Notes From Underground
An update on source water protection and underground pollution control from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pacific Southwest/Region 9, serving Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Nevada, Native American Tribes in the Region, and the Pacific Islands.
Spring 2005
EPA-909-N-05-001
IN THIS ISSUE:
1 > SDWA 30th Anniversary
1 > Large Capacity Cesspool
Ban
2 > Water Facts & Figures
2 > Source Water Protection
3 > Tribal Onsite Wastewater
Treatment System
Management
3 > Funds Available to CAto
Map Injection Wells
3 > Safe Drinking Water Act
Hotline
4 > EPA Announcements
4 > Upcoming Events
EPA REGION 9 WEB SITE
UPDATE
EPA has launched a new
Underground Injection Control
Web site for the Pacific
Southwest.
Go to www.epa.gov/region09/
water/groundwater/uic.htmlfora
tour of the new site.
EPA's Ground Water Office is in
the process of updating the site's
Source Water Protection
information and expects this
information to go live in Spring
2005.
Availability of Funds
Workshop on March 24, 2005 to
discuss the availability of funds
to California Regulators to Map
Injection Wells. For more
information, go to page 3.
30th Anniversary of the
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), passed by
Congress in 1974, marked its 30th anniversary on
December 16, 2004. The SDWA is the main
federal law that protects public health by regulating
the nation's public drinking water supply. Under
the SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water
quality and works with water agencies and
regulators atall levels of government to implement
those standards.
Underground Injection Control
One of the original provisions of the SDWA is a regulatory program to protect
underground sources of drinking water from injection well fluids. The Underground
Injection Control (UIC) Program regulates injection activities so that underground
sources of drinking water, which supply 90% of all public water systems, are
protected. Today, the UIC program regulates more than 800,000 injection wells. To
find out more about the UIC Program, go to www.epa.gov/safewater/uic.
In the Pacific Southwest, state UIC Programs are fully delegated to Nevada, Guam,
and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Partial delegation has been
granted to California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources for Class II
wells, and for geothermal injection in the state. In non-delegated state and tribal
areas, including Hawaii, Arizona, California (for Classes I, III and V wells ), the
Navajo Nation, and more than 145 other federally recognized tribes, EPA directly
implements the UIC Programs with support from state and tribal water quality
agencies.
(continued on page 2)
Large Capacity Cesspool Ban
Existing large capacity cesspools (LCCs) must be replaced by an alternative wastewater
system and closed by April 5, 2005, as a result of UIC regulations promulgated on
December 7, 1999. The regulations also prohibited the construction of new LCCs
nationwide, as of April 5, 2000.
A cesspool is typically a "drywell" which sometimes has an open bottom and/or perforated
sides, and receives untreated sanitary waste. The EPA considers a cesspool large capacity
when used by:
-A multiple dwelling, community or regional system for the injection of waste (e.g., apartment
building), or
- Any non-residential cesspool that is used solely for the disposal of sanitary waste and has the
capacity to serve 20 or more people per day (e.g., a rest stop or church).
For more information, go to www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/cl5oper/cesspools.html.
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(continued from page 1)
Source Water Protection
The SDWA was amended in 1986 and 1996 with
additional requirements to protect drinking water and its
sources - rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground
waterwells. These amendments included promulgation
of the Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP - see
SDWA Section 1429) and Source Water Assessment
Program (SWAP--see SDWA Section 1453). WHPP is
a pollution prevention program used to protect
underground sources of drinking water. Under SWAP,
each State was required to assess the susceptibility of
all sources of drinking water for public water systems
and help inform publicthe about steps local communities
can take to protect their drinking water.
Through these programs and other water quality
programs, EPA is taking a multi-barrier approach to
protecting sources of drinking water from source to tap.
For more information aboutthe SDWA and to access the
30th Anniversary outreach and education documents,
go to www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/index.html.
6 6
Water Facts & Figures
A person can live more than a month without food, but only
about a week, depending on conditions, without water.
65% of the human body is water, 75% of the human brain
is water.
75% of a chicken, 80% of a pineapple, and 95% of a tomato
is water.
The first water pipes in the US were made of hollowed-out
352 days - record of consecutive days with no measurable
precipitation in Sentinel, AZ (February 1901-January 1902).
logs.
The world's rainiest place is Mt. Wai'ale'ale, Kauai, Hawaii.
During an average year, there are only 15 dry days.
Landscaping accounts for about half the water Californians
use at home.
The water in Lake Tahoe could cover a flat area the size of
California 14 inches deep. This amount of water is enough to supply
everyone in the US with 50 gallons of water/day for 5 years.
Nevada is the driest state in the nation with an average
annual rainfall of only about 7 inches.
Sources: USEPA; AZDEQ; www.brita.com; www.ccwd.org/pages/gen_info/water_facts.htm;
tahoe.usqs.gov/facts.html: http://www2.thinqstodo.com/states/NV/facts.htm
State Source Water
Assessment Programs
COMPLETED
All Pacific Southwest states (AZ, CA, HI and NV) have
completed their Source Water Assessment Program
(SWAP) per Section 1453 of the 1996 Amendments to the
Safe Drinking Water Act.
Top Potential Contaminating Activities (PCAs) identified
in state assessments include:
AZ: Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (UST/LUST)
Agriculture
Wastewater Treatment Plants/Septic Systems
Superfund Sites
Golf Courses
CA: Septic Systems
Sewer Collection Systems
Surface Water Recreation
Gas stations & Automotive Facilities
HI: Agriculture
Cesspools
Septic Systems
NV: Septics Systems
Gas Stations
Auto repair shops
Above ground storage tanks
To obtain information aboutthe results of the assessments
and to learn more about how you can help protect your
drinking water source(s), please contact:
AZ: Donna Lucchese, SWP Manager (Acting)
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(602) 771-4641, Lucchese.Donna@azdeq.gov
www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/dw/swap.html
CA: Leah Walker
California Department of Health Services
(707) 576-2295, LWalker2@dhs.ca.gov
www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/dwsap/DWSAPindex.htm
HI: Dan Chang, SWAP/SWP Coordinator
Hawaii Department of Health
(808) 586-4258, dchang@eha.health.state.hi.us
www.hawaii.gov/health/environmental/water/sdwb/
swap/swap.htmlsdwb/swap/swap. html
NV: Russ Land, Ground Water Branch Supervisor
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Pollution Control
(775) 687-9428, rland@ndep.state.nv.us
ndep.nv.gov/bwpc/wellhead.htm
U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest/Region 9 Notes From Underground,Spring 2005, Page 2
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Tribal
Corner
Onsite Wastewater Treatment System
(OWTS) Management
Based on EPA's Voluntary National Guidelines for
Management of Onsite and Clustered Wastewater
Treatment Systems, EPA Region 9 developed a guidance
document, Tribal Management of Onsite Wastewater
Treatment Systems, that provides tribes with the necessary
steps to protect groundwater resources and public health
against contamination from onsite wastewater systems
(e.g., septic systems). Below is a summary of the steps.
The complete document can be found at www.epa.gov/
region09/water/groundwater/tribal-waste-water04.pdf.
Step 1: Locate and Map the System
Locate and map all OWTS and keep in a permanent file.
Hyrdrogeologic conditions should also be collected.
Step 2: Design Review
Environmental/ Utility Programs should be responsible for
the approval of new OWTS prior to construction. Design
should account for soil characteristics, ground water
elevation and flow direction, expected wastewater flow,
septic tank volume, absorption area and type of drainfield.
Step 3: Maintain
Establish an operation and maintenance schedule for
each OWTS. This schedule should include regular
monitoring of the sludge and scum layers in all chambers
and the condition of the drainfield. Tanks should be
pumped accordingly. All maintenance activities
performed on OWTS should be kept on record.
Step 4: Regulate
Develop and incorporate the OWTS Management
Guidelines into ordinances.
For more information on OWTS, go to http://cfpub.epa.gov/
owm/septic/home.cfm.
Technical information about OWTS options is available
free or at low cost from the National Small Flows
Clearinghouse, (800) 624-8301 www.nsfc.wvu.edu.
TRIBAL WASTEWATER EVALUATIONS are available
for tribes within EPA's Pacific Southwest Region. For
information call EPA at (415) 972-3544, (415)972-3531 or
the Rural Community Assistance Corporation at (760)
492- 2543.
EPA MAKES FUNDS AVAILABLE TO
CALIFORNIA REGULATORS TO MAP
INJECTION WELLS
Contamination of California's ground water has resulted
in lost drinking water sources in many communities, as
well as billions of dollars in costs for ground water
remediation. Some of this contamination could h~ •<;
been prevented if endangering wastewater disposal
practices were identified and controlled.
To protect ground water, the Safe Drinking Water Act's
Underground Injection Control (UIC) program authorizes
the EPA to regulate underground injection wells. The
largest group of injection wells are called Class V. These
include any that infiltrates and permanently emplaces
fluids into or above drinking water aquifers.
EPA is offering contracts to local agencies in California
that have data to share or are authorized to collect it, to
help in the Agency's efforts to inventory Class V shallow
injection wells.
Any California city or county regulatory agency with the
authority to inspect commercial land uses, forthe purposes
of hazardous materials management or onsite sewage
disposal is eligible to apply.
EPA will host a workshop for prospective applicants,
including interested regulators, on March 24,2005. If
you have any questions, would like a copy of the proposal
guidance, or to reserve a space in the workshop, please
contact Elizabeth Janes atjanes.elizabeth@epa.gov or
(415) 972-3537. Proposals for this contract opportunity
are being accepted now through April 15, 2005.
Safe Drinking Water Act Hotline
1 800-426-4791
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Hotline provides
information about drinking water and ground water programs
authorized under the SDWA. Hotline topics include :
Drinking water standards/quality
Public drinking water systems
Source water protection
• Injection wells
Septic systems
Water Lines is a monthly Hotline activity report that includes
typical questions, call/e-mail statistics, caller profiles, and
other water facts.
For more information aboutthe Hotline and to read current and
previous issues of Water Lines online, go to www.epa.gov/
safewater/hotline.
U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest/Region 9 Notes From Underground, Spring 2005, Page 3
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Recent Announcements
EPA Joins With Partners to Reduce Water
Pollution
EPA and eight national partner organizations recently signed
an agreement to address environmental problems resulting
from failures of decentralized wastewater treatment systems
(often called septic systems) when they occur. The agreement
formalizes the collaboration between EPA and its partners to
help local governments improve their wastewater programs.
The agreement focuses on better planning, septic system
design, and long-term operation and maintenance of septic
systems.
A prog ram strategy accompanied the agreement and identifies
EPA's actions to improve the performance of septic systems.
The agreement and strategy are intended to upgrade the
management of these systems and facilitate collaboration
between EPA, state and local governments, and national
organizations representing practitioners and assistance
providers. Improved performance of decentralized systems
will provide better protection of public health and water
resources.
For more information about this effort or the decentralized
wastewater treatment system program, go to epa.gov/owm/
septic.
Upcoming Events
March 16-17,2005: Ground Water Association of California,
Artificial Recharge Workshop in Sacramento. Go to
www.grac.org for more information.
March 24, 2005: EPA Region 9, Workshop on Available
Funds to California Regulators to Map Injection Wells in
San Francisco, California. For more information, contact
Elizabeth Janes atjanes.elizabeth@epa.gov.
May 5,2005: Drinking Water Protection Forum, EPA Region
9, NV Tahoe Water Supplier Association, and Tahoe
Regional Planning Agency hosts in Lake Tahoe. Contact
Kate Rao at rao.kate@epa.gov for more information.
July 2005: Tribal Source Water Assessment Training. For
more information, contact Eric Byous at
byous.eric@epa.gov.
September24-28, 2005: Ground Water Protection Council
Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon. Go to www.gwpc.org
for more information.
Ongoing: DC Davis Ground Water Web Page. Lists ground
water events in California and surrounding states. Go to
groundwater.ucdavis.edu/awcalendar.htm.
Notes From Underground
U.S. EPA, Pacific Southwest/Region 9
Ground Water Office, WTR-9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
OFFICIAL BUSINESS - PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300
FIRST CLASS MAIL
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
U.S. EPA
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Printed on 100% postconsumer recycled fiber/recyclable paper
using vegetable-based ink. Mailing list correction:
rao.kate@epa.gov or call (415) 972-3533.
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