Ground Water Rule Workshop Department of Environmental Conservation September 22-23, 2009 Chris Miller State of Alaska-Drinking Water Program Public Drinking Water Protection

Endorsed Drinking Water Protection Plans Presentation Outline: What are they? Incentives Procedure Examples State of Alaska Endorsed Drinking Water Protection Plans are being promoted to help create incentives for communities and water systems to proactively protect their source of drinking water.

Incentives Current Incentives: Qualify for Alaska Clean Water Action Grants (ACWA Grants) funded by Drinking Water Program Future Incentives: Help qualify for Municipal Grant Program (points towards qualifications) Help Water Systems qualify for Outstanding Performance- reduced frequency of sanitary survey requirements 3

Procedure Process is based upon the classification of the water system. Efforts are concentrated towards promoting the development and implementation of Community Water Systems. Non-Community Water Systems have a simplified process that includes a checklist.

Procedure Community Water Systems Develop a written plan that meets the criteria established by the Drinking Water Protection program (Pathway No. 1); OR The community has an active enforceable ordinance, agreement, or program that explicitly addresses the protection of public drinking water sources (Pathway No. 2).

Pathway No. 1 Pathway No. 1 Formal written plan meeting the following criteria: A description of the planning team participants' roles and responsibilities. A delineation of the drinking water source protection area. An inventory of potential sources of contamination that includes a plan for routine and regular updates. A summary of the deficiencies affecting source water noted within the latest sanitary survey and action plans to correct the deficiencies. A summary of management tools and protection strategies that will be pursued to manage potential sources of contamination. Prioritization and implementation plan for protection strategies. A contingency plan or Emergency Response Plan (ERP) identifying alternative water sources. Planning team identifies a timeframe to review and regularly update the plan.

Pathway No. 2 A community/water system has an ordinance or agreement or a well-defined protection program and formally requests their community/water system be considered for Endorsement by the State of Alaska. Protection Program: A program that identifies,prioritizes and establishes activities (a minimum of 2) to mitigate the risk of potential contaminant sources within the drinking water protection area. For example, public education, backhaul programs, hazardous waste recycling, purchase of property or rights to develop, water conservation, and community involvement. Agreements: Written agreement between community water system and other entities that directly or indirectly contribute to the protection of public drinking water sources. For example, land use restrictions. Regulatory Measures: Active and enforceable ordinances requiring regulatory protection activities within a drinking water protection area, such as zoning ordinances, subdivision ordinances, site plan review, design standards, and operating standards (Best Management Practices).

Procedure (cont’d.) Non-Community Water Systems Less formal Checklist available on our website Public Water System is implementing at least two strategies identified in the Small Systems Checklist submitted to the Drinking Water Program Resources and Tools are available on the Drinking Water Protection website 8

Examples Septic System Maintenance Plan: Cooperative, and Coupons-subsidized costs. Correcting all deficiencies noted in Sanitary Survey. Signs identifying protection areas. Public education and outreach. Developing ordinances. Note: Funding is very limited at this time. 9

Available Resources Source Water Assessment Reports Drinking Water Protection Website: community_ws.html Wellhead Protection Management Plan CD ROM: Available to everyone upon completing the application located on the table in the lobby Alaska Rural Water Association (ARWA) State of Alaska—Drinking Water Protection

Questions Additional information may be obtained by contacting Drinking Water Protection: Chris Miller: Charley Palmer: