WATER MANAGEMENT WATER MANAGEMENT PLANSPLANS
Jan 12, 2010an 12, 2010
Susan K. Weaver, P.E.Susan K. Weaver, P.E.Division Chief, Water Use PlanningDivision Chief, Water Use Planning
PA DEPPA DEP
PA Laws and RegulationsPA Laws and Regulations Laws
Oil and Gas Act Clean Streams Law Water Resources Planning Act
Regulations Chapter 78 Chapters 93 and 96 Chapter 110
Water Management Plan (WMP)Water Management Plan (WMP) The Department issues gas permits under the Oil
and Gas Act which requires compliance with other laws administered by DEP.
The Department requires a demonstration, through the submission and approval of a Water Management Plan in connection with the gas well permit, that the gas well operator's withdrawal and use of water sources in the Commonwealth in connection with natural gas well development will not violate the Clean Streams Law's admonition against pollution.
Statewide ImplementationStatewide Implementation
WMP process to provide framework for statewide consistency
DEP using the SRBC Passby Flow Guidelines statewide
Working closely with River Basin Commission staff
The development of a plan that identifies various water sources proposed to be used for utilization in development of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Wells within the covered area.
Allow operator flexibility to update the plan as needed.
Purpose of WMPPurpose of WMP
River Basin Commission River Basin Commission InteractionInteraction
To reduce duplication, if a water source is subject to approval by SRBC or DRBC, the River Basin Commission approvals will be captured in a Water Management Plan and submitted to DEP.
The Department will rely upon the information gathered, data analyses performed and expertise of the SRBC and DRBC regarding the proposed water source but will reserve for itself the ultimate decision and exercise its independent judgment concerning whether or not to approve the Water Management Plan.
WMP ContentWMP Content
Municipal and county notification Identification of sources Water Source and Use Monitoring Plan Registration and Reporting
48-hour source initiation notice prior to first withdrawal
Assessment of impact to environment Low flow analysis PNDI
Identification of PWSAs
WMP ContentWMP Content(continued)(continued)
WATER SOURCESWATER SOURCES Public Water Supplies Surface Water or Groundwater Wastewater, Mine Water, Cooling Water
Discharge Reuse of flowback
Water Source and Use Water Source and Use Monitoring PlanMonitoring Plan
Accurate monitoring of the amount of water withdrawn on a daily basis
Daily recording and maintenance of data
Water withdrawal data to be maintained for five years and be available to DEP for review upon request.
Passby Flow Monitoring if required
Registration and ReportingRegistration and Reporting All sources must be registered Quarterly submittal of Sub Facility
Reports using the DEP Greenport Annual submittal of Primary Facility
Reports using DEP Greenport- still on hold
Surface Water SourcesSurface Water Sources
Rivers Streams Lakes Large Ponds
Surface WaterSurface Water Location Stream Classification- Special
Protection Water (High Quality or Exceptional Value)
Low Flow Conditions - Q7-10 Is 10% of the Q7-10 economically viable
Storage Location
Q 7-10Q 7-10 Low Flow Condition Flow rate that occurs for 7 consecutive days
during a 10-year period (Q7-10) at the proposed intake location.
In many cases, permissible amount 10% of Q7-10
Example – A point on the Susquehanna River has a Q7-10 of 0.155 mgd (determined from StreamStats). Proposed maximum instantaneous rate of withdrawal would be 0.0155 mgd.
Surface WaterSurface Water Pass by Flow 20% of average daily flow withdraw
Existing upstream or downstream gauging stations
USGS or other established gauging systems Fixed water level marker (mark on a bridge)
SteamStatsSteamStats
GroundwaterGroundwater Location Droughts
Stream Impact Hydrogeologist Groundwater Characterization Ownership of the Well PADEP Time frame ~6 months
Other Water SourcesOther Water Sources
Wastewater Leachate from Landfill POTW Effluent
Mine Water AMD
Cooling Water Discharge Reuse of flowback
Emerging IssuesEmerging Issues Working with USACE to define “area of
influence” around USACE reservoirs Management of Aquatic Invasive
Species Revision to DEP Well Site Restoration
Report underway to capture similar information to SRBC Post-Hrdrofracture Stimulation Report
Questions?Questions?