of several activities including regulating threatening land uses and practices, well monitoring, public education, and sewer construction. Program funding is provided through several sources including general revenues, dedicated sales tax, real estate transfer tax, state and federal grants, and access and service fees. Administration of the overlay zone is the responsibility of the Planning Department and Department of Building and Safety. Funding for regulatory activities is provided through general revenues in the County budget. The sewer facilities construction program is funded through several sources. Access and service fees are paid by residents and businesses for the withdrawal of ground water and the disposal of wastewater using on-site septic tanks. The sewer construction program also receives funds from state and federal grants, a dedicated county sales tax, a real estate sales excise tax, and a connection fee. The county has dedicated 0.125 percent of the county sales tax for the purpose of paying a portion of sanitary sewer costs. A 1.5 percent real estate sales tax also provides sewer construction funds. Although the real estate sales tax is not specifically dedicated for this purpose, the Board of County Commissioners has appropriated these revenues to the sewer fund. A connection fee, referred to as a General Facilities Charge, is also required for new connections to the County's sewer system. The instructor may obtain further detail about this case study by reviewing the EPA technical assistance document entitled "Local Financing for Wellhead Protection". ------- \ Slide # F-19 METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA County Department - Two Trust Funds Generates $6 Million / Year Financing Service Fees Permit Fees Activities Management Measures Operating Controls V Key Points to Cover: Metropolitan Dade County's Department of Environmental Resources Management administers a water quality program for all public water supplies in the county Revenues collected for WHP are managed through two trust funds (monies set aside for specific use): one for water quality protection, the second for protection of water and air quality Revenues are collected through water and sewer utility service fees, industrial and commercial permits, and plan review fees. Businesses require permits to ensure proper waste disposal, and plan review fees are collected to support review of pro- posed industrial and economical developments Revenues are collected for implementation and oversight of management measures and operating controls $6 million/year figure was calculated in 1989-1990 Local Financing Case Study Dade County, Florida Option E Notes ------- Local Financing Slide # F-19 Case Study Dade County, Florida Option E Increased growth and development have placed increasing demands on the Biscayne aquifer, which is the county's only source of potable drinking water. Over 90% of the county's population is served by local water utility companies. Increased development has placed the aquifer at increased risk of rapid drawdown, saltwater intrusion and contamination. A wellfield protection program was developed to address concerns that then current zoning and environmental protection regulations were inadequate in protecting water quality. The Department of Environmental Resources Management administers the water quality program for all the county's public water supplies. Program activities include planning, studies, monitoring, enforcement, permitting and plan approval. These activities are funded through service and permit fees. Revenues collected for WHP are managed through two trust funds. Water and sewer utility service fees are dedicated to a general water quality protection fund. In addition, the Department of Environmental Resources Management collects permitting fees from businesses which are dedicated to a second fund used to protect both water quality and air quality. A third source of funding is derived from commercial and industrial plan reviews. This fund is used to pay for necessary staff time in reviewing plans. The instructor may obtain further detail about this case study by reviewing the EPA technical assistance document entitled "Local Financing for Wellhead Protection". ------- United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (WH-550) EPA 813-B-92-003E September 1992 yvEPA Emergency Phone Numbers FIRE 555-2600 WHP MANAGER 555-5198 POLICE 555-1250 WELLHEAD PROTECTION IMPLEMENTATION TRAINING BULLDOZER SERVICE LOCAL LAB 555-4245 555-777$ Module 6: Contingency Planning Briefing and Instructor's N VERTICAL PROFILE Ground Zone of Contribution , water y Divide Land Surface Zone of InfluenceH Prepumping Water Level Cone ol Depression PLAN VIEW| i Direction of i Groundwater Flow Drawdown Contours Ground Water Divide ------- J Slide # C-1 WELLHEAD PROTECTION CONTINGENCY PLANNING = Being Prepared to Take Action in Response to a Realized Water Quality Threat Contingency Planning Key Points to Cover: This slide is used to introduce contingency planning under the wellhead protection program Because even the most well-thought out WHP plan may fail, a local/tribal govern- ment must be prepared to respond to emergencies The objective of a Wellhead Protection Program Contingency Plan is to prevent contamination from reaching a water supply well Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide # C-1 Contingency planning is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986, enacted as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). The 1986 amendments to the SDWA established a new WHP program to protect public ground water supply systems. Under this Act, each state must prepare a WHP plan containing specific elements. These elements are discussed in the Module 1 of this training program. Contingency planning to protect ground water supplies is one required element of a state WHP program. Local governments are typically given responsibility for implementing components of the state WHP program. Specifically, each public water supplier in a state must provide a contingency plan to locate and provide alternate drinking water supplies in the event of a well or wellfield contamination. A contingency plan should not be limited to planning for alternative supplies, but should also be used to identify and prevent both physical and operational threats from contaminating or closing a public supply well. In addition to the SDWA, Title III of SARA establishes an emergency network to plan for and respond to emergency releases of hazardous chemicals. The emphasis on contingency planning under SARA is devoted exclusively to hazardous chemical spills, versus protection of ground water supplies from a range of threats. The emergency network established under SARA may be used and supplemented when developing a ground water supply contingency plan. ------- Photo of a fire at a paint factory in Dayton, Ohio | Slide # C-2 Contingency Planning Case Study Dayton, Ohio Source: City of Dayton, Ohio Key Points to Cover: This is a picture of a fire at the Sherman Williams paint factory in Dayton, Ohio The paint factory directly overlies the region's source of drinking water -- the Miami Valley Aquifer The aquifer is a shallow, water table aquifer of sand and gravel and the paint factory is within the WHPA of the city's wells Suppose you are the Dayton Water Superintendent of Dayton's supply -- Is the water supply threatened? What would you do? Notes ------- | Slide # C-3 Contingency Planning Case Study Dayton, Ohio (continued) Source: City of Dayton, Ohio By chance, the city's water superintendent noticed the fire and went to the site He realized that in the process of putting out the fire with water, toxic chemicals used in paint manufacture would be released and washed into the aquifer to pollute Dayton's water supply The water superintendent in consultation with the city's Environmental Health Director spoke to the fire chief and suggested that rather than using water to extinguish the fire, they let the fire burn Notes Photo of a fire at a paint factory, continued Key Points to Cover: ------- \ Slide # C-4 Photo of the site on the next day, Dayton, Ohio Contingency Planning Case Study Dayton, Ohio (continued) Source: City of Dayton, Ohio Key Points to Cover: Despite liability and factory ownership considerations, the decision was made to avoid infiltration of hazardous chemicals to ground water by letting the fire bum Notes ------- Photo of soil testing on the next day, Dayton, Ohio | Slide # C-5 Contingency Planning Case Study Dayton, Ohio (continued) Source: City of Dayton, Ohio Key Points to Cover: Soil and ground water tests were completed the next day. No ground water contamination occurred No contingency plan was in place. Contamination was prevented through sheer luck and common sense This is an example of what could have been a contingency plan The City of Dayton, Ohio has now developed a contingency plan to deal with emergencies Notes ------- Contingency Planning Case Study Dayton, Ohio Slides # C-2 to C-5 This series of slides is used by the instructor to demonstrate the importance of contingency planning. The Miami Valley Aquifer provides potable water for the Dayton, Ohio region. The Sherman Williams paint factory overlies the Miami Valley Aquifer in Dayton. Paint factories typically handle, store and generate hazardous materials. Slides # C-2 and C-3 are photos of the fire that occured in the evening. By chance, the city's water superintendent noticed the fire and went to the site. The water superintendent, in consultation with the city's Environmental Health Director, spoke to the fire chief and suggested that they let the fire bum, rather than using water to extinguish the fire. Use of water to extinguish the fire would bring increased risk of ground water contamination through infiltration of contaminated water. The fire chief agreed to let the factory burn. Slide # C-4 is a photo of the site on the following day. The instructor should point out the burned cans which potentially hold hazardous chemicals. Soil and ground water tests were completed the day after the fire and indicated that no ground water contamination occurred. In this case study, Dayton, Ohio did not have a contingency plan to guide decision- making during emergencies. Contamination was prevented through sheer luck and common sense. The instructor should emphasize the fact that it was luck which brought the water superintendent to the scene of the fire. If the water superintendent had not arrived, the fire department would have extinguished the fire with water and the result would likely have been contamination of the region's water supply. In response to this emergency, the City of Dayton, Ohio developed a contingency plan. However, other areas may not be so lucky. The instructor should stress the importance of adopting a contingency plan now, before an emergency occurs. ------- NON-TEXT PAGE ------- 4 Slide # C-6 fCQNimr.EHCv PiAtJrJiHfi | SIX ELEMENTS OF A WELLHEAD PROTECTION CONTINGENCY PLAN Contingency Planning Inventory of Threats Design of Response Assignment of Responsibilities Identification of Logistical, Technical, and Financial Resources Keep it Current Involve the Community V y Key Points to Cover: A wellhead protection contingency plan anticipates what might go wrong and out- lines steps to take if it does The first four elements listed here may be thought of as a progressive step by step process in the development of a wellhead protection contingency plan The last two elements listed here are characteristics needed for an effective plan Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide # C-6 Within the wellhead protection program, a contingency plan is a blueprint of what to do in the event that a recognized potential threat of contamination becomes a realized threat or becomes an imminent threat. A contingency plan prescribes what to do, when to initiate action, who would do it, with what tools and materials, and how it would be done. It is prepared in the absence of, but in anticipation of, the conditions requiring the plan, and may be never actually needed or applied. Contingency planning for wellhead protection anticipates a contamination event and prescribes actions to prevent, or minimize, contamination of the well. For example, the presence of railroad track within a WHPA is recognized as a potential threat to water quality of the well and a plan of action (contingency plan) to prevent contaminants from reaching the well is prepared for the possibility that a railroad accident causes the release of contaminants. The plan is activated by knowledge that a spill has taken place or that a derailment has occurred and a spill imminent. A Spill Response Plan is a type of contingency plan that provides a blueprint of rapid, predetermined and decisive actions to intercept spilled contaminants before they reach a well, before they reach ground water, or even before they are released. ------- 4 Slide # C-7 INVENTORY OF THREATS What Can Go Wrong Contingency Planning v J Key Points to Cover: The very first step in developing a WHP Contingency Plan is to inventory the po- tential threats which are present in the WHPA (see Module 3). Case histories are another source of information on what can go wrong Threats to ground water change over time and this part of a contingency plan must be updated to remain effective Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide # C-7 The very first step in developing a WHP Contingency Plan is to inventory the potential threats which are present in the WHPA. In some cases, it is not feasible to eliminate water quality threats from a WHPA. Commonly, potential sources of contaminants were present before the WHPA was delineated or even before the well was constructed. The inventory of sources described in Module 3 is the main source of information for this initial step in the contingency planning process. Identification of the threats can take the form of a "What if exploration of all the land uses, possible accidents, and possible spills or leaks in the WHPA. The instructor can stimulate discussion by asking for examples of potential threats. ------- 4 Slide # C-8 DESIGN OF RESPONSE What To Do About It Contingency Planning \ / Key Points to Cover: Design of response is dependent on the nature of the threats Design of response is dependent on the value of the water supply threatened and the availability of alternative sources Design of response is dependent on the technology available Design of response is dependent on the resources available Community involvement in response design including source owners or operators, water suppliers, health agents, fire departments, police, and the public will help insure that the response plans are reasonable and supported by the community Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide # C-8 Communities use the planning process to design the responses needed to prevent the contamination or minimize the contamination of the well, or determines where to get an alternative supply. Developing the plan requires knowledge of the toxicity and transport properties of the contaminant and the volume of it that may reach the well. Case histories of similar known contamination events are extremely valuable in designing and selecting the actions to be taken. Plans developed for other areas are also a source of responses that could be incorporated into a contingency plan, but they should be adapted to the specific conditions of the threat and hydrology within the WHPA. The responses must be possible within the context of available resources identified in the next two elements. For uncommon potential contaminants with special physical or chemical characteristics, technical assistance may be necessary to design effective and appropriate responses. Some threats may be too small to warrant a response, and others may be so overwhelming as to preclude effective action. Evaluation of the worth of response (whether to take action) should involve the judgment of the community. The instructor can stimulate discussion by asking examples of contingencies that aren't worth planning for. For a response part of a contingency plan to be effective, it must have an alarm, "trigger" or signal when to initiate the response. This part of a plan should include a communications (reporting) network and clearly state what conditions will initiate a response, and what the response will be. The instructor may use the example of two different responses to spills to emphasize one of the advantages of a contingency plan. For example, where a leaking underground gasoline storage tank was discovered and there was no contingency plan, a public health official was forced to make a quick decision while being barraged by a bewildering array of unevaluated information and opinion. He decided "Pump the well and see what happens". More than 5 million dollars later, contamination of the well is under control. Where there was a plan, a responsible official followed the plan; ordered the immediate removal of the contents of a leaking underground storage tank, followed by the initiation of vapor purging of the unsaturated zone above the tank and removal of the tank and the contaminated soil. The well was never contaminated. Judgments of how to respond to an emergency are better made when properly informed with due time for consideration of all factors rather than hastily, when partially informed with unverified data, rumors, and perhaps, political influence. The instructor may wish to open a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of having a pre- determined response. Decisions made hastily with unverified data may create more problems than they solve. ------- 4 Slide # C-9 ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES Who Will Do It Contingency Planning Key Points to Cover: Identify who will make the responses Identify that they have the capability to respond Identify that they are willing, or committed to respond Identify that they have the authority to make the response Provide a means to assure that each element of the response takes place in the proper sequence and at the proper time It is most essential that this part of a contingency plan be kept current. If the phone numbers are wrong - valuable time may be lost Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide # C-9 Identification of the response team and response team coordinator, how and what agencies, having responsibility for accomplishing the response actions is an essential element of a contingency plan. The plan contains an emergency list of names, agencies, telephone numbers, FAX numbers, and addresses of those whose commitment to the response has been established. Some very simple contingency plans consist only of this list of who to call to get help. This list is subject to change and it is essential that it be maintained and up-to-date. Personnel change and agencies change names, change missions, and move to new addresses. A flow chart showing who has responsibility for each of the response allows the coordinator to manage the response team for timely and complete operation of the response. ------- 4 Slide #C-10 |COrjTirjr.rrjCY planhinC. j IDENTIFICATION OF RESOURCES Logistical - Technical - Financial Where To Get Equipment And Help Contingency Planning Key Points to Cover: It is essential that the resources for a planned response be available to carry out the response The materials and tools must be available The know-how must be available The bills will have to be paid Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide #C-10 This part of the contingency plan describes the logistics (where the materials and equipment can be obtained) to implement the response, and it describes who or what agencies and consultants have the knowledge, information and experience to provide the needed technical guidance. The instructor may wish to ask for examples of logistical and assistance needs. Because a contingency plan may not be able to describe all the details of an incident in advance (for example, on a railroad that transports varied cargo) the response team may need assistance to design specific actions for an incident. For this reason, the plan should include identification of agencies, departments, and consultants, and the scope of their services and expertise. The instructor may wish to stimulate discussion by asking for examples of logistical needs that might be included in this element of a contingency plan. This element can include identification of sources of financial support for the emergency response. Some examples are FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and HUD (Housing and Urban Development). The instructor may wish to ask for examples of state and local sources which will differ from location to location. ------- KEEP IT CURRENT Up-To-Date j Slide # C-11 Contingency Planning v / Key Points to Cover: It is important that a contingency plan be changed when the water quality threats change The contingency plan must be changed when the people who respond to it change or their phone numbers change The responses should be kept current with state-of-the-art equipment, materials, and technology to be most effective The scope of responses may change in response to the financial resources available Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide #C-11 It is important that contingency plan information be kept current, because time wasted translates into movement of contamination toward the well. A sound contingency plan should be a "living" document that is constantly being revised. Any revisions changing the potential threats within the WHPA, new technology and approaches to intercept or mitigate contamination, new suppliers, sources of assistance, personnel, agencies and their addresses and phone numbers. Consider the usefulness of a plan that does not take into account the change of tenants in a commercial building from a plumbing distributor to a dry cleaner. The instructor may wish to stimulate discussion by asking for additional examples of changes of threats in a WHPA. ------- \ Slide # C-12 INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY It's The Community's Plan Contingency Planning Key Points to Cover: The planning process should include the community from the very beginning and throughout the life of the plan Community involvement means that those who are participating in the planning process are representative of all the interests potentially involved when a potential threat becomes realized (something goes wrong) Community participation assures acceptance of the plan (that the planned responses are commensurate with the community's perspectives and values) Community participation fosters the public awareness and stewardship for ground water resources Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide # C-12 The planning process should include the community from the very beginning and throughout the life of the plan. This helps to assure that the contingency plan is acceptable to the community and excepts the community's perceptions of threat to, and the value of, it's water supply. The community may perceive a low value for a threatened well, because of its low yield or already poor water quality and because there are alternative supplies of superior quality available at little addition public expense. Community involvement tends to