The Louisiana Drinking Water Protection Program
Mary Gentry and Tiffani Cravens
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 4314, Baton Rouge,
LA 70821, Mary.Gentry@LA.GOV, Tiffani.Cravens@LA.GOV
ABSTRACT
The Drinking Water Protection Program was designed by the Louisiana Department
of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to assist Louisiana communities in protecting their
drinking water and prevent contamination of drinking water sources. The goals of the
program are to increase public awareness of the importance of protecting drinking water
sources and to educate communities on actions they can take to protect it. As well as
focusing on public education and community activism, the program also concentrates on
planning and zoning regulations, and contingency planning by the water systems.
The Drinking Water Protection Program (DWPP) was designed to follow the Source
Water Assessment Program (SWAP). The DWPP uses the susceptibility analysis results
obtained through the SWAP for a priority-setting approach to focus protection activities on
those systems ranked as having a higher potential risk of contamination. Protection activities
are driven by the most prevalent and most threatening significant potential sources of
contamination (SPSOC) identified in the source water protection areas. Local communities
are encouraged to use the results of their source water assessments in planning and zoning.
The DWPP improves on previous programs such as the Wellhead Protection Program by
focusing more on public education and involvement. Every attempt will be made to reach all
communities and systems to ensure complete success of the DWPP.
LDEQ will aid each community in developing its own Drinking Water Protection
Program. The needs of each community differ, and the drinking water protection plan will be
reflective of those individual needs. It is the goal of LDEQ to enlist the help of local
volunteers to form citizen committees dedicated to protecting drinking water sources in their
own community, whether surface or ground water. The local citizen committees will decide
on what actions to take based on the degree of protection needed to safeguard the
community’s drinking water and the results of the source water assessment. In all cases, the
local committee will educate area businesses and the general public about the importance of
protecting drinking water and suggest best management practices they can use to protect their
drinking water source.
LDEQ will maintain an ongoing relationship with the local citizen committees to
provide information, technical assistance, and guidance. In addition, LDEQ provides source
water assessments to planning and zoning boards, spends time in the community giving
presentations on drinking water protection, prepares educational materials for public
distribution, provides “Drinking Water Protection Area” highway signs to the local water
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systems to place at the boundaries of their source water protection areas, and works with
local water systems to prepare contingency plans to be used in the event of an emergency.
INTRODUCTION
The Drinking Water Protection Program (DWPP) is a voluntary program designed by
the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to assist Louisiana
communities in protecting their drinking water and prevent contamination of drinking water
sources. The goals of the program are to increase public awareness of the importance of
protecting drinking water sources, to educate communities on actions that can easily be taken
on a local level to protect drinking water sources, and to maintain drinking water protection
through continued community activism. As well as focusing on public education, the
program elements of the Drinking Water Protection Program also include zoning regulations
and contingency planning by the water systems. The program began in 2003 with a pilot
project in Avoyelles Parish.
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
In 1996, the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments required all states to submit a
source water assessment plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by February
1999 and complete a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) by May 6, 2003. The
State of Louisiana was one of only ten states to complete all assessments by the statutory
deadline. The purpose of the SWAP was to assess the potential susceptibility to
contamination of each drinking water source. Through the SWAP, LDEQ, with the assistance
of C-K Associates under contract, delineated source water protection areas around water
supply wells and intakes and mapped the locations of all public supply wells, surface water
intakes, and significant potential sources of contamination (SPSOC) within the delineated
protection areas in the state. At that time there were 3,500 public water supply wells and 85
surface water supply intakes in the state and 18,058 SPSOC were identified. SPSOC may
include gas stations, dry cleaners or other facilities that sell, store, use or dispose of
chemicals or fuels. Chemicals and fuels, if not handled properly, have the potential to
contaminate our surface water and ground water. For ground water systems, the delineated
protection area is a 1609.3 meter (1 mile) radius circle around wells less than 304.8 meters
(1000 feet) deep. For wells greater than 304.8 (1000 feet) deep, the area is reduced to a
804.7 meters (0.5 mile) radius for wells drilled before the Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development Water Well Construction Standards were adopted in
November 1985; for wells deeper than 304.8 meters (1000 feet) drilled after November 1985,
the radius is further reduced to 304.8 meters (1000 feet). For surface water systems, the
delineated area is the upstream portion of the watershed within 8046.7 meters (5 miles) of the
intake. This is known as the “critical area” and SPSOC in this area were located by Global
Positioning System (GPS). In addition, the “non-critical area” is the entire watershed
upstream of the intake up to the boundary of the state border. SPSOC in the non-critical area
were identified by a database search.
Due to the unique hydrologic setting and SPSOC associated with the Mississippi
River, the assessment approach differed from that of other surface water sources. SPSOC
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were identified by GPS within the navigable waterway of the river from the St. Francisville
Ferry Landing to the lowest drinking water supply intake at Boothville, Louisiana. This is
considered the critical area for the Mississippi River and is bordered by levees. Vulnerability
risk rankings were based on a 4-hour time of travel, or 53,108.4 meters (33 river miles).
Rankings are highest if a SPSOC is within 53,108.4 meters (33 river miles) of the intake and
decrease with each 53,108.4 meter (33 mile) segment. The non-critical area is made up of
that portion of the Mississippi River north of the St. Francisville Ferry Landing up to the
Arkansas state line. It also includes the watersheds along the unleveed portion of the river
that drain to it, five miles from the river up each watershed. This area was inventoried for
SPSOC by a database search. The inventory of the non-critical area is used only for
identification purposes and is not used in determining the vulnerability of the system to
SPSOC.
Other factors that could affect the susceptibility of a drinking water source to
contamination were also considered. For ground water systems, the age and depth of the
well, the average groundwater velocity in the aquifer, and the aquifer recharge potential were
considered. For surface water systems, the age of the intake, average annual rainfall,
vegetative cover, slope of the land, and the number of feeder streams to the water source
were considered. LDEQ issued a final report to each system assessed through the SWAP.
The report ranked each system’s susceptibility to contamination. The susceptibility to
contamination rankings are used as a priority-setting approach to implement the Drinking
Water Protection Program and to assist local communities in implementing drinking water
protection measures. Parishes with numerous systems having high susceptibility rankings are
targeted first, especially in higher population centers, and protection activities are driven by
the most prevalent and most threatening SPSOC identified by the assessment. The most
threatening SPSOC are defined as the high-risk SPSOC found within 304.8 meters (1000
feet) of public supply wells or intakes in the parish. High risk SPSOC include above and
underground storage tanks, auto body shops, abandoned water wells, dry cleaners, chemical
plants, animal feedlots, military facilities, petroleum plants, and truck terminals. The most
prevalent SPSOC are the most common SPSOC found for all protection areas in the parish.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
The quality of a drinking water source depends largely on what happens on the land
surface above it (in the case of groundwater) or around it (in the case of surface water).
Everyone’s actions, such as how waste is disposed of as well as how chemicals or fuels are
stored and used, can have an impact on drinking water supplies. The primary goals of the
Drinking Water Protection Program are to educate citizens on where their drinking water
comes from, why it is important to protect it, and how it can be protected. To accomplish
these goals, a public awareness campaign is initiated on a parish-wide basis. Communication
vehicles consist of media rounds, promotional materials, public presentations, educational
materials, brochures, videos, highway signs and posters. Communication venues consist of
television, newspaper, radio, and the LDEQ website. Media rounds are most effective in
reaching the public at large and LDEQ spends a great deal of time on press releases and
interviews. In addition, LDEQ strongly encourages local officials and volunteers to prepare
press releases to get information to the public on an ongoing basis.
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"Drinking Water Protection Area" signs are placed on major highways at the
boundary of the drinking water protection areas for drinking water wells and surface water
intakes to remind citizens that the actions they take in these sensitive areas may have an
impact on the quality of their drinking water. LDEQ gives educational presentations to
schools and other organizations, as well as speaking to local citizens, officials, and water
system operators, about the importance of drinking water protection. Businesses and
industries within the drinking water protection area that store or handle chemicals have a
greater chance of inadvertently contaminating the drinking water source because of their
location. Therefore, LDEQ also visits, or recruits volunteers to visit, businesses and other
establishments within the drinking water protection area to educate them on best
management practices, or measures taken to prevent or reduce the possibility of
contamination.
PROMOTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The key to promoting public involvement is first and foremost through public
education. Once people are aware of potential problems, they are more likely to take actions
to prevent them. LDEQ aids each community in developing its own Drinking Water
Protection Program. LDEQ defines a community based on the definition of a community
water supply in the Louisiana State Sanitary Code (LAC 51:XII): “a public water supply
which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves
at least 25 year-round residents.” Hence, a community can include residents living in
incorporated areas, trailer parks, subdivisions, and on college campuses. The needs of each
community differ; therefore each community's drinking water protection plan will be
reflective of those individual needs. It is the goal of LDEQ to enlist the help of local
volunteers to form a committee of citizens dedicated to protecting drinking water sources in
their own community. The Drinking Water Protection Committee is comprised of volunteers
wanting to participate in continuing public education and drinking water protection actions in
their own community. The committee decides what actions to take based on the degree of
protection needed to safeguard the community's drinking water source.
Each individual committee chooses the dates, times, and frequency of their meetings.
It is emphasized to the volunteer committees that even small amounts of time can be useful in
helping the community protect its drinking water. Committees are provided the maps and
information from the SWAP and address concerns specific to their community based on the
most threatening and most prevalent SPSOC identified by the SWAP. The committee
concentrates their efforts on projects that will benefit the quality of the community's drinking
water. Possible committee projects include visiting businesses to distribute information on
best management practices, giving presentations at schools, arranging or participating in a
household hazardous materials collection day, organizing a mail-out of drinking water
protection information, or focusing efforts on passing a drinking water protection ordinance
in the community.
While they provide valuable information, the source water assessments are a snapshot
in time. LDEQ fulfilled the one-time U.S. EPA requirement but recognizes the importance
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of keeping the information current to implement the most effective protection activities.
Local drinking water protection committees are instrumental in identifying SPSOC that no
longer exist as well as new SPSOC that have been added since the source water assessments
were completed, thereby enhancing protection efforts. Local citizens also provide valuable
historical information in identifying past activities that may still have the potential to impact
source waters. Therefore, the mechanism for keeping assessments up to date is provided at
the local level.
LDEQ maintains an ongoing relationship with the local citizen committees to provide
information and guidance. In addition, LDEQ provides Source Water Assessments to
planning and zoning boards, spends time in communities giving presentations on drinking
water protection, and works with local water systems to develop contingency plans.
ROLE OF LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS
Local water system managers and operators have a distinctive interest in protecting
the quality of the water they provide to their customers. LDEQ visits the operators and/or
managers of each community water system in a parish selected for a drinking water
protection program. The LDEQ staff review the SWAP reports with the water system
personnel, answering any questions and pointing out possible risks to drinking water source
contamination. The staff discusses with the water system personnel possible prevention tools
and best management practices, such as contingency planning, to prevent contamination of
drinking water. They also assist the operator or manager in developing a contingency plan
for their water system.
Water system personnel play an important role on drinking water protection
committees. They can provide water quality information to committee members and discuss
any problems they are encountering with other water system personnel serving on the
committee. In recognition of this important network and as an incentive to participation,
water system personnel receive two hours of continuing education units for each drinking
water protection committee meeting they attend.
ORDINANCES AND ZONING
An ordinance is a statute enacted by the city or parish government. A drinking water
protection ordinance is designed to protect the community's drinking water sources. Zoning
and ordinances can provide a high level of drinking water protection by specifying and
regulating the type of activity surrounding drinking water sources. The Louisiana State
Sanitary Code (12:008-3) promulgated in 1988 requires a minimum setback distance from a
potable water well of 15.2 meters (50 feet) from septic tanks, storm or sanitary sewers, and
drainage canals, ditches, or streams. In addition, the minimum setback distance from a
cesspool, oxidation pond, subsurface absorption field, mechanical sewage treatment plant,
sanitary landfill, animal feed lot, manure pile, or solid waste dump is 30.5 meters (100 feet).
Also, potable water wells must be spaced at least 7.6 meters (25 feet) apart. Aside from the
few setback distances required by the Sanitary Code, there are no state regulations that
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specifically protect drinking water wells from potential sources of contamination. A local
ordinance affords that protection.
LDEQ recommends that communities adopt a drinking water protection ordinance
and consider the location of public water supplies in planning and zoning activities. LDEQ
can provide maps in electronic or hard copy format to planning and zoning boards that show
where wells and drinking water intakes are located and the extent of the drinking water
protection area around each well or intake.
A model drinking water protection ordinance is provided to local officials to assist
them in preparing their own ordinance. The model ordinance defines the area covered by the
ordinance or the “critical area” as a 304.8 meter (1000 foot) radius around a public water
supply well. It also lists the types of facilities that are prohibited in the critical area. These
are SPSOC that were identified by the SWAP. The list and the critical area can be modified
if the community chooses to do so. The model ordinance also contains a grandfather clause
for existing facilities. If the facility already exists it can remain there when the ordinance is
adopted.
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
A contingency plan is a plan of action adopted by a community or water system to
deal with a long or short-term partial or total loss of their normal water supply. A
contingency plan contains the information necessary to respond to emergencies affecting the
water system such as loss of pressure, inadequate quantities of water available,
contamination, and natural disasters. The plan should be located and distributed as necessary
to assure effective use by all necessary waterworks personnel. The contingency plan is also
filed with the local Office of Emergency Preparedness since they could be called upon to
assist a water system in the case of an emergency loss of water, or other water system
emergencies.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The Drinking Water Protection Program is a voluntary program designed to assist local
communities in protecting their drinking water source. LDEQ staff meets with local officials
and water system operators, promotes a public awareness campaign, solicits local volunteers
to establish a drinking water protection committee, and assists the committee on projects to
protect their drinking water source. Implementing the program statewide is very labor and
time intensive. The Source Water Assessment Program results play a key role in determining
which areas of the state are more susceptible to contamination, allowing limited resources to
be placed in those areas first.
A drinking water protection committee is a locally based planning and action team that
implements drinking water protection activities on a parish-wide basis. Some of these
activities include educating local business owners or managers on best management practices
that can help protect the drinking water source, suggesting and supporting the adoption of a
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drinking water protection ordinance, and distributing educational materials on drinking water
protection.
Community involvement is an effective and inexpensive means of protecting drinking water
resources. An informed public is often a more responsible public. With education and
guidance, local stakeholders can take actions to reduce or eliminate threats to the drinking
water supply thereby benefiting their health, the economy, and the environment.
REFERENCES
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, 2003, Drinking Water Protection Program:
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/AEPS
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, 1999, Source Water Assessment Program:
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/AEPS
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 1988, Louisiana State Sanitary Code,
Louisiana Administrative Code 51: XII.
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