offered by
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
related to
Source Water Protection

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)
Wellhead Protection Plan checklist (PDF 11.83 KB)
Model Conservation Restriction for Groundwater Sources (DOCX 86 KB)
Sample Zone 1 Grant of Easement (DOC 96 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 
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)
Model Conservation Restriction for Surface Water Supplies (DOCX 82.89 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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