Comparison of United States/Canada Wellhead Protection Programs
UNITED STATES
States are required to complete two tables for groundwater under Section 305(b) reporting requirements. The first identifies major sources of groundwater contamination by using a qualitative ranking; the second identifies major groundwater contaminants, as well as a list of contaminants that the state monitors. Additionally, the state must submit the number of maximum contaminant level (MCL) exceedances for groundwater based or partial groundwater-supplied public water systems. This includes reporting the number of systems that have local wellhead protection programs in place.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) has two principle purposes. First, to ensure that water from public water supplies is safe to drink. Second, to prevent the contamination of groundwater. The SDWA requires states to develop and implement wellhead protection programs that prevent contamination of the surface and subsurface area that surround wells that supply drinking water to public water systems. The 1986 amendments to the SDWA established the Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP). WHPP required states to designate wellhead protection areas and identify all potential manmade sources of contaminants within the wellhead area. States without approved programs receive no wellhead protection monies from the federal government, but otherwise cannot be compelled to comply.
MICHIGAN
| Program | Wellhead Protection Program |
| Focus | Protect and ensure safe drinking water supply |
| Year Initiated | Approved by the U.S. EPA in 1994 |
| Implementing Agency | Michigan Environmental Protection Agency |
PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Regulation submitted a Wellhead Protection Program in 1994 for U.S. EPA approval.
OHIO
| Program | Wellhead Protection Program |
| Focus | Protect and ensure safe drinking water supply |
| Year Initiated | Approved by the U.S. EPA in 1992 |
| Implementing Agency | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency |
NEW YORK
| Program | Wellhead Protection Program |
| Focus | Protect and ensure safe drinking water supply |
| Year Initiated | 1990 |
| Implementing Agency | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |
MINNESOTA
MPCA will be submitting a final Wellhead Protection Program in FY 1995 for U.S. EPA approval.
WISCONSIN
| Program | Wisconsin Wellhead Protection Program |
| Focus | Protect and ensure safe drinking water supply |
| Year Initiated | Approved by the U.S. EPA in 1993 |
| Implementing Agency | Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources |
ILLINOIS
| Program | Wellhead Protection Program |
| Focus | Protect and ensure safe drinking water supply |
| Year Initiated | Approved by the U.S. EPA in 1991 |
| Implementing Agency | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency |
INDIANA
Indiana will be submitting a Wellhead Protection Program to the U.S. EPA in FY 1995 for approval.
CANADA
Currently, both groundwater and surface-water protection are legislated through Section 2 of the Environmental Protection Act, which prohibits the discharge of any contaminant into the "natural environment" defined as encompassing groundwater. Although legislative structure exists to protect groundwater from contamination, federal and provincial development through both Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy is currently at a standstill due to lack of funding, intervention and in some cases, personnel.
Implementation of the now defunct Federal Green Plan resulted in the assembly of a Federal/Provincial Groundwater Working Group, which is an ad hoc representation of federal and provincial groundwater managers that compiled responses from groundwater managers, federal and provincial departments, agencies, municipal associations and offices, and others, to identify the following main priority needs:
ONTARIO
In Ontario, specific regulation is conspicuously absent. The Drinking Water Unit of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy drafted a strategy for groundwater protection mechanism development, which did not receive upper management support or financial support. As a result, municipalities that rely on groundwater used for drinking purposes, have, with little assistance, been forced to devise and municipally fund their wellhead protection. Meanwhile larger municipalities that rely on surface water for drinking benefit from government programs.
Exceptions to the lack of proactive mechanisms are the rural guidelines targeting groundwater-contaminating agricultural practices developed through Agriculture Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
A Well Steward Project, funded by Agriculture Canada and implemented by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association has recently been devised to aid farmers financially in the protection of existing wellheads.
OTHER
Programs in the provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick share the following elements. For each well: