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    Source Water Protection Program

    Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program (SWPTAP)

    Source Water Protection Plans are funded by DEP and are free of charge to the water system.

    To assist community water systems with developing local SWP programs, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has created The Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program (SWPTAP). The primary purpose of SWPTAP is to help Community Water Systems develop and implement comprehensive local SWP programs. The SWPTAP contract provides a mechanism to help address the needs of drinking water systems in local SWP program development, encompassing the technical, educational and managerial aspects related to maintaining source water quality, to ensure a continuous supply of safe drinking water. The SWPTAP contract also provides a mechanism for development of a comprehensive source water protection plan.

    Currently, over 500 community water systems have signed up for SWPTAP, serving over 5 million people. A Source Water Protection Plan:

    1. Provides a scientific basis for designating protection areas.
    2. Identifies possible contamination issues.
    3. Helps with keeping costs down by reducing the amount of treatment needed.
    4. Helps systems with emergency response planning.
    5. Assists with education and information for customers and residents.
    6. Improves water quality through local management practices and other partnerships.

    Developing a SWP Plan involves the following steps:

    1. Steering committees are formed of local partners. A steering committee is an advisory group for the water system, which represents different aspects of the community. Members of the committee provide local knowledge, make recommendations, and convey source water protection information back to the customers and the community. The county conservation district, planning commission, environmental organizations, schools, local businesses, and municipal staff, among others, may be considered for the committee.

    2. Protection areas are developed for groundwater and surface water sources and are provided to the system. Previous studies, field data, water system reports and interviews, and geographical information systems (GIS) mapping are used to delineate water sources. Computer and hydrogeologic modeling and stream velocity can also be used for this process.

    3. The steering committee identifies and prioritizes potential pollution sources. Potential Sources of Contamination (PSOCs) are researched through computer databases and the steering committee’s local knowledge. A list is compiled to assist the steering committee in setting priorities for sources water protection efforts.
    4. The steering committee chooses management and protection strategies. Protection strategies may involve regulatory efforts, usually by the municipality or other agency, or non-regulatory efforts, which may require voluntary efforts.
    5. The steering committee further considers contingency and new source planning. Meetings are held for local emergency planning, GIS delineations may assist in coordination with emergency responders.
     
     
     
    DEP Digital Water Atlas image DEP Digital Water Atlas image

    SWPTAP involvement may additionally include:

    1. Watershed awareness signs
    2. Public notification of protection areas
    3. Watershed forum and partnership participation
    4. MS4 planning, stormwater management, and mitigation
    5. Community Involvement
    6. Public education and outreach
    7. Municipality Partnerships
    8. Agricultural Assistance
    9. Zoning and Comprehensive Planning
    10. Emergency Management Planning

    To apply for a free SWPTAP Plan, Community Water Systems may submit a completed SWPTAP Information Request Form to RA-EPSourceWaterBSDW@pa.gov.