Section 109.713. Wellhead protection program

For water suppliers seeking to obtain Department approval for a wellhead protection program, the wellhead protection program shall consist of the following:

(1) A steering committee composed of the necessary representatives, including, but not limited to, the water supplier, local government officials from the affected jurisdictions and potentially affected industry, to designate responsibilities for the planning and implementation of wellhead protection activities.

(2) Public participation and education activities to promote awareness and encourage local support of wellhead protection activities.

(3) Zone II and Zone III wellhead protection area delineation performed in accordance with methodology provided by the Department. Methods applicable to that hydrogeologic setting shall be utilized and site-specific hydraulic and hydrogeologic information shall include, but is not limited to, pumping rate or yield, aquifer properties, water table or potentiometric surface configuration and hydrogeologic mapping.

(4) Identification of existing and potential sources of contamination within each wellhead protection area.

(5) Development and implementation of wellhead protection area management approaches to protect the water supply source from activities that may contaminate the source. These approaches may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following actions:

(i) Purchase of the wellhead protection area by the water system.

(ii) Adoption of municipal ordinances or regulations controlling, limiting or prohibiting future potential sources of contamination within the wellhead protection area.

(iii) Adoption of municipal ordinances or regulations establishing design and performance standards for potential sources of contamination within the wellhead protection area.

(iv) Transfer of development rights within the wellhead protection area to land outside of the wellhead protection area.

(v) A groundwater monitoring network that serves as an early warning system.

(vi) Public education programs.

(vii) Other methods approved by the Department which will ensure an adequate degree of protection for the source.

(6) Contingency planning for the provision of alternate water supplies in the event of contamination of a well, spring or infiltration gallery and emergency responses to incidents that may impact water supply source quality.

(7) New water supply source siting provisions to ensure the protection of new wells, springs or infiltration galleries.

The provisions of this § 109.713 adopted October 7, 1994, effective October 8, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 5175.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 109.702 (relating to operation and maintenance plan).