Source Protection Program

Updated Source Protection Plans

Updated source protection plans for springs are due by December 31, 2017, unless your updated plan is already overdue. A letter to Water System Operators (dated November 15, 2012) mistakenly stated that updated plans for springs were due by the end of 2012. You should have received a different letter from Mark Jensen (dated November 20, 2012) if your updated plan is overdue. Contact the Source Protection staff at 801-536-4200 or mjensen@utah.gov for more information.

Update to Source Protection Template

If you have an updated source protection plan to prepare, the following links for a template and for waiver forms to use to reapply for Use and Susceptibility Waivers are available:

The "Source Water Collaborative" an independent and informal consortium of NGO's and governmental agencies that EPA helped organize, has developed a campaign to promote source water protection, including a website and brochure. The brochure (available on their website) provides 3 basic principles for communities and citizens to help protect source water: development patterns, budgets and pricing, and stewardship. Low Impact Development and other green infrastructure techniques are the focus of the "development patterrns" section.

General Information

The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act required that all states develop source water assessment programs to assess the risk of accidental contamination of all drinking water sources. However, source protection requirements are voluntary for EXISTING (i.e. plans and specifications submitted before July 26, 1993) ground-water sources serving Transient Noncommunity systems.

Rules have been adopted regarding the protection of public drinking water sources. These rules require that each public drinking water supplier prepare a source protection plan. This plan must be reviewed and approved by the Division of Drinking Water.

Typically, a plan is developed after a hydrogeological evaluation is conducted for each source. The investigation determines what areas must be protected, and the extent of protection which is necessary. Within these protection zones, various activities or facilities may be restricted if they will jeopardize the purity of the drinking water source.

Source protection requirements apply to both new and existing sources. If construction a NEW source is being planned, see Construction Approval Process. For guidance on the process of getting a new source approved, see General Requirements for Developing New Sources.

If sufficient documentation is provided in a source protection plan, waivers may be granted to permit a reduced monitoring schedule for certain chemicals.

For an introduction on source protection in Utah, see this presentation. Contact Kate Johnson if you have questions.

For Groundwater Sources (Springs and Wells)

Rule R309-600. Drinking Water Source Protection For Ground-Water Sources
Groundwater Source Protection User's Guide (pdf)
How to prepare needed reports:
- Preliminary Evaluation Report Format for NEW Springs and Wells (pdf)
- Drinking Water Source Protection Report Format For EXISTING Springs and Wells (pdf)
- Format for Updating Groundwater Source Protection Plans (pdf). Note: Groundwater Source Protection Plans must be updated every six years beyond the date they were originally due

For Surface Water Sources (Lakes, Reservoirs, Streams)

Rule R309-605. Drinking Water Source Protection For Surface Water Sources
Surface Water Source Protection User's Guide (pdf)
How to prepare needed reports:
- Standard Report Format for EXISTING Surface Water Sources (pdf)
- Standard Report Format for Surface Water Source Protection Updates (pdf)
Obtaining Monitoring Waivers; Associated Reduced Sampling Frequencies

Tools for Developing Source Protection Plans

Information about drinking water facilities and source protection zones is available through the DEQ Interactive Map. The Interactive Map is great for water systems as they update their inventory of contamination sources. Besides the drinking water information the Interactive Map also includes underground storage tanks, CERCLA sites, and many other sites regulated by Utah DEQ. When you arrive at the Interactive Map website, you request access to the drinking water information by clicking on the green link in the left panel or on User Login in the upper right corner. Please contact Mark Jensen (801-536-4199) or Kate Johnson (801-536-4206) if you have questions about the DEQ Interactive Map.
Inspirational story on source protection, and alternative ways to do a source protection plan
Learn today's best practices for protecting our drinking water sources from Field to Faucet (pdf)
Link to EPA publications on wellhead and general water protection
Identifying Potential Contamination Sources
- Utah DEQ Environmental Maps
- EPA's EnviroMapper—Need info on potential pollution sources? The above sites may help. (Note: the completeness and accuracy of the data cannot be assured.)
Assessing Potential Contamination Sources
- Drinking water from forests and grasslands: a synthesis of the scientific literature This report discusses various kinds of potentially polluting activities common in forest and urban areas, and how they can affect drinking water.
Obtaining Land Use Agreements From Federal Agencies
- Federal agencies have agreed to cooperate in source water assessment activities.
Managing Potential Contamination Sources
- Fact Sheets on Minimizing the Impact of Potential Contamination Source. These fact sheets describe "best management practices". These practices help decrease the risks associated with potential contamination sources within source protection zones. See Pollution Prevention (pdf) for general information on reducing or eliminating pollutants. The fact sheets can be distributed as part of a management strategy to reduce contamination risks.
- Link for stencils for storm drains and other educational materials:
- Link to Source Water Collaborative, and downloadable resources like planners guides, customizable brochures, postcards, funding information, and the like.
- National Association of Counties, source protection kit for small communities/local governments. The kit includes information about involving the community, partnerships, funding and assistance, and promotional materials that can be adapted for any community.
Links to water wise landscaping (less watering = less fertilizer use = less pesticide use)
- Utah Native Plant Society
- Jordan Valley Water Conservancy Districts "slow the flow" program and model garden site
- Utah Division of Water Resources
- EPA's Web Page On Protecting Drinking Water Sources

County Ordinances

Click here to find out whether your municipality or county has an ordinance to help you protect your drinking water sources.

Transient Non-Community Systems

Notice to the Public Regarding Source Water Assessments/Drinking Water Source Protection Plans for Transient Non-Community Systems.

Source Water Protection

How you govern can determine what you drink. Consider your community's efforts in these key areas: development patterns, pricing options, and stewwardship. Click here for a quick guide for community leaders committed to safe drinking water. EPA also has some valuable information about protecting our source waters.

Be Smart About Water

Helping American's Small Communities Protect Their Source Water. Click here

Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water

Utah has significant reserves of natural gas and oil. Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling are important technologies which enable increased production of these essential natural resources. In Utah, we currently use about 2000 wells and springs as public drinking water supplies; and 33 of those wells and springs, in 22 public water systems, are located within recognized oil and gas fields.

The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining provides information about the process of hydraulic fracturing, and about a new Utah hydraulic fracturing rule which became effective November 1, 2012. This rule requires well operators to report the type and amount of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations to the FracFocus chemical disclosure registry within 60 days of when the hydraulic fracturing work is performed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also provides information on natural gas extraction and hydraulic fracturing. The EPA is currently studying hydraulic fracturing and potential impacts on drinking water.

Public water sources and oil and gas fields in Utah

see map

Utah public water systems with water sources in oil and gas fields

Clay Basin Field
Questar - Clay Basin Camp

Summit County
Camp Pinecliff (Methodist)
Cluff Ward Pipeline Co

Uinta Basin
Camperworld - Lakeside Park
Cedar Ridge Academy
Neola Water and Sewer District
Roosevelt Town Water System
Starvation Reservoir
Uriah Heeps Springs Water System

Book Cliffs/Grand Valley
PR Springs
Westwater Ranger Station

Wasatch Plateau
Clear Creek Camp - Alpine School Dist
Clear Creek Utilities Inc
Huntington - Castle Valley SSD
Huntington Canyon
North Emery SSD
Old Folks Flat Campground
Scofield Town
Skyline Mine
Stuart Visitor Center

Covenant Field
Sigurd Town Water System

Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat SSD

Click here

Contact Info

Jensen, Mark at (801) 536-4199
Martin, Jim at (801) 536-4494
Johnson, Kate at (801) 536-4206

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