assure that the inventory of existing threats will be thorough and that the new potential threats will be identified and avoided. It furthers community awareness of the location of the WHPA and the need to be vigilant for conditions which could degrade the water supply. It expands civic responsibility to include stewardship for the community water supply. For example, the citizen who noticed and reported a tanker truck discharging wash water alongside the highway within a WHPA, the chemical plant manager who alerted the contingency plan manager to changes of chemicals used in the plant within the WHPA, or the distributor of auto supplies, who reported that the inventory of absorbent clay which he stocks could be available for the emergency clean-up of gasoline spills. Community awareness and involvement facilitates responsiveness and cooperation to create a more effective wellhead protection contingency plan. ------- J Slide # C-13 Contingency Planning Case Study Source: US EPA, 1990 Key Points to Cover: In-depth information about contingency planning is available through the EPA techni- cal assistance document entitled, "Guide to Ground water Supply Contingency Plan- ning for Local and State Governments" The document covers steps involved in completing a contingency plan and presents six case studies The slide indicates the location of six case studies contained in the TAD GAJCL£YkJt&BAS ' : Notes ------- Contingency Planning Case Study Slide# C-13 The slide presents the location of case studies which the instructor and audience may use to identify potential concerns and solutions for wellhead protection. The following slides are used to discuss two of the case studies reviewed in this document. ------- 4 Slide # C-14 Map of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Contingency Planning Case Study Sioux Falls, South Dakota Source: US EPA, 1989 \ y Key Points to Cover: Sioux Falls is a major midwest city which relies on a shallow sand and gravel aquifer for its drinking water The unconfined aquifer is vulnerable to contamination due to its fast recharge rate and shallow depth to ground water Notes ------- Photo of Sioux Falls pump house and wellfield Contingency Planning Case Study Sioux Falls, South Dakota (continued) Source: US EPA. 1989 Key Points to Cover: The slide presents Sioux Falls pump house and wellfield The Big Sioux Aquifer is a shallow sand and gravel deposit which is vulnerable to contamination Notes ------- J Slide # C-16 Photo of railroad track, Sioux Falls, South Dakota Contingency Planning Case Study Sioux Falls, South Dakota (continued) Source: US EPA, 1989 Key Points to Cover: Agricultural chemicals are shipped by rail through the region. Sioux Falls is considered an agribusiness center of the midwest Transport of agricultural chemicals over the city's aquifer is a potential source of contamination Notice the wellhead pumphouse in the center of the photograph Notes ------- \ Slide # C-17 Map of the Sioux Falls WHPA Contingency Planning Case Study Sioux Falls, South Dakota (continued) Source: US EPA, 1989 Key Points to Cover: The map of the WHPA for the Sioux Falls water supply indicates the location of another potential source of contamination: a pipeline running through the WHPA A fuel leak occurred in the pipeline in 1987. The operator, and city and state agen- cies responded quickly to the leak and major contamination was prevented. At that time, Sioux Falls had no contingency plan to give guidance during spills The rupture of the fuel line served as a warning to Sioux Falls that its aquifer is vulnerable to contamination Since the incident, Sioux Falls has completed a contingency plan Some contingency plans do not to be very complex; they can be done in one evening Notes ------- Contingency Planning Case Study Sioux Fails, South Dakota Slides # C-14 to C-17 The Sioux Falls case study demonstrates the importance of having a contingency plan. In this case study, a potentially disastrous pipeline leak spurred public support necessary to develop a contingency plan. Sioux Falls is located in northeastern South Dakota and has a population of approximately 96,000 people. Slide # C-8 presents a map of Sioux Falls. The city relies almost exclusively on ground water from the Big Sioux Aquifer to provide drinking water. The Big Sioux Aquifer is the most accessible and most used water source for the area, but is highly susceptible to contamination due to its shallow water table (less than 20 feet) and high recharge rate. Slide # C-9 is a photo of a Sioux Falls pump house and wellfield. Increased development has resulted in increasing demand for water supplies and services. At the same time, conflicting land uses and land practices have increased the potential for ground water contamination. Sioux Falls is the central warehousing and distribution point in the region for materials routinely used by agribusiness's. The city is served by rail and highway routes which deliver pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum products, organic solvents and metals for consumption and distribution. Slide # C-10 is a photo of a railroad track traversing the Big Sioux Aquifer. The instructor should point out the fact that transport of agricultural and other industrial chemicals over the city's aquifer is a potential source of contamination. Slide # C-11 presents a map of the Sioux Falls wellhead protection area. The map of the wellhead protection area indicates the location of another potential source of contamination: a pipeline. The instructor should point out the location of the pipeline for the audience. In April 1987, a break occurred in the gasoline transmission pipeline within one-half mile of a city well. The pipeline company worked quickly with city and state officials to correct the problem. The pipeline break demonstrated the potential for extensive