The Safe Drinking Water Act gives EPA the authority
to designate aquifers which are the sole or principal
drinking water source for an area, and which, if contaminated,
would create a significant hazard to public health.
After a Sole Source Aquifer is designated, no commitment
for federal financial assistance may be provided for
any project which the EPA determines may contaminate
the aquifer through its recharge area so as to create
a significant hazard to public health. An additional
benefit of designating an area as a Sole Source Aquifer
is the increased public awareness of the nature and
value of local ground water resources. Local residents
and businesses may be more willing to protect an aquifer
through local action if they learn their drinking water
originates from a vulnerable underground supply.
The EPA defines a Sole Source Aquifer as one which
supplies at least 50% of the drinking water consumed
in the area overlying the aquifer. EPA guidelines also
require that these areas have no alternative drinking
water sources(s) which could physically, legally, and
economically supply water to all who depend on the aquifer
for drinking water.
As of August 2008, a total of 16 Sole Source Aquifers
(one aquifer crosses two states) have been designated
by the EPA Region 1, New England Office. There are no
potential designations pending at this time:
Massachusetts:
Connecticut:
Rhode Island:
Maine:
Vermont:
New Hampshire:
View individual
aquifers by clicking the aquifer name.
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Any individual, corporation, company, association,
partnership, state, municipality or federal agency may
apply to have a Sole Source Aquifer designated. In 1987,
EPA published the Sole Source Aquifer Designation Petitioner
Guidance to assist those interested in preparing and
submitting petitions to EPA regional offices. View
the petitioners guidance online and learn about national
efforts to protect Sole Source Aquifers.
Once designated, proposed federal financially-assisted
projects which have the potential to contaminate the
aquifer are subject to EPA review. Proposed projects
that are funded entirely by state, local, or private
concerns are not subject to EPA review through the program.
Examples of federally funded projects which have been
reviewed by EPA in New England include:
- highway improvements and new road construction
- airport improvements
- transportation stations and maintenance facilities
- new construction of rail lines
- large wastewater treatment facilities
- projects funded through Community Development Block
Grants
- large residential developments funded through the
Rural Utilities Service
- water system improvements
EPA has developed Memorandum of Understandings with
other federal agencies which specify review responsibilities
under the Sole Source Aquifer program. Many projects
referred to EPA for review meet all federal, state and
local ground water protection standards and are approved
without any modification. If projects are determined
to pose a significant risk of contamination, EPA may
make specific recommendations or require modifications
as a condition of federal funding. Federal funding can
be denied if a project will pose a significant threat
of contamination to a Sole Source Aquifer and an applicant
is unwilling to make necessary project modifications
to reduce its risk of contamination.
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