Source Water Protection
Protection of your source water is the first, and arguably most important, line of defense when it comes to the health and safety of your water. Source Water Protection Plans are required elements of a Water System Plan or Small Water System Management Program, and any time a water system seeks approval for a new source.
Source water protection consists of:
- Sanitary Control
- Wellhead Protection (for groundwater sources)
- Watershed Control (for surface water sources)
Sanitary Control addresses keeping the area around your source free from potential sources of contamination. If a potential hazard is identified that cannot be removed or avoided, monitoring and mitigation can be implemented to protect public health.
Most water systems have groundwater sources, and are required by state law to develop a Wellhead Protection Plan. This plan includes five components:
- Susceptibility Assessment
- Hydrogeologic Delineation (groundwater travel zones)
- Inventory of Potential Contaminants (updated every two years)
- Notification of Key Persons (Emergency Responders, Relevant Public Agencies, Relevant Landowners)
- Contingency/Emergency Plan
Accurately completing a susceptibility assessment for your source(s) will help to determine whether you are eligible for monitoring waivers. Sometimes sources are designated with high or moderate susceptibility because the WSDOH does not have adequate information to designate the source as having low susceptibility. Although other factors apply when seeking monitoring waivers, sources with “low susceptibility” are considered for most waivers. Conducting a susceptibility assessment could therefore allow the system to obtain a monitoring waiver, as long as the other criteria are also met. These waivers allow the system to reduce the amount of sampling required at the source. The reduction in monitoring costs typically more than pays for the report.
Summary
A practical source water protection plan that is easy to read and reflects your unique needs and is tailored to your water system’s characteristics provides real value, rather than just sitting on a shelf. The most effective plans include concrete action items such as public education and land use controls. Avoid plans that include page upon page of boiler plate material that cannot be implemented, and/or does not apply to your situation.
As with all elements of your water system, the Washington State Department of Health has a wealth of information and resources regarding source water protection.