Source Water Protection for Drinking Water Supplies
Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Source Water Protection for Drinking Water Supplies
Drinking Water Supply Source Protection
How businesses can protect drinking water supplies
Best management practices for businesses that help protect drinking water supplies from contamination.
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What Departments of Public Works can do to protect drinking water supplies
How public works departments protect drinking water supplies by safely maintaining vehicles, road structures, and handling wastes.
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How residents can help protect drinking water supplies
Residents can protect drinking water sources by properly managing pet waste, landscaping, and household hazards.
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What city planners do to protect drinking water supplies
Through the use of municipal bylaws and working with local businesses, city planners can protect drinking water supplies.
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How groundwater suppliers work to protect drinking water supplies:
Providing information to town residents, businesses, and municipal officials is one method that groundwater suppliers use to ensure high quality drinking water.
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How surface water suppliers work to protect drinking water supplies
To avoid problems in drinking water supplies, surface water suppliers practice long-term protection methods to minimize the impacts of land uses on reservoirs.
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Water Supply Protection Area Definitions
Definitions of Water Supply Protection area terms
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Water Supply Protection Area Maps
Find local water supply areas using the MassGIS Interactive Map Viewer
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Snow Disposal Guidance
This guidance applies to public agencies and private businesses disposing of snow in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Snow disposal should be avoided within the Zone II or Interim Wellhead Protection Area of a public water supply well, or where road salt may contaminate water supplies. March 2001.
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Drinking Water Emergency Response
What measures do Public Water Systems take to protect drinking water sources during an unexpected or unforeseen emergency?
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Drinking Water Protection Tips
Septic systems and the incorrect storage of hazardous materials can affect local water supplies. Find out how you can prevent contamination.
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Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program
MassDEP provides grants to municipalities and PWSs to help protect existing public drinking water supplies through land acquisitions. See a list of recent grant recipients & awards.
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Horsekeeping: Managing animal care while protecting public health & drinking water supplies
A set of fact sheets that encourage best management practices for landowners with horses. These simple practices can prevent the contamination of water supplies in the Commonwealth.
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Massachusetts Association of Health Boards
Resources for Boards of Health
MAHB Web site
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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Source Water Protection for Drinking Water Supplies
Waiver/Source Protection Templates
Systems with Interim Wellhead Protection Areas (IWPAs) will find these templates helpful when applying for monitoring waivers.
Sample of a letter to residences and businesses located in a Zone I.
MS Word 24 KB | PDF 15 KB
"Clean Water is up to you" sample fact sheet
MS Word 29 KB | PDF 18 KB
Sample of an indoor poster for source protection
MS Word 25 KB | PDF 18 KB
Sample of a Zone I/IWPA land use map
MS Word 145 KB | PDF 16 KB
Sample diagram of a manifolded source
MS Word 25 KB | PDF 9 KB
Wellhead Protection Plan checklist
MS Word 34 KB | PDF 12 KB
Order form to purchase source protection signs (from the Northeast Rural Water Association)
MS Word 155 KB | PDF 100 KB
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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Source Water Protection for Drinking Water Supplies
Surface Water Sources
Reservoir Maintenance
If not properly maintained, reservoirs can damage wetlands and other water resources.
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Developing a Local Surface Water Supply Protection Plan
This document provides water suppliers with a low-cost method of developing a protection plan that uses existing information.
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Beaver & muskrat control
Beaver & muskrat populations can pose a threat to drinking water supplies by contaminating the water with dangerous pathogens.
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Model Conservation Restriction for Zone A, Surface Water Supplies
The MassDEP Drinking Water Program has designed this model for public water suppliers to use in developing conservation restrictions to protect land near surface waters that are used for public drinking water supplies, while still providing for recreation, habitat protection, vegetation maintenance, and archeological investigations. Updated November 2009.
MS Word 145 KB | PDF 90 KB
Source Protection Forms
Includes beaver & muskrat notification, Report Protocol for Awareness of New or Expanded Watershed Projects
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Project Awareness Protocol for Review of Activities Within Watersheds
Many drinking water suppliers review proposals that may affect the watershed. Recommendations to local boards on specific performance standards and protection measures are just one step in this review.
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Disinfection Log Credit
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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Source Water Protection for Drinking Water Supplies
Groundwater Sources
Floor Drains: Model Regulation
Model language for local boards of health to use in creating regulations for floor drain controls. Updated June 2009.
MS Word 58 KB | PDF 38 KB
Floor Drains: Planning & implementation guidance
The following tips are designed to assist local officials with planning and implementing a floor drain control (regulation or bylaw) as required by 310 CMR 22.21(a)(8).
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Underground Injection Control
In addition to floor drain controls, underground injection control protects water sources from contamination from other subsurface structures.
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Groundwater Protection Model Regulations
For communities seeking a non-zoning approach to protecting public drinking water supplies, this Model Regulation meets state wellhead protection requirements and can easily be adopted by local boards.
MS Word 109 KB | PDF 52 KB
Model Groundwater Protection District Bylaw/Ordinance
Prior to adopting this Model, municipalities should compare the language of their existing protection controls (including any non-zoning controls) with the Wellhead Protection Regulations. Additionally, it is recommended communities consult with their municipal counsel prior to adoption.
MS Word 116 KB | PDF 56 KB
Hazardous Materials Management
A community's guide to developing & implementing a local regulation to protect drinking water resources.
MS Word 217 KB | PDF 391 KB
Horsekeeping: Managing animal care while protecting public health & drinking water supplies
A set of MassDEP fact sheets that encourage best management practices for landowners with horses. These simple practices can prevent the contamination of water supplies in the Commonwealth.
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Manure Management: Protecting Water Resources from Nutrient Pollution
A factsheet from the MA Department of Food & Agriculture
PDF 244 KB
Protecting Drinking Water with the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Information from US EPA
US EPA Web site
Drinking Water Protection Tips
Septic systems and the incorrect storage of hazardous materials can affect local water supplies. Find out how you can prevent contamination.
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Sample Water Supply Planning Checklist
This checklist was developed to provide local officials with a method for reviewing & commenting on projects prior to permitting them in water supply areas.
MS Word 40 KB | PDF 39 KB
What You Need to Know about Microbial Contamination
Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can cause a number of waterborne diseases when ingested through your drinking water. Find out what protective measures you can take to control contamination.
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Massachusetts Department of Food & Agriculture: Protecting Water Sources from Fertilizer
PDF 166 KB
The Massachusetts Water Management Act Program
The Water Management Act (M.G.L. c. 21G) became effective in March 1986, authorizing MassDEP to regulate the quantity of water withdrawn from both surface and groundwater supplies. The program uses the WMA to ensure adequate water supplies for current and future water needs.
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Model Water Use Restriction Bylaw/Ordinance
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Developing a Local Wellhead Protection Plan
MS Word 1 MB | PDF 44 KB
Impervious Surface Zoning Bylaw
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Model Zone I Conservation Restriction for Water Supply Protection
Updated November 2009.
MS Word 144 KB | PDF 70 KB
Model Zone II Conservation Restriction for Water Supply Protection
Model Conservation Restriction for acquiring control of land in the Zone II. This model can be used with land acquisition permit application BRP WS-26. Updated November 2009.
MS Word 156 KB | PDF 78 KB
Model Zone I Restriction for Public Drinking Water Supply Protection
A Zone I Model Easement/Restriction designed for PWS businesses and non-public entities. This Model is also applicable when the Zone I is owned by a governmental entity. June 2010.
MS Word 139 KB | PDF 44 KB
Massachusetts Forestry Best Management Practices Manual
Referenced in the Model Zone II Conservation Restriction, above
PDF 515 KB
Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program
Effective July 1, 2009, responsibility for administering the tank registration and compliance inspection provisions of the Massachusetts Underground Storage Tank Program was transferred from the Department of Fire Safety to MassDEP. Regulations at 527 CMR 9.00 include provisions for protection of water supply sources in the vicinity of underground storage tanks.
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Wellhead Protection Guidance: The Best Effort Requirement
Guidance on achieving compliance with DEP's Best Effort Requirement regulation, 2006
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Wellhead Protection Tips for Small Public Water Systems
Web page | PDF 40 KB
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Drinking Water Website
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Massachusetts Department of Food & Agriculture Publication: Protecting Groundwater from Pesticides
PDF 279 KB (opens in new window)
Tips for Small Systems
Wellhead Protection Tips for small system owners and operators
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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Source Water Protection for Drinking Water Supplies
Source Water Assessment & Protection Program (SWAP)
Overview of the Source Water Assessment & Protection Program
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SWAP Follow-up Survey
MS Word 22 KB | PDF 12 KB
SWAP Zone II Projects by Region
Western Region: Web page
Central Region: Web page
Southeast Region: Web page
Northeast Region: Web page
Sample SWAP Language for your CCR
MS Word 28 KB
Sample TNC SWAP Report and Map
Report: MS Word 57 KB | Map: MS Word 761 KB
Massachusetts SWAP Strategy Report
MS Word 636 KB
Massachusetts SWAP Strategy Appendices
Appendix A
MS Word 52 KB
Appendix B
MS Word 76 KB
Appendix C
MS Word 88 KB
SWAP Strategy Addendum
MS Word 78 KB
Draft Land Use/Associated Contaminants Matrix
MS Word 73 KB
US EPA Draft Drinking Water Contaminant Source Index
US EPA Web site
SWAP and Boards of Health
MS Word 116 KB
SWAP Effects on the MassDEP Waste Site Cleanup Program
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SWAP Update
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About SWAP Reports
Description of the SWAP Reports
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SWAP Reports
Listing of downloadable SWAP Reports
Southeast Region: Web page
Central Region: Web page
Northeast Region: Web page
Western Region: Web page
SWAP Zone II Delineations
Listing of Zone II delineations in the Regions
Central Region: Web page
Northeast Region: Web page
Southeast Region: Web page
Western Region: Web page
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