For Public Comment -- Deadline April 2, 2004
In addition to the chemical-specific methods for controlling contaminants in drinking water, the Department uses the data developed for the Source Water Assessment Program to determine a particular drinking water source's susceptibility to contamination. This program has developed a methodology for regulators to target vulnerable systems in the state. The program determines vulnerability for both ground water and surface water systems.
The 1996 Amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 104-182) require all states to establish and implement a Source Water Assessment Program for all public water systems. Complete information about the program is available on www.state.nj.us/dep/swap . A Source Water Assessment Program consists of the first three steps of a full Source Water Protection Program. The five steps are:
1. Delineate the source water protection area for ground water and surface water sources of public drinking water;
2. Inventory the significant potential sources of contamination within the delineated source water protection area;
3. Determine the public water system's susceptibility to contamination by sources inventoried within the source water protection area.
4. Contingency planning.
5. Protection plans.
Monitoring schedules outline the specific contaminants that have to be sampled and the frequency of sampling in public water systems. Monitoring schedules are based on a combination of federal requirements, state requirements, past chemical monitoring and past susceptibility assessment determinations made by the Department. The Source Water Assessments developed as part of this program will assist in determining the monitoring that each public water system will be required to perform.
New Jersey has a large number of public wells (approximately 6,000) and surface water intakes (approximately 60). There are also a large number of actual and potential contamination sources. In addition, land use has been intensive in New Jersey over the years, creating a wide range of non-point contaminant sources. Since not every contaminant in a source water protection area will reach a source, protection strategies may differ.
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