North Carolina’s Source Water Assessment Program

1. North Carolina’s Source Water Assessment Program Amy Axon

2. Background on SWAP • In 1996 Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to require that all states assess the susceptibility of their drinking water sources to contamination. • In 2004 our program compiled and published Susceptibility Ratings for all 9000 + Public Water Supply Sources in the state and to date have updated the assessments on a regular basis. • The Susceptibility Ratings were compiled in Source Water Assessment Reports for every Public Water Supply System. • The Reports are effective planning tools to help prioritize activities and resources in drinking water areas that most need protection and restoration.

3. Basic SWAP Requirements • Delineate Source Water Assessment Area Boundaries • Ground areas that contribute water to the source • Inventory Potential Contaminant Sources (PCSs) • Assess Susceptibility of PWS Sources • Final Assessment Rating (Higher, Moderate, Lower) • Make SWAP Reports available to the public

4. Source Water Assessment Areas Surface Water • Entire Watershed for WS-I, II & III • Critical Area, Protected Area and Stream Zone for WS-IV and V

5. Source Water Assessment Area Ground Water Land Area From Which Ground Water is Derived (determined by the well yield and recharge rate)

6. Contaminant Inventory • Create Statewide GIS Data Layer from Existing DENR, EPA and other Agency Databases • The inventory includes facilities/sites that could act as a potential source of contamination. • Examples: USTs, Hazardous Waste Generators, Spill Incidents, Waste Water Dischargers, Superfund Sites, etc.

8. Susceptibility Rating of Public Water Supply Sources

9. Contaminant Rating • Rating Based On: • Number of PCSs • Proximity to Intake

11. Inherent Vulnerability Rating • Potential for Contaminants to Reach an Intake • Based on: • Physical Characteristics of Intake or Well • Existing Conditions of the Watershed or Aquifer • Potential for Non-Point Source Contaminants

12. Susceptibility Rating of Public Water Supply Sources

13. Surface Water Inherent Vulnerability Rating • Intake Location (In-stream or Reservoir Classification) • Raw Water Quality (water plant data) • DWQ Watershed Classification (WS-I through WS-V) • Watershed Characteristics Rating (USGS) • Potential for non-point source contaminants • Potential for contaminant transport to surface water

14. Watershed Characteristics Rating

15. Ground Water Inherent Vulnerability Rating • Well Construction / Integrity • Construction and site standards • Aquifer Rating • Degree of confinement, hydraulic conductivity • Unsaturated Zone Rating (USGS) • Potential for non-point source contaminants • Potential for contaminant transport to ground water

16. Unsaturated Zone Rating

17. Susceptibility Determination

18. Susceptibility Results for Public Water Supply Sources in the Sandhills Region

22. Summary of Susceptibility Ratings for Public Water Supplies in the Sandhills Surface Water Sources • The 14 surface water intakes • Five sources have a Higher Susceptibility Rating • Nine sources have a Moderate Susceptibility Rating

23. Summary of Susceptibility Ratings for Public Water Supplies in the Sandhills Ground Water Sources • The 560 public water supply wells • 38 wells have a Higher Susceptibility Rating • 482 wells have a Moderate Susceptibility Rating • 40 wells have a Lower Susceptibility Rating

24. North Carolina’s SWAP Results and Reports Basis for Future Initiatives The Reports are effective planning tools to help prioritize activities and resources in drinking water areas that most need protection and restoration.

25. How Can You Protect Your Drinking Water? Develop a Source Water Protection Plan • Involves forming a group of committed stakeholders to lay out a long term plan of action • Guidance on the seven step planning process is available on our website • Rural Water Association and Public Water Supply Section provide technical assistance during the planning and implementation process FREE

26. Benefits in Developing a SWP Plan You are taking a proactive stance in protecting your community’s drinking water for future generations! • Completely voluntary with no mandatory compliance. • Help elevate public confidence, awareness and participation. • EPA estimates it is 20 to 400 times more expensive to treat contamination that to prevent it.

27. Economic Incentives We will help you identify funding sources available for addressing problems that have been identified through the planning process. Examples include: • low interest loans for infrastructure improvements • agricultural cost share grants • stormwater cost share grants

28. Economic Incentives Incentives Being Developed • Low Interest Loans for Land Conservation through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: to qualify would need an approved SWP Plan. • Clean Water Management Trust Fund Grant Program: ranking criteria to include drinking water assessment areas.

29. How to Get Started….. Contact Us Source Water Assessment Program Public Water Supply Section (919) 715-2633 swap@ncmail.net www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/pws/swap

30. Or Contact NC Rural Water Association (336) 731-6963 www.ncrwa.com