EPA Office of Water Source Water Protection

Initiative

EPA Office of Water Source Water Protection

InitiativeElizabeth Corr, Associate Director

Drinking Water Protection Div.

Office of Ground Water and

Drinking Water

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Presentation to the

National Drinking Water

Advisory Council

October 4, 2012

Elizabeth Corr, Associate Director

Drinking Water Protection Div.

Office of Ground Water and

Drinking Water

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Presentation to the

National Drinking Water

Advisory Council

October 4, 2012

Yu-Ting Guilaran, Associate DirectorAssessment and Watershed Protection Div.Office of Wetlands Oceans and Watersheds

Session Purpose & Overview:  Session Purpose & Overview: 

• Renewed & new energy & interest across EPA’s Office of Water (OW) OW’s SDWA & CWA leaders are engaged We have reached out to our state partners

• Seeking your thoughts from a national perspective on 3 key questions: Defining goals & objectives Deciding where to start Reaching out to the public

• Today’s session: OW provides background to frame our questions Council discussion

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What is Source Water?What is Source Water?

• Surface water & ground water

• Current & potential drinking water sources

• Geographically defined, e.g.,Upstream of drinking water intakesWellhead recharge areas

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Why Protect Source Waters?Why Protect Source Waters?

 

• Reduce / prevent contaminants in drinking water Better / more reliable public health protection

May lower treatment costs

• Difficult / costly to develop a new water source

• New / emerging drinking water contaminants

• Responding to increased consumer awareness /

concern

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Protect Source Waters from What?Protect Source Waters from What?

• Contaminants from anthropogenic sourcesNutrients / pathogens / toxic chemicals

• Many potential sources of contamination Agricultural / commercial / industrial / residential

• Local / state / regional concerns & priorities vary

• Source water conditions may vary / change over time

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Potential Universe of Source Water Protection

Potential Universe of Source Water Protection

 

• Maintenance & restoration of source water quality

• Ground water & surface water

• Actual & potential contamination sources

• Regulated & emerging contaminants

• Public water systems of all sizes & private wells

• Near & long term commitment & actions

• Voluntary & regulatory tools & approaches under multiple

programs & statutes

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SDWA Framework for Voluntary Action: SDWA Framework for Voluntary Action:

• Making information available through state source water assessments to inform local decision-making• Source Water Collaborative

Geographic focus, e.g., Salmon Falls Watershed CollaborationStrengthening national partnerships, e.g., with USDA

• Reaching out to new audiences FFA–sponsored source water curriculum for high school agricultural science students

• FundingStates may use the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 15% set-aside for source water protection activities (consistent with a state’s Capacity Development Strategy) which could support Clean Water Act objectives (e.g., impaired waters restoration) where there is a drinking water nexus

Clean Water Act Goals & PoliciesClean Water Act Goals & Policies

“…to restore and maintain

the chemical, physical, and biological integrity

of the Nation’s waters.”

• Clean Water Act programs can be implemented to protect source waters

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COUNCIL DISCUSSION TOPICS

1) What should our goals & objectives be?

2) Are there actions, approaches or problems that we

should focus on first?

3) How can we engage stakeholders & citizens in

protecting their source waters? What are the tools

that we should consider to reach people?

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