Source Water Protection

NCRWA’s Source Water Specialists assist public and private water systems in their efforts to protect public health by developing programs to identify potential water supply contaminant sources. These programs, developed in accordance with NC Drinking Water Protection Programs, focus on educating communities on how they can aid in protection efforts. Funding for our Source Water Protection Specialists is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and the State Revolving Fund. For more information on NC Drinking Water Protection Programs, please visit the NC DEQ Drinking Water Protection Program page.

Wellhead Protection

The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986 established requirements for states to develop Wellhead Protection
Programs to help protect underground sources of drinking water. Creating a Wellhead Protection Plan to reduce the
susceptibility of wells to contamination and manage areas around wells called wellhead protection areas is voluntary,
though strongly encouraged in North Carolina. Some of the benefits of developing a Plan include:

Preventing the contamination of groundwater supplies and the expense of locating new sources, or remediating existing ones,
Helping to educate water customers and community leaders about their water sources, and the importance of protecting them,
An approved Plan may receive priority points on applications for drinking water funding.

An approvable Wellhead Protection Plan (WHP) consists of the following steps:

Select a Planning Team to help collect data and create a useful Plan.
Delineate the Wellhead Protection Area using information specific to each well.
Identify any Potential Contamination Sources that might pose a threat to a community’s water quality.
Develop management strategies to protect the groundwater. These can be regulatory or non-regulatory.
Develop a contingency plan to be implemented should one of a system’s wells become contaminated.
Implement, maintain, and update the WHP Plan.
Submit the WHP Plan to the NC Public Water Supply Section for review and approval.

Surface Water Protection

Like the Wellhead Protection Program, the Program brings together small water utilities, local businesses, agriculture, government, and other groups to develop and implement strategies to protect drinking water sources. It is a voluntary, grassroots planning effort that builds local responsibility and creates more sustainable communities. Some benefits of developing a plan include:

Helping educate water customers and community leaders about their water source and the importance of protecting it.
Identifying potential threats to the water source to prevent pollution events.
An approved plan may receive priority points on applications for State drinking water funding.

An approved Surface Water Protection plan consists of the following steps:

Obtain a copy of your Source Water Assessment Program Report.
Form a local Source Water Protection Team.
Conduct a Potential Contaminant Source Inventory.
Develop Management Strategies.
Develop a contingency plan.
Develop a schedule to implement and update the SWP Plan.
Submit the Local SWP to NCDEQ PWSS for Approval.

Katie Dunning - Source Water Protection Specialist

336-590-0188 Email

Jordan Jackson - Technical Assistance Program Administrator & Source Water Protection Specialist

336-596-3805 Email

Matt Casto - Source Water Protection Specialist

919-745-7568 Email