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Groundwater, Wellhead Protection, and Surface Water Supplies

Detailed information about protecting drinking water supplies for Town Officials and Public Water Suppliers
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Table of Contents

Model Ordinances, Bylaws and Regulations

Groundwater Protection Model Regulations (PDF 51.23 KB)

Floor Drains: Model Regulation (PDF 47.36 KB)

Model Groundwater Protection District Bylaw/Ordinance (PDF 55.37 KB)

Sample Impervious Surface Zoning Bylaw to protect water supplies 
Water Supply Protection Area Definitions (see 310 CMR 22.02) 

Groundwater and Wellhead Protection

Developing a Local Wellhead Protection Plan (PDF 444.94 KB)

Wellhead Protection Guidance: Best Effort Requirement (310 CMR 22.21(1)) (PDF 43.65 KB)

Sample Zone 1 Grant of Easement (DOC 96 KB)

Small System Wellhead Protection Plan Checklist (PDF 295.06 KB)
Large System Wellhead Protection Plan Checklist (PDF 304.74 KB)
Wellhead Protection Tips For Small Public Water Systems 
Dept. of Agricultural Resources: Guide to Groundwater Protection Regulations 

Surface Water Supplies

Surface Water Supply Protection Plan Development (PDF 630.08 KB)

Emergency Response Planning at Surface Water Supplies 
Response to Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Mosquito Control Aerial Spray Events, 2019 (PDF 3.76 MB)

This report summarizes MassDEP's surface water quality sampling effort after mosquito control aerial spray events in August and September, 2019. The effort was conducted in response to MDPH's issuance of a "Certification of Public Health Hazard that requires Pesticide Application to Protect Public Health."

Surface Water Protection: Protocol for Reviewing Projects Within the Watershed 
Form to Report Protocol for Awareness of New or Expanded Watershed Projects (DOC 100 KB)

Applying Pesticides to Reservoirs Checklist (PDF 321.03 KB)

Forms, Checklists and Templates

Sample Water Supply Planning Checklist (PDF 38.82 KB)

Sample Letter to Residences and Businesses Located in a Zone I (PDF 14.73 KB)

Sample of an Indoor Poster for Source Protection (DOC 24.5 KB)

MassDEP Approval Required to Acquire or Release Land (PDF 51.92 KB)

Beavers

Beaver Control Near Public Water Supply Sources: Guidance 
Determination of Threat to Public Water Supplies Due to Beaver and Muskrat (DOC 104.5 KB)

Additional Resources

Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program 
Underground Injection Control Program 
Water Management Act Program 
What You Need to Know about Microbial Contamination 
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