Pennsylvania: Telford Borough Authority (TBA)
Development of Source Water Protection Options for
Individual Towns
Background
The Borough of Telford, Pennsylvania, population 4,680, is located in Bucks and
Montgomery County, northwest of Philadelphia. Telford has demonstrated an exemplary
effort in its source water protection program by moving forward with water protection
initiatives before the state had developed a formal Wellhead Protection Program
(WHPP) or drinking water protection became a hot topic in town. Telford has coordinated
its efforts with several adjacent watershed communities in both Bucks and Montgomery
counties.
The TBA owns and operates six wells providing public water to Telford as well as many
customers in adjacent jurisdictions. On January 24, 1996, the TBA organized its initial
meeting regarding watershed protection, partly in response to incidences of TCE
pollution in some of its wells. Representatives from five other towns within the Telford
watershed were invited in order to provide a comprehensive, resource-driven approach
to Telford's water protection program. In each of these municipalities, there were
potential sources of contamination to one or more of Telford's wells. A consensus was
reached regarding the necessity of an intergovernmental approach to water protection,
and a steering committee was appointed, which included members from each
community and represented a broad base of interests and expertise. After several public
meetings, the committee recommended a list of management tools to be applied within
each municipality in order to effect a successful wellhead protection approach in Telford.
Priority Contamination Threat
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is the priority contamination threat. Other threats include septic
systems, underground storage tanks, household hazardous wastes, and storm water.
Local Involvement and Developing the Protection Plan
Since the program's initiation, TBA leaders have been dedicated to involving and
informing the public. One of the most successful examples of this is the inclusion of the
group "Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE)." SAVE, a nationally recognized,
award winning environmental group from the local Souderton High School, enlists the
efforts of hundreds of students annually "to spread information about environmental
problems and encourage appropriate public response." In 1998, the Borough manager
suggested that TBA contact SAVE as part of its efforts to involve the community. SAVE
was subsequently asked to conduct a field inventory of potential contaminant sources in
order to refine the original computer-generated database.
TBA designed a questionnaire to be used by SAVE for door to door distribution to
residences and businesses where potential contaminants might be present. The survey
was publicized as an information sharing exercise, rather than as a search for violators,
in an effort to encourage open communication. During the visits, SAVE members took
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10045 January 2010
-------
time to explain the importance of the program and to ask vital questions. This political
sensitivity, as well as the excellent reputation of SAVE, was an important part of the
initiative's success. The relationship between the TEA and SAVE was mutually beneficial
in that it provided the students with an opportunity to learn about the importance of water
protection and planning, while greatly assisting the TBA's effort.
In addition, sample wellhead protection ordinances were presented to each town within
the watershed for consideration and possible adoption. Finally, Telford was included in a
video recently produced by the Pennsylvania DEP, which highlights the Source Water
Protection Program.
Management Measures
The Telford wellhead protection program was consciously modeled on the provisions of
the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996. It uses a three-zone model,
which employs zone-specific restrictions and management tools. This model is
particularly exemplary in that it was drafted two years prior to the development of a
formal state DEP wellhead protection program.
Telford's wellhead protection plan is exemplary for several reasons:
• The plan predated the development of Pennsylvania's Wellhead Protection
Program, and is used as a guideline for the development of plans in other
municipalities throughout the state;
• It is one of the first plans in the state to have met the criteria of the Pennsylvania
Wellhead Protection Program, recently approved by the EPA;
• The TBA's plan is the only one approved in the state that has succeeded solely
on its own resources, the borough having invested approximately $50,000 in plan
development; and
• The TEA is committed to involving the public in the development and decision-
making related to the wellhead protection plan.
The TBA has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection to upgrade and expand the scope of its WHPP to re-inventory existing
businesses, redefine the protection zone, add a Geographic Information System
component, and develop additional public education. The revised plan is currently
awaiting approval from PA DEP.
Zone 1 includes a 400-foot radius around each of Telford's five public wells. The Zone 1
radius crosses town boundaries and bears land use restrictions including prohibitions on
certain new businesses and the use of specific chemicals.
The Zone 2 protection areas, or Zones of Contribution, were delineated using computer
models and general hydrological knowledge of the area. In order to augment the
accuracy of these delineations, Telford recently submitted a joint grant application with
the DEP for funds to install monitoring wells, download information, and perform
hydrogeological modeling. This information would then be digitized and expressed in a
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10045 January 2010
-------
Geographic Information System (GIS), providing a more accurate depiction of water
supply characteristics.
Zone 3 areas are identified in the plan as drainage areas contributing overland flow to
Zones 1 and 2. In addition, both point and non-point potential sources of contamination
within these protection zones are identified and updated regularly.
The backbone of the Telford water protection plan is the list of water resource
management tools that are intended to serve as guidelines for local governments,
whether served by their own system, or by an independent authority, such as the TEA.
The list draws from the one originally approved by the wellhead protection advisory
committee, which includes the following voluntary measures, as well as those requiring
an act of the local government through the process of ordinance adoption:
• Overlay zoning for wellhead protection (adding special restrictions to existing
zoning in wellhead areas);
• Prohibition of certain land uses;
• Special permitting;
• Cluster design;
• Toxic and hazardous materials handling provisions;
• Private well protection;
• Purchase or donation of land and easements;
• Ground water monitoring;
• Storm water drainage requirements;
• Regulation of underground storage tanks;
• Prohibition of small private sewer plants;
• Ban on certain septic tank cleaners;
• Encourage septic system upgrades;
• Support household hazardous waste collections events;
• Encourage preservation of open space; and
• Public education.
Many of these provisions build on existing federal requirements, such as underground
storage tank and hazardous materials provisions, or local planning and zoning bylaws,
such as cluster zoning and mixed residential/commercial use. These and other
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10045 January 2010
-------
management tools are being encouraged and employed by Telford Borough and TEA to
manage identified potential sources of contamination.
Another task included in the recent grant proposal is to increase public education
through measures such as signing, brochure design and distribution, additional public
hearings, and further encouragement to communities who are still deliberating the
adoption of wellhead protection ordinances. Protective ordinances have been approved
and adopted by the Borough of Telford and the West Rockhill Township. All but one of
the remaining municipalities within the watershed are considering adoption of these
ordinances.
Contingency Planning
Each of the boroughs or townships within the Telford watershed has its own Emergency
Management Coordinator, who is responsible for maintaining spill response procedures
and equipment. In Telford Borough, both the Public Works Department and the Fire
Department, have absorbent emergency spill equipment ready to employ in the case of
an accident.
Measuring Program Effectiveness
The TEA practices continuous monitoring of its water systems using typical required
water distribution testing protocols. The Borough of Telford is confident that as new
businesses are regulated, it can ensure that degradation of the water source will not
occur. The absence of new contaminants or new indicator contaminants in regular
monitoring programs will reinforce public opinion that there is effective protection of the
water source against degradation.
For further information, contact:
Mark D. Fournier
Manager of Telford Borough
(215) 723-5000
telfordboro@comcast. net
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10045 January 2010
------- |