contamination and damage to the wellfield and served as a warning to the city that a contingency plan is needed. At the time of this bill, no contingency plan was in place. In response to concern about the pipeline leak, the City of Sioux Falls accelerated its efforts to develop a contingency plan. A bill was introduced to the state legislature containing provisions for a comprehensive WHP program, including contingency planning. With strong local support, a contingency plan was quickly developed. ------- NON-TEXT PAGE ------- \ Slide # C-18 Contingency Planning Case Study Tucson, Arizona Source: US EPA, 1989 The problems which must be addressed differ among areas Tucson, Arizona is located in an arid region which is prone to flash flooding as depicted in the erosional channels in the slide Water delivery problems occurred due to periodic flooding of the City's pump houses One element of Tucson's contingency plan is floodproofing Ground water contamination was not created by the flooding because depth to ground water is 180 feet Photo of Tucson, Arizona Key Points to Cover: Notes ------- J Slide # C-19 Photo of wellfield protected by fence, Tucson, Arizona Contingency Planning Case Study Tucson, Arizona (continued) Source: US EPA, 1989 Key Points to Cover: In Tucson, problems related to theft also occurred. People would break into the pump house to steal well operation tools and equipment To deal with this problem, Tucson's contingency plan includes keeping extra tools and equipment on hand at all times, and construction of a fence around the pump house When developing a contingency plan, local/tribal governments must identify what potential emergencies might occur affecting wellhead operation, maintenance and protection. In many cases the solutions are simple and may be identified through common sense anticipation of what can go wrong Notes ------- Contingency Planning Case Study Tucson, Arizona Slides #C-18 to C-19 The problems which must be addressed by a contingency plan differ among areas. Contingency plans should be developed to address not just contamination threats but a whole range of environmental and operational problems. The instructor may use the Tucson, Arizona case study to discuss the range of problems which an area may face, and the need for strong leadership when developing a contingency plan. Slide # C-12 is a photo of Tucson. Tucson is a large city in southern Arizona and has a population of approximately 300,000 people. Tucson lies within the Sonoran Desert and has a climate controlled by extensive mountain ranges surrounding the city and long distances from water. Precipitation averages less than 12 inches per year and nearly half of this is provided by violent thunderstorms in the summer months. These storms result in flash flooding. The instructor should point out erosional channels in the slide resulting from flash floods. Ground water in Tucson is generally of excellent quality and its reserves are deep, with average depth to ground water of about 200 feet. The extensive depth to ground water and long time of travel de-emphasize the importance of contaminant spills or releases to their supply in contrast with more likely problems of physical disruption of service due to flash flooding. Therefore, flash flooding is one threat addressed in their contingency plan. In Tucson, problems related to theft and vandalism also occurred. Vandals would break into the pump house to steal well operation tools and equipment. To deal with this problem, Tucson's contingency plan includes keeping extra tools and equipment on hand, and constructing a fence around the pump house. Slide # C-13 is a photo of the wellfield protected by the fence. The instructor should use this case study to discuss the importance of identifying the potential emergencies which might occur affecting wellhead operation, maintenance and protection. In many cases the solutions are simple and may be identified through common sense. The Tucson case study may also be used to discuss the need for strong leadership when developing a contingency plan. The Pima Association of Governments (PAG) is headquartered in Tucson and provided essential leadership for development of a contingency plan. Several parties play a role in developing water supplies and in providing water service in the Tucson metropolitan area, including the county, city, and individual private water providers. Before PAG took a leadership role, ambiguity and confusion existing among the various parties in terms of the benefits and responsibilities in developing a contingency plan. PAG was able to bring most of the major water providers together in the planning process by demonstrating the potential benefit to all water providers, regardless of their size or geographic area. This allowed PAG to pool the resources, knowledge and expertise of its water suppliers with the result being the successful completion of a contingency plan. ------- NON-TEXT PAGE ------- | Slide #C-20 Photo of professionals investigating an incident Contingency Planning Source: Horsley & Wrtten, Inc. 1989 Key Points to Cover: A variety of people are generally involved in WHP decisions. For example, the press, an engineer, the landowner, neighboring landowners, state officials, a hydro- geologist, and water superintendent A local/tribal government's contingency plan must spell out who does what, when, where, and how Notes ------- Contingency Planning Slide # C-20 This is the closing slide for the contingency planning module. The instructor should use this slide to discuss the fact that a variety of people with different concerns and expertise and responsibilities should be involved in wellhead contingency planning The contingency planning process should include all applicable parties. The final contingency plan must clearly indicate who does what, when, where and how. ------- |