Description: A wellhead protection area (WHPA) is the portion of an aquifer through which groundwater moves to a well. Under the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Wellhead Protection (WHP) Program approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1990, DEM is responsible for delineating a WHPA for each of the public wells in the state. Community Well - serves year-round residents; at least 15 service connections or at least 25 individuals. Examples include municipal wells and wells serving nursing homes, condominiums, and mobile home parks. DEM relied on technical input from the Wellhead Protection Program Advisory Committee in developing the delineation methodology. A mapping approach was required that was scientifically defensible, could be applied consistently across the state, and could be applied with the resources available to DEM. The delineations are based on reasonably available information regarding the hydrogeologic environment and the well characteristics. The WHPAs were delineated using the US Geological Survey quadrangle maps at a scale of 1:24000. WHPA maps are available for review at the DEM Office of Water Resources and on the DEM web page at www.state.ri.us/dem.August 2013 updates made by RI Department of Health Office of Drinking Water Quality.
Copyright Text: Theodore Peters, RI Dept Of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources Ernie Panciera, RI Dept Of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources Paul Jordan, RI Dept of Environmental Management, Office Of Management Information Service, Amy Parmenter, RI Dept of Health, Office of Drinking Water Quality
Description: A wellhead protection area (WHPA) is the portion of an aquifer through which groundwater moves to a well. Under the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Wellhead Protection (WHP) Program approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1990, DEM is responsible for delineating a WHPA for each of the public wells in the state. Non-Transient Non-Community Well - regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons (not residents) over 6 months of the year. Examples include wells serving schools and places of employment. Transient Non-Community Well - does not regularly serve the same persons, but does serve at least 25 people at least 60 days of the year. Examples include wells serving restaurants and motels. DEM relied on technical input from the Wellhead Protection Program Advisory Committee in developing the delineation methodology. A mapping approach was required that was scientifically defensible, could be applied consistently across the state, and could be applied with the resources available to DEM. The delineations are based on reasonably available information regarding the hydrogeologic environment and the well characteristics. The WHPAs were delineated using the US Geological Survey quadrangle maps at a scale of 1:24000. WHPA maps are available for review at the DEM Office of Water Resources and on the DEM web page at www.state.ri.us/dem.August 2013 updates by RI Department of Health Office of Drinking Water Quality.
Copyright Text: Theodore Peters, RI Dept Of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources Ernie Panciera, RI Dept Of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources Paul Jordan, RI Dept of Environmental Management, Office Of Management Information Service, Amy Parmenter, RI Dept of Health, Office of Drinking Water Quality
Description: "Sole source aquifer" means an aquifer designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as the sole or principal source of drinking water for the area above the aquifer and including those lands where the population served by the aquifer live; that is, an aquifer which is needed to supply 50% or more of the drinking water for that area and for which there
are no reasonably available alternative sources should the aquifer become polluted.