Source Water Assessment and Wellhead Protection Program

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Appendix C (cont.)

MEETING SUMMARY
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
JULY 30, 1998


I. INTRODUCTION
  1. Bill Toomey, West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) convened the Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Meeting at 9:15 a.m. on July 30, 1998 in the Office of Environmental Health Service (OEHS) conference room in Charleston, WV. The meeting began with each of the SWAP - Technical Advisory Committee Members introducing themselves. A complete attendance list is attached at the end of the minutes.
II. SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT (SDWA)
  1. Don Kuntz, P.E., WVBPH, gave an overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that was authorized in 1974. The 1996 amendments to the SDWA established the SWAP requirements. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is traditionally used to build or improve wastewater treatment plants but was expanded to include SWAP. Katy Mallory, P.E., WVBPH, reported that West Virginia has been awarded a 12 million-dollar DWSRF award from EPA and that 10% of the DWSRF can be used to administer or provide technical assistance for implementation of the SWAP. According to the SWAP guidance, West Virginia plans must be submitted to the EPA by February 1999. All assessments for all public water systems after approval of the SWAP Plan must be completed within two years (Year 2001) with a possible 18 mouth extension to the Year 2003.

    Chris Daugherty, DEP - Watershed Coordinator, asked if there were any advantages or disadvantages to have our SWAP plans done before the deadline: Answer: To receive the full time allotment for the SWAP Process it is recommended to turn the plans in near the last submittal day.

    Lewis Baker, WVRWA, asked about the Year 2005 deadline: Answer: That is EPA's goal of having 60% of the total Source Water Assessment Programs completed nationwide. In West Virginia, the SWAP for all the Public Water Supply Systems must be completed by Year 2003 and the minimum requirements completed for each Public System.
III. SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (SWAP)
  1. Elements

    1. Duties of Federal, State, and Local Agencies
      1. The Bureau for Public Health is the lead agency responsible for the Development and Implementation of SWAP.
        1. Many State Federal, Local Agencies and Private Individuals will be involved in various program aspects to protect the state's water from contamination.
    2. Public Participation
      1. Vital to the success of the program. A Technical and Citizens Advisory Committee will be established to help with the public participation aspect of the SWAP.
    3. Program Implementation
      There are three minimum requirements to implement the SWAP. They include:
      1. Delineate the Source Water Protection Area

        The Source Water Protection Areas is the total spatial area of land surface contributing water to a drinking water intake (for ground water and surface water systems).

        1. All Public Water Systems have to be delineated. This applies to all ground and surface water systems.
        2. Use the Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP) 5 year Travel of Time (TOT) for groundwater delineations.
        3. USGS will review and evaluate the current groundwater delineation techniques and new surface water techniques.
      2. Inventory of potential sources of contamination
        1. Identify the most significant contamination sources in delineated areas.
        2. Compile an organized inventory data list and map showing location.
      3. Perform Susceptibility Analysis
        1. Process for quantifying and prioritizing actual and potential sources.
        2. USGS will review and evaluate the susceptibility process.
    4. Source Water Assessment Report
      1. Each system(s) must have a brief report presenting the results to the public. This report may include hydrogeologic setting, maps of the delineated area, inventory and susceptibility.

        Vic Wilford, P.E., WVBPH, asked who will write this report. Answer: At this point the WVBPH is writing the brief report.
    5. Source Water Protection - Management and Contingency Plans
      1. In addition to the required delineations, source inventory and susceptibility determination. An additional part of SWAP may include local teams (help guide the process), management measures (eliminate the potential threat) and contingency planning (short and long term replacement strategies). How this section will be incorporated into SWAP will be discussed at the next SWAP meeting.

  2. Public and Regulated Community Participation

    1. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was asked if any additional personnel should be added to the committee.
    2. In the process of assembling the Citizen's Advisory Committee, a list of the committee members has been prepared. A meeting with this committee is foreseen later in August 1998.
    3. Public Hearings are projected for November. A mini grant has been provided by EPA for enhancing the public participation in the SWAP development. National Water Clearinghouse will act as facilitators for public meetings and generate an informational brochure or manual.
    4. Another grant from EPA will allow a website to be developed for the Source Water Assessment Program. This website should be up and running in 2-3 weeks.
    5. The TAC was asked to review or comment on the SWAP Key Issues for public participation. Comments or suggestions will be reviewed at the next meeting.
    6. Randall Lewis, West Virginia Rural Water Association (WVRWA), stated that they fully supported the Wellhead Protection Program.

      Mark Kozar, USGS, asked the procedure on how the Wellhead Program evaluates the individual system, by themselves or with a contractor. Answer: The state does the delineation of the 5 year time of travel and the system does the potential contamination listing. Many systems have done this part independently, others with the assistance of the WVRWA or contractors.

  3. Program Implementation - Source Water Assessments

    1. Initial State Actions - Review of available data for the SWAP.
      1. Hydrogeology/Hydrology - Review of potential data sources, web sites and maps that we have access to use.
      2. Ambient Surface and Groundwater Data - Review of information source and type.
      3. Potential Contamination Sources - Review of information source and type.
      4. The committee was asked to review the handouts, listings and add any additional information they may have.

    2. Differential Approach
      1. Different levels of assessment - Not all systems have to be accessed the same.
      2. Previous assessment efforts - Implement the information from the WHPP by using the same delineation and contaminant sources list.
      3. Type and Extent of Threat - should rate some systems different?
      4. Type and size of Public Systems - smaller systems vs. larger systems.
      5. Overall objectives - management phase

    3. Wellhead Protection Program - History and Status

      The Wellhead Protection Program is only associated with groundwater systems not surface water.

      1. Six steps involved to implement the program:
        1. Collection of Background Information - Well Data Sheet.
        2. Public Participation - Committee is formed to do public outreach.
        3. Delineation
          Pumping a well in an alluvial setting we look at the 5 year TOT to delineate the area.
          Chris Daugherty asked what the TOT is for the other states? Answer: The majority use the 5 year TOT for groundwater systems. That is the minimum time set by the EPA.
          Reviewed the Paden City WHPP Groundwater Model
        4. Contamination Source Inventory - Inventory list - Code Number is used to cross reference with the common sources of groundwater contamination. The form consists of name and address, description, distance from well and if a Groundwater Protection Plan (GPP) is in place.
          The GPP is handled by DEP - Water Resources. It only applies to industrial and mining and not municipal. Dave Watkins, DEP-OWR, said that the law requires a GPP. He said that as a permits comes up for renewal they are required to submit a GPP or when a new permit application comes in their office.
        5. Management/Contingency Planning
        6. Contingency Planning
          Short form used in the WHPP for plan development.

    4. Watershed Framework Summary

      1. Chris Daugherty, DEP-OWR, Watershed Coordinator summarized the watershed framework. The program involves 12 state and federal agencies. It is a 5 year/phase process, (consisting of 32 watershed groups) in Groups A- E.

        1. The first phase is scoping and screening with assessing land usage and industrial usage. The goal is to restore and protect a groundwater source and protecting the water from contamination.
        2. The second phase is strategic monitoring. That is looking at a target area. Look at more specific data or where the source is.
        3. The third stage is management strategy development.
        4. The fourth stage is priority watershed management plan. Develop and finalize management plans.
        5. The fifth stage is implementation.

      2. Linkage between watershed and source water assessment program.

        Watershed Management involves a committee for public outreach. This same committee could also include a brief background of the source water assessment program to the public. Don Kuntz, WVBPH, stated that a small segment of a Watershed Meeting could include SWAP. Chris Daugherty emphasized that they are in the process of putting the link together. Dave Watkins, DEP-OWR, Mark Kozar, USGS, and Bill Toomey will test raw water quality analysis in conjunction with priority watershed. Some of the same data from other groups can incorporated into SWAP.

    5. Surface Water Systems

      1. Delineation of the source water protection area to include the entire watershed area upstream of the PWS's intake structure, up to the boundary of the state borders.
      2. A breakdown of types of surface intakes was discussed and is shown on the attached figure.

    6. Prioritization of Systems

      1. Link with the Department of Environmental Protection Watershed Assessment program

        1. Start the SWAP evaluation process with the finished Groups A and B in the DEP watershed framework. Process the larger population community systems first.

    7. The TAC was asked to review or comment on the SWAP Key Issues for the State's Strategic Approach. Comments or suggestions will be reviewed at the next meeting.

  4. Delineation of Source Water Assessment Areas

    1. Public Water Supply - Groundwater

      1. Reviewed the Aquifer Types and different delineation methods used in the WHPP. See the attached WHPP delineation figure.

      2. The recommendation for groundwater delineations are as follows:

        Community System - If the system serves more than 500 population served the area is delineated by one of the WHPP methods.

        If the system serves less than 500 population served the area has a fixed radius of 1500'.

        Non-Transient - If the system serves more than 500 population served the area is delineated by one of the WHPP methods.

        If the system serves less than 500 the areas has a fixed radius of 1000'

        Transient - Fixed radius of 500'

        Please note that in a Karst area fixed radius will be 2000' for less than 500 population served.

        Dave Watkins, DEP-OWR, wanted to know if there was any justification for a fixed radius? Answer: The USGS will evaluated the fixed radius approach to the small systems. Many of these systems have limited hydrogeolgic data and very low quantities of water they produce.

    2. Public Water Supply - Surface Water

      1. The recommendation for surface water delineations for surface water delineations are as follows.

        Zone 1

        1. 1/4 mile buffer
        2. 5 hour/TOT on average max. Stream flow (Ohio River High Flow - 25 miles)
        3. 1/4 below intake

        Zone 2

        1. All 14 Digit Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) adjacent to the stream and all 14 Digit HUC's Adjacent to Major Tributaries.
        2. 1/4 below intake.

        Zone 3       Watershed Upstream of Intake

        Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) are hydrographic in nature and determined by the size of the drainage. The HUC 8 would have a greater drainage area than the HUC 14.

        Sources of contamination will be determined by the zone.

        Some suggestions were to go from the middle of the stream and set different values for the buffer zone. Mark Kozar, USGS, commented on the 1/4 mile buffer, he said that you are not going to encompass entire areas. Lewis Baker, WVRWA, stated that the 1/4 mile distance is arbitrary. It would be more defensive if you could expand it. Have a Priority Zone that would not be based on a mileage buffer. ORSANCO uses the 1/4 mile buffer, suggestions indicated using the 14 Digit HUC is more practical. ORSANCO does only the delineations not assessments. Along the Ohio River and the major tributaries for SWAP. Reuben Gillispie, WVBPH, suggested that Zone 1 be ground checked and Zone 2 be data based.

      2. Recommendations included going to a two tier approach on the surface intakes as follows:

        River/Streams -

        Zone 1 "Hot Zone" - extends 1/4 mile below a surface water intake to 25 miles upstream (based on 5 hours time of Travel, high flow). The lateral distance encompasses the area of 14-digit hydrologic units adjacent to the stream and tributaries. This area is were a contamination event will quickly affect the water supply.

        Zone 2 The area of the basin upstream from an intake.
                 ** based on maximum Ohio River velocities near Surface Intakes from February 1995 to February 1998.

      3. Delineations procedures for reservoirs will be discussed at the next meeting.

  5. Inventory of Potential Sources of Contamination

    1. Contaminants of Concern - Reviewed the raw water contaminants regulated and unreregulated under the SDWA, contaminants regulated under the SWTR.

      1. Will discuss Cryptosporidium at the next meeting.

    2. Groundwater - Two different zones:

      1. Zone 1 - "Hot Zone" - Level of detail that is more complete.

        Use the list of the Common Sources of Groundwater Contamination used in the WHPP. From that list we can assign certain contaminations that may occur. Break down the potential - high, middle, low. Vic Wilford, WVBPH, suggested that you can determine it by breakdown of the size of operation and management facilities. Dave Watkins, DEP, pointed out that waste disposal also makes a difference.

      2. Zone 2 - More General Sources - areas you can find on the web. Such as CERCLIS, RCRIS, Toxic Release Inventory Sites, Coal NPDES, Mining Permits, Landfill, Oil & Gas Wells.

        If the data is readily available, include as much data as you can. Boundary of Zone 2 could be the HUC 14 or 11 delineation.

      3. Reviewed the Kentucky Source Water Assessment Program. Reviewed the land use and the risk to the groundwater section. They broke down the contamination into 3 categories - high, medium, low risk. It was written very general and not specific at all.

      4. Bill Toomey asked Lewis Baker, WVRWA, for an opinion of the Groundwater Contamination List. He suggested supplying the individual with a list. Out of that list some things will be a priority.

      5. Other suggestions included:
        • Prioritize the list
        • Make a checklist
        • Have it rated - high, medium, low

        Vic Wilford, WVBPH, commented that on transient systems you are only looking at a small number of items, so you will be able to progress fast in that category. Sanitary surveys are required.

    3. Surface Water - Two Different Zones

      1. Zone 1 - "Hot Zone" - Level of detail that is more complete. Compares with the Zone 1 Area in Groundwater model.

      2. Zone 2 - More general sources - comparable to the Groundwater Zone 2.
IV. Subcommittee
  1. A technical subcommittee was formed to review the contamination source list and susceptibility analysis. The committee is scheduled to meet on August 17, 1998.
V. Next Meeting
  1. The next meeting will be scheduled for the beginning of September 1998.
VI. Adjournment
  1. Meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm.

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