Water Systems for Small Communities

A Puzzle Guide for Local Officials
Bulletin 910

Source Water Protection

Heather Raymond, Division of Drinking and Groundwater, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Craig Smith, Division of Drinking and Groundwater, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Karen Mancl, Professor Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University

Why Protect the Water Source?

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." While this is an old proverb, it can be all too true for a water system. Drinking water contaminants are difficult and expensive to remove from water. A single accident can contaminate a water supply for decades. In some unfortunate cases, communities have had to abandon their water supply and develop a new one in response to contamination.

Communities make a tremendous investment in the development of their drinking water infrastructure. Installing pipe and building water towers and treatment plants are expensive projects for a community. Protecting the source of water protects that investment.

Stepwise Approach to Source Water Protection

For Groundwater Supplies

For Surface Water Supplies

Step 1. Identify the protection area (Figure 1). 5-year time of travel Ohio EPA is currently delineating the 5-year time of travel areas for existing water systems. New water systems may have to delineate their own 5-year time of travel areas. Consulting hydrogeologists have this skill. 1-year time of travel An inner management zone based on the 1-year time of travel is also delineated as the most critical area to focus protective actions. Susceptibility of groundwater sources varies throughout the state. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has published maps called DRASTIC maps, which predict the potential for contamination. In general, the highest yielding groundwater sources tend to be the most vulnerable.

Step 1. Identify the protection area (Figure 2). Watersheds are the land area that drains to one spot, like a water system intake. Watersheds are rather easy to outline using topographic maps. Since it is difficult to protect the entire watershed, critical areas, called corridors and emergency management zones, are identified. The corridors are at least 10 miles upstream of the intake, 1,000 feet on either side of the principal stream and 500 feet on either side of tributary streams. The emergency management zone is 500 feet upstream and 100 feet downstream of the water intake. If a spill occurs in this zone, no actions can prevent contaminants from entering the water system.

Figure 1. Delineation of time of travel zones to establish groundwater protection areas.	Figure 2. Map of watershed identifying critical protection areas and emergency management zones.

For Groundwater Supplies

For Surface Water Supplies

Step 2. Inventory activities that can threaten the water source (Table 1). The soil is the most important barrier protecting groundwater supplies. Activities that occur within the soil or beneath the soil layer create a greater threat. Direct—subsurface activities wells mining activity underground storage tanks injection wells and drainage wells septic systems excavated lagoons, ponds, and quarries dumps Surface activities that one would think of as a threat to a water supply are mediated by the soil. Chemicals concentrated by some surface activities may overwhelm the protective nature of the soil and threaten groundwater quality. Indirect—surface activities road salt storage landfills overapplication of wastes and chemicals to land spills

Step 2. Inventory activities that can threaten the water source (Table 1). Activities that discharge pollutants directly into a stream create the greatest threat. Direct—discharges sanitary and storm sewers spills and transportation accidents Plant buffers along stream corridors help to protect surface water supplies. Activities that result in bare soil next to a stream or ditch threaten water supplies. Indirect—soil disturbance activities strip mining construction cultivation

Table 1: Example of potential contaminant sources list.

Map Code	Source	Name/Address Somewhere, OH 99999	Source of Information
A-3	Animal waste storage/treatment*	Happy Heifer Dairy 176 Oak St.	Field survey
C-3	Auto repair shop	We Fix It 21 Main St.	Field survey
C-14	Dry cleaner	Ace Cleaners 95 Main St.	Field survey
C-21	Gas station	40 Main St.	BUSTR
C-34	Paint store	26 S. 1st St.	Field survey
C-45	Veterinary office*	10 S. 1st St.	Field survey
I-3	Chemical plant	2 Industry Way	RCRIS
I-9	Machine/metalworking shop	We-Fab Metal 6 Industry Way	Field survey
M-20	Road maintenance depot	126 Maple St.	Field survey
O-2	Chemical drums/storage	Water Plant	Site visit
O-15	Sewer lines*		Site visit
* Potential Pathogen Source

Step 3. Identify protection strategies.

Communities can be very creative in finding ways to protect their water. Some of the strategies a community may choose are:

Adopting zoning ordinances to control where activities that threaten the water supply can occur. For example, the underground storage tanks used in places like gas stations may be excluded from a groundwater protection area.

Purchasing or leasing undeveloped land in critical source water protection areas.

Using local tax code to encourage land owners to limit activities in the protection areas.

Identifying hazardous materials transportation routes in and around your community.

Drinking Water Protection Area REPORT SPILLS 1-800-282-9378

Step 4. Communicate with the public.

Include discussions of pollution prevention activities in public meetings and in schools. Work with the local news media to highlight the cost and benefits of source water protection. Hold household hazardous waste collection events and recycling programs. Most importantly, put up signs to identify the source water protection area along with a phone number to report an accidental spill.

Cost of Source Water Protection

Cost	Resources Available
Identifying the protection area (Step 1) is the most critical and probably the most expensive step for a small community. Professional hydrogeologists have the training and capability to outline the critical zones and corridors. Their expertise and time is the major cost to the community. Source water delineation studies typically cost from $5,000 to $15,000 for a small community.	The state of Ohio is sponsoring the delineation of existing water supplies. Ohio EPA staff plans to complete this task by 2003. New systems may have to delineate the source water area themselves. Some communities have cooperated with local universities to support source water delineation as a student project. The students gains a research project while the community supports a local educational institution.
The inventory of activities in the protection area (Step 2) is a simple listing. Identify both direct and indirect threats to the water source. Mark the location of each activity on a map. Using local expertise to create this inventory takes a few hours of time. If an outside professional is hired it can cost from $500 to $5,000.	In small communities knowledgeable local residents and community employees can work together to list and map activities. Ohio EPA plans to include an inventory of activities along with the delineation for existing water systems with the help of a water system employee.
Protection strategies (Step 3) require the coordination and cooperation among planning, construction, transportation, utility agencies, elected officials, and property owners. Cost to implement protection strategies comes from: meeting time to plan and develop the protection program. outside expertise to advise and mediate discussions. purchase of critical land areas and development rights for land. remediating threats or cleaning up spills that have already occurred on private property. politically unpopular decisions about limiting activities that threaten water supplies.	Many state and local resources are available to help develop protection strategies. Some examples are: OSU Extension can bring in expertise on land uses and help mediate community discussions. Ohio EPA can help establish linkages with other communities that have successfully developed protection strategies. Ohio Fire Marshall has an active program on the installation, upgrading, repair, and closure of underground storage tanks. Local health departments can help provide information on household sewage systems and private wells in the protection area. Local fire departments play an important role in emergency response to chemical spills. Local law enforcement can help establish and implement transportation routes for hazardous materials.
Communication with the public (Step 4) needs creativity and special planning. Messages about source water protection must be delivered frequently and in a variety of ways. Professionals can help in delivering effective campaigns. Printing, distribution, and time in public gatherings will be the true cost to the community.	Many state and local resources are available to help develop communication programs. Some examples are: OSU Extension and Ohio Farm Bureau can help develop and deliver community, agricultural, and youth programs in source water protection. Ohio EPA has materials and brochures that can be used and customized. Ohio Environmental Education Fund offers grants for the development of unique educational programs. Ohio Department of Transportation provides road signs for state routes and interstates that run through source water protection areas. US EPA has information on source water protection on their web site with links to other useful sites.