&EPA
Notes from Underground
An update on source water protection and underground pollution control from the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 9, serving Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Nevada, Native American Tribes, and the western Pacific Islands.
Summer 1999
EPA 909-N99-001
"The importance of
protecting drinking
water supplies has
never been greater.
The availability of
water supplies are
challenged by an
expanding
population, increased
demands for habitat
protection, and
contamination
incidents. Therefore
every available drop
must be protected,
which is why the
Source Water
Assessment Program
is so critical."
- Leah G. Walker,
California Department
of Health Services
"ADEQ is confident
that the Source Water
Assessment Program
and the related
source water
protection activities
will prove
instrumental in
preserving drinking
water safety. Through
the flexibility built into
the 1996 SDWA
amendments, Arizona
can have state
specific solutions and
protection for our
drinking water."
- Moncef Tihami,
Arizona Department
of Environmental
Quality
CONGRATULATIONS
REGION 9 STATES!
First nationwide to get all state Source Water Assessment
Programs endorsed
The U.S. EPA recently gave preliminary endorsement to all four state Source
Water Assessment Programs in Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii and
Nevada), thanks to diligent efforts by the states' drinking water programs and
multiple stakeholders who worked together to meet the February 6, 1999
deadline. Inside is a chart summarizing the components of all four state
plans.
The EPA will review and likely approve the programs by November 6, 1999.
Program approval begins a 42-month clock, including an optional 18-month
extension, at the end of which each State with an approved program must
have completed its assessments. Since approval starts the clock, EPA
Region 9 is giving its states a preliminary "thumbs-up" to approved programs,
reserving final official approval until the last possible day of review.
The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act established the
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and allowed states to set aside some
of their capitalization grant funds to establish Source Water Assessment
Programs (SWAPs.) The program seeks to get states to take a look at where
their drinking water comes from in order to protect it from future
contamination.
All State SWAPs will:
- delineate sensitive areas around wellheads or surface waters;
- inventory potential contaminant sources within the delineated areas;
- analyze susceptibility to those contaminants; and
- communicate findings to the public.
States may use the information collected to provide monitoring waivers to
public water systems, meet regulatory requirements such as the Ground
Water Rule, and/or to promote the development of local programs to manage
and protect water quality.
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ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA | HAWAII | NEVADA
DELINEATION METHODS
Ground Water: Calculated fixed radius of 5
year time of travel (TOT). WHPA model used
when more data available. 100' min. radius for
non-sensitive aquifers.
Surface Water: Rivers/Canals: Segment A -
500' on each side up to state boundary, dam,
or end of development; Segment B - remainder
of watershed. Reservoirs/Lakes: Segment A -
500' around perimeter and upstream from
intake up to state boundary, dam, or end of
development Segment B - remainder of
watershed.
Ground Water: Calculated fixed radius of 2, 5,
1 0 year TOT with min.* of:
Zone A- 600'
Zone 65-1,000'
Zone 610-1,500'
'fractured settings add 50%
Surface Water
Zone A-400' around reservoir boundaries &
200' from tributaries, Zone 6-2500' from intake
Ground Water: The numerical qroundwater
flow model, FLOWPATH, will be used to
delineate: Zone 6-2 year time of travel (TOT)
and Zone C - 1 0 yr. TOT. Zone A will be a 50'
calculated fixed radius. These methods are
consistent with the Hawaii WHPP.
Surface Water: Delineations include: lakes
and reservoirs - 400' buffer; rivers, tributaries,
canals, and ditches - 400' buffer. Intakes will
have a 2500' buffer. Inventory will be
conducted throughout entire watershed.
Ground Water:
Calculated fixed radius of 2 yr, 5 yr, and 10 yr
TOT. If no info-min. 3000' fixed radius.
Approved WHP program
Surface Water:
Zone A: rivers: 10 miles upstream, 500' buffer
zone on both sides. Reservoirs and lakes:
500' around.
Zone 6: 3000' outside Zone A.
CONTAMINANT INVENTORY
An adjacent land use (ALU) is any facility or
activity where chemicals or contaminants;
regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act
and have maximum contaminant levels,
regulated under Surface Water Treatment
Rule, and microorganism cryptosporidium, are
commonly used or present.
All Possible Contaminating Activities (PCAs)
associated with the following contaminants will
be inventoried: microorganisms; chemicals for
which MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LIMITS or
CA drinking water action levels have been
established; any chemicals for which
monitoring is required; turbidity and total
organic carbon.
Contaminants include all regulated and
unregulated contaminants under Hawaii laws
including turbidity and total organic carbon.
All contaminants with a drinking water
maximum contaminant level, MT6E, and
perchlorate.
SUSCEPTIBILITY DETERMINATION (INCLUDING RANKING CRITERIA)
Adjacent Land Uses (ALUs) individually ranked
according to permit compliance status, use of
best management practices, and history of
releases and clean up.
Susceptibility = sensitivity (i.e.,
hydrogeology/well integrity and existing water
quality) + vulnerability (i.e., ALU evaluation.)
High/Low determination of susceptibility will be
made for each drinking water source.
Results will be used in waiver program.
Ranking variables: 1) physical barrier
effectiveness (P6E) which includes factors
such as source integrity, hydrogeology, etc.
2) PCA ranking high/med/low
3) PCA location to source
Vulnerability=P6E+PCA ranking + PCA zone
location. A point system has been developed
to determine the source vulnerability in CA (or
susceptibility). Above 8 points, the PCA is
considered a possible risk to the well and
above 1 1 points, the PCA is considered a
possible risk to the surface water intake.
Results will be used to evaluate waivers and to
further protection efforts.
Susceptibility: The determination of the
likelihood that contaminants from PCAs
present in an assessment area will reach and
enter the drinking water source. Susceptibility
determination takes into account site-specific
geologic/hydrogeologic factors, characteristics
of the potential contaminating activity, and well
construction.
The susceptibility analysis scoring will be used
to develop a prioritized list of drinking water
sources susceptible to contamination , and a
prioritized list of PCAs for each drinking water
source.
Facility ranking variables: 1) water quality;
2) contaminant risk ranking; 3) distance from
well or intake; and 4) susceptibility/sensitivity.
The State will make final vulnerability
determinations per source for each category of
contaminant. Then the state will compose a
narrative vulnerability determination for the
water system.
Public Water System Vulnerability = water
quality + contaminant risk ranking + distance
from well or intake, susceptibility/sensitivity,
and other relevant factors. Waivers
considered for ground water sources.
OVERALL RANKING OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES
A summary of susceptibility will be determined
for each Public Water System.
Will provide an overall summary determination
of each public water system.
An overall susceptibility score will be
calculated for each public water system.
A narrative summary will be provided to each
Public Water System.
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ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | HAWAII | NEVADA
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TO DATE
5 technical and community advisory committee
meetings each; several statewide public
workshops and public hearings
Technical and citizen advisory committees
each met 5 times. Sub group meetings were
held on particular issues. Additional public
workshops were held around the state.
Joint Technical and Community Advisory
Committee met seven times. Four
subcommittees formed. 14 public workshops
held on the 6 major islands.
Combined citizens and technical committee.
Three meetings in Las Vegas and Carson.
Three public workshops.
MAKING ASSESSMENTS AVAILABLE
SWAP documents will be provided to libraries,
health departments, mail notices and maps to
customer, public meetings, and posted on our
website: www.adeq.state.az.us/water/safe.
SWAP purpose, map(s) of Public Water
Supply sources, delineated areas, associated
ALUs, susceptibility determination per source,
and guidance for interpreting results. Public
workshops are planned to present assessment
results.
Available at DHS district offices and at some
Public Water Supply offices. DHS will mail a
summary on request. Notice of the availability
of the assessment results will be included in
the Consumer Confidence Reports.
An overall summary for each PWS, ranked list
of PCAs, map(s). Maps will indicate either the
location of a PCA (no names or addresses) or
list types of PCAs within each zone.
Assessments, GIS maps, and summaries will
be distributed to public libraries; DOH offices
on major islands and the PWS office. Camera-
ready copies available at copy services on
each island. CD-ROMs, including a GIS
browser, provided to public libraries.
Distribution will include a map showing
sources and assessment areas, general
location of PCAs, table summarizing the
number of PCAs, general description of the
water system, and an overall susceptibility
summary.
Notice of availability to be announced through
the Internet, water purveyors, libraries,
Consumer Confidence Reports, and Wellhead
Protection program presentations.
A summary of the PWS vulnerability and a
map which identifies the type of contaminant
sources facilities.
APPROACH
Assessments will be performed and released
to the public throughout the process.
DHS is responsible for all assessments
however purveyors are encouraged to conduct
their own. Currently require watershed sanitary
survey (surface water) to be completed every 5
years.
DOH will conduct all assessments in 2 years
with contract support. Demonstration projects
will be conducted before full implementation.
State will put together submittal. Assessments
will be completed with contractor support.
Ground water systems first then surface water
systems.
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FUNDING AND SET-ASIDES
$1.7 million from DWSRF Capitalization grant.
Additionally, a set aside for land acquisition
and source water protection is being
administered by the DWSRF.
$7.5 Million. Capitalization grant provided
seed money for Source Water Protection Loan
program, beginning in 2000.
$1.199 Million. Additionally, $250,000 was set
aside for Well- head Protection, and $200,000
for Source Water Protection, from DWSRF
Capitalization Grant.
$1.25 Million. Additionally, $227,618 set aside
for UIC; $150,000 for Wellhead Protection; and
$201 ,338 for Source Water Protection.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Moncef Tihami, Drinking Water Monitoring and
Assessment Unit, Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality, (602) 207-4644
http://www.adeq.state.az.us/water/safe/
swap, htm
Leah Walker, Division of Drinking Water and
Environmental Management, California
Department of Health Services,
(707) 576-2295
http://www.dhs.ca.qov/ps/ddwem/dwsap/DWS
APindex.htm
William Wong, Drinking Water Program
Hawaii Department of Health
(808) 586-4258
http://www.aloha.net/~will/hiswap.html
Jon Palm, Drinking Water Program
Nevada Bureau of Health Protective Services
(775) 687-4754, extension 229
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STATE by STATE HIGHLIGHTS... The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
will evaluate the contaminant potential of Adjacent Land Uses (ALUs), taking compliance history and
the use of Best Management Practices into account when ranking those land uses. Each adjacent
land use will be further evaluated based on hydrogeologic factors and proximity to the source.
There are approximately 16,000 active drinking water wells and drinking water intakes in California,
and several thousand that are standby and inactive. Funds available for assessment are less than
$400 per source. Although California Department of Health Services (DHS) is responsible for
performing these assessments, some public water systems will perform their own assessments in
conformance with the DHS procedures.
Forthe Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH), public involvement is vital to identifying critical issues
and appropriate solutions, and providing the foundation for public ownership of resource
management efforts. In 1998, HDOH traveled to 6 islands to conduct 14 public meetings, responding to comments from more
than 90 participants. For transcripts and Hawaii's SWAP approach, see http://www.aloha.net/~will/hiswap.html. The first
phase of assessments will focus on sources located in the areas identified by the Hawaii's Unified Watershed Assessment
program.
The Nevada Bureau of Health Protection Services started its Vulnerability Assessment Program (VAP) in 1995, allowing
public water systems with qualifying ground water sources to obtain monitoring waivers. Under the program, jointly
administered by BHPS and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, if a groundwater source has low vulnerability
to a particular contaminant group, a waiver could be issued, saving public water systems (and their customers) significant
monitoring costs. Nevada's Source Water approach will be almost identical, with a risk ranking procedure to be added.
Since implementation began, over45% of all groundwatersources, along with their potential sources of contamination, have
been inventoried and located using a Global Positioning System (GPS.) Remaining assessments will begin in early 2000.
Notes From Underground
USEPA Region 9
Ground Water Office (WTR-9)
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA94105
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