Harwich Water Department Water Quality
Source Water Assessment Program
Building on Existing Programs
Local Protection
State and local officials will use the SWAP process to enhance their drinking
water protection programs. To date, 179 communities have adopted groundwater
protection bylaws and 81 have adopted watershed protection regulations. Additionally,
59 public water systems meet DEP's most stringent requirements for groundwater
protection. Despite this progress, many communities still lack adequate protection
controls. With the SWAP process, local officiaIs will receive assessment
results accompanied by prioritized recommendations for improving water supply
protection. SWAPinformation can help educate the public and build support
for program implementation. DEP will also assist municipalities with implementing
land use controls for the most threatened sources, provide training and other
guidance.
SWAP will provide valuable new information for the Massachusetts
Watershed Initiative, a multi-agency effort to improve the quality
of all natural resources in 27 watersheds. Watershed or basin teams
will use the information in evaluating each watershed. Additionally,
the basin teams will help disseminate SWAP results to the public.
Computerized Mapping
DEP will increase its. use of the state's computerized mapping Geographic lnformation
System (GIS) in preparing source water assessments. Currently, the locations
of all public water supply sources, their protection areas, and surrounding
land uses are available electronically. GIS data layers with DEP regulated
facilities, hazardous waste (21E) sites, and discharge points will be linked
with site-specific information to determine a water source's susceptibility
to contaminaion. Working with automated data will enable DEP to provide assessment
results to the public through the Internet and other avenues.
Involving the Public
DEP wants broad public input as it develops and implements its SWAP strategy
over the next year. Technical and Citizens' Advisory Committees representing
various groups are meeting regularly and public meetings are scheduled for
the fall. The goal is to prepare an assessment strategy for approval by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by February 1999. Public participation
will continue until all assessments are completed within three years. The
public may send comments on the SWAP program to the SWAP website or the Drinking
Water Program.
Reporting Source Water Assessments
Water supplies and potentially threatening land uses. will be displayed on maps
linked. to site-. specific information. The illustration below (a website display
page) depicts the type of map which will be produced. with the. state's computerized
GIS system. Users: will be able to, access the maps on the DEP webs te. For
example; a local official may click on a selected land use, such as the gas
pump symbol and get facility information and recommendations on best management
practices. DEP will also provide these maps in printed form to local officials.
To learn more about SWAP visit www.state.ma.us/dep (opens
in new window).
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