Wellhead Protection: An ounce of prevention...

Table of contents

1. What is wellhead protection?
2. What are the objectives of a wellhead protection plan?
3. What is a wellhead protection area?
4. What are the sources of groundwater contamination?
5. Who should be involved in developing a wellhead protection plan?
6. Other sources of wellhead protection information

What is Wellhead protection?

Your community relies on groundwater for use in homes, businesses, and industries. Wellhead protection is a means by which your community can actively and efficiently protect its drinking water resources. Wellhead protection plans can be drafted through the efforts of citizens, state, and local governments.

Unlike many other environmental programs, wellhead protection is preventative in nature, not reactive. Wellhead protection aims at preventing contaminants from entering the area of land around your public water supply well(s). This area includes,

the surface or subsurface area surrounding a water well or wellfield supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach such well or wellfield" (US EPA. 1987).

A wellhead protection area can be all or part of what is referred to as the recharge area for a given well (see figure 1). The recharge area for a well is identified as the entire area of land that allows water and other fluids to flow into the subsurface and move toward the well.

There are six primary activities in developing a wellhead protection plan for your community:

1. Determine the scale of the planning area
   • one well?
   • all the wells in a municipality?
   • all the municipal wells in a county?
2. Form a group of interested citizens, local planning and zoning officials, elected officials, and the water purveyors.
3. Delineate the land area to be protected.
4. Identify and locate the potential contaminant sources within the wellhead protection area.
5. Assess the adequacy of existing programs to protect groundwater from identified contaminant sources.
6. Plan for the future. Develop local plans to establish zoning restrictions, ordinances and other programs to minimize the chances of future contamination.

Through your efforts, and a wellhead protection program, your community and local government can work together to protect your quality of life now and for future generations.

What is a wellhead protection area?

Ideally, a wellhead protection area (WHPA), is the entire recharge area for the well. Often, the entire recharge area for a well is too large to be managed effectively, a smaller area around a well may be chosen. The WHPA is then delineated so that the highest priority contaminant sources nearest to the well can be addressed.

What are some sources of groundwater contamination?

Hundreds of types of potential sources of contamination have been identified. Groundwater problems can originate on the land surface or subsurface through:

• chemical storage;
• landspreading of sewage treatment plant sludges;
• road salt usage and storage;
• animal feedlots;
• use and spillage of fertilizers and accidental spills;
• septic tanks and drainfields;
• leakage from underground storage tanks;
• leakage from underground pipelines and sewers;
• sewage lagoons;
• sanitary landfills;
• waste disposal in excavations;
• sumps and dry wells;
• graveyards;
• improperly filled and sealed wells;
• drainage wells;
• mines;
• improperly constructed private wells.

These sources do not always threaten groundwater supplies. However, unless managed properly, they usually have the potential to do so.

The areas surrounding water wells are particularly vulnerable to these sources of contamination, since contaminants discharged in the recharge area of a pumping well may be drawn toward that well. Also, the proximity of most public water supply wells to the populations they serve, as well as to the everyday activities of the community, contribute to vulnerability.

Who is involved

To begin preparation of a local wellhead protection plan, a committee of local water utility officials, public health officials local or county planning agency staff, elected officials and interested citizens should be formed.

Remember that the key to wellhead protection is prevention. Prevention begins at home, in your neighborhood, in your town and in rural areas outside the city or village where groundwater may originate. The program itself relies on you to take action to ensure the quality of life for you and your neighbors. You are the key to a successful wellhead protection program. Take the time to get involved

For more information please contact:

Department of Natural Resources Statewide offices

Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-0821

Wisconsin's Regulatory Wellhead Protection Program Contact:
Lee Boushon
Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater
(608)266-0857

Wisconsin's Voluntary Wellhead Protection Program Contact:
Jeff Helmuth
Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater
(608)266-5234

The Wisconsin Rural Water Association
350 Water Way, Plover, WI 54467
(715) 344-7778

Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center
College of Natural Resources, Room 224
UW Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 346-4270

PUBL-WR-303 92