The 1986 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) required states to develop a wellhead protection program to protect public water supplies using groundwater as their water source.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Kentucky's Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP) in September 1993. Kentucky's WHPP is coordinated by the Division of Water Groundwater Section and is regulated through the Water Supply Planning Regulation KAR 401 4:220. This regulation requires that counties develop county or regional water supply plans that assess the quantity of water used by their public water systems and formulate protection plans for the source waters used by those systems. WHPP is designed to assist those communities relying on groundwater as their source to develop groundwater protection strategies. Currently 250 public water systems that utilize groundwater must develop a WHPP plan.
Kentucky's wellhead protection program is implemented at the local level using a five-step program. The program is described in detail in the guidance document Wellhead Protection: A Guide For Kentucky.
Kentucky's Five-Step Program
Step 1: Forming a Planning Team
These teams, composed of representatives of the community, local government, business and industries, are responsible for developing local wellhead protection plans, implementing management strategies and assessing the future needs of the community or public water system (PWS). Each planning team is represented by a local planning team leader who acts as the contact person between the community or PWS and the state.
A planning team might include:
- Public organizations such as community organizations, environmental groups, public interest groups, League of Women Voters, retired and senior volunteers.
- Regulatory organizations such as elected officials, local government agencies and public works director.
- Government/public service organizations such as fire departments, public water supplier, local cooperative extension agent and county Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- Private organizations such as business, industry, land developers and farmers.
- Citizens of the community.
Step 2: Delineating the Wellhead or Spring Protection Area
Determining appropriate Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA) requires the collection of geologic and hydrogeologic data.
Because of the technical nature of WHPA delineations, public water systems (PWSs) may need to contract private geologic and engineering firms to perform the necessary work.
The Groundwater Section provides technical assistance to nontransient/noncommunity and smaller community PWSs when requested. The local planning team can contact the Groundwater Section of the Division of Water for assistance. The Kentucky Rural Water Association also provides on-site technical assistance to its members.
Step 3: Contaminant Source Inventory
Once wellhead protection areas (WHPAs) have been delineated, an inventory of potential contaminant sources must be completed for each WHPA.
The purpose of this inventory is to locate past, present and proposed activities that may pose a threat to the groundwater. A potential contaminant source may be any activity or substance which, under certain circumstances, may pose a contamination threat to groundwater. Once the potential contaminant sources have been compiled, they are ranked according to their risk to the water supply.
Management strategies should be developed (see Step 4) in accordance with the contaminant source inventory and the risks posed to the groundwater by contaminant sources.
Conducting a Contaminant Source Inventory
- Prepare maps for recording inventory.
- Gather existing data.
- Conduct field surveys for closing data gaps.
- Rank potential contaminants.
- Prepare final contaminant source map.
Step 4: Managing Contaminant Sources
Implementation of reasonable and effective management plans within wellhead protection areas is a critical goal of wellhead protection requiring cooperation among federal, state and local governments and the public water systems.
Signage on transportation routes indicating entry into a Source Water Protection Area can be used as a management tool. The signs provide an emergency telephone number for reporting a spill. Spills on Kentucky transportation routes can be reported by dialing 911 or 1-800-928-2380.
The local planning team should adopt management strategies appropriate to the specific needs of the community, bearing in mind the contaminant source inventory prepared in Step 3. Public education and involvement are essential in developing and implementing an effective management plan.
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| Regulatory Strategies |
Nonregulatory Strategies |
| Zoning |
Public Education |
| Ordinances |
Land Transfer and Voluntary Restrictions |
| Environmental Regulations |
Signage |
Step 5: Planning for the Future
Contingency planning is a vital aspect of a wellhead protection program.
Even with careful planning, unforeseen contamination incidents can occur due to leaks, spills, accidental releases, illegal discharges and other activities in and around the wellhead protection area. A contingency plan helps ensure that the community is prepared to respond to emergency situations and can provide an alternate water supply if necessary.
For communities that rely on groundwater as a water source, wellhead protection should be a vital part of community planning. Development plans should be weighed against the risks to groundwater associated with future land use.
For More Information Contact:
Ernie Ellison
200 Fair Oaks Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-3410
Fax: 502-564-9636
E-mail: ernie.ellison@ky.gov
