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EPA Office of Water Source Water Protection
Initiative
EPA Office of Water Source Water Protection
InitiativeElizabeth Corr, Associate Director
Drinking Water Protection Div.
Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Presentation to the
National Drinking Water
Advisory Council
October 4, 2012
Elizabeth Corr, Associate Director
Drinking Water Protection Div.
Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Presentation to the
National Drinking Water
Advisory Council
October 4, 2012
Yu-Ting Guilaran, Associate DirectorAssessment and Watershed Protection Div.Office of Wetlands Oceans and Watersheds
Session Purpose & Overview: Session Purpose & Overview:
• Renewed & new energy & interest across EPA’s Office of Water (OW) OW’s SDWA & CWA leaders are engaged We have reached out to our state partners
• Seeking your thoughts from a national perspective on 3 key questions: Defining goals & objectives Deciding where to start Reaching out to the public
• Today’s session: OW provides background to frame our questions Council discussion
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What is Source Water?What is Source Water?
• Surface water & ground water
• Current & potential drinking water sources
• Geographically defined, e.g.,Upstream of drinking water intakesWellhead recharge areas
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Why Protect Source Waters?Why Protect Source Waters?
• Reduce / prevent contaminants in drinking water Better / more reliable public health protection
May lower treatment costs
• Difficult / costly to develop a new water source
• New / emerging drinking water contaminants
• Responding to increased consumer awareness /
concern
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Protect Source Waters from What?Protect Source Waters from What?
• Contaminants from anthropogenic sourcesNutrients / pathogens / toxic chemicals
• Many potential sources of contamination Agricultural / commercial / industrial / residential
• Local / state / regional concerns & priorities vary
• Source water conditions may vary / change over time
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Potential Universe of Source Water Protection
Potential Universe of Source Water Protection
• Maintenance & restoration of source water quality
• Ground water & surface water
• Actual & potential contamination sources
• Regulated & emerging contaminants
• Public water systems of all sizes & private wells
• Near & long term commitment & actions
• Voluntary & regulatory tools & approaches under multiple
programs & statutes
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SDWA Framework for Voluntary Action: SDWA Framework for Voluntary Action:
• Making information available through state source water assessments to inform local decision-making• Source Water Collaborative
Geographic focus, e.g., Salmon Falls Watershed CollaborationStrengthening national partnerships, e.g., with USDA
• Reaching out to new audiences FFA–sponsored source water curriculum for high school agricultural science students
• FundingStates may use the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 15% set-aside for source water protection activities (consistent with a state’s Capacity Development Strategy) which could support Clean Water Act objectives (e.g., impaired waters restoration) where there is a drinking water nexus
Clean Water Act Goals & PoliciesClean Water Act Goals & Policies
“…to restore and maintain
the chemical, physical, and biological integrity
of the Nation’s waters.”
• Clean Water Act programs can be implemented to protect source waters
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COUNCIL DISCUSSION TOPICS
1) What should our goals & objectives be?
2) Are there actions, approaches or problems that we
should focus on first?
3) How can we engage stakeholders & citizens in
protecting their source waters? What are the tools
that we should consider to reach people?
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