WISCONSIN WELLHEAD PROTECTION NEWS, FALL 1997

HAPPY FALL!

Welcome to the Wisconsin Wellhead Protection Newsletter. This issue contains an update on the Source Water Assessment Program, a listing of Web sites with groundwater and wellhead protection (WHP) information and a description of the exciting groundwater protection and education activities being taken in Marshfield.  As I noted in the last newsletter, the Department of Natural Resources is reorganizing to enhance service, become more efficient and promote public involvement in resource protection. I have again included on the last page a map showing the 5 new DNR regions which correspond more closely with major river basin boundaries.  If you have any comments, suggestions, criticisms, questions, ideas for this newsletter or would some assistance regarding WHP, feel free to contact me (see below). Have a wonderful fall!

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM UPDATE

We have now received the State Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The document is "final" as of August of this year. That means Wisconsin has eighteen months to submit a SWAP Plan for approval by EPA. That plan must describe how our state will:

delineate source water areas for all public water systems;
identify potential and existing contaminants within the source water areas;
determine the susceptibility of the water systems to the contaminants; and
make the assessments available to the public.
 

That’s a big job in Wisconsin, considering we have the second largest number of non-community water supply systems in the nation. Examples of non-community systems are parks, industries, waysides, service stations, restaurants and schools that are not part of a community water system. Keep in mind that surface water systems will also be part of the SWAP.

We will continue to look for your help as we develop the SWAP. Thanks to all of you who attended the statewide informational meetings in September on the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments. We received many helpful suggestions and will be checking the mail for additional issues you send our way. You can direct any questions, comments or suggestions regarding SWAP to Jill Jonas - DG/2, Wisconsin DNR, P. O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707; phone: 608-267-7545.

Wisconsin Wellhead Protection Newsletter

The Wisconsin Wellhead Protection Newsletter is a publication of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater. Its purpose is to provide current information on wellhead protection topics. It is published in the spring and fall and as needed. Comments, questions, suggestions and articles are welcome and can be sent to:

David Lindorff, Editor, Wisconsin Wellhead Protection Newsletter
Department of Natural Resources
P. O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
Phone: 608-266-9265. Fax: 608-267-7650
Email address: lindod@dnr.state.wi.us

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 20240. This newsletter is available in alternate format upon request. If interested, please contact David Lindorff, Editor.

SURF’S UP

I consider myself computer challenged, but I’ve finally gotten up the nerve to explore the Internet just to see what’s out there wherever there is. To my surprise, I’ve found it fairly painless to find my way around. Below is a list of some Web sites I’ve found that have information on groundwater and WHP. Most sites contain valuable information including news, lists of publications, activities for children and regulatory information.  This is by no means an exhaustive list of possible Web sites. I have found, however, that most Web sites I visited have links to other Web sites. All you have to do is click with your mouse to magically fly to the next Web site you’re interested in.

Another way to get information on wellhead protection is to do a search for wellhead protection using one of the search engines like AltaVista, Magellan or Yahoo. I used AltaVista to find over 100 WHP Web sites. Most were home pages by other states, the federal government and research institutions and contained a variety of useful WHP information.  If you haven’t visited the Department’s Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater home page, I encourage you to explore it at the address listed below. Most sites contain valuable information including news, lists of publications, activities for children and regulatory information. Have fun surfing the Web!

American Water Works Association
http://www.awwa.org

Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center
http://www.uwsp.edu/groundwater/

Groundwater Foundation
http://www.groundwater.org

Marshfield Electric and Water Department
http://www.mewd.com//index.htm

National Ground Water Association
http://www.h2o-ngwa.org/

Stevens Point, Whiting, Plover Wellhead Protection Project
http://www.uwex.edu/waterres/swp/swp.html

USEPA Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water
http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/

USEPA Region 5 - Drinking Water
http://www.epa.gov/r5water/sdw/

U. S. Geological Survey - Wisconsin
http://wwwdwimdn.er.usgs.gov/

Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/

MARSHFIELD AREA TAKES STRONG GROUNDWATER PROTECTION APPROACH

Recognizing the importance of protecting its groundwater resources, the Marshfield area has taken a number of steps in recent years to help prevent contamination of its water supply wells. The Marshfield Electric and Water Utility has 18 municipal wells in and around the city. They are finished in 5 different aquifers. A first step in groundwater protection was to delineate for each well the wellhead protection area (WHPA) and identify the potential contaminant sources within each of the WHPAs.

The WHPAs for the public water supply wells cover much of the developed portions of the City where there are numerous potential contamination sources. However, part of the WHPA for the southern well field lies in an area which will soon be developed as a business park. In order to protect this well field, the City has written a draft covenant as a way to minimize impacts within the business park. The covenant identifies those land uses which will prohibited within the business park and requires a spill response plan for each business within the park. The covenant will be finalized this fall.

The Marshfield area also recognized that an important component of wellhead protection would have to be education. Earlier this year, the 1997 Leadership Marshfield Environmental Group formed a Groundwater Team to develop an action plan to work toward designation as a Groundwater Guardian Community. The Groundwater Team consists of representatives from the Marshfield Electric and Water Utility, the wastewater treatment plant, the city, area banks and businesses and interested citizens.

The team came up with 7 goals for 1997 to become a Groundwater Guardian Community. Those steps are to:
· establish a Web site (www.mewd.com) that is updated and monitored on a regular basis.  
· introduce a Water Week curriculum into the 4th grade classes of all Marshfield Public Elementary Schools
· purchase a groundwater model aquifer to be used for educational and display purposes
· involve the team with the Marshfield Agricultural Research Station during spring tours of the research station by school  children
· involve the team with the Marshfield Electric and Water Department during tours of the water treatment plant during Drinking Water Week in May
· prepare a display table on groundwater protection for the Mayor’s Breakfast on May 30th
· produce a video on the impacts of groundwater-related contamination problems and solutions in surrounding communities

The team has been very active in the community in achieving each of the action steps. In addition, the Groundwater Guardian team has produced several publications, stickers and pins which they have distributed in the community to promote awareness of groundwater protection

As a result of these educational activities, the Marshfield area will be recognized as a Groundwater Guardian Community at the National Groundwater Guardian Conference to be held in Oak Brook, IL November 22-24th. For further information on the activities by Marshfield area to protect its water supply, contact Jim Trierweiler or Cathy Lotzer of the Marshfield Electric and Water Department at 715-387-1195.

NATURAL RESOURCES GRANTS AVAILABLE

Schools, organizations, government agencies and individuals may submit grant applications for up to $1000 for projects involving education, restoration, management or research related to Wisconsin’s natural resources. Applicants for these C. D. Besadny Conservation Grants must match the grant on a 1:1 basis with cash or in-kind services. Call (608-266-1430) or email (barzeb@dnr.state.wi.us) Barb Barzen for an application form which must be submitted by January 15, 1998. Awards will be made March 1st.