1 / 18

Local Aquifer Protection Regulations

Local Aquifer Protection Regulations. F&ES 851b Lisa Botero Bruce Ho 20 April 2004. Why protect aquifers?. Save money Protect health Preserve the environment . Aquifer protection authority. Federal Legislative (CWA, SDWA) Provide resources (financial, advisory) State

betty_james
Download Presentation

Local Aquifer Protection Regulations

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Local Aquifer Protection Regulations F&ES 851b Lisa Botero Bruce Ho 20 April 2004

  2. Why protect aquifers? • Save money • Protect health • Preserve the environment

  3. Aquifer protection authority • Federal • Legislative (CWA, SDWA) • Provide resources (financial, advisory) • State • Legislative (rights, standards) • Provide resources (financial, advisory) • Sub-State Regional • *Legislative (planning, zoning) • Provide resources (financial, advisory) • Local • Legislative (planning, zoning)

  4. Why local level protection? • Geographic location • Municipal water supply facilities • Local threats/local solutions

  5. Research methods • Spam • Personal contacts • University centers/professors • Non-profits • EPA identified communities • Phone networking • F&ES contacts

  6. Types of aquifer ordinances • Fee-based (Users) • Specific use prohibitions (Polluters) • General protection criteria (Pollutants)

  7. Fee-Based:Spokane County, WA • Pay for public sewer improvements • Aquifer use fee • Why regulate this way? • Simple • Relatively non-controversial

  8. Specific Use Prohibitions:Hatfield, MA • Permitting of uses • Lists prohibited and restricted activities • Automotive service stations • Sand and gravel operations • Wastewater treatment facilities • Why regulate this way? • Target specific problems • Clear standards

  9. General Protection Criteria:Pekin, IL • Individually evaluate activities • General standards • Impervious surfaces • Hazardous materials • Setbacks • Why regulate this way? • More inclusive • Longevity

  10. Sample Ordinance: Austin, TX: Save Our Springs • Citizen initiative adopted in 1992 • “To preserve a clean and safe drinking water supply…” • “To prevent further degradation of the water quality in Barton Creek, Barton Springs, and the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer…”

  11. Save Our Springs Initiative • Pollution prevention (NPS) Application: Site-by-site review of new development and modifications within the aquifer recharge zone Requirement: No net increase in site runoff pollution Method: Impervious surface cover standards and water quality controls

  12. Additional provisions Save Our Springs… • Critical waterway areas • Expiration of prior approvals • Conflict with other laws • Future standards

  13. Save Our Springs: Innovation • Why is this innovative? • Strong, scientific standards • Regulates water quality… • …not specific activities • Flexible implementation • Room to grow

  14. Save Our Springs: Enforcement Issues • State legislation • City government • Legal challenges

  15. Change agents • Government • Federal: EPA, USGS • State: State Geological Surveys • Sub-State Regional: Water Quality/Natural Resource Districts • Academic • Non-Profit

  16. How is change happening? • Crisis driven: prevention or response • Vulnerable resource • Contamination • Government mandate • EPA standards • State standards

  17. Observations • Public education and outreach • Regional aquifers and coalitions • Water rights issues

More Related