Transcript Slide 1

Developing a Regional Drinking
Water Protection Plan
Swati Thomas, RCAC
February 3, 2005
Part of the EPA/RCAP Drinking Water
Technical Assistance & Training
Program, a RCAP network project.
RCAC
What is a regional
DWP plan?
Multiple systems
facing similar issues
go the process of
developing a DWP plan
together.
Why a regional plan?
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Provide an easy-to-use tool for PWS to protect
drinking water from nitrate and other common
pollution sources.
Foster communication and learning among
systems facing common issues
Utilize and add to existing GWMA activities
End Goal…
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Number of PWS’s
adopting and
implementing the plan
Result….Collective
protection of
groundwater sources
from nitrate and other
common pollution
sources
What will be developed?
End product: Regional strategic plan ….
Adopting the plan at the local level…
Options
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Adopt the regional plan as
developed
Adapt the regional plan to meet
local needs
Complete additional steps to
develop a state certified plan
How? With lots of help from LCOG…
LCOG received funding to:
 Map protection areas based on
SWA
 Examine potential contaminant
sources & ID common sources
 Educate/facilitate development
of the strategic plan
Step 1: Initial Workshop
to Brainstorm
Process for
developing the plan.
Step 2: (2-3) Follow up
Meetings
Step 3: Present regional
strategies to GWWA
Committee
Step 4: Workshop to
share results.
Step 5: Assist systems to
adopt the plan
Regional Planning Committee…
Who will be involved?
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Representative
groundwater systems
GWMA water/wastewater
sub-committee members
Local county health
departments
DHS
DEQ
LCOG
RCAC
OAWU
Regional Planning Committee…
Purpose
Provide input on the following:
 Develop the strategic plan
 Establish requirements for local adaptation of
the plan
 Outreach plan to systems in the area
 Also, invited to participate in GWMA
water/wastewater sub-committee
Benefits & Incentives
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Prevention of contamination and
protection of groundwater quality
health + water quality + $$$$
Benefits & Incentives
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Increased access to
funding $$$$
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Access to special
funding for
implementation of
protection strategies
Additional credit when
applying for funding from
the Drinking Water State
Revolving Loan Fund
Benefits & Incentives
Reduced monitoring requirements for
VOC’s & SOC’s $$$$
Benefits & Incentives
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Use of available
source water
assessments
Simplified
process
Seven Steps to Developing a Drinking
Water Protection Plan
1. Initiate the program.
2. Form the team.
3. Review the delineation.
4. Refine the inventory.
5. Develop management strategies.
6. Develop the contingency plan.
7. Plan for future water needs.
Photo from History of the Movies
by Edward F. Dolan, Jr.
Step 1 - Initiate the program.
Get key people
Interested.
Identify potential stakeholders
Primarily completed through the regional planning efforts.
Step 2 - Form the drinking water
protection team.
Offer
opportunities for
public input.
Photo from History of the Movies
by Edward F. Dolan, Jr.
Examples of public outreach &
involvement
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Letters to customers
Press release
Public meeting
Invite stakeholders to participate
Copy and distribute outreach materials already
developed – e.g., Coburg and Junction City
materials
Take advantage of outreach already being
conducted through the GWMA review of the
regional plan and other GWMA activities.
Step 3 - Review the delineation.
Talk about the
delineation of the
drinking water
protection area.
A delineation is required
for all systems adopting
the regional plan.
Step 4 - Refine the inventory.
Identify and
prioritize risks.
Required for all systems
adopting the regional plan
Photo from History of the Movies by Edward F. Dolan, Jr.
Step 4 – Considerations when refining
the inventory.
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Identify past land use
hazards.
Note variety in land use
hazards.
Identify existing protection
measures (e.g., BMPs)
Adjust risk ratings.
Map results.
Potential threats
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Improperly abandoned wells
Chemical handling, storage, and mixing
Equipment repair facilities
Fuel storage
Small farms
Organic substance problems
Stormwater runoff
Septic systems
Step 5: Develop Management
Strategies
Identify ways to
reduce risks.
Photo from History of the Movies by Edward F. Dolan, Jr.
Develop management strategies
Typical process
 Break into subgroups to
identify threats
 Recognize what is already
being done to minimize
threats
 Develop goals broadly
stating what needs to be
accomplished.
 Review top management
strategies.
Using the regional strategic
plan:
 Review identified risks for
your system
 What in the regional plan is
applicable for your system?
 Select appropriate strategies
for implementation
 Develop unique strategies
as needed.
Focus of Goals and Strategies
Overall approach: Keep it concrete and doable
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Educate
Develop incentives
Use a voluntary approach
Prevent pollution
Communicate better in application
process
Raise awareness
Step 6
Develop the Contingency Plan
The Register-Guard, November 4, 2002
Benefits & incentives…
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Contingency Plan
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Required for certified DWPP
Utilize existing Emergency Response Plan
required of all public water systems by June 2005.
Or, develop a contingency plan that will meet
Emergency Response Plan.
Questions to Answer
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Who responds and who’s in charge?
Are personnel trained to respond?
How will the water use get prioritized – who gets
what?
Short-term and long-term water replacement?
Conservation measures?
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What financial resources are available?
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Tips
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Use other plans as a model.
Build on existing emergency response plans.
Involve police and fire officials.
Spill
Response
Plan
Step 7 – Plan for Future Water Needs
Potential property owner criteria –
evaluating control
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Number of property owners
Cooperation of property owners
City/PWS ownership
Photo from History of the Movies by Edward F. Dolan, Jr.
Other evaluation criteria
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Land characteristics within the
protection zone
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Current land uses
Future land uses
Infiltration risks
Characterization of risks
Tip: Use criteria developed by others
Make a recommendation from a
drinking water perspective.
Comparative Evaluation Ranking
for Proposed Well Sites
Evaluation Criteria
City Ownership of Property
Number of Property Owners
Property Owner Cooperation
Current Land Use Risks
Future Land Use Risks
Infiltration Risk
Key: 1 = most desirable; 3 = least desirable
A
1
3
2
3
2
1
Proposed Well
B
3
2
3
2
3
3
C
2
1
1
1
1
2
Celebrate your success
and implement your plan!
Photo from History of the Movies by Edward F. Dolan, Jr.
Adopting the plan at the local level,
what is involved? Summary…
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Public outreach
Complete delineation if no SWA is completed.
Complete/review inventory of potential contaminants sources
included in the SWA.
Identify priorities for protection
Work through strategies outlined in the regional strategic plan
Adopt the plan
If interested, complete contingency plan & future source
evaluation for state certification.
Implement the plan
Many available resources…
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Oregon Department of Human
Services
Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality
Local county health departments
Oregon Association of Water Utilities
Rural Community Assistance
Corporation
Oregon State University Extension
Service
Oregon Dept. of Human Services
Drinking Water Program
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Ensure SDWA is
followed.
Currently conducting
SWA for groundwater
systems.
Responsible for
reviewing waiver
applications.
Provide TA on SWA and
DWP.
OR Dept. of Env. Quality
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Conducting SWA for surface
water systems.
Responsible for certifying
DWP plans.
Provide TA on SWA and DWP.
Also supporting Southern
Willamette GMWA Committee
process.
Local County Health Departments
Linn County Environmental Health Program
Benton County Environmental Health
Department
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Ensure compliance with SDWA
Offer TA to operators in respective
Counties.
Oregon Association of Water Utilities
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Offer TA for small water
and wastewater systems
on O&M, management
and other issues.
Source water specialists
available to assist with all
aspects of SWA & DWP
Oregon State University Extension
Service
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Well Water Program educates rural residents
about conditions that threaten the quality of
groundwater sources, and about practices
and techniques to protect groundwater
quality.
Received special funding to conduct
outreach in the Southern Willamette GWMA
and can support outreach efforts as part of
DWP planning if desired.
Rural Community Assistance Corp.
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Offer TA to small water and
wastewater systems to assist
with project planning, funding
identification and grant writing,
and management issues for
wide range of projects
including drinking water
protection.
Lane Council of Governments
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Facilitation and planning services to solve
area wide problems.
Received funding to develop regional
drinking water strategic plan.
Junction City…a local perspective