Post on 29-Mar-2021
Groundwater Protection in Michigan
Ruth Kline-RobachMichigan State University
Department of Community SustainabilityInstitute of Water Research
GROUNDWATER PROTECTIONIN MICHIGAN
Ruth Kline-RobachMichigan State University
Department of Community SustainabilityInstitute of Water Research
A Look Back
Groundwater Protection in Michigan Timeline
1965
Groundwater Quality Control Act
1974/1976
Federal and State Safe Drinking Water Acts
1986
Wellhead Protection Program (Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments)
1987
Groundwater Education in Michigan (GEM) Program
1993
Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program
1993
Milwaukee, WI cryptosporidium outbreak (surface water)
1996
Source Water Assessment Program (Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments)
Groundwater Protection in Michigan Timeline
1998
Wellhead Protection Grants Program
2000
Walkerton, ON E. coli 0157:H7 groundwater contamination
2000s
SOM groundwater database updates/enhancements
(Wellkey to Wellogic)
2003
Groundwater Inventory and Mapping Project
2006
MIGWWP/MGMT Provisional WHPA delineations
2011
MAEAP Legislation
Nestle, Lake Erie HABs, Flint, Infrastructure, PFAS…
…
• Act 294 of 1965• Definitions
• Well• well drilling contractor• Pump• Pump installer
• Requirements for contractor registration • Requirement for well record submittal
Ground Water Quality Control
• Federal SDWA passed in 1974• SOM Act 399 of1976• Established minimum standards for
public water supplies, including⁻ Community⁻ Non-community⁻ Type III
Safe Drinking Water Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Approach to Isolation
Sources categorized as “Standard” and “Major”• Standard or sanitary protection radius⁻ Includes (but not limited to) storm/sanitary sewers,
pipelines, septic tanks, drain fields, etc.⁻ Community – 200 feet⁻ Noncommunity - 75 feet
• Major or “existing/bad” potential contaminant sources⁻ Includes large scale waste disposal, land application of
wastewater & sludge, sanitary landfills, chemical waste and storage facilities
⁻ Community – 2000 feet⁻ Noncommunity - 800 feet
Modifications to Standard or Major isolations are allowed only with study of hydrogeological conditions
• Mandated by the 1986 Amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act
• Michigan’s program was coordinated by the MDNR Office of Water Resources and Michigan Department of Public Health
• Local WHPP programs remained voluntary• Michigan’s program was approved by the EPA
in 1994• Required full hydrogeologic delineations of the
WHPA
Wellhead Protection Program
GW Flow-Based Delineation vs Fixed Radius
.5 mi radial circle
MI WHPA -Rockford
MI WHPA –Lake Bella
Vista
Groundwater Education in Michigan
(GEM) Program
• Initiated in 1987• Unique partnership between W.K.
Kellogg Foundation and Michigan State University
• Ten year, $21 million dollar grant program, funding more than 50 grants to 35 different organizations
• Groundwater education and local protection efforts
• GEM Regional Centers at Universities provided technical support
Groundwater flow models produced by WMU Regional
GEM Center
Groundwater Education in Michigan
(GEM) Program
• GEMNET electronic communications system
• Support for SOM Wellkey Program (digitizing well record locations)
• Wellhead Protection Program support from TCRPC, HRWC, CRWC, GEM Regional Centers
Early Wellhead Protection Programs in MICommunity Lead Agency Approval
DateNo. Wells/Population Characteristics
Village of Oxford Clinton River Watershed Council GEM Grant
1994 3 wells, Pop. 3,000 EPA Pilot project. More than 90% of WHPA lies in Oxford Twp.
Village of Elkton Village of Elkton (with assistance from UM-Flint GEM Center)
1997 4 wells, 1,000 ppl. Pilot project with EPA funding. MRWA encouraged resolution development with city council. Completed in conjunction with Village of Pigeon
City of Coldwater Coldwater Board of Public Utilities (with consultant)
1994 4 wells, 9,600 pple. WHPA is mostly industrial and commercial. State and National AWWA awards.
Village of Pinckney Huron River Watershed Council
1997 2 wells, pop. 1,700 Groundwater contamination of residential wells prompted the development of the WHPP.
Michigan Groundwater
Stewardship Program
• Established by the Michigan Groundwater and Freshwater Protection Act of 1993
• Funded with fees on the sales of pesticides and Nitrogen fertilizers
• Partnership between MDA, MSU Extension, local conservation districts and federal AmericorpsProgram
• Provided training, technical assistance and cost share to agricultural community and urban dwellers
• Used Extension Farmstead and HomesteadRisk Assessment Tools
• Transitioned to MI AgricultureEnvironmental Stewardship Program(MAEAP) in 2011
Source Water Assessment Program
1996 Amendments to the federal SDWA:
• Identify areas that supply public tap water
• Inventory contaminants and assess water susceptibility to contamination
• Inform the public of the results (Consumer Confidence Reports)
Water Source Assessment Methods Partners with EGLE (MDEQ)
Inland lakes and streams
Local utility records; USGS and SWQD monitoring data
USGS
Great Lakes Utility monitoring and monitoring data; Great Lakes Protocol with neighboring states
Utilities
Noncommunity Groundwater
Well record review, potential contaminant source ID, chemistry data, GPS, scoring system
Local and District Health Departments; GEM Regional Centers
Community Groundwater
Wellhead Protection Program’s 7 elements
Local water supplies, consultants
Karst Groundwater Site-specific assessments USGS
Michigan’s Approach to Source Water Assessments
Other Important Dates
1993 – Milwaukee, WI CryptosporidiumOutbreak (affected >400,000 people, with as many as 100 deaths)
1998 – Wellhead Protection Grants Program Established (now SWP Grants)
2000 – Walkerton, ON groundwater contamination (E. coli 0157:H7)(affected 2,000 people, with six deaths)
2000: Transitioned from Wellkey to Wellogic
~600,000 Well Records
2003 -Michigan Groundwater Inventory and Mapping Project
Partnership with MDEQ, USGS, MSU
2006MIGWWP/Michigan Groundwater Management Tool (MGMT)• Provide provisional
WHPAs to community and noncommunitypublic water supplies
• Partnership with MDEQ, MSU
It’s time to go backto the basics:
People are worried about their
drinking waterCommunity Supplies –both surface and groundwater
NoncommunitySupplies
Private well owners
• Have a robust Source Water Protection Program in place
• Education: help people understand the source of their drinking water, relative risk, and how they can play a role in drinking water protection.
Successful source water protection programs depend upon strategic partnerships
among federal and state agencies, Universities, local
and district health departments, watershed
groups, conservation districts, and others.
What Have We Learned?
Qualities of Successful SWP Programs
Diverse, active and evolving teams
Strong internal and external relationships
External facilitators who play a supporting role
Local government support and involvement
Diverse management strategies
Ongoing outreach and education activities
Ruth Kline-RobachMichigan State University
kliner@msu.edu