Source Water Assessment and Wellhead Protection Program

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Appendix C (cont.)

MEETING SUMMARY
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 10, 1998


I. INTRODUCTION
  1. Bill Toomey, West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) convened the Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on September 10, 1998 in the Office of Environmental Health Service (OEHS) conference room in Charleston, WV. A complete attendance list is attached at the end of the minutes.

II. REVIEW OF THE SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

  1. Program Implementation

    There are three minimum requirements to implement the SWAP. They include:

    1. Delineate the Source Water Protection Area

      The Source Water Protection Area 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 all 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.

  2. Memorandum of Understanding

    A working agreement between the agencies.
III. DISCUSSION OF THE GROUNDWATER SWAP
  1. Resource Characterization

    Compile and evaluate existing information of West Virginia geology, groundwater resources and public water systems.

    This will facilitate a more cost effective and systematic approach for delineation of the groundwater SWAP areas.

    Collection of existing and site specific hydrologic data and well data.

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - stated that the DEP already has a contract to collect this information.

    Lew Baker - WVRWA - stated that USGS has a database that has this information.

    The Bureau for Public Health is currently working with USGS to make it a statewide database.

  2. Delineation

    Fixed Radius Method - fast and inexpensive

    2 Zones

    Zone 1 - Delineated Area
    Zone 2 - HUC Code - it is defined by the 14 Digit HUC's Watershed.

    Since the last meeting USGS is in the process of forming GIS for Zone 2.

    Looking at a bigger area, recharge into an aquifer. The drainage does not impact wellhead area, based on a 5 year TOT.

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - questioned the 5 year TOT. He stated that some contaminants travel slow. He wanted to know if we have a contingency plan that state what contaminants are in a system. He said not to make it a definite 5 year TOT.

    Vic Wilford - WVBPH - stated that the information needed to be updated.

    Lew Baker - WVRWA - stated that it should be done case by case.

    Possibility of adding a buffer around Zone 1 - maybe a 1000' foot radius.

    1. Selecting the Delineation Method

      Reviewed the guidelines for the community, non-transient and transient water systems.

      Areas of delineation for the smaller systems will be less than 500' foot radius.

      Lew Baker - WVRWA - suggested to give have an interim radius. There is not enough data to give a fixed radius.

      For the transient systems you do not have the resource characterization.

      Vic Wilford - WVBPH - suggested that some systems have a fixed radius and others have a interim radius.

      Chris Daugherty - DEP/OWR - suggested using a fixed radius until other information comes through and we do a more sophisticated analysis. If and when we deem it necessary.

    2. Who will Delineate the SWAP Areas?

      Should the Public Water Systems (PWS) do their own delineations?

      Vic Wilford - WVBPH - suggested having someone authorized or certified in hydrogeology assist the water systems.

      Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - Give the PWS guidelines and then just double check it.

      Lew Baker - WVRWA - Let the PWS have it done by a contractor.

      Future delineations - Redelineations should be done when there is an average 15% water increase. It should not be a one-time deal but an ongoing process or base it on a set time.

      Lew Baker - WVRWA - Future Delineations should be viewed as long term. Be clear about it.

      Chris Daugherty - DEP/OWR - base it on more customers instead of water increase.

      J.D. Douglas - WVBPH - stated that the sanitary survey showed maximum pumping rates. Tie this information together.

      Vic Wilford - WVBPH - suggested a time frame - 15% over the last 12 months.

      Conjunctive Delineations - hydraulically connected. One delineation for both surface and ground water from one intake systems.

  3. Potential Contaminant Survey

    Contaminants of Concern

    Dave Watkins -DEP/OWR - mentioned something about a health advisory??

    Significant Sources

    The susceptibility analysis will pinpoint the areas.

    Inventory

    Produce maps and inventories by looking at the different sources.

    No current existing regulations on municipal lagoons? No regulations for groundwater.

    In the First Step of the Inventory

    Take the word regulated out.
    Develop general land use - general inventory.

    Step Two - Detailed Inventory Checklist and Source Maps

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - when you ask for the latitude and longitude ask what method is used. Credibility is a question.

    Vic Wilford - WVBPH - suggested that the Source Inventory title on the database be changed to Contaminant Source Inventory

    Reviewed the Contaminant Listing Checklist

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - the list needs more details. For example sumps - place where water collects. Looking at existing and past contaminants.

    Vic Wilford - WVBPH - asked about future land use. It will go in the management phase - go to the committee that deals with local areas. Active Source Water Team that handles it.

    Lew Baker - WVRWA - in the past we did this anything new happens just call the health department.

    Data Capture based on 7.5 minute topo

    Information will be made to the public.

  4. Susceptibility Analysis

    Originally defined as the potential (likelihood) for a PWS's to draw water contaminated by inventoried sources at concentrations that would pose concern.

    The committee decided to add to the original definition - susceptibility analysis is a primer or pointer to those sources taking into consider the following:

    • Hydrologic and Hydrogeologic Characteristics
    • Land Cover Characteristics
    • Potential Significant Contaminant Sources
    • Physical Integrity of the Well or Surface Intake

    Discussed the various flowcharts:

    • System Construction - It is recognized that a well has good construction characteristics can prevent the occurrence of contamination even in the presence of potentially significant contaminant sources and high hydrologic sensitivity. This section will summarize the well construction parameters.
    • Contaminant/Land Cover - The various potential significant sources or land cover characteristics represent activities or features that could lead to detentions of those raw water contaminations regulated under the Safe Drinking Act.
    • Hydrologic Screening

    Use these charts in-house. Write a narrative on anything that stands out.

    Bill Toomey - WVBPH - asked Vic Wilford about the data system SDWIS

    Vic Wilford - WVBPH - replied that at this point the data system has too many errors. The bacteriological data or raw water quality data is not able to be put in the SDWIS data system. He also said that individuals that are immune compromised should be advised to see their physician. Supply them supporting data and give them some to compare it with.

IV. DISCUSSION OF THE SURFACE WATER SWAP

  1. Review of the Resource Characterization

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - questioned the potential for Surface Runoff -he asked about storms.

    Lew Baker - WVRWA stated that there should be a cutoff for soil. Soil type cannot be used for delineation.

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - commented that you may not be able to delineate surface water areas.

    Permeability Concerns vs. Susceptibility. What is going on in the water?

    Vic Wilford - WVBPH - suggested adding a fifth item to the list of resource characterization: land use. Land use is in the inventory.

  2. Delineation

    Reviewed the Zone Areas for Surface Water delineations.

    Zone 2 will be a corridor area.

    Zone 1 will be modified to an 11 digit HUC's code. The delineation techniques are consistent with ORSANCO's techniques. ORSANCO recommends one more zone/area. ORSANCO has three zones. Their Zone 2 will be our Zone 1.

    Vic Wilford - WVBPH questioned the technical standpoint. He said that 25 miles is quite a distance to cover.

    Lew Baker - WVRWA suggested that once the delineation is done, send it to the system for an update.

    Vic Wilford - WVBPH - commented that if you do that there is quite of bit of ground to try to determine if there is something more. He suggested doing something realistic, because you will have a better product. The public would be more willing to do it. The width of 1320 feet will be OK on some systems. Make it fit according to the watershed boundary. The maximum would be 1/4 mile or the boundary of the watershed.

    Lew Baker - WVRWA said that some questions could be answered at the WVRWA Conference. Ask if the 25 mile is feasible. Right now do not change anything.

    Technical vs. Practical Standpoint - Not enough vs. too much. Big Discussion on the 25 mile Tributaries

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR asked what is manageable or realistic?

    Some suggestions:

    • For each surface system calculate the TOT individually
    • Ask for the opinions/suggestions at the WVRWA conference.
    • The USGS will go into the watershed and calculated the high stream flow rates.
    Discussed the ORSANCO 100 foot buffer between streams and tributaries.

    Who will delineate the SWAP areas? Sanitary Survey

    Contaminants of Concern - similar to ground water

  3. Potential Contaminant Survey

    Form a management committee Inventory -

    produce a map similar to groundwater - add transportation

    Lew Baker - WVRWA suggested maps will have a level of accuracy to 100 foot. You want to show on the map the railroads, streams, etc. Provide a map with highlighted information. Would this be more confusing that it is worth?

    Dave Watkins- DEP/OWR - data should be based on 1: 100,000 scale.

    Step 2 is similar to Ground Water System.

    Let the system complete the inventory and return it to us. Going to use 7.5 map with 2000 scale.

    Data Capture - feasibility of using 7.5 topo maps.

  4. Susceptibility

    Use same flow charts.

    Dave Watkins - DEP/OWR - Water quality standards UIC under remediation the permits are more stringent.

    Lew Baker - WVRWA - water systems may have data that they do not have reports. Raw water vs. treated water. Use other agencies to the data.

V. WRAP-UP

Bill Toomey, WVBPH will start on the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program draft. The Technical Subcommittee will meet on September 25, 1998. They will be discussing conjunctive delineations and the standards for the Maximum Contaminant List.

The SWAP Citizen's Advisory Committee Meeting is scheduled for September 10, 1998.

The next Technical Advisory Committee Meeting is scheduled for November 5, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. at the Northgate Business Park in the WV Water Development Authority Conference Room.



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