Wellhead Protection Plan Webinar Series
Thursday @ 11:00 am, March 12 – April 2, 2015
WEBINAR SERIES:
March 12: General overview of WHP Planning Process
March 19: In depth discussion and review of the Data
Elements
March 26: Requirements for completing a Potential
Contaminant Source Inventory
April 2:
Developing well written Management Strategies
ALL WEBINARS ARE BEING RECORDED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT:
www.mrwa.com/sourcewater.html

Refer to the “Best Practices for Attending the WHP
Webinars using WebEx” sent to you Feb. 20th for screen
sizing & directions for submittal of questions using
WebEx Chat.

Technical problems / questions can be submitted via
WebEx chat and staff will respond to try and help resolve
any technical problems as we get started.

Webinar questions can be submitted during the session
via WebEx Chat and will be answered at the end of each
webinar.

Materials for each webinar are available at:
www.mrwa.com/sourcewater.html

Introduction to Data Elements –
Robyn Hoerr, MRWA


Finding Data Elements –
Pat Bailey, MDH
Impact of Vulnerability on Data
Elements – Chris Parthun, MDH

Real World Examples –
Amanda Strommer, MDH
4
Introduction to Data Elements – Robyn Hoerr, MRWA
Data elements
are pieces of
information in the
form of maps,
lists, descriptors
and summaries.
.”
Data Elements are primarily pieces of existing
information available from federal, state, and local
resources.
.”
Data
Elements
Data elements can provide
insight into the setting of the
PWS/DWSMA.
Problems
Opportunities
Issues
Plan of
Action
When assessed
critically, they can be
important in
determining issues,
problems, and
opportunities, and
subsequently a plan
of action.
MN Wellhead Protection Rule 4720.5340,
Subpart 1: Required data element information
that the MDH has determined must be contained
in the WHP plan and used to prepare the
remaining portion of the WHP plan.
What Data Elements Are
Required in the Plan?
MN Wellhead
Protection Rule
4720.5340, Subpart 2:
The Scoping 2
Notice from MDH
identifies the data
elements that must be
used, contained, and
submitted to the MDH
as part of the WHP
plan.
.”
.”
“N”—Not Required to be used (or evaluated for its
impact on the management of the DWSMA) for the
development of Part 2 or submitted to MDH since it
has been determined to not be applicable.
“R”—Required to be used (or evaluated for its
impact on the management of the DWSMA) for the
development of Part 2, but not submitted with the
plan to MDH. The PWS must retain a copy of the
data in its files.
“S”—Submit data with the plan to MDH since this
data is not located in the public domain, or in data
sources accessible to the MDH.
.”
4720.5200, Subpart 1:
The data elements
identified in the scoping
decision notice under
parts 4720.5310,
Subpart 2, and
4720.5340, Subpart 2,
must be assessed
by the public water
supplier.
Is this data reliable?
Is there enough data to
be meaningful?
What picture does the
data paint of the DWSMA?
Use
of
the
well
.”
MN Rule
4720.5200,
Subpart 2: A
WHP plan must
assess the
present and future
implications of the
required data
elements.
Delineation
Criteria
Present and
Future
Implications
of the Data
Land and
Groundwater
Use in
DWSMA
Quality &
Quantity of
Water
Supplying
PWS Well
Finding Data Elements–
Pat Bailey, MDH
Picture here
.”

Data Elements are categorized into four areas:
◦ Physical Environment - describe the DWSMA in regard to
physical characteristics including precipitation, geology,
soils, and surface water resources
◦ Land Use – provide detail regarding the location of the
DWSMA in reference to local government jurisdictions, LGU
zoning and land use planning districts, public utility services,
and the potential contaminant source inventory.
◦ Water Quantity – relate to how much water there is in the
DWSMA, who is using it, and possible water use conflicts
◦ Water Quality – relate to the water quality of the
groundwater and surface waters in the DWSMA, locations
with past contamination incidences and possible risks posed
by these to the source water supply
◦ Precipitation -
◦ Geology -
◦ Soils -
◦ Soils -
◦ Water Resources -
◦ Water Resources -
.”
◦ Land Use 



Maps of parcel boundaries, political boundaries, PLSS
PCSI and land uses
Comprehensive map
Zoning map
◦ Public Utilities –
 Map of transportation routes and corridors
 Maps of storm sewers, sanitary systems and public
water supply system (optional)
 Map of gas and oil pipelines
 Map or list of public drainage systems
.”
◦ Surface Water Quantity –
 Streams – Flow information
 Lakes – OHWL
 Permitted withdrawals
 Known water use conflicts
.”
◦ Groundwater Quantity –
 Wells with appropriation
permits
 Known well interference
or water use conflicts
 Environmental boreholes
with water level information
.”
◦ Surface Water Quality –
 Designated Use – state water quality management
classification for streams and lakes
 Lake and stream water quality monitoring data
.”
Groundwater Quality
 Groundwater quality
data
 Isotopic data
 Groundwater tracer studies
 Reports and studies related to sites with
contamination- spills, releases, groundwater
contamination
Impact of Vulnerability on Data Elements –
Chris Parthun, MDH
Vulnerability assessments are completed during the
development of the Part 1, and must consider the following:

◦ Geologic Sensitivity – the intrinsic ability of the earth’s
geologic materials to protect a well or well field from
contaminant sources, as determined by vertical travel time.
◦ Well Construction, Maintenance, and Use – improper well
construction or maintenance may provide for pathways between
near-surface water and deeper aquifers, effectively bypassing any
natural geologic protection.
Well
Construction
& Use
Geologic
Sensitivity
Water
Chemistry
Vulnerability
◦ Water Chemistry and Isotopic Composition – water chemistry refers to the
occurrence of different chemical constituents dissolved in the water; isotopic
composition refers to the atomic makeup of the water molecule itself.
The presence or absence of contaminants, isotopic dating of the well water, and
changes in general water chemistry over time, should be used to:
1) Verify the other vulnerability assessment criteria,
2) Characterize the rate of recharge to the well, and
3) Provide warning that contaminants are being introduced to the aquifer.
Geologic
Sensitivity
Well Construction,
Use and
Maintenance
Water
Chemistry

The MDH uses a vulnerability rating method where points are assigned for
conditions that represent a potential risk to a well.

Higher point totals suggest relatively greater well vulnerability and vice versa.

Evaluation of geologic sensitivity and well construction, use and maintenance
results in a positive or negative vulnerability conclusion.

Water chemistry results can confirm or deny the vulnerability derived from the
geologic sensitivity and well construction, but ultimately trumps the conclusion
derived from other two parameters.
.”

Physical Environment
(Mn Rule 4720.5400, subpart 2)
◦ Precipitation
◦ Geology
◦ Soil Conditions
◦ Water Resources

Land Use
(Mn Rule 4720.5400, subpart 3)
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Parcel and Political Boundaries
Current and Historical Land Use
Potential Contaminant Sources
Ordinances, Comprehensive Plans
Public Utility Services
Water Quantity
(Mn Rule 4720.5400, subpart 4)
◦ Surface Water
◦ Groundwater

Water Quality
(Mn Rule 4720.5400, subpart 5)
◦ Surface Water
◦ Groundwater
The same data elements are sometimes assessed during the
development of both Parts of the WHP Plan  The data may have changed in the time interval between each of the
assessments’ completion
◦ precipitation, land use, political boundaries, parcels

The data is used for different purposes - generally for vulnerability
assessments and modeling in Part 1, and for locating potential
contaminants and development of management strategies in Part 2
Data Element
Part 1
Parcel Coverage
used to determine the DWSMA
Political Boundaries
Public Utility
Services
Groundwater
Quantity
Groundwater Flow
Surface Water
Quality
used to determine the DWSMA
used to determine leakage and
recharge
Part 2
used to identify real-world locations for potential
contaminants
used to determine the jurisdictional partners for plan
implementation
used to model the WHPA
used to model the WHPA
used to identify potential contaminant sources
used to develop a contingency plan for alternate water
supplies
used to help prioritize management strategies
used to assess vulnerability
used to develop management strategies
1.
2.
3.
Data Elements &
Their Assessments
Problems &
Opportunities
Impact of Changes
Over the Plan Life
As vulnerability increases:
◦ The risk of contaminants entering the drinking water
supply increases,
◦ More data elements will be required to be assessed to
gain an understanding of the vulnerability,
◦ The PCSI will include an increasing number of PCs
that are required to be inventoried, and
◦ Implementation measures to manage the identified
PCs will increase in number and complexity.
Real World Hypothetical Examples – Amanda Strommer,
MDH


Non-Vulnerable Setting
Vulnerable Setting
Once Upon A Time…
Thursday,
March 26
Webinar on
Potential
Contaminant
Source
Inventory
Action,
Adventure,
& Mystery




Data elements are pieces of information in the form of
maps, lists, descriptors and summaries.
Data elements collectively describe the Physical
Environment, Land Use, Water Quantity, and Water
Quality.
Data element requirements and assessments are based
on vulnerability assessments, and they document and
help build effective management strategies.
Use the data elements to inform the contaminant source
inventory and identification of the issues, problems,
opportunities, goals, and management strategies.
40
Information in this document is available in
alternative formats to individuals with
disabilities upon request by contacting
George Minerich at (320) 223-7314 or
George.Minerich@state.mn.us
Questions are
guaranteed in life;
answers aren’t!
“The
questions we
don’t ask
become the
puzzles we
don’t solve.”
-A.J.
Darkholme,
Rise of the
Morningstar